40 replies to this topic

[kimcheese]

The arm band is a good idea! Just tonight I arrived at my new favorite solution for this problem, more or less by chance. I pulled a phone mount (for photography through the eyepiece) out of my box of scope stuff, and just happened to be looking at my Twilight I mount. Gee... that big knob on there looked like a good fit for the clamp on the phone holder! Sure enough:

 

IMG_2151.jpg

 

Very steady, and worked like a charm. I was astrohopping all over the place as soon as I was set up.

Functional and no added hardware needed. Like the idea of repurposing something vs. trashing it.  CG-4 for the refractor.  Will need to dig out the phone holder and see if it is possible to mount it.  Thanks for another option.

[daveb2022]

I just got these magnets from Harbor Freight

 

https://www.harborfr...q=craft magnets

 

I use an iOttie magnetic phone mount in my car, so my phone has a metal plate on the back. The Harbor Freight magnets stick to my metal OTA, and I attach the phone to the magnet via the metal plate that is already on the phone.

I haven't found it to interfere with using Astrohopper.

 

Good luck finding a solution that works for you.

 

 

I tried magnets but they seemed to disrupt the phones compass causing havoc with the pointing apps. I had the scope just sitting still with the phone mounted running AstroHopper and all of a sudden the screen started moving. All the pointing was off. So I wondered about my Android tablets which have magnets in the case and I had the same wandering issues. Not sure if other phones, or tablets have that issue...all 3 of mine did. I noticed all the apps I use have this issue so my guess is its a phone thing. YMMV

Edited by daveb2022, 19 August 2023 - 07:51 PM.

[Andy's Deli]

I tried magnets but they seemed to disrupt the phones compass causing havoc with the pointing apps. I had the scope just sitting still with the phone mounted running AstroHopper and all of a sudden the screen started moving. All the pointing was off. So I wondered about my Android tablets which have magnets in the case and I had the same wandering issues. Not sure if other phones, or tablets have that issue...all 3 of mine did. I noticed all the apps I use have this issue so my guess is its a phone thing. YMMV

Magnets, or actually any nearby ferrous metal, MAY interfere with a phone's compass. But Astrohopper uses the phones compass only for the initial orientation, and after that uses the accelerometers, so I just always start by doing a manual orientation to the alignment star, which I basically have to do since the magnet is interfering with the compass. After that I've had smooth sailing. But as Daveb said, YMMV.

[baran065]

This is $28 with shipping included.

 

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_pmos.htm

 

This one is $8

 

https://www.aliexpre...ayAdapt=glo2usa

Edited by baran065, 20 August 2023 - 07:44 PM.

[Avitam]

Awesome thread. I am trying to accomplish the same thing with using my mirrorless camera and a telephoto lens (to be eventually replaced by a refractor).

I am thinking of getting a magnetic phone mount that can be attached to my camera using the hot shoe. The phone can be held parallel to the lens.

Any reason why this wouldn't work?

Thanks!

Avi

[Astro_In_Tampa]

Velcro the phone to the OTA. Simple. Cheap. Effective. Repeatable. 

[JohnTMN]

Any reason why this wouldn't work?

Yes.

It will be an insult to you and the friends you want to share with.

"phone" astro pictures?

Honest, just don't.

 

Lunch break:

"Hey Ralph, look what I saw last night in my scope" scroll,scroll,,,

"Gee, nice Tom, I wish I had a scope".

,,,,

"Want a coffee?, Did you finish the work on that jig?"

"Nope, I still have to get that low spot done", "I'll get right at it after break".
 

Edited by JohnTMN, 16 January 2024 - 01:53 PM.

[Ice Cube]

I just discovered this: https://www.amazon.c...aps,239&sr=8-74

Seems to be a dedicated device for this. It fits in a finder shoe and holds a phone up a right angle to the tube. It’s a little dear, but it looks pretty nice.

astro-hopper wants the phone screen top to bottom aligned with the axis of the tube like in post #21.

this is twisted 90 degrees off in two different axes

[Ice Cube]

Yes.

