ASIAIR Connecting To HEM27EC: Page 2

ASIAIR Connecting To HEM27EC

WalterT

I haven’t seen you mention whether you have tried the wireless connection or not. I don’t have this mount but I do have a GEM28 which I control wirelessly with my AAP.

For my mount, when the HC is connected it creates a WiFi hotspot, you then connect the AAP to the hotspot, select the mount in the telescope menu, and connect it.

i don’t remember if the hotspot requires a password or not or if you need to enter a port number in the telescope (mount) menu and I can’t check for you because I can’t open the app without being next to the AAP powered on (a super annoying “feature”)

enaiman

I have the same mount and I got it working right.
First: not all USB cables will work so try another cable before dismissing the USB connection.
I have my HEM27 EC connected at HC USB Port to one of the USB ports on my 2600MC (hub) and I am using the CEM 40 (new one) preset to connect in AA. Absolutely no problem.

I have tried to connect to the USB B port on the mount itself but it wouldn't connect no matter the preset or baud rate.
Also, it seems like the IP connectivity is very limited on this particular mount because I haven't found a way to change the IP - without being able to do that I can't see how it can be connected wirelessly to AA.

Anyway - in summary - connect USB port on the HC to a hub and chose CEM40 - it will work.

PMTeam@ZWO

enaiman Thanks for you info~

Kingsley

enaiman Yeah it worked with the USB to a hub and CEM40... strange as when I use my CEM40 I have to select CEM120! ..... Looking for an update @ASIAIR@ZWO 😃

hfhenrichs

I get the HEM27EC wirelessly connected with the ASIAir, but not with any USB cable and connected as described above, also not through the ASI294MC hub.
It works for the ASIAir, ASIAir Pro and ASIAir Plus.
The handbox should be connected, as it contains the WiFi.
Put the ASIAir in Station Mode, and connect to the HBX8409xxx WiFi.
The info shows the gateway 10.10.100.254.
Use this for the mount Ethernet settings, with port 8899, TCP.
(These numbers showed up when connecting the iOptron Commander 8 wirelessly.)

Kingsley

hfhenrichs Hi HFHenrichs,

Ok, I'm struggling a little here.... can you step me through this, I'm struggling a little bit.

I have the handcontroller in... thats where I loose you 😃

Do I then change the wifi on my phone to the HBX not ASIAir? I think I'm also struggling a bit with Station mode too. I've found it on the app, but not sure of what settings I am specifically changing. So far it has the ASIAIR+ listed.

Cheers

Kingsley

Hi HFHenrichs,

Ok, I'm struggling a little here.... can you step me through this, I'm struggling a little bit.

I have the handcontroller in... thats where I loose you 😃

Cheers

Kingsley

hfhenrichs

Hi Kingsley,
Here are screenshots from the steps in the ASIAir App, which I connected to a ASIAir V1 to control a HEM27(EC) wirelessly.
I have verified that it works identically for the ASIAir Pro and Plus.
In your case connect the WiFi of your phone always to the ASIAir Plus, as can be confirmed in step 1 below.
These figures are supposed to be self-explanatory, if needed to be accompanied by my previous note.
Make sure that in step 3 the HBX8409-xxx is selected, which makes the WiFi connection between the ASIAir and the mount's WiFi.
In step 5 the selected mount is iOptron CEM26/GEM28/HEM27.
The IP address corresponds to the gateway address in step 4, which was provided as info, so nothing to be entered there.
The WiFi IP address and Port are also mentioned in the HEM27 manual, see section 5.4.10, to be accessed by the handbox. It is an open connection, so there is no password. It also allows to restart or reset the WiFi module.
I emphasize that no USB cable is required, but that the handbox should be attached to the mount.

May I add that the CEM40 has no internal WiFi and therefore the connection method is very different, unless an external WiFi adapter is attached, in which case the connection procedure will be essentially the same as the one described here.
I hope this helps. If for some reason it does not work immediately, just start over from the beginning, with a restarted ASIAir and App. The next time, all settings will be remembered.

Cheers - Huib

Kingsley

hfhenrichs Thanks so much Huib, that is very helpful... I will give it another go. I did try the station mode and connect to the HBX, but it asks for a password to connect. I have tried resetting the ASIAIR to overright any settings, but it keeps asking for a password. I have tried 12345678 and 00000000 with no success. Any thoughts?

Also can I confirm you had the handset plugged in, handset>HEM27, but no cable from handset to the ASIAIR?

Thanks so much you've been amazing

Cheers

Kings

Kingsley

hfhenrichs stranger and stranger.... I got it to work... though it kept disconnecting the ASIAIR. I then switched everything off and on again, and when I tried the sequence again, the HBX asked for the password again... weird.

hughes

hfhenrichs thanks for the detailed explanation. I would like to resurrect this topic since I have an iOptron HAE29 on order. Everything I have seen indicates that the wireless connection to the hand controller uses Station Mode to the hand controller hotspot. That means that you cannot then use Station Mode to connect to your home network, correct? That's been the way I have been using my ASIair Plus very reliably.

If the hand controller supported a mode where it could also connect to your home network then you could have both. My iExos100 has the same issue, you can connect to it as a hotspot but it cannot connect to another network.

Thanks again.

hfhenrichs

Hi Kings,
I updated my note above, to be more complete.

