Mach2 Wifi problems #Mach2GTO #WiFi
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ernie.mastroianni@...
Hello all,
Absent the keypad, I've been using SkySafari6 and my iPhone as a hand controller, via WiFi, to nudge the field of view when centering objects for photography. I do this by first initializing the mount via APCC, which is attached to a Windows laptop via RS232. Up to now, it has worked. But today, during daytime testing of connections of the mount inside my house, I can no longer connect to the Mach2 via WiFi after initializing. My phone tells me that my password is incorrect. My Windows laptop also cannot connect to the GTOCP5 wifi network, even though it shows up clearly in my list of available WiFi hotspots (although intermittently). My Mac laptop, which did connect to the Mach2 via Wifi and SkySafari yesterday, is not able to connect to the mount. I have not changed the CP5 from its default settings as a WiFi as a wifi broadcast point. I have not changed the password. It is not connected to my home network. My power is good, the red light shines on the CP5. The mount will run and talk to my PC via the RS232 serial connection. Given that I cannot connect to the CP5 wifi with any of my devices, I suspect a WiFi failure of some sort, or a password that somehow got scrambled without my intervention. Also, the CP5 hotspot will intermittently disappear from my list of available WiFi hotspots. Any ideas out there? Anyone else have WiFi trouble with their Mach2? Thanks, Ernie Mastroianni Ernie Mastroianni The |
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Donald Rudny
Hi Ernie,
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I have had this problem with my CP4 on occasion. It will disconnect in the middle of a session. If I try to reconnect, it asks for the password, but won’t accept it. The only way to reconnect is to recycle power to the CP. With my 1100 mount, I don’t have absolute encoders, so I park the mount with APCC and then reconnect and slew back to my object. With the Mach 2, you can probably just recycle power without having to park because of the AE’s. I have heard others with this problem as well, but AP says they can’t duplicate it. I suspect it has something to do with outside interference in your area. Mine rarely does it, so I can live with that, but it is annoying. Don Rudny Pepeekeo, Hawaii On Sep 11, 2020, at 7:53 AM, ernie.mastroianni@... wrote:
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Ernie,
I would be happy to talk to you about the wifi issues you are experiencing. Like Don mentions, it is a problem we have had trouble replicating here at Astro-Physics; since you have the problem ‘active’ we can do some diagnostics.
Call our number at 815-282-1513.
Liam Plybon Astro-Physics
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Donald Rudny
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2020 13:05 To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Wifi problems #Mach2GTO #WiFi
Hi Ernie,
I have had this problem with my CP4 on occasion. It will disconnect in the middle of a session. If I try to reconnect, it asks for the password, but won’t accept it. The only way to reconnect is to recycle power to the CP. With my 1100 mount, I don’t have absolute encoders, so I park the mount with APCC and then reconnect and slew back to my object. With the Mach 2, you can probably just recycle power without having to park because of the AE’s.
I have heard others with this problem as well, but AP says they can’t duplicate it. I suspect it has something to do with outside interference in your area. Mine rarely does it, so I can live with that, but it is annoying. Don Rudny Pepeekeo, Hawaii
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I have had this problem too. Very intermittent and not reproducible on command. My solution is to simply cycle power on the CP4. No need to park the mount first, since the CP2/3/4/5's all have an awesome brownout power feature, they always remember where they are when power is restored, absolute encoders or not. Just cycle the power on the CPx and do a fresh GOTO to your target of interest. On Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 8:10 AM Liam Plybon <liam@...> wrote:
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Joe Zeglinski
Ernie,
Which “Update version” of Win-10 are you running on
(perhaps # 2004 ?).
With deference and due respect to Bill Long, I have
recently started having “system-erased password” problems connecting to the ISP,
using my old Live Mail program, now periodically asking for my password on
Win-10 Reboot, possibly under other situations repeating at a later time,
after I provide the same password again. Seemed to pop up at random during the
day even without reboot, and reduced as I started eliminating suspect
apps. Never did that in the past. Something has changed in that wonderful
update’s improvements, and I have been chasing the new culprit on a few
PC’s besides mine, for over a month.
Check the location (or settings), where your password is
“supposed to have been stored”, to see if it is now blank, until you
respond with it again and it gets automatically refilled there. Maybe your
situation is similar.
Windows Control Panel- User Accounts – Credentials
is supposed to remember a specified password for some Application(s) and visited
websites, which you can check by giving your Win-10 login password to open the
hidden ones.
