81 replies to this topic

[rrpallechio]

This is new behavior that I haven't seen before and don't know what is causing it.

 

NexStar evolution EdgeHD 8". I've had it since May 2022 and have been using it with SkyPortal on iPhone, iPad, and with CPWI on laptop with no problems, until this past week.

 

I start with the OTA level and pointing East. My north is blocked by trees and I've learned I get alignment with the fewest tries if I start out pointing in a direction that is not blocked.

 

Before this past week, it would take as few as three and as many as four tries to get a successful alignment. And if I had one successful plate solve followed by one that failed, if the next was successful I would see the counter go from 1 of 3 to 2 of 3, or 2 of 3 to 3 of 3.

 

Now, suddenly, it is acting differently.

 

I press Connect and Align. The telescope slews to a point that is not blocked by trees or buildings. Sees anywhere from 70 to one hundred stars and reports a successful plate solve. The counter goes from 0 of 3 to 1 of 3.

 

The telescope slews to the next position. It is pointing high at stars I can see. It reports seeing 70 to 100 stars then reports plate solve error. The counter remains at 1 of 3.

 

The telescope slews to the next position. It is pointing at stars I can see. It reports seeing anywhere from 70 to 100 stars then reports a successful plate solve. The counter goes from 1 of 3 to 0 of 3 then back to 1 of 3.

 

The next plate solve fails. Even though  the telescope is pointing at stars I can see. The one after that succeeds and the counter again goes from 1 of 3 to 0 of 3 back to 1 of 3.

 

This happens over and over.  After every successful plate solve it gets an failed plate solve. After every successful plate solve the counter goes from 1 of 3 to 0 of 3 then back to 1 of 3.

 

The iPhone or iPad (happens on both) both have the current time and GPS coordinates. I can see this in SkyPortal. So I checked the time, date and location on the HC. They were all way off. I didn't think it mattered, but I went through time, date and location and set them to the correct values. Then tried SkyPortal again and got the same result.

 

I deleted SkyPortal and reinstalled it. No difference. I did a factory reset. No difference (I did confirm that the Firmware levels after the reset were the same as before the reset).

 

Except for solar observing, I never use the HC. I always use SkyPortal or CPWI. But, to be thorough, I went through the alignment procedure, using StarSense Auto, with the HC. The OTA slewed to three different positions and got three successful plate solutions. Then my wife, grandson and I looked at Saturn and Jupiter.

 

I am at a loss as to what I am doing wrong. Has anyone else seen this behavior? If so, how did you fix it?

[skaiser]

Hi

  From what you said, is Cpwi also failing to complete starsense auto alignment?  Or is it only SkyPortal?

 

have you tried STARSENSE MANUAL ALIGN, with SkyPortal or CPWI.?

if the hand control is working ok with starsense, then seems something has happened with IOS that has broken SkyPortal working with starsense.

 

If you want to keep using the iPhone/ iPad approach, you could try upgrading to one of the SkySafari apps and see if that fixes the problem.

if SkySafari has issues you can get support from simulation curriculum to fix the issue.

I don’t think there is much debug support for SkyPortal.

 

Take care

[rrpallechio]

Hi

  From what you said, is Cpwi also failing to complete starsense auto alignment?  Or is it only SkyPortal?

 

have you tried STARSENSE MANUAL ALIGN, with SkyPortal or CPWI.?

if the hand control is working ok with starsense, then seems something has happened with IOS that has broken SkyPortal working with starsense.

 

If you want to keep using the iPhone/ iPad approach, you could try upgrading to one of the SkySafari apps and see if that fixes the problem.

if SkySafari has issues you can get support from simulation curriculum to fix the issue.

I don’t think there is much debug support for SkyPortal.

 

Take care

I haven't tried CPWI since the problem surfaced. I'll try it tonight.

[speedster]

If all else fails, read the directions (page 11).   If you do what the manufacturer says not to, yo9u can't very well expect good results.

