TheSkySearchers

Hi
OK so I started using my EQM-35 everything went ok.

I have already emailed SkyWatcher Support , but figured I'd ask here as well if anyone has had similar issue.

Decided to update the firmware on the WiFi Adapter and It fails


Trying again fails

Now the WiFi adapter no longer works , My iPad still connects to it but The SynScan App (on iPad) no longer finds the WiFi Access point. (aka SynScan Wi-Fi Adapter)

Thank you

One thing I have been disappointed in when it comes to the various pieces of astro-specific gear I have purchased is the rather poor documentation that comes along with everything. I have almost exclusively relied on forums and YouTube videos to understand how and why everything works.

I have the same mount as you. However, since I control it with an ASIAIR, I don't use the wifi dongle anymore, and I never did a firmware update while I was using it. So, I'm not of much help. I did find this document online. It makes mention on item 4 of a factory reset. However, it sort of reads like it is talking about a factory reset for the password, not the firmware. So, it may not be useful at all, but I thought I would at least share it on the off chance.

Hi,

So the IPad sees the SynSCan hotspot but the SynScan App installed on the IPad does not? That's an odd one. What you just described is the equivalent of bricking a device. Whenever you update firmware on a device, you take the chance of turning it into a brick. If that happens, usually the only recourse is company tech support, if they can even help. I wish I could help but the only thing I can offer at this point is that "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" I've learned that lesson a few times over the last forty some odd years of working with personal computers, Mac or PC, makes no difference and devices that have "updateable" firmware.

I "love" those docs. They tell you that you can reset the password after the hotspot has been up for an hour but it fails to tell you just how to do it. That is not a factory reload of firmware, but a factory reset to default settings, it might help if you can get to it and figure out how to do it. While I ride on Sky Watchers, I don't use WiFi to connect to my mounts, other reasons.

Good luck with Tech Support, I am curious to learn of your experience with them since both my mounts are Sky Watcher and the one time I asked a question, I never got a response from them.

Clear Skies,
Chris

chris_g wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 2:10 pm Hi,

So the IPad sees the SynSCan hotspot but the SynScan App installed on the IPad does not? That's an odd one. What you just described is the equivalent of bricking a device. Whenever you update firmware on a device, you take the chance of turning it into a brick. If that happens, usually the only recourse is company tech support, if they can even help. I wish I could help but the only thing I can offer at this point is that "if it isn't broke, don't fix it"

That's why I have not updated my Nikon camera to the latest firmware as it has nothing I need. I've done it a few times with Nikon.
Should have waited on the SynScan, as I was just able to start using it yesterday and then decided to update as the version was older and the update is needed for one of the apps. as per what I read.

I will for sure keep everyone updated. I did get the standard auto reply. Hopefully they reply soon.

Now I need to figure out how to control the mount , I need to try the PC control, but I only have one old XP 32bit netbook , and my New windows 11 Desktop .
I want to at least check that the Motor control box still works.
I don't want to buy a hand controller as that is why I bought the WiFi version (to save money) will see how that turns out.
I just got my 12volt Bluetti power unit last night. it works great EB 55 it even has a wireless charger for my old Phone Galaxy S7 , mind you it seems to cut off the charge before it gets full, not sure why but no big deal it has 5 USB connections, 4 AC and 3 DC 12V

chris_g wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 2:10 pm
I wish I could help but the only thing I can offer at this point is that "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" I've learned that lesson a few times over the last forty some odd years.

Clear Skies,
Chris

Spot on Chris! Especially with firmware updates.

Software updates can be troublesome too, so I usually back them up before updating just in case. No so with firmware.

I used to hold back on software updates for the same reason, but I found that I was missing out on too much. Software can be backed up though.

Best of success MBN and please let us know how this goes.

modelsbynight wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 4:06 pm I don't want to buy a hand controller as that is why I bought the WiFi version (to save money) will see how that turns out.

I run wired; I'm running power any way so why not an ethernet cable at the same time? it's more reliable than WiFi and that much faster. You're also not limited to 25 to 50 feet distance. And in my case, 20 feet max in the wintertime and then the RDP connections still likes to drop. And it won't cost you but an ethernet cable. You can get a cross over version of the cable if you want to connect two PC's directly together or get a cheap switch, almost all switches run on 12v now, so you can run it off your battery when you go remote. You'll have to be aware how to configure networking on your PCs.

Good luck with tech support.

Clear Skies,
Chris

From reading on a couple of other sites Skywatcher seems to be having issues with the latest update.
If you cannot get any help from tech support request a replacement module.

Juno16 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 4:21 pm Software updates can be troublesome too, so I usually back them up before updating just in case. No so with firmware.

I used to hold back on software updates for the same reason, but I found that I was missing out on too much. Software can be backed up though.

Software updates, depends on who's doing the updating. if it's Microsoft, I wait at least two years!

I tried to connect the control box from the RJ45 to my switch, it does make a connection. Guess that it is wired differently.
I do have a USB connector and trying to setup EQMOD however one of the steps is to connect to the EQM35 control box via WiFi to setup something before going to the final setup.

Did you succeed in getting it working again? I seem to have the same problem here now

avdhoeven wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 6:55 pm Did you succeed in getting it working again? I seem to have the same problem here now

No I have not mind you I took a break from working on it. mainly due to weather and also took a 10 day cottage break.
But will start figuring it out again.

HAVE YOU figured it out already.

I also bought a really cheap Celestron telescope with the worlds cheapest mount. Did manage to see the Moon last night with it. I will need to do lot of upgrades to it

Here's a thread claiming that updates to the motor controller can be done directly over USB (via a serial USB-to-ethernet adapter to the RJ-45 port I presume). Have you tried updating the firmware over USB? There is some more information on that thread that could be useful.

I let it powered on for 24h without connecting and tried again and it worked again. So maybe that could work.

My mount is dead aswell after a failed update, wifi shows "synscan" only but the app wont conect to the mount.. i left the mount on with nothing connected for about 1hr 30 mins, manual said 1hr to reset and still doesnt work. My mount is a skywatcher 150 heritate virtuoso gti

Have you contacted Skywatcher tech support to see if they can suggest anything?

Yes but no reply, i just wanted to see if anyone has ever got the update working through the synscan usb adapter first because ive read alot of posts that mentioned it

Just a thought, did your USB adapter come with its own drivers?
Sometimes letting the computer pick does not load certain necessities.

I have had to delete adapters and make sure the computer loads the factory drivers before they would work properly.

theres been plenty of time where i've taken chips out and just flash them the old away xd , drivers are such a pain, here's an idea, try flashing in a virtual os

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/11292883655 ... 52VT8TKC2N

I dont have the adapter yet, update failed when trying to update through the mount wifi, now i ordered the synscan usb adapter to connect the mount directly, hopefully this will work out because at the moment the mount is totally useless

Hopefully this will help.
I know the older Celestron Nexstar and Nexstar+ could be very touchy on what adapters and drivers were used, including if your anti virus would let the program through.