98 replies to this topic

[Rac19]

I have an 8se with starsense connected through a splitter and it aligns every time.

But, although it will goto the correct position and centre the object in a 25mm lense. It will drift off quite quickly. The drift is faster when pointing in the northerly direction?

I control it through starportal on my phone.

Any ideas what is wrong?

The standard suggestion is to adjust the Backlash settings but I find that reversing GoTo Approach (Az) works best. The aim is for the GoTo Approach direction to be the same as tracking, East to West. You may need to synch on a prominent star after changing GoTo Approach, although I am sure about that.

Edited by Rac19, 09 May 2024 - 03:13 PM.

[Mike007]

Thanks for reply.

I will try that on the next clear night and let you know how I got on.

[Stebo5150]

I recently purchased the SSAG. I am using an Advanced AVX mount. The first time I tried using it it would fail to plate solve when trying to do the Allstar 4 point alignment. . It also failed to calibrate. It was like the cap was still on it.  I contacted Celestron tech support and I was given instructions for updating the software with links. I had no issue with this. I went out again and same thing it is like the cap is on. I polar aligned my telescope both times with Sharpcap before attempting to use my SSAG. Has anyone else had a similar issue and was able to resolve it. I think I have a bad camera.

 

Instructions provided  by Celestron

Updated (February 2024) StarSense Autoguider Manual (Page 9) https://celestron-si...5_Languages.pdf

>> Follow these steps to update SSAG’s software <<

This method does not use CFM. If any new SSAG firmware is available, you’ll find it as a .swu file on the product page

- StarSense Autoguider Firmware for Updating via USB-C - https://software.cel...elease/SSAG.swu
- StarSense Autoguider Windows Driver - https://celestron-si...windows-any.zip
- you’ll need a USB cable (not supplied) and the SSAG PC driver, also available on the StarSense Autoguider page at celestron.com.

1. Install the SSAG driver on your PC.
2. Connect SSAG to your PC via the USB cable. After about 10 seconds, SSAG’s LED ring will illuminate, indicating it is receiving power via USB.
3. Open a web browser on your computer and enter http://169.254.54.1/...ge (screenshot)
4. Select “Software Update.”
5. Drag and drop the downloaded .swu file as directed. SSAG’s software will update.

[mlord]

I recently purchased the SSAG. I am using an Advanced AVX mount. The first time I tried using it it would fail to plate solve when trying to do the Allstar 4 point alignment. . It also failed to calibrate. It was like the cap was still on it.

We don't know anything about you or your experience level, other than that you have an AVX and a SSAG, and only two posts here on CloudyNights.  Most people here with fewer than, say, 50 posts, are totally new to Celestron computerized mounts, and are making the same errors as everyone else does when starting out.

 

To know if your SSAG camera actually works, keep in mind that it only works under a dark, clear sky.  If you have those conditions, then connect a computer to the USB of the camera, and see if "Live View" of the sky shows stars.  If it does, then the camera is working.

 

Cheers

[Menefist]

That is a good thread to read through for sure.

 

I have the SSAG guiding my CPC 1100.  I have the newest firmware flashed, but still have issues when using the guiding feature.  The SSAG is remarkable once you dial it in.  The goto is precise and the auto align works very well.  I have the SSAG, Skyport WIFI, Focuser connected to CPWI via Wifi.  I did disconnect the HC due to having to use the AUX splitter and felt the HC might have been causing conflicts.  It is powered by the PowerTank Lithium Pro.

 

I have had the goto drift in a state of confusion and repeated loss of communications with the CPWI software.  I have factory reset the SSAG several times, which seems to straighten things out.  The newest firmware seems to have stopped the state of confusion condition, but not the disconnects.

 

When it does disconnect from the CPWI (or more accurately the CPWI stops responding), the telescope continues to guide correctly.