[rrpallechio]

@speedster,

 

I have the NexStar Evolution 8 Edge HD with StarSense AutoAlign. The manual I am using is titled NexStar Evolution 8 Edge HD with StarSense AutoAlign Quick Setup Guide #12096. 12096 is the product number for my telescope.

 

 You don't say which manual  you are referring to, so I am assuming it is the NexStar Evolution Instruction Manual Models 12090, 12091 and 12092. The Evolution 8 is 12091. On page 11 of  that manual there is a different procedure from the one I am following in the manual i referenced. Are you referring to the instructions for the 12091?

 

On https://www.celestro...pport-downloads

 

the manual I am using  is the first manual in the list: NexStar Evolution 8HD Quick Setup Guide

 

The instructions I am following for SkyPortal alignment begin on page 9.

Edited by rrpallechio, 01 September 2022 - 11:05 PM.

[rrpallechio]

@skaiser

 

I tried CPWI tonight. I have had very good success with it in the past. Tonight I could get two successful plate solves. I even used custom points so I knew where the camera was pointing.

 

There was quite a bit of dew tonight. By the time I got to CPWI that might have been a problem on the camera. My EP fogged up pretty good. I shined a light into the camera and it didn't look bad, but who knows, maybe dew was the issue. Except that ... every time I tried an alignment the first two points were successful, then none after that.

 

I've opened a ticket with Celestron about this.

[rrpallechio]

Celestron got back to me and suggested I switch the WiFi from Direct Connect to Access Point for 10 seconds, then switch it back. It made no difference. I have also run CFM in case something got corrupted and pushed the reset button. No change.

 

I tried something different tonight. After having no success with either SkyPortal or Sky Safari Pro, I tried just doing and Align, instead of Connect and Align.

 

I pointed the OTA to an unobstructed portion of the sky and tapped on Align. A few seconds later I got a message back that a new reference had been added, 1 of 10.

 

I slewed to another section of sky and tapped Align. I got a message back that the new reference could not be added. Then, without changing the position of the OTA, I tapped Align again, and got a message that a new reference had been added, 1 of 10. Rinse and repeat. Every other Align fails, then succeeds if I press Align again, and the counter stays at 1 of 10.

 

StarSense Auto Align from the HC continues to work.

 

I updated my ticket with this information.

Edited by rrpallechio, 03 September 2022 - 02:00 AM.

[rrpallechio]

As of today Celestron support thinks the problem is the WiFi module and asked for my address and proof of purchase to set up an RMA.

[Dpasqa]

I only use SkySafari, I started having the exact same issue that you are describing, have you found a solution? It was working fine then all of a sudden it went haywire, the HC kept turning off. I gave up for the night and since then I am in the alignment loop, 1 alignment success then failed, 1 alignment then fails then succeeds but doesn’t add a new point, it stays at 1 or goes back to 0. It runs in a loop. There are too many moving parts, you have starsense, the hand controller and the evolution 8. Something between them is jacked up. 

I wonder if sky safari updated automatically and if that is the problem. 

 

I can’t update the firmware because my Mac won’t open the file for the updates. I’m stuck there, it says need Java, I added Java it says need Java. 

Edited by Dpasqa, 14 September 2022 - 08:05 AM.

[rrpallechio]

I only use SkySafari, I started having the exact same issue that you are describing, have you found a solution? It was working fine then all of a sudden it went haywire, the HC kept turning off. I gave up for the night and since then I am in the alignment loop, 1 alignment success then failed, 1 alignment then fails then succeeds but doesn’t add a new point, it stays at 1 or goes back to 0. It runs in a loop. There are too many moving parts, you have starsense, the hand controller and the evolution 8. Something between them is jacked up. 

I wonder if sky safari updated automatically and if that is the problem. 

 

I can’t update the firmware because my Mac won’t open the file for the updates. I’m stuck there, it says need Java, I added Java it says need Java. 

I can't help you with the MAC issue, my laptop and PC are Micro$oft Windows. I think you can find instructions on this forum on how to make the update with a MAC work.