Or for your “named WiFi network”, check for the password under Network
& Sharing Center – the Wireless Properties tab (for that WiFi
network), in the Security tab, to see if it got erased. However, the
latter has been untouched on my system, so far.
Joe
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Joe,
I do not think this is an issue with Ernie’s Windows system. Since the problem is manifesting on multiple systems (mobile device, Windows 10, and a Mac) it is more likely an issue with either the settings in the CP4 or a potential hardware problem. Often we find that general operating system changes, updates and incompatibilities are at the root of an issue, but the wifi issue Ernie describes is occurring on all operating systems.
Liam Plybon
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Joe Zeglinski
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2020 15:00 To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Wifi problems #Mach2GTO #WiFi
Ernie,
Which “Update version” of Win-10 are you running on (perhaps # 2004 ?).
With deference and due respect to Bill Long, I have recently started having “system-erased password” problems connecting to the ISP, using my old Live Mail program, now periodically asking for my password on Win-10 Reboot, possibly under other situations repeating at a later time, after I provide the same password again. Seemed to pop up at random during the day even without reboot, and reduced as I started eliminating suspect apps. Never did that in the past. Something has changed in that wonderful update’s improvements, and I have been chasing the new culprit on a few PC’s besides mine, for over a month.
Check the location (or settings), where your password is “supposed to have been stored”, to see if it is now blank, until you respond with it again and it gets automatically refilled there. Maybe your situation is similar.
Windows Control Panel- User Accounts – Credentials is supposed to remember a specified password for some Application(s) and visited websites, which you can check by giving your Win-10 login password to open the hidden ones. Or for your “named WiFi network”, check for the password under Network & Sharing Center – the Wireless Properties tab (for that WiFi network), in the Security tab, to see if it got erased. However, the latter has been untouched on my system, so far.
Joe |
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Joe Zeglinski
Thanks for clarifying this, Liam,
Glad you are on-board. Keep up the good work.
Joe
From: Liam
Plybon
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2020 4:28 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Wifi problems #Mach2GTO
#WiFi Joe,
I do not think this is an issue with Ernie’s Windows system. Since the problem is manifesting on multiple systems (mobile device, Windows 10, and a Mac) it is more likely an issue with either the settings in the CP4 or a potential hardware problem. Often we find that general operating system changes, updates and incompatibilities are at the root of an issue, but the wifi issue Ernie describes is occurring on all operating systems.
Liam Plybon
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Donald Rudny
Thanks, Chris for the tip on not having to park. I didn’t know that. I’ll try it next time.
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Don Don Rudny Pepeekeo, Hawaii On Sep 11, 2020, at 9:09 AM, Christopher Erickson <christopher.k.erickson@...> wrote: |
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Dominique Durand
Hi,
With Mach2 / CP5 I also have an equivalent problem. When the mount is connected to the PC via USB3 the CP5 network disappears from the networks visible on the smarphone and on the PC and for indication if I hold the antennas of the CP5 between my fingers it reappears. I have tried different combinations, but what is certain is that the CP5 / PC connection disturbs the WIFI hopspot of the CP5. I have no password worries and with the CP4 of my previous Mach1 I have never noticed this problem. Dominique |
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My CP-4 has always had an issue with maintaining wireless connections with 3 different Android devices (phones, tablets)...and others have same issue with some Apple products. I reported this about 4 years ago and even after all firmware updates I (and others) have the same issues. Out of frustration I got a SkyFi wireless device and it has been trouble free, maintains the connection over very long distances. I suspect it may be the wifi module used in the CP mounts. I know AP in many cases weren't able to duplicate the issue with various connections but ok on others. I am OK with using the SKYFI module but a little put out that that was one of the reasons for upgrading from my 900 CP 3 setup to the 1100 CP 4 although all the other enhancements made it worthwhile. I still have the old 900 CP 3 mount for field use and the 1100 CP 4 is for permanent setup. I know at one point AP was considering working with the owner and engineer of the SKYFi module and SkySafari to help figure it out but evidently never happened.
