10 replies to this topic

[ordnance11]

I was trying to do a center alignment to a Starsense SSAG spotting scope. I have attached a GPS module to a Skyportal Wifi 3rd Gen module and the skyportal wifi to an aux splitter. The aux splitter plugs directly to the aux port. The SSAG plugs directly to the second Aux port in the splitter. I'm using CPWI software in this instance. I turn on the mount and laptop. The Wifi module is switched to direct connect. I selected the celestron to directly connect. It wasn't able to connect and I noted that the connection kept being dropped by the laptop. I switched over to USB cable and achieved connection. I then tried center alignment to a star. The mount slewed in the correct azimuth but the declination was reversed. It was pointing at the ground, rather than the sky. I rechecked the time/date and the coordinates and it was correct. I tried using the skyportal app on my cell phone and it connected readily. I tried again and it still went to the ground. I finally gave up last nite after trouble shooting 3 more times times.

 

I looked back on it and normally I have the focuser knob below the star diagonal, but I have the knob above the star diagonal in this instance. So:

 

1. What's causing the mount to slew to the wrong direction, the declination in this case?

 

2. Why was the CPWI not connecting by wifi but the skyportal does?

 

3. I've noted a USB port at the bag of the SSAG. Is that for live view?

[Jethro7]

I was trying to do a center alignment to a Starsense SSAG spotting scope. I have attached a GPS module to a Skyportal Wifi 3rd Gen module and the skyportal wifi to an aux splitter. The aux splitter plugs directly to the aux port. The SSAG plugs directly to the second Aux port in the splitter. I'm using CPWI software in this instance. I turn on the mount and laptop. The Wifi module is switched to direct connect. I selected the celestron to directly connect. It wasn't able to connect and I noted that the connection kept being dropped by the laptop. I switched over to USB cable and achieved connection. I then tried center alignment to a star. The mount slewed in the correct azimuth but the declination was reversed. It was pointing at the ground, rather than the sky. I rechecked the time/date and the coordinates and it was correct. I tried using the skyportal app on my cell phone and it connected readily. I tried again and it still went to the ground. I finally gave up last nite after trouble shooting 3 more times times.

 

I looked back on it and normally I have the focuser knob below the star diagonal, but I have the knob above the star diagonal in this instance. So:

 

1. What's causing the mount to slew to the wrong direction, the declination in this case?

 

2. Why was the CPWI not connecting by wifi but the skyportal does?

 

3. I've noted a USB port at the bag of the SSAG. Is that for live view?

Hello ordnance11,

You did not mention how you are powering the mount. This may sound funny, odd things happen when the internal batteries get low with a Nextar mount.

 

Check your WiFi connectivity with your lap top. Sometimes I have had the need to physically connect mine. Occasionally I have needed to delete my Apps and re-download them to correct issues. 

 

Make sure you are clicked on the Northern Hemisphere, not Southern Hemisphere. 

 

Because of Skyportal or CPWI, I never used a GPS module so maybe there is a data discrepancy in play between the GPS and  the CPWI App.

 

When I owned a Nexstar mount the USB port was not present, so I have no idea.

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

Edited by Jethro7, 23 June 2024 - 06:57 PM.

[ordnance11]

Hi Jethro,

 

I'm using a Celestron power tank and I don't use batteries for the reason you described. I recharged them after every outing and they were fully charged. The Nexstar hand controller has a USB port I have used for firmware updates and I just did that to check off a possible firmware corruption. I'll leave the GPS module off next time and see if that works.

 

Regards

Edited by ordnance11, 23 June 2024 - 07:01 PM.

[Chris Johnson]

Did you line up the index marks and mount the tube on the right side of the mount before staring alignment?

[ordnance11]

Hi Apollo,

 

The OTA is on an alt/az mount. I haven't yet purchased an equatorial wedge. I think I may have figured out the solution to both problems.

 

1. I just used the wifi module the GPS module attached into the splitter and it worked fine. I then powered down the mount and placed the GPS module with the wifi in direct line of sight of the laptop. The leg where I attached the GPS module was blocking LOS between the wifi module and the laptop last night. I also inverted the attachment of the GPS module to the tripod leg so that the wifi module is pointed up. That also worked fine.

 

2. I turned on the CPWI app and checked the coordinates and time. The latitude had a negative value and I checked it against my compass app on my phone. The longtitude value was reversed. I corrected that on the CPWI and ran a mock alignment. This time the scope slewed up rather than down. Yay!  Should had thought of that last night but It was about 100 degrees heat index and neither I or my fellow stargazers didn't think of it..

 

So:

 

1. Make sure the wifi module has clear LOS between it and the lap top.

 

2. If the scope points down. Check the coordinates and reverse the longitude value. If it turns the other way, reverse the latitude value.

 

Thank you all for giving me a hand.

[mlord]

Do you have the optical tube assembly (OTA) mounted right way around?  If not, that would explain why it goes DOWN instead of UP.

 

The OTA should be mounted such that it is to the RIGHT of the mount's fork arm, when viewed from behind (where the eyepiece is).

[ordnance11]

Good morning,

 

The rail slot of the Celestron 6SE is only on the right side. The only other possibility I can think of is I swung it so that the focuser is on top of the eyepiece rather than below it like I normally operate it.

[mlord]

Nothing to do with the rail slot, but rather which way around it is inserted into the fork arm clamp.  If you are finding the focuser knob on top instead of bottom, then it is installed WRONG!  (or upside down).

 

The product photos show what it should look like when correctly set up:  https://www.celestro...ff6d7c238&_ss=r

Edited by mlord, 24 June 2024 - 09:00 AM.

[ordnance11]

Upside down then since I rotated it the other way rather than normal. Well, learn something new. 

[mlord]

Great.  The other thing to pay attention to when assembling it, is to rotate (with the hand-controller) the fork arm clamp around so that the index mark labels are both on top, before inserting the OTA.  Otherwise it will still work, but one of the index mark labels will be on the bottom underneath, and not so useful there. 

[Pilot87178d]

Do you have the optical tube assembly (OTA) mounted right way around?  If not, that would explain why it goes DOWN instead of UP.

 

The OTA should be mounted such that it is to the RIGHT of the mount's fork arm, when viewed from behind (where the eyepiece is).

As regards mounting, considering the possibility of of periodically mounting my 6SE on a simple tripod with the twisty alt/az cables and then mount a refractor on the stock 6SE mount.  Is any of this even possible?  Am already aware that pushing the 6SE on it's current Celestron mount is not really possible.

M