 

I don't have a solution. I last updated my ticket with Celestron on the 12th and haven't heard back from them. I opened a chat with Celestron a few minutes ago and they assured me my ticket would be updated soon. Didn't define 'soon', so we'll see.

 

The guy I'm working with at Celestron thinks it is a WiFi problem. The reason is that I can align with the HC, no issues. But SkySafari, SkyPortal and CPWI  all fail.  Over WiFi. Looking in the CPWI manual this afternoon, I see that it can connect to the mount via USB to the HC. I'm going to try that to see if that works.

 

Up to this point I've reset everything and reloaded everything, and it makes no difference, which the Celestron guy says reinforces his belief that it is a WiFi module problem in the mount.

 

My suggestion to you is that you open a ticket with Celestron. If this issue happened once, well then maybe it is a one off. But if is happening multiple times, that could indicate a systemic problem they need to know about.

Edited by rrpallechio, 14 September 2022 - 04:22 PM.

[Dpasqa]

I can't help you with the MAC issue, my laptop and PC are Micro$oft Windows. I think you can find instructions on this forum on how to make the update with a MAC work.

 

I don't have a solution. I last updated my ticket with Celestron on the 12th and haven't heard back from them. I opened a chat with Celestron a few minutes ago and they assured me my ticket would be updated soon. Didn't define 'soon', so we'll see.

 

The guy I'm working with at Celestron thinks it is a WiFi problem. The reason is that I can align with the HC, no issues. But SkySafari, SkyPortal and CPWI  all fail.  Over WiFi. Looking in the CPWI manual this afternoon, I see that it can connect to the mount via USB to the HC. I'm going to try that to see if that works.

 

Up to this point I've reset everything and reloaded everything, and it makes no difference, which the Celestron guy says reinforces his belief that it is a WiFi module problem in the mount.

 

My suggestion to you is that you open a ticket with Celestron. If this issue happened once, well then maybe it is a one off. But if is happening multiple times, that could indicate a systemic problem they need to know about.

Thanks, I did check versions on the hand controller the camera and my evolution have the latest updates, so I don’t need to download firmware. I just don’t see how it could be Wi-Fi, everything is working fine and then the next day it wasn’t. I’ll keep an eye on this post and see if they tell you how on earth‘s Wi-Fi could be your problem. This is disheartening because I was going to try to Skyportal tonight which I haven’t done but you’re telling me that doesn’t work either. How can it be just the two of us, and how can it just happen overnight? I can’t open the ticket because I bought my telescope used as well as my starsense. I can’t even open the ticket with SkySafari Pro because for some reason I can’t log into my account and they can’t help me. I am so frustrated and I’m ready to throw this crap in the creek

Edited by Dpasqa, 14 September 2022 - 04:32 PM.

[rrpallechio]

They just updated the ticket, asking for my address, phone number and proof of purchase, and said once they get that they will set up the RMA for the mount.

 

I had supplied them all that information on September 6, and I can see it when I look at the ticket. They must have just responded to my chat without going back to look at the history.

 

They think it is the WiFi module because the HC works. Now when you and I think WiFi module, we just think of the hardware and firmware necessary for a wireless connection to be made. I think they look at it as something larger. Or not. I don't know.

 

I would open a ticket anyway. Maybe they will repair the problem for a fee. If not, the OTA is probably something you could sell, probably the camera too.

 

As for the problem happening overnight ... when something breaks it breaks. In my case, it was working fine. I'd done an alignment and was  using the GoTo to slew to Saturn. The mount stopped, then started moving by itself. I don't know what caused that, but I discovered the alignment, which had been good five minutes prior, was now off. I powered off the mount and powered it back on and then saw the problem, no more alignments.

 

As for why it is just the two of us ... before it was just me. Now it's you and me. It may be happening, or will happen, to others. That's why I think it is worth while to open a ticket, so Celestron will see that this is happening.

[Dpasqa]

They just updated the ticket, asking for my address, phone number and proof of purchase, and said once they get that they will set up the RMA for the mount.

