SkyFi Telescope Communication

This page explains how to communicate with your telescope using SkyFi, and either:

• SkySafari 3 Plus or Pro, on an iOS or Android device.
• SkySafari for Mac OS X, Plus or Pro, on a Mac.

First, make sure you've done the following:

1. Turned on your telescope.
2. Aligned your telescope.
3. Connected your telescope's serial (or USB) port to SkyFi's serial (or USB) port.
4. Turned on SkyFi.
5. Joined SkyFi's wireless network from your iOS/Andoid device or Mac/PC.

If you haven't yet done these things, review the instructions on the previous pages.

Using SkySafari for iOS or Android

These instructions assume you are running SkySafari version 3.2 or higher on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Android device:

1. Go to Settings > Telescope Communication.

2. Select the correct telescope type.

3. Tap Auto-Detect SkyFi to detect your SkyFi unit's IP address automatically, using the name you have configured for your SkyFi. If you choose not to detect your SkyFi's IP address automatically, you can enter it manually instead.

4. Next to SkyFi Name, enter the name of the SkyFi device whose IP address you want SkySafari to automatically detect. Make sure to enter the same name here as you entered into your SkyFi unit's configuration web page!

5. This field is IP Address if you are not auto-detecting your SkyFi. Enter your SkyFi's IP address and TCP port number here. SkyFi's default IP address and port number are 10.0.0.1 and 4030.

6. Tap the Done button to accept changes and return to the main sky chart view.

7. Tap the Scope button below the main sky chart view to show the Scope Control view.

8. Tap the Connect button to establish communication with your telescope. If successful, the telescope controls on the iPhone screen will become active, and the telescope's position will appear as a bullseye on the star chart. If there are problems, an error message will appear.

Using SkySafari for Mac OS X

These instructions assume you are running SkySafari for Mac OS X, Plus or Pro, on a Mac:

1. Select SkySafari's Telescope menu > Setup... command.

2. Select the correct telescope type from the Telescope Type menu.

3. Select "WiFi or Ethernet (TCP/IP)" as the Connection.

4. Select Auto-Detect SkyFi to detect your SkyFi unit's IP address automatically, using the name you have configured for your SkyFi. If you choose not to detect your SkyFi's IP address automatically, you can enter it manually instead.

5. Next to SkyFi Name, enter the name of the SkyFi device whose IP address you want SkySafari to automatically detect. Make sure to enter the same name here as you entered into your SkyFi unit's configuration web page!

6. This field is IP Address if you are not auto-detecting your SkyFi. Enter your SkyFi's IP address and TCP port number here. SkyFi's default IP address and port number are 10.0.0.1 and 4030.

7. Click the Connect button to connect to your telescope. If everything is working, the Telescope control panel should appear. If there are problems, you'll get an error message.

Troubleshooting

If you can't connect to your telescope, here are some things to check:

• If SkyFi's status LED does not turn on, or does not turn green, check the batteries, or use external power. If the batteries are fresh, a continuous red or blinking red LED indicates a hardware problem; contact Southern Stars for help.

• When SkyFi is sending or receiving wireless data, its status LED will blink green. If the LED does not blink green when you try to join SkyFi's network, or when you try to connect to your telescope, then you probably joined the wrong WiFI network, or entered the wrong WEP key. Make sure there are no nearby WiFi devices with conflicting network names (like other SkyFi units, or computers/iPhones which were previously joined to SkyFi's network).

• If you've forgotten your SkyFi network SSID or WEP key, poke the reset button on the back of the case with a ballpoint pen or an unbent paperclip. This will restore SkyFi's factory default settings. You can then re-configure your SkyFi unit using the instructions above.

• By default, SkyFi's IP address is 10.0.0.1, and it should assign an IP address in the range 10.0.0.2 - 10.0.0.100 to your computer or iPhone. Check your computer's TCP/IP network settings to verify that your computer's IP address is in this range. If not, make sure your computer/iPhone is using DHCP. Also try renewing your DHCP lease.

• If you can't connect to your telescope, make sure all cables are connected correctly to the RS-232 port on your telescope's hand controller or mount base, and not to the AUX port, HBX port, autoguider port, etc.

• Make sure you're using the correct serial cable combination for your telescope. A Celestron NexStar serial cable will not work with a Meade Autostar hand controller - even though it will physically fit into the Autostar's RS-232 jack - or vice-versa

• Make sure all cables are connected securely, and not kinked or bent. Make sure everything is turned on. Make sure your telescope control application is configured to use SkyFi's IP address and port number. Again, these are 10.0.0.1 and 4030 by default.

• If you are running on a Mac or PC which can join SkyFi's wireless network, but you still can't connect to your telescope, you may have other software running on your computer which is blocking the network connection. Firewall software is a likely culprit. Web or E-Mail proxy software is another; for example, the Mac PGP mail proxy creates a 10.0.0.x network which conflicts with SkyFi's. Try turning off such firewall or proxy software. Then browse to http://10.0.0.1/ to see if you can view SkyFi's configuration web page. If that works, open a telnet connection to 10.0.0.1 on port 4030, using the console on Mac OS X, or a telnet program like HyperTerminal or SecureCRT on Windows. If either of these tests fail, something is blocking network access to SkyFi.

• Many telescopes will not respond to some (or all) external commands until they have been star-aligned. Did you remember to star-align your telescope before connecting with SkyFi?

• If you can connect, but experience frequent communication dropouts, try reducing the telescope update rate. If you are operating SkyFi in an environment with many nearby wireless networks, and/or many reflective metal surfaces, WiFi interference may be a problem. Try changing the WiFi channel.

• Flaky communication can also be caused by a loose cable or connector; make sure all cables and connectors are fastened securely.

• If SkyFi's green status light is blinking, but you are not running our app or otherwise communicating with a telescope, then other nearby iPhones or computers may have joined SkyFi's network. This can cause interference, and is a good reason to protect your SkyFi network with WEP.

• If you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS, go to the main iPhone Settings app, then to the General > Network section, and turn OFF the "Enable 3G" switch. The 3G network seems to bring down the iPhone's WiFi interface periodically. Turning this switch OFF and ON again may clear the problem.

• If you are running on a Windows laptop, try updating your laptop's WiFi driver software. For example, HP laptops with Broadcom 43255 WiFi chipsets are known to disconnect frequently; updating to driver version 5.60.48.35 solves this problem.

• If all else fails, turn SkyFi's power off, wait a few seconds, then turn it on again. Rejoin SkyFi's wireless network, then restart your telescope control application.

• Check for firmware updates which might solve your problem.