Only the ASIAir needs to connect to the handset (HBX), not the phone which is Wifi connected to the ASIAir.
The HBX Wifi is an open connection, so no password is required.
The HBX Settings menu contains the WiFi Option to restart the module or factory reset, which may help in case it got somehow confused. (BTW, the password 12345678 goes with ZWO products, not iOptron.)

I confirm that there is no USB cable involved, nor from the HBX, nor from the mount, which I find very convenient.

BTW I had a very, very hard time to unplug the USB cable that came with the mount once plugged into the HBX. I tried several other USB cables, which plugged and unplugged much easier, but with none of cables I could get a serial connection with the ASIAir.

Somewhat off-topic: I also use this Station Mode for other mounts with WiFi, like GM1000, obviously with different IP and Port. Saves a cable.

Clear skies - Huib

Kingsley

hfhenrichs hfhenrichs Thanks so much Huib.... this is a brilliant thread and sooooo useful. I have got the cabled version to work, and now doing the wifi option.

Also got some feedback from iOptron...

"The password should 12345678. You may try:
Open web browser and type in http://10.10.100.254. Enter admin as both User Name and Password when an authentication window opens."

So if anyone else gets that problem they have the info.

I'll let you know about the outcome....

FireNWater

To get my ASAIR Pro to connect to my HEM27EC mount using USB, I had to re-flash the SD card with new firmware from ZWO. Then the USB has to connect from the AA to the handset (not the mount). This is not necessary for the ASAIR Plus.

andyonroad1969

FireNWater Which firmware did you use please

FireNWater

andyonroad1969

how-to-make-your-new-skywatcher-mount-connect-to-the-asiair-pro.pdf

135kB

This .PDF has all the instructions to re-flash the SD card on your ASIAir Pro to get it to work using USB connection with the HEM27EC.

I have also recently found a bug where the ASIAir Pro / HEM27EC communications will fail when a meridian flip is commanded while using Wi-Fi control. However, this doesn't happen when using the USB connection. I have notified iOptron support, but haven't heard back from ZWO support yet.

enaiman

iOptron should allow the IP address of the hand controller to be changed and be able to join an external network. Haven't seen this in a very-very long time. I don't think the IP is "burnt" into the unit so why not make it editable?
I can understand they were in a hurry to bring this new mount to the market and they rushed it but now they have time to fix and polish.
Another issue I have is their use of power plug for the main DC connection - they used a 5.5 2.5mm connector.
Why the 2.5 mm when everybody else is using the 2.1 mm? And by the way, the DEC saddle connector is 2.1 mm ... and all the connectors on my CEM40 are 2.1.

w7ay

enaiman Why the 2.5 mm when everybody else is using the 2.1 mm?

Possibly it is because the current draw of their design exceeds the specifications for the typical 5.5mm/2.1mm barrel connector.

And by the way, the DEC saddle connector is 2.1 mm

That actually is good engineering practice, since that 2.1mm connector is also sourced by the 2.5mm connector. If the former is also 2.5mm, that outlet can potentially draw more than the latter is rated for.

Most hobby products, like from ZWO, ingores the problems and hazzards of using 2.1mm center pins. From your desciption, the iOptron appears to abide by good enginnering practice. Another one that I came across that follows good engineering practice is deepskydad's 12V DC hub whose input has a connector that is 2.5mm, while the five outlets are 2.1mm.

This one is quite typical of the plastic PCB barrel jacks (notice 2.5A max rating -- even the Peltier cooler of cameras draw more than that):

https://www.mouser.com/catalog/additional/Gravitech_CON_SOCJ_2155.jpg

while this one with a 2.5mm center pin (notice bigger chunks of metal) can take 10A:

https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/670/pj_082bh-1779031.pdf

FWIW, I use the 10A to 15A PowerPoles to interconnect power for all of my instrumentation, and only adapts to the 5.5mm/2.1mm when needed.

Chen

enaiman

w7ay
That could be true and it makes me wonder what would be the difference between those two in terms of maximum power drawn. I haven't been able to find the right connector for 2.1 mm on Mouser website but I found one 2.1mm connector which is rated 7A at 20V and that would make it good for about 11A at 12V
https://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/CUI-Devices/PR-2155?qs=%252BEew9%252B0nqrDXc8k%2FA8GUUQ%3D%3D
I would agree with your point here Chen but lazy design is still a small possibiliy 🙂

w7ay

enaiman connector which is rated 7A at 20V and that would make it good for about 11A at 12V

Connectors (and twinlead wires) are not quite spec'ed that way. Maximum current has to do with the allowed IR (current*resistance) drop; i.e. -- heat generated by contact resistance and also voltage drop across the contact; so based on current -- the voltage spec has to do with insulation).

For example, I would not use a connector that is rated for 7A/20V at 11A/12V -- I would still obey the 7A maximum. And I also will not apply more than 20V across it even if I only pass 1 mA.

This is for connectors with known specs, like what you get from Mouser (a Berkshire Hathaway [Warren Buffet] company, by the way) or DigiKey. I would derate the no-name Amazon interconnects by half of a typical connector that you can buy at Mouser.

I have used a number of CUI stuff (including their DC-DC converters, when I needed a stable power source for a GPS-disciplined oscillator that I designed some years ago) and found them to be quite reasonable.

but lazy design is still a small possibiliy

Yep. I agree, considering the company :-).

Chen

andyonroad1969

FireNWater Thank You

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