Celestron Skyportal WIFI Module Review - Control your Celestron Telescope / mount with your Phone!

[@philsastroimaging3908]

SkyPortal module works just fine with the Pro versions of SkySafari 6 and 7. Even has focuser control for the Celestron Focus Motor. I'm using an old iphone 6s plus, no issues. Mount is a CGX, btw.

[@AVTAstro]

Maybe I could not get it to work with mine since its v5! Thanks for the input.

[@Astronurd]

Celestron overcharging again. I have the equivalent Skywatcher WiFi dongle that is the exact same thing, but for the Synta(Skywatcher) equipment. I can almost buy three of them for the one Celestron. I can control my HEQ5 as well as my 127 Maksutov Go to. Definitely a great little gadget

[@AVTAstro]

Well I cant comment on Celestron's pricing structure but a lot of astro gear is way more expensive right now due to the supply shortages.

[@Astronurd]

@@AVTAstro No it’s always been overpriced even before this ordeal. The Skywatcher one does everything that the Celestron one does for approximately a third of the price

[@carolmatt2959]

So proud of you, but not as much as you are of yourself, I’m sure.

[@michaelfrazier9537]

So, I finally purchased it tonight. One question, if I am away from home, I would use my "hotspot" connection on my phone, right?

[@AVTAstro]

No Hotspot is needed. You connecting directly into the unit. I guess it's kind of like the hotspot👍

[@michaelfrazier9537]

So, is there any alignment process with the wifi? I mean, do you have to align using Auto 2 Star or 3 star alignment? Thank you for the video

[@AVTAstro]

Yes you still align the scope the same way. Your welcome👍

[@allengold7211]

I have two, one for my AVX Mount and another for my Cgem Mount. From 20 feet away, the signal disconnects constantly and they have proved themselves a waste of money. I now have two Asiairs.

[@AVTAstro]

Yeah i was not too impressed with the range but i guess it depends on how you want to use it. If using it right at the scope its not an issue at all.

[@jeffreymartin1489]

I could get it to align the first night, but not the following nights. It's like it is fixated on its first night alignment. I tried purging the app's cache with no better results. Next, I'll try reinstalling the app when the sky clears. I was happy the first night. Frustrated thereafter. One more thing, manual control with the phone was not great for me. I went back to the Celestron controller for that. But having it move the scope after alignment was nice. Thanks for this review

[@AVTAstro]

Good luck, and he's I think re-installing should do the trick I would think

[@alexcarrillo1410]

Hi there. What if I take my 130slt somewhere in the middle of nowhere where I would have no cellphone reception? Would this device work for me then?

[@AVTAstro]

Hi, yes you do not need cell service to have this work.

[@alexcarrillo1410]

@@AVTAstro thanks. You saved me some money. Is the 130 slt pretty simple to navigate without this accessory?

[@John-ex7fo]

So how do you connect the thing up to the phone.

[@AVTAstro]

With WiFi.

[@Zinuki]

I got one and it didnt come with that wifi connector thingy

[@AVTAstro]

Well Celestron scopes don't come with them. This is an ad-on accessory.

[@petercastronovo9370]

Do you need a tablet that has compass, if so what Samsung Tablet would you recommend.

[@AVTAstro]

Hi, I do not believe so on the compass. I like larger screens for sky atlases(otherwise I might as well be using my smartphone). This looks like a nice unit with a good resolution screen: amzn.to/3ULznyQ

[@scoot1632]

I live north of you in the Puget Sound area. We haven't had clear skies for a month! Any chance you could post a link to the Sky Fi dongle you said works with most scopes? Thanks for the video!

[@AVTAstro]

Sure here it is: skysafariastronomy.com/skyfi-3-professional-astronomy-telescope-control.html Best, Vlad.

[@DronemanJoeRc]

I have the 127 and do you have to do the 3 star align with this, before you use it? can you explain a bit more in detail to me. Thank you.

[@AVTAstro]

Hi, yes you would do the alignment as you normally would. Wall that this device allows you to do it to control your scope with your phone/tablet vie WIFI.

[@DronemanJoeRc]

@@AVTAstro so your saying every time I take out my scope I have to do the 3 star align. does the app do auto tracking once I lock onto a object or do I have to manual correct. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@AVTAstro]

Yes you will need to do the alignment ever time unless you buy a Starsence(see my review here on YT). But yes the scope will track any object after the alignment is done.

[@Ojibwas]

How do you do an alignment with the app? Will it do it automatically are do you have to do it manually?

[@AVTAstro]

You still do it just like you would without the dongle.

[@YASAJTV]

@YASAJTV 0 seconds ago Has someone figure out if we can have internet as well in the PC while connected to this dongle?

[@AVTAstro]

Wish I could help but I'll let more expert people on this product pitch in!

[@mooretalk5351]

Does this auto align the scope to your current gps coordinates?

[@AVTAstro]

Hi, no it does not

[@stephensastrobalcony9347]

I’ve had mine for just over a year and for some reason I can no longer detect it on my phone. The two lights are on but the second light that usually flashes quickly is flashing really slow like it would with low batteries but I am using an electrical outlet for power. Any idea what might be happening as it doesn’t connect with either scopes that I use. When it does work it’s great though.

[@AVTAstro]

Sorry never seen that, hopefully someone else can offer some advice.

[@Lyrenoorfeu]

I had a similar issue with it because I changed my router configuration so the module would connect to it having a wrong password. Try connect the module via direct mode with your home wifi turned off. That solved my problem.

[@joeljones3765]

How can I get the Skyfi? (Sp?) I can’t locate it

[@AVTAstro]

www.celestron.com/pages/skyportal-mobile-app

[@Cornz38]

By far and away THE biggest waste of money ive ever spent. Tried 3 tablets, 2 phones and it will just drop the connection minutes after connecting, ASSUMING it will connect which 9/10, it wouldn't. An absolutely useless piece of crap.

[@AVTAstro]

Did you try to contact Celestron for a replacement? Sounds like you got a defect.

[@Cornz38]

I did and they did not want to know. After updating all the firmwares for my devices, last night i tried again and despite the scope being 1 meter away it would connect then justdrop and refuse to re connect. I smashed it to pieces last night as i had had my fill of it.