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[cuivenion]

Hi I remember talking to you on SGL a couple of months ago about your new bluetooth modules and that you where in the process of having them built and then tested. I was just wondering how the testing went and when they might be available for sale?

[TCWORLD]

Unfortunately there were some issues with the prototype. I am working on the next version at the moment. If that goes according to plan there should be some available in time for Christmas.

[TCWORLD]

Hi again,

Good news. I've made a new AstroEQTooth prototype, which with the exception a minor PCB design issue that I've now fixed, seems to be working as expected.

Essentially when a USB cable is plugged in, the Bluetooth module is disabled and AstroEQ appears as a USB-Serial device as usual. This allows for a wired mode, and for updating the configuration. When the USB cable is removed, but there is still power applied, the Bluetooth is enabled and AstroEQ can be controlled wirelessly.

The next time I'll be back in the UK is Easter (about 12 weeks from now). I'm going to make some AstroEQTooth modules for then.

Kind Regards,
Tom.

[adfuller]

Hi Tom,
Did you get around to building the new bluetooth at Easter? Would it be something I could plug into my existing AstroEq and if so what are their capabilities? i.e. Would it be possible to connect it to an android tablet/phone via something like Sky Safari App?
Cheers
Andrew

[TCWORLD]

Hi Andrew,

Unfortunately I didn't get the time to assemble any. Managed to get a load of AstroEQs built, but the Bluetooth modules have many tiny and fiddly parts to solder. I've brought the boards back to the states with me and will try to get some made up if I can find some time.

The Bluetooth would still require EQMOD. SkySafari doesn't talk Synta, so it's not possible to make the two talk without some kind of translation. I've been looking in to making something that can translate between LX200 and Synta, but its not an easy task and given that I spend all day programming stuff at work, I lack the enthusiasm to investigate LX200 when I get home.

Tom.

[doramason]

Which bluetooth module are you planning to use and is it possible to add this to the DIY Astroeq? And also to the Arduino based version?

[fsr]

Hi Andrew,

Unfortunately I didn't get the time to assemble any. Managed to get a load of AstroEQs built, but the Bluetooth modules have many tiny and fiddly parts to solder. I've brought the boards back to the states with me and will try to get some made up if I can find some time.

The Bluetooth would still require EQMOD. SkySafari doesn't talk Synta, so it's not possible to make the two talk without some kind of translation. I've been looking in to making something that can translate between LX200 and Synta, but its not an easy task and given that I spend all day programming stuff at work, I lack the enthusiasm to investigate LX200 when I get home.

Tom.

In fact, Sky Safary talks Synta, but the hand controller protocol, not the motor controller protocol, which seems to be what AstroEQ uses, right? That means that for it to work you would need to give SS the position the telescope is pointing to, in RA and DEC directly. Not an easy task, if you must support a wide range of mounts, with different ratios, DIY, etc. At least not easy to do with the same microcontroller that is managing the steppers.

The hand controller protocol is this one: http://www.skywatcher.com/download/manual/synscan-pc-command-set/ , but it lacks some important details: a full revolution in RA is 24 hours, or 360 degrees, with 0x1000000 possible values (0 to 0xFFFFFF), but DEC must be in the range of +90 to -90 degrees, so 0x400000 to 0xC00000. Well, in fact uses 4 bytes, not 3, but the last byte must always be 00.

Since i see you're going to make a smart hand controller, that information is probably useful to you, assuming you didn't had it already. You could then put a bluetooth module on the hand controller, in case you're interested.

Sky Safari doesn't really have a lot of options to control a telescope, anyways. It has manual movement at different rates, goto, cancel goto, and has an align option, but for some reason, align for synta is just some kind of "local alignment" (take a look at SS documentation to get an idea). The best part would be that you can see where the telescope is pointing, but SS won't act as a full goto controller, it would only ask a goto hand controller to perform that operations. I suppose it works the same way for any telescope. I hadn't upgraded to the last SS version, however, i'm using SS 4 Plus.

Regards,