 

When I use SkyPortal app, the unit seems to work far better and have not had any issues.  The app fully supports the SSAG with auto align and guide commands, as well as the focuser.  I hope they get SkySafari Pro 7 supported soon (their support says it is coming).

 

Some of my problems might be from the older version of the CPC mount.  Or it could just be a firmware issue with the SSAG.  I plan to keep the SSAG regardless as I have pre-ordered the Celestron Origin and hopefully it will support the SSAG sooner then later.

 

All and all I am happy with the SSAG, it sure makes precision goto a joy.  I am finding and seeing stuff I most likely would not have without it.

 

My SVBONY SV183 Telescope Filter, IR Pass Filter arrived today!  Looking forward to see if I can get setup and aligned earlier than when dark.

Hello Craig,

 

how is the Starsense treating your CPC? I am thinking to get one myself to help with a better GoTo accuracy. I've tried everything, from HC 2 star alignment to CPWI 5 points allignement, reticle dead centered, and everything. My GoTo always take me a little off the desired object, always with the same amount of angular error...

Cheers

[jwarner191]

That is a good thread to read through for sure.

 

I have the SSAG guiding my CPC 1100.  I have the newest firmware flashed, but still have issues when using the guiding feature.  The SSAG is remarkable once you dial it in.  The goto is precise and the auto align works very well.  I have the SSAG, Skyport WIFI, Focuser connected to CPWI via Wifi.  I did disconnect the HC due to having to use the AUX splitter and felt the HC might have been causing conflicts.  It is powered by the PowerTank Lithium Pro.

 

I have had the goto drift in a state of confusion and repeated loss of communications with the CPWI software.  I have factory reset the SSAG several times, which seems to straighten things out.  The newest firmware seems to have stopped the state of confusion condition, but not the disconnects.

 

When it does disconnect from the CPWI (or more accurately the CPWI stops responding), the telescope continues to guide correctly.

 

When I use SkyPortal app, the unit seems to work far better and have not had any issues.  The app fully supports the SSAG with auto align and guide commands, as well as the focuser.  I hope they get SkySafari Pro 7 supported soon (their support says it is coming).

 

Some of my problems might be from the older version of the CPC mount.  Or it could just be a firmware issue with the SSAG.  I plan to keep the SSAG regardless as I have pre-ordered the Celestron Origin and hopefully it will support the SSAG sooner then later.

 

All and all I am happy with the SSAG, it sure makes precision goto a joy.  I am finding and seeing stuff I most likely would not have without it.

 

My SVBONY SV183 Telescope Filter, IR Pass Filter arrived today!  Looking forward to see if I can get setup and aligned earlier than when dark.

Please let me know if the IR Filter helps any. I just received my SSAG and have not yet been able to get it to work right. I understand that the red ring lights should flash when SSAG is sensing stars and when it is guiding, but mine only shows a steady light. I have done resets and recalibrations...no good yet. I'll try calling Celestron tomorrow. Any advice is welcome.

[mlord]

The UR filter is supposed to help with early evening skies, but not much beyond that for SSAG.

Here, I found it helped, up until the recent (winter 2024) firmware update to SSAG, after which the device is worse with the filter than without it. For me here at least.

[jwarner191]

Using Starsense Autoalign, only using the handcontrol, after a manual or user alignment, later on, during the night, how can I add an additional (s) alignment refs?

[jwarner191]

