10 replies to this topic

[Dave Bush]

I know I can connect my iPad running SkySafari via wifi to my Evolution mount and the date/time/location from the iPad will be used.  However, often I'm away from home, out where there is no wifi for my iPad to obtain location data. 

 

Now I do have a GPS unit for my mount.  

 

My question is this.  If I power up the mount and connect my iPad, the GPS unit will have obtained the date/time/location info but, what does it do with it?  Will it supply it to my iPad?

 

I'm intending to do my SS alignment via SkySafari by the way.

[mlord]

The GPS unit is totally passive.  It just sits there, waiting for something to ask it about the Date, Time, and Location.  So it does NOTHING.  Unless a Celestron hand-controller is used to perform an alignment, and that hand-controller has been told (settings) to use GPS.

 

The apps NEVER talk to the GPS or ask it for any information.  Shame that.  CPWI on a PC will ask it for Location, but not Date/Time.

Edited by mlord, 22 June 2024 - 09:27 PM.

[Dave Bush]

The GPS unit is totally passive.  It just sits there, waiting for something to ask it about the Date, Time, and Location.  So it does NOTHING.  Unless a Celestron hand-controller is used to perform an alignment, and that hand-controller has been told (settings) to use GPS.

 

The apps NEVER talk to the GPS or ask it for any information.  Shame that.  CPWI on a PC will ask it for Location, but not Date/Time.

So, if I'm going to use my iPad w/SkySafari out in the wilderness, I need ahead of time to determine the Lat/Long and manually plug that into SkySafari.  

 

And then essentially, the GPS unit is useless in this situation.  

[whizbang]

That's exactly what I do.

 

When I know I am taking a trip, I look up the location in Google maps, then create a user defined observing site in SkySafari.

 

And it can be a PITA if you forget to do it in advance.

 

Thankfully, I am also Old school.  I have a garmin GPS on my dashboard of my truck.  If I happen to forget to create a user defined location, I can fire up the garmin, get the coordinates, then create a user defined location.

 

You should be able to use the Celestron GPS with the hand control to start an alignment.  Once it displays the location coordinates, create a User defined location in SkySafari.

 

So no, the GPS is not completely useless.

[mlord]

So, if I'm going to use my iPad w/SkySafari out in the wilderness, I need ahead of time to determine the Lat/Long and manually plug that into SkySafari.  

 

And then essentially, the GPS unit is useless in this situation.  

It's there, and the apps could use it, but they don't.  Really only a problem for iOS users though, as nearly all Android devices have GPS built-in, which the apps do use.

 

I guess this explains why so many people using the HomeBrew stuff want OLED displays added on -- so they can read the GPS visually and re-enter the coordinates into their iOS gear or something.

 

Cheers

[Ice Cube]

It's there, and the apps could use it, but they don't.  Really only a problem for iOS users though, as nearly all Android devices have GPS built-in, which the apps do use.

 

I guess this explains why so many people using the HomeBrew stuff want OLED displays added on -- so they can read the GPS visually and re-enter the coordinates into their iOS gear or something.

 

Cheers

i think the big issue is that some iPads (and other tablet devices) don't have real GPS if they were purchased as non-cellular devices.

[mlord]

Nearly all Android tablets over $100 have built-in GPS, and most of those under $100 do as well.  So as said, mostly an issue for people who skimped and bought iPads instead. 

[Dave Bush]

i think the big issue is that some iPads (and other tablet devices) don't have real GPS if they were purchased as non-cellular devices.

Yes, exactly and mine is a non-Cellular iPad

[Dave Bush]

Nearly all Android tablets over $100 have built-in GPS, and most of those under $100 do as well.  So as said, mostly an issue for people who skimped and bought iPads instead. 

Haha, well, that would be the only sensible reason to own an android device. 

 

Seriously though, I can easily create location profiles in SkySafari ahead of time for the places that I observe from.

[Garry]

So, if I'm going to use my iPad w/SkySafari out in the wilderness, I need ahead of time to determine the Lat/Long and manually plug that into SkySafari.  

 

 

Another option if you also have an iPhone, it has GPS, so download & install another copy of SkySafari to get your Current Location data to enter into the iPad’s SkySafari manually when you’re out in the wilderness.

[Ice Cube]

Nearly all Android tablets over $100 have built-in GPS, and most of those under $100 do as well.  So as said, mostly an issue for people who skimped and bought iPads instead. 

all my iPads are gps/celluar capable since i had lots of job related travel and those usually had better network speeds than the WIFI in the crumbly hotels we had to use