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Pages: 1 ronpen member Reged: 12/17/07 SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless       #5193112 - 04/27/12 10:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have been using SkySafari Pro with my android tablet and it's very good. They have done a superb job on this software and you can really tell the developers pay attention to detail. Up until last night I simply brought the tablet out with me and used SkySafari separate from the scope. Worked great – much better than any star charts etc, but I wanted a little more… Well yesterday I got home from work and received my Bluetooth to serial adapter that I ordered in the mail. So I quickly made up a serial cable from a 4 wire phone handset cord (walmart $3.50) and a db9 male connector (radio shack $2.50). Used Putty (hyperterm alternative) to set the Bluetooth adapters serial rate to 9600 baud and had to reverse wires 2 and 3 at the db9 connector end on my homemade serial cable. Paired the Bluetooth adapter with my tablet and then connected the telescope in Skysafari - worked on the first try with my Celestron 8SE. I believe this is about as good as it can get. Makes observing so much more productive and enjoyable. Also I can actually sit inside if desired and wirelessly control my scope 15-20 feet away with no problem. Next I may add video capability and my home office space will be turned into an observatory for rare nights I don’t feel like being outside. Keep in mind the Bluetooth option is only available for the android version of SkySafari. Here is the Bluetooth adapter I used, I wired in a single lion battery to power: http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=262 For my Celestron 8SE here is the wiring instruction that I used with the pin 2 and 3 reversed at the db9 male connector: http://www.nexstarsite.com/PCControl/RS232Cable.htm Link to Putty http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html Note - You will also need a USB to serial adapter if your computer or laptop does not have a db9 serial port. You will only need to connect to your computer once so you can change the baud rate on the Bluetooth adapter to 9600. Post Extras:       ronpen member Reged: 12/17/07 Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: ronpen]       #5194919 - 04/28/12 01:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If anyone is interested I can also post some pictures of the setup the next time I have it out. Post Extras:       ourobouros2k2 sage Reged: 11/10/11 Loc: okc area, oklahoma Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: ronpen]       #5195025 - 04/28/12 02:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am interested, looks like a great setup. I am against borrowing my wife's ipad, so was thinking of getting a cheap android tablet and emulating your setup above. Thanks for the info, Andy Post Extras:       tjspelich member Reged: 09/12/09 Loc: Bella Vista, AR Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: ronpen]       #5197876 - 04/30/12 09:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am also interested. Thank you, Tim Post Extras:       astro1tom member Reged: 01/04/08 Loc: San Jose, California Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: ronpen]       #5332496 - 07/24/12 02:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a setup like yours (Nexstar 8SE, USconverters BT adapter, Android 3.2.1 tablet), but doesn't work correctly, the Safari plus connect causes a slew limit warning message (Nexstar), and connect fails on Safari, a 2nd connect works, but Safari shows a location in the southern hemisphere and I'm in San Jose, CA. I think I have the time, date, and location set OK with both Safari and Nexstar, and I've set the BT adapter to 9600b, and I have aligned Nexstar OK first. I can slew the scope from Safari OK but the location is wrong. Is there any other settings on the BT adapter that I'm missing (I power it with a USB cord) or other settings (I'm new to Nexstar). Post Extras:       ilum newbie Reged: 08/25/12 Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: astro1tom]       #5454402 - 10/04/12 12:12 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I have a setup like yours (Nexstar 8SE, USconverters BT adapter, Android 3.2.1 tablet), but doesn't work correctly, the Safari plus connect causes a slew limit warning message (Nexstar), and connect fails on Safari, a 2nd connect works, but Safari shows a location in the southern hemisphere and I'm in San Jose, CA. I think I have the time, date, and location set OK with both Safari and Nexstar, and I've set the BT adapter to 9600b, and I have aligned Nexstar OK first. I can slew the scope from Safari OK but the location is wrong. Is there any other settings on the BT adapter that I'm missing (I power it with a USB cord) or other settings (I'm new to Nexstar). I tried one of the US Converter BT Adapters and it definitely did not work for me. According to Southern Stars, the makers of SkySafari, the US Converter BT Adapter is not compatible. source: http://www.southernstars.com/products/skysafari_android/scope_control.html Post Extras:       ronpen member Reged: 12/17/07 Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: ilum]       #5454891 - 10/04/12 10:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hum. Something changed then with that adapter. The adapter was listed on the SkySafari website as compatible when I put mine together. In fact, that's where I found out about the adapter. I have since sold my Nexstar setup but it did work perfectly for me. Post Extras:       ilum newbie Reged: 08/25/12 Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: ronpen]       #5455113 - 10/04/12 01:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Maybe, or something changed with the software. I liked the price point of the US Converters adapter, now am looking at the FireFly adapter for almost twice the cost. I sure hope that one works. I've been looking forward to using my tablet with my mount. Makes me wish the Bluestar was still available. Post Extras:       astro1tom member Reged: 01/04/08 Loc: San Jose, California Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: ronpen]       #5492534 - 10/28/12 01:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, early this year USConverters Serial Bluetooth adapters was listed as supported. I purchased one, but could not get the Nexstar and Android to work correctly. Southern Sky never replied to my problem I opened with them. Has anyone asked what is going on here? Post Extras:       SDTopensied super member Reged: 04/25/11 Loc: Atlanta Re: SkySafari Pro Android With Nexstar 8SE - wireless [Re: astro1tom]       #5506041 - 11/05/12 09:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you don't mind having the scope connected to a laptop, check out WiFi Scope from MainSequenceSoftware.com. It's not an ideal setup, but it's free and works quite well. It emulates the SkyFi box and allows you to use SkySafari with your Android or iOS device. -Steve Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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