I'm really getting disappointed with this expensive thing. [I have it ONLY FOR VISUAL.] Just got off the phone with Celestron. One of the main reasons for buying this is for the autoguiding function (obviously). So, you goto some object, then you need to go into the menu and turn on guiding. When you do this the HC buttons will no longer work. Only the back button will work, and it is used to stop guiding. So, in other words, if you are guiding on some object and want to slew to a new object, you need to first use the back button to stop guiding, then select the new object (hopefully it will be centered, and that’s not happening all the time), then turn on guiding again. So, if you want to do the “Sky Tour”, if you want any guiding, between each stop, you need to turn it on, then off again. Whew. Nothing good about any of that.
The next issue is that if you do a manual alignment (I have too many trees so I can’t do an autoalign), the manual claims that the next time, if you set up in the same position, you can just use User Align, and it will repeat the manual align that you did previously. So, I start User Align, it slews to where the first point of the manual align was, as it should, but it then starts a very slow drift upward toward the zenith. He said I need to send him a video of what it does. Which means he did not believe me and wants proof. So, I have to wait for the opportunity to get back out there again and video everything. He wants the manual align included. I am thinking of asking Steven Spielberg if he has time to come out here and make a documentary.
If I had purchased this from Amazon, I think it would be on its way back about now. Celestron does not give refunds. They will fix or replace if you send them enough videos. If you send back some defective item, you pay shipping each way. NOTE TO SELF: NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM CELESTRON.

Edited by jwarner191, 28 August 2024 - 01:10 PM.

[jwarner191]

Well, I ended up returning SSAG and put my old SSAA back on, got it center calibrated, and good to go. I like the idea of SSAG and hope they get it all working right and maybe I'll try it again in a year or two.

[Rac19]

I'm really getting disappointed with this expensive thing. [I have it ONLY FOR VISUAL.] Just got off the phone with Celestron. One of the main reasons for buying this is for the autoguiding function (obviously). So, you goto some object, then you need to go into the menu and turn on guiding. When you do this the HC buttons will no longer work. Only the back button will work, and it is used to stop guiding. So, in other words, if you are guiding on some object and want to slew to a new object, you need to first use the back button to stop guiding, then select the new object (hopefully it will be centered, and that’s not happening all the time), then turn on guiding again. So, if you want to do the “Sky Tour”, if you want any guiding, between each stop, you need to turn it on, then off again. Whew. Nothing good about any of that.
The next issue is that if you do a manual alignment (I have too many trees so I can’t do an autoalign), the manual claims that the next time, if you set up in the same position, you can just use User Align, and it will repeat the manual align that you did previously. So, I start User Align, it slews to where the first point of the manual align was, as it should, but it then starts a very slow drift upward toward the zenith. He said I need to send him a video of what it does. Which means he did not believe me and wants proof. So, I have to wait for the opportunity to get back out there again and video everything. He wants the manual align included. I am thinking of asking Steven Spielberg if he has time to come out here and make a documentary.
If I had purchased this from Amazon, I think it would be on its way back about now. Celestron does not give refunds. They will fix or replace if you send them enough videos. If you send back some defective item, you pay shipping each way. NOTE TO SELF: NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM CELESTRON.

For User Auto Align you need to save the Manual alignment points that were last used before shutting down, On the HC menu I think it's StarSense/User AutoAlign. It definitely works.

 

 

 

I do through CPWI these where it's a bit more intuitive.

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[mlord]

One of the main reasons for buying this is for the autoguiding function (obviously). ..  go into the menu and turn on guiding. When you do this the HC buttons will no longer work. Only the back button will work, and it is used to stop guiding...

For visual use, one does NOT need "guiding".  The mount will already do "tracking", and that's normally more than sufficient to keep things in view for long periods of time.

[jwarner191]

I think that's from the SSAA manual, not the SSAG manual.

[jwarner191]

Guiding for visual use is very useful if you have a long line of people waiting to see some object and it slowly drifts out of the FOV, and you have to keep making adjustments. If it works, guiding makes life that much easier.

Edited by jwarner191, 15 September 2024 - 12:29 PM.

[jwarner191]

correction: Celestron will give a refund during the first 30 days.

[dalbert02]

The UR filter is supposed to help with early evening skies, but not much beyond that for SSAG.

Here, I found it helped, up until the recent (winter 2024) firmware update to SSAG, after which the device is worse with the filter than without it. For me here at least.