 

I had supplied them all that information on September 6, and I can see it when I look at the ticket. They must have just responded to my chat without going back to look at the history.

 

They think it is the WiFi module because the HC works. Now when you and I think WiFi module, we just think of the hardware and firmware necessary for a wireless connection to be made. I think they look at it as something larger. Or not. I don't know.

 

I would open a ticket anyway. Maybe they will repair the problem for a fee. If not, the OTA is probably something you could sell, probably the camera too.

 

As for the problem happening overnight ... when something breaks it breaks. In my case, it was working fine. I'd done an alignment and was  using the GoTo to slew to Saturn. The mount stopped, then started moving by itself. I don't know what caused that, but I discovered the alignment, which had been good five minutes prior, was now off. I powered off the mount and powered it back on and then saw the problem, no more alignments.

 

As for why it is just the two of us ... before it was just me. Now it's you and me. It may be happening, or will happen, to others. That's why I think it is worth while to open a ticket, so Celestron will see that this is happening.

I will check it out but the last time I tried to open

 a ticket I think they require proof of purchase

[Dpasqa]

I will check it out but the last time I tried to open

 a ticket I think they require proof of purchase

Just a final update. Last night I did 3 attempts at alignment and succeeded. The problem was the star wasn’t in the FOV and I couldn’t center it because finder scope wasn’t aligned. I tried to fix that but it was too hard to align it in the dark. I will set the alignment on my finder scope today and see if I can center the star tonight. I don’t care of the star is in the center of the view just as long as I can find it. So anyway I just wanted to let you know that for some unknown reason I tried three different alignments and from the perspective of the technology working, it seem to be fine again.

[rrpallechio]

Just a final update. Last night I did 3 attempts at alignment and succeeded. The problem was the star wasn’t in the FOV and I couldn’t center it because finder scope wasn’t aligned. I tried to fix that but it was too hard to align it in the dark. I will set the alignment on my finder scope today and see if I can center the star tonight. I don’t care of the star is in the center of the view just as long as I can find it. So anyway I just wanted to let you know that for some unknown reason I tried three different alignments and from the perspective of the technology working, it seem to be fine again.

I'm jealous.

[Dpasqa]

I'm jealous.

Dont be, i’m still not sure if the star was close since my finders scope was pretty far off. And then to make matters worse the power cord wrapped around where it broke the end of it. I have to order a new one so I can’t even really test until the new power cord comes because the battery is low right now. If it’s successful I will tell you to be jealous brother. But the fat lady is not in the room yet so you know how that goes.

[Bitslizer]

Dont be, i’m still not sure if the star was close since my finders scope was pretty far off. And then to make matters worse the power cord wrapped around where it broke the end of it. I have to order a new one so I can’t even really test until the new power cord comes because the battery is low right now. If it’s successful I will tell you to be jealous brother. But the fat lady is not in the room yet so you know how that goes.

I 3d printed a mount to mount a Lifepo4 battery on the fork to prevent the cord issue.  Skyprodigy mount though

[Noah4x4]

I have an early Evolution and have owned three SkyPortal devices, generations 1, 2, 3 and eventually gave up with Celestron WiFi. The problem is the 2.4ghz channel is too cluttered in urban areas. If interference from other networks and USB3 devices is acute, the telescope will suffer from lost data packets. If watching a movie, these don't matter as your eye doesn't miss a dropped frame. But the telescope will miss a heartbeat.

The solution is use the twin computer remote desktop methodology described in my CN Signature over a 5Ghz MESH network. I use CPWI and enjoy perfect alignments using Starsense.

One other thought. Have you accidently (or otherwise) unscrewed your Starsense camera lens? Any loss of focus is fatal and requires factory recalibration. Never buy a used Starsense unless you have seen it working!

[rrpallechio]

This problem first cropped up when I was vacationing in Sunriver with my family. I got an alignment, then lost the alignment, then never got one again.

