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Asiair, skywatcher, and skysafari
Started by Jamesgangnc, Feb 03 2021 12:13 PM
Posted 03 February 2021 - 12:13 PM
Jamesgangnc
Got all of this working on home network. Took some internet searching and experimenting so I thought I would share. I have
it connected via ethernet but the same applies to wifi connections. The asiair app will normally find the device. You will need
to figure out the ip address of the device either with the app or your router. Many routers will let you tie a device to a constant
ip address and that simplifies things going forward. If you are using the device as a hot spot then it's address is 10.0.0.1.
I've gotten this setup to work on both my samsung tablet as well as my desktop pc. If you are interested in using a pc you need
to install an android emulator. The best one around imho is BlueStacks. In BlueStacks you simply use Google play store to
install the apps.
(https://www.cloudynights.com/gallery/image/114325-
asiair/)
Asiair connected to cameras, mount, and ethernet cable.
(https://www.cloudynights.com/gallery/image/114326-skywatcher/)
Skywatcher AZ-EQ5 with built in usb connection. If you have an older mount you can get an eqmod cable off Amazon pretty
cheap. The newer mounts just have the chip built in. I believe this should work with most of the skywatcher mounts.
(https://www.cloudynights.com/gallery/image/114327-asiair-
app/)
For the telescope mount in the asiair app choose EQMod with SkySafari.
(https://www.cloudynights.com/gallery/image/114329-
skysafari-settings/)
In SkySafari choose Meade LX200 classic and equatorial goto. For communications pick connect via wifi no matter how you
are actually connected. Do not auto detect. In ip address enter the asiair's ip address on your home network or 10.0.0.1 if you
are directly wifi connected to the device. Port number is 9624. If you choose to set time and location make sure what is in the
location setting is accurate. On some devices it will make it's best guess and that's not always correct.
(https://www.cloudynights.com/gallery/image/114330-bluestacks-
on-pc/)
Here I have both apps running under two BlueStacks instances on a dual monitor PC. I have gotten both apps running on my
tablet using the same settings. I also successfully tested having the asiair app on one tablet and skysafari on a pixelbook. Sadly
at this date you can not install the asiair app on pixelbooks. Turning developer mode on for Chrome OS is a none trivial thing if
you are thinking of bypassing the play store and installing the app yourself. But if anyone tries I would love to hear the results.
Posted 04 February 2021 - 07:45 PM
empiredown
I went into Developer Mode on my Chromebook to install ASIAir and SkySafari 6 Pro software by hand. Zero issues. I've yet to
make the full-time jump to using SkySafari point and go for the telescope, vice using ASIAir or SynScan, but it does work. I've
been very pleased with how well, and easily, everything integrates now. A lot easier than expected.
!
Posted 04 February 2021 - 07:59 PM
HeyJP
I have an iOptron CEM70 mount with ZWO AIR controller. I manage the AIR with an iPad that also has Sky Safari. Piece of
cake to get Sky Safari to work thru the AIR to also control your scope.
What I've ended up doing is using Sky Safari as my primary planetarium view of the sky. I use it's Observation Lists to keep
track of objects I want to image and make general observing/imaging decisions using it.
Once I pick a target, I go to AIR, pick the target name and GOTO. AIR takes me to the target then uses plate solving to nail
down the centering automatically. You don't get that with Sky Safari. Then I go back to Sky Safari to pick a tiny star nearby
and use Sky Safari GOTO to frame my picture. (hard to do that with AIR alone). That way I get the framing the way I want it
while AIR still thinks its on the target and names all my image files correctly.
Easier to use this than to explain it!
Jim
Posted 06 February 2021 - 10:23 AM
Jamesgangnc
empiredown, on 04 Feb 2021 - 7:45 PM, said:
I went into Developer Mode on my Chromebook to install ASIAir and SkySafari 6 Pro software by hand. Zero issues. I've yet
to make the full-time jump to using SkySafari point and go for the telescope, vice using ASIAir or SynScan, but it does work.
I've been very pleased with how well, and easily, everything integrates now. A lot easier than expected.
What I read warned me that it would reset my pixelbook to like out of the box so I was scared off developer mode. So I take it
the asiair app is working fine for you on your Chromebook? I would like to be able to use the larger pixelbook screen but
couldn't decide if it was worth it. Some android apps just don't work as well on our pixelbook but it's a very nice piece of
hardware.
Posted 06 February 2021 - 05:40 PM
empiredown
Jamesgangnc, on 06 Feb 2021 - 10:23 AM, said:
What I read warned me that it would reset my pixelbook to like out of the box so I was scared off developer mode. So I take it
the asiair app is working fine for you on your Chromebook? I would like to be able to use the larger pixelbook screen but
couldn't decide if it was worth it. Some android apps just don't work as well on our pixelbook but it's a very nice piece of
hardware.