FYI, you need to refocus the SSAG after installing the IR pass filter.  If the SSAG is focused without it, then it will definitely be out of focus when installed.  Look at live-view before and after if you don't believe me.  I had to hold the IR filter manually as you can not focus with it in place screwed to the tube assembly, that is the only way to have pinpoint stars.  

[mlord]

Mine has been working fine without fiddling since those 2 nights after the last update.

[dalbert02]

I recently purchased an Evolution 8, wedge, and SSAG secondhand. I first tried out the evo 8 and worked great. Have had nothing but issues with the SSAG. The calibration never works. I use CPWI, and when doing an align it asks if you want to calibrate the SSAG first. I choose yes and I choose a star not far from the initial position, and for whatever reason it always slews like 360 degrees all the way around the opposite direction to the star. And once it does it's always off a bit, and it says center in eye piece so I use the slew controls in CPWI to align it in center of screen and then click Enter. It always says calibration failed for some reason. I've spent hours trying over and over and for some reason calibration always fails. Live view is also hit or miss. Sometimes it works fine, a lot of the time no matter what I do it will not show up. I know it requires the usb-c cord connected to my laptop. I try restarting everything, and no matter what I do sometimes live view just does not show up. Other times it's perfectly fine though. Has anyone experienced anything similar or know possible solutions?

This has been my experience exactly the same.  I recently purchased a ZWO AM5 and was imaging the Rosette Nebula in less than 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, I have yet to take any nebula photos with the SSAG after over a year of fiddling.

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Edited by dalbert02, 01 December 2024 - 05:58 PM.

[dalbert02]

Mine has been working fine without fiddling since those 2 nights after the last update.

Excellent.  You may have even better results after re-focusing.  

[Overtime]

Seems there are StarSense problems aplenty.  I have the 114 AZ reflector with the holder for my compatible LG phone on top of it.  When I got it in May, I aligned the phone camera, but no stars were ever detected on startup.  Still a problem this month.  Celestron support has not replied.

I have had a similar issue and one thing you might want to do is check for supports reply in your emails spam folder. My problems as of late are weather related. If it's clear it's to cold for me. I also live and view from a spot with a lot of light pollution that I think causes my problem to be worse.  There should be other posts on this site that might have some helpful info in it. BTW I have gotten faster help here then with Celestrons support.

[Nn9l]

For a long time, I was not able to get the SSAG to work reliably or at all with my AVX (GPS, WIFI, focuser). AVX would report the “17” error and no response if SSAG was connected. At one point it stopped powering up all together. Thinking I have nothing to lose, I took it apart. There are 4 T9 screws in the back. The back cover has the mini computer board attached to it, so you must pull it off straight back, it is a dual row pin board connector. I suspect the contacts get corroded after a while, as once I put it back together, it started working perfectly. There are two boards inside, the back with a mini computer and the USB C connector, and the front camera board which has the AUX port on it. Both USB C connection with a PC and AUX connection with the mount work correctly now. Hope to test it to ight if the weather cooperates. Hope this helps someone, your mileage may vary. 

[EVB]

I have a nexstarSE mount on a diy wedge with a SSAG, updated all my equipment and runs everything on cpwi with no problems, alignment, plate solving and guiding flawlessly. I have to mention that I use a refractor, the 8se ota is heavy for the mount.

[jwarner191]

Feb2025: I returned by SSAG a few months ago after trying many many times, even with constant help from Celestron tech, to get it to work correctly. The few times it did work, it was great. Now, Feb. 2025, does anyone know if they have a new version out that works? It they get the bugs out, I would buy it again. I searched, but haven't found that there are any updates or fixes yet.

(Notes: I ONLY do visual, with no added laptop computers, mainframes, or anything else, except I do use SSAA.)

Edited by jwarner191, 07 February 2025 - 07:24 AM.

[mlord]

What functionality of SSAG are you wanting? The alignment feature and precise go-to both work well, and are useful for visual.

The Guiding stuff is far less useful for visual, and seems to be the thing people (still) have issues with.