 

Tonight I went into my backyard where I usually set up the scope and checked on the networks I could see from my iPhone. Same networks I've always seen. I've got a Netscout onetouch AT I'll take out tomorrow night to check again.

 

In my case, since alignment using the HC always works, the issue is not the camera, or so Celestron tells me. I've never taken the camera apart.

 

Celestron has created an RMA number and have told me to expect a shipping label from UPS. I'll update here as appropriate.

[Bitslizer]

Ok I got similar problem with my sky prodigy but I'm doing something unusual.  I have exactly the same behavior

 

HC can auto-align fine

 

CPWI and Skysafari/SKyportal cannot keep failing to solved plate.

 

The key being I'm trying to make it work on a wedge. (using a wedge but cannot enable wedge option in HC,sky portal or CPWI)

 

I assume you have no wedge, but any chance you have it enabled in the HC or Sky portal or CPWI (basically opposite, wedge enabled but no wedge) if not try making sure your mount is as level as possible.

[rrpallechio]

Ok I got similar problem with my sky prodigy but I'm doing something unusual.  I have exactly the same behavior

 

HC can auto-align fine

 

CPWI and Skysafari/SKyportal cannot keep failing to solved plate.

 

The key being I'm trying to make it work on a wedge. (using a wedge but cannot enable wedge option in HC,sky portal or CPWI)

 

I assume you have no wedge, but any chance you have it enabled in the HC or Sky portal or CPWI (basically opposite, wedge enabled but no wedge) if not try making sure your mount is as level as possible.

 

 

Ok I got similar problem with my sky prodigy but I'm doing something unusual.  I have exactly the same behavior

 

HC can auto-align fine

 

CPWI and Skysafari/SKyportal cannot keep failing to solved plate.

 

The key being I'm trying to make it work on a wedge. (using a wedge but cannot enable wedge option in HC,sky portal or CPWI)

 

I assume you have no wedge, but any chance you have it enabled in the HC or Sky portal or CPWI (basically opposite, wedge enabled but no wedge) if not try making sure your mount is as level as possible.

Checked last night. Wedge is not enabled in either SkyPortal or SkySafari. Mount was level, OTA was level. Same symptoms. On the other hand, everything I went to after aligning with the HC was in the FOV of my 20mm EP.

[rrpallechio]

This problem first cropped up when I was vacationing in Sunriver with my family. I got an alignment, then lost the alignment, then never got one again.

 

Tonight I went into my backyard where I usually set up the scope and checked on the networks I could see from my iPhone. Same networks I've always seen. I've got a Netscout onetouch AT I'll take out tomorrow night to check again.

 

In my case, since alignment using the HC always works, the issue is not the camera, or so Celestron tells me. I've never taken the camera apart.

 

Celestron has created an RMA number and have told me to expect a shipping label from UPS. I'll update here as appropriate.

On Sept. 20 I still had not gotten a shipping label, so I updated the ticket to ask when I would get it. No response. So today I used the chat feature on their support page to ask about it and the guy on the other side of the chat send me a label. I'll probably take the mount and HC to the local UPS store on Saturday.

[rrpallechio]

According to UPS the mount and HC should be delivered to Celestron Thursday, 9/29.

[rrpallechio]

I got this message today from Celestron

 

We received your Evolution mount and StarSense Hand Control today!

The next steps are the evaluation and repair of your unit. Please note that we complete repairs on a first-come, first-serve basis. While we turn around most repairs quickly, some complex repairs may take longer. Once your repair is ready to ship, we will e-mail the tracking number for your reference.

Rest assured that your unit is in good hands and will be handled with the utmost care by our qualified repair technicians. They will repair your unit, perform a series of diagnostic tests, and properly pack the item before shipping it back out to you.

Our mission is to provide you with the best repair experience possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

Celestron Technical Support Team

 

[rrpallechio]

Celestron updated my ticket today with this:

 

Basically now, we will inspect and repair the unit. After that is complete we will test the mount and ship it out to you.