It will be an insult to you and the friends you want to share with.

"phone" astro pictures?

Honest, just don't.

 

Lunch break:

"Hey Ralph, look what I saw last night in my scope" scroll,scroll,,,

"Gee, nice Tom, I wish I had a scope".

,,,,

"Want a coffee?, Did you finish the work on that jig?"

"Nope, I still have to get that low spot done", "I'll get right at it after break".
 

 

the OP wants a phone holder so that Astro-hopper can be used as guide for pointing to the correct object.

no photos are involved.

[HoBo1]

I came across this Forum while looking for information about a Telescope mounted Phone Case to use with Astrohopper.  I have a SvBony SB503 Scope that I wanted to mount my cellphone to using it's existing Optical Tube mounts.  I didn't want something held on with Velcro, Rubber Bands or the like.  After a lot of looking and research I ended up making something on my own.  I used the Phone Mount from a ONN Car Window Mount and modified the Swivel Ball Mount section from it to use a round head bolt that would fit into my telescope's  Optical Tube mounts .  I epoxied the bolt into the mounts base and added a small washer to give it a little more strength. All told I have less than $7.00 invested in what turned out to be a very solid mount.  As easy as this was I thought sharing it would be helpful to others.

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[PIEJr]

Wow, this brings back memories of a Galaxy far, Far away.

I didn't have anything yet, so I set up a phone holder on the side of my 20X60 spotting scope.

That was something like 11 or 12 years back.

My holder was a clamp type. Much better options now. (Including much better phones! And much better Velcro options.)

Edited by PIEJr, 19 May 2024 - 07:06 PM.

[Jvswan]

Kind of an old thread, but I just bought a 12” dob and I want to use AstroHopper until I get my setting circles installed. I thought I’d give this phone holder a try. Seems like exactly what I need. Should keep the phone parallel to the OTA without having to fuss around with ball joints and stuff. In case someone is looking for a cheap solution, here’s the link:
https://a.co/d/hVdzVpS

Edited by Jvswan, 14 February 2025 - 12:17 AM.

[WillR]

Kind of an old thread, but I just bought a 12” dob and I want to use AstroHopper until I get my setting circles installed. I thought I’d give this phone holder a try. Seems like exactly what I need. Should keep the phone parallel to the OTA without having to fuss around with ball joints and stuff. In case someone is looking for a cheap solution, here’s the link:
https://a.co/d/hVdzVpS

I would worry the magnets would interfere with the app and throw its calibration off. But let us know if it works.  

[WillR]

I just discovered this: https://www.amazon.c...aps,239&sr=8-74

Seems to be a dedicated device for this. It fits in a finder shoe and holds a phone up a right angle to the tube. It’s a little dear, but it looks pretty nice.

The problem is it doesn’t hold the phone in the right orientation for Astrohopper.

[daveb2022]

It might depend on the phone, but I tried magnets and while the scope was sitting (not being moved), the screen showed the scope moving. 

I'm not sure about proper use of Astrohopper, but I keep my movements short, and if I make a long slew from where I was, I need to find a something local to the object to realign the Astrohopper. If I do that, it seems the pointing much more accurate. 

 

I would love to be able to use a magnetic mount. I already use an adjustable Scosche magnetic phone mounts for my vehicles.

 

Maybe the developer or somebody who knows more about it will chime in. I'm certainly no expert.

[DOBguyinGA]

Good afternoon,

 

With AstroHopper the phone needs to be parallel to the scope tube.

 

I suggest staying away from any hardware with magnets. I use my sky map software on both my phone and my tablet. The software goes wacky if the tablet is in the cover because there are five niobium magnets on the left side. They are used to attach a keyboard. If I remove the cover the software works just fine. I never have any issues with the software on my phone because there are no magnets.