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Dominique,
When you say you connected the PC to the mount with USB3, are you saying you connected the PC to the through-mount cable? The CP5 can only use a USB2 cable, since USB3 will not fit in the receptacle. I am interested in trying to replicate as close to how you experience it as I can. If you are willing to spend some time with me working on the issue, I would really appreciate it. I want to find a solution to the issue. -- Liam Plybon Astro-Physics |
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Dominique Durand
On Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 04:29 PM, Liam Plybon wrote:
Dominique,Hi Liam, Great. Lately I have been focusing on modeling and photos, because the WIFi was not essential, but in July I did a lot of tests to see under what conditions the WIFI worked and when it didn't. not. I can repeat his tests of course. I had also solved the problem it seems to me by moving the CP5 away from the stand which has 3 stainless steel threaded rods for the support of the frame. I put a diagram of my installation which beyond the WIFi works perfectly with speeds of 200 to 300mo / s for the USB3. Dominique |
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Dominique Durand
Hi Liam,
Hi All, In my case, the problem was not that the CP5 was not emitting enough when the computer was plugged in, but that it was emitting too much with the antenna active. The new CP5 manual with the chapter TROUBLESHOOTING, TIPS AND SUPPORT gives the solution. With the antenna lying down or not but surrounded by an aluminum foil no more worries. I just tested. Clear Skies Dominique |
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I might suggest that you can circumvent the entire issue of nudging the mount for centering by using plate solves and centering in a program like SGP which will quickly and easily autocenter the object you want to photograph.
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On Sun, Sep 27, 2020 at 05:55 PM, Peter Bresler wrote:
I might suggest that you can circumvent the entire issue of nudging the mount for centering by using plate solves and centering in a program like SGP which will quickly and easily autocenter the object you want to photograph.Hi Peter, Subject error can be, here it is the WIFI of the GTOCP5 which is in discussion. Clear Skies Dominiquer |
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Dominique,
Good to hear you were able to restore operation to the system. Also good to hear that the manual was of use! I would still be interested to know if the issue was the CP5 emitting too strongly or some type of interference, but that isn’t something I can decipher from AP. If you feel the urge to test things beyond what you have already done, I would be interested to know what the signal strength is at a couple of positions in your observatory with the antenna extended vs flat. For on the go testing, I use a free app on my phone that displays all of the WiFi signals in the area and their relative strengths, as well as the channels they are on. There are a number of apps that do the same thing, so you should be able to find ones that you enjoy for free. On Android, I have used WiFiAnalyzer and WiFi Analyzer successfully. Checking the WiFi signals in front of the CP5 and in front of your computer with the antenna up and down would show if it really was an issue of strength, or possibly some type of interference.
Liam
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Dominique Durand via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2020 4:24 To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Wifi problems #Mach2GTO #WiFi
Hi Liam, |
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Dominique Durand
Hi Liam,
With a little time for observations, I will find the time to make these tests and measurements to see what it is. Losing the hotspot on my smartphone placed at 1m and on my PC located at 2m50 left me with a big weakening of the signal and especially the fact of finding it by holding the antenna between my fingers. But I'm not particular in his fields of course. See you soon then. Clear Skies Dominique |
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Dominique Durand
Hi Liam
So I made some measurements with WIFI Analyzer, and it goes from -35db to -80db depending on my position compared to the CP5, but the problem is that when I turn on the computer with the USB3 connected and the antenna raised , the GTOCP5 hotspot disappears, so no measure possible of course. When I put the aluminum foil back on the antenna the hotspot reappears. I also made another test with a small USB2 extension cable (50cm) on the connection to my computer and there with the antenna raised and without aluminum foil the hotspot also reappears !!! This suggests that the "USB3" stream creates interference via the antenna which goes as far as "hiding" the hotspot, because if I move the CP5 away from the USB3 cable it works again. You should be able to reproduce this situation I think. Best regards Dominique |
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Roland Christen
Your USB3 cable is probably not shielded, so it creates interference.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dominique Durand via groups.io <dom33.durand@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Wed, Sep 30, 2020 9:52 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Wifi problems #Mach2GTO #WiFi Hi Liam
So I made some measurements with WIFI Analyzer, and it goes from -35db to -80db depending on my position compared to the CP5, but the problem is that when I turn on the computer with the USB3 connected and the antenna raised , the GTOCP5 hotspot disappears, so no measure possible of course. When I put the aluminum foil back on the antenna the hotspot reappears. I also made another test with a small USB2 extension cable (50cm) on the connection to my computer and there with the antenna raised and without aluminum foil the hotspot also reappears !!! This suggests that the "USB3" stream creates interference via the antenna which goes as far as "hiding" the hotspot, because if I move the CP5 away from the USB3 cable it works again. You should be able to reproduce this situation I think. Best regards Dominique |
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Dominique Durand
On Wed, Sep 30, 2020 at 06:23 PM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
Thanks Rolando, I'm not sure they are actually armored and so that explains it. I'll check by surrounding those near the CP5 with aluminum foil. On the other hand, the fact of putting a small Usb2 extension cable in the path eliminates the problem. Best Regards Dominique |
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