If you have everything backed up with Google One, Play, etc. it will just take a bit of time to reboot and then reprovision all of
your settings and Apps back to the Chromebook. The start up takes a bit longer, as you go through the Developer Screen, but
it's a small price to pay IMO, since I really only use the Chromebook for minor tasks and my astronomy stuff now. One thing I
did have to do is side load the ASIAir app, though. Again, not difficult at all, I just used another app to send it to my Google
Drive, and then access/downloaded back onto my Chromebook, after setting the Chromebook back up, from there. I just did it
again for the ASIAir app update they did a few days ago as I was having trouble with GoTo stuff last night. The latest update
fixed that.
I just went back through and reset everything to use Sky Safari 6 Pro as well. To do that with ASIAir Pro, and a EQ6-R Pro you
need to set the ASIAir app to EQMod with SkySafari , Baud 115200 (vice any of the SkyWatcher sets) and Sky Safari needs to be
set to Meade LX200 Classic and Equatorial GoTo (German) for the Equipment Selection and IP 10.0.0.1 and Port 9624 in the
Communication Settings. I also checked the Set time and location and Tile device to slew boxes in Common Settings. (All as
shown above and in a few other threads here...)
I can't get Sky Safari to work when I have the ASIAir Pro / app in Station mode to connect to the house wifi, but I haven't been
using that down here (Central TX doesn't get that cold even in winter) but I will keep trying to figure that one out. I am using a
TPLink wifi hotspot/range extended travel router, so it is probably just a matter of getting all the settings synched up on
everything.
Ultimately it all works and after getting everything set is seamless. You can definitely try it this way and if you don't like it, you
can always go back to your normal Chromebook mode by just escaping out of Developer during boot up. That will be the same
process in reverse and then you be back to where you started.
Good luck!
Edited by empiredown, 06 February 2021 - 05:47 PM.
Posted 07 February 2021 - 12:51 PM
Jamesgangnc
When you used the asiair in station mode did you change thr skysafari ip address to the address your router assigned the
asiair? The asiair app will hunt for the device but skysafari has to be told the device's ip address.
I read about the limited wifi range so I decided to put an outdoor outlet box in with a rj45 in it and made up a long ethernet
cable. Put it on one of those orange cord spools. You can go 100 meters with cable and you get gige speed.
Posted 17 December 2021 - 01:37 PM
swoyerrd
Do the CEM70 does work with ASIAIR Pro and Skysafari, any guiding issues, specifically guide calibration, any info would be
very helpful, thx…
Posted 27 March 2022 - 09:52 PM
mmw09
Jamesgangnc, on 03 Feb 2021 - 12:13 PM, said:
Got all of this working on home network. Took some internet searching and experimenting so I thought I would share. I
have it connected via ethernet but the same applies to wifi connections. The asiair app will normally find the device. You will
need to figure out the ip address of the device either with the app or your router. Many routers will let you tie a device to a
constant ip address and that simplifies things going forward. If you are using the device as a hot spot then it's address is
10.0.0.1.
I've gotten this setup to work on both my samsung tablet as well as my desktop pc. If you are interested in using a pc you
need to install an android emulator. The best one around imho is BlueStacks. In BlueStacks you simply use Google play store
to install the apps.
Asiair connected to cameras, mount, and ethernet cable.
Skywatcher AZ-EQ5 with built in usb connection. If you have an older mount you can get an eqmod cable off Amazon pretty
cheap. The newer mounts just have the chip built in. I believe this should work with most of the skywatcher mounts.
For the telescope mount in the asiair app choose EQMod with SkySafari.
In SkySafari choose Meade LX200 classic and equatorial goto. For communications pick connect via wifi no matter how you
are actually connected. Do not auto detect. In ip address enter the asiair's ip address on your home network or 10.0.0.1 if
you are directly wifi connected to the device. Port number is 9624. If you choose to set time and location make sure what is
in the location setting is accurate. On some devices it will make it's best guess and that's not always correct.
Here I have both apps running under two BlueStacks instances on a dual monitor PC. I have gotten both apps running on my
tablet using the same settings. I also successfully tested having the asiair app on one tablet and skysafari on a pixelbook.
Sadly at this date you can not install the asiair app on pixelbooks. Turning developer mode on for Chrome OS is a none trivial
thing if you are thinking of bypassing the play store and installing the app yourself. But if anyone tries I would love to hear
the results.
Thank you for this detail! I have a Skywatcher EQ-6r pro and wanted to drive it with ASIAir Pro via SkySafariPro... I would
never have guessed to select "Meade LX200 Classic" as the telescope and the port number you shared. That seems very
strange... but worked. Thank you!
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