HBG3 Questions and answers from Cloudy nights forum - Mraanderson/HBG3 GitHub Wiki

Q & A recovered from Cloudy Nights forum

Q) I'm not sure where to go next ...

A) Install SkyPortal on a smartphone or tablet, connect that device to the HomeBrew-xxxxxx WiFi, tell it to STAY connected (maybe "forget" the home WiFi for now), and then run SkyPortal in Direct Connect mode.

Oh, and after powering on the ESP32 and mount, you should see the blinky LED (usually BLUE) flash three times on the ESP32, indicating all is well.

Q) If I only use the Gen3 device and Sky Portal, does that mean I don't really need a GPS unit? (The app seems to get time and position from the tablet.)

A) The GPS is also completely redundant, though some apps (eg. CPWI) will use it for even more accuracy. Also, the Homebrew does shut off the GPS after a time (a few minutes, Mark can give an exact answer), so it doesn't really affect the power consumption if you leave it enabled in the software.

Q) How do I find the IP of the HBG3 when if I am only using wifi?

A) You don't need to find it. The SkyPortal/SkySafari and/or CPWI all know how to find it automatically, so long as they're all on the same WiFi network. Otherwise, it is shown on the OLED display, and also gets output on the serial/debug monitor when it first connects in "Access Point" mode. In "Direct Connect" mode, the IP is always 1.2.3.4

Red Switch Down it will be in "Direct Connect" mode and you can re-connect to its SSID and then telnet again to port 3000 to check the Wifi settings ("get all").

Red Switch (Up position) "Access Point" mode

  • Plug in the USB cable and connect to it with PuTTY over the COM port (requires SiLabs USB-Serial driver). Once connected, enter this command: reset and when it reboots it will show the new IP address if/when it manages to connect to your home WiFi. All of the port 3000 commands are also available this way
  • Use Network Analyzer or Fing Apps to scan home network for IP (Or home router if accessible)
  • Telnet to port 3000 on that IP address

Red Switch (Down position) "Direct Connect"

  • Has preconfigured SSID
  • Telnet to port 3000

Worst come to worst, you can flip the red switch back down, and the HBG3 will again be in "Direct Connect" mode, and you can re-connect to its SSID and then telnet again to port 3000 to check the wifi settings ("get all").

Q) Are there enough free pins left to add a AUX bridge board to one of these?

A) Yes, it should be easy to wire a second board to this one to create an AUX Relay/Bridge. Much easier than with the original Gen3 PCBs -- this Gen3a has thicker power traces, and brings out the +12V/GND to a couple of pads for that purpose. The other signals from the Relay/Bridge go directly to ESP32 pins 14,26,27,34. Easy peasy.

Q) Mark, good afternoon. I have a wish. You can add an LED to indicate the establishment of a connection with GPS satellites, as was done in the project on ARDUINO PRO MINI.

A) Mmm.. could do that. But the recommended BN-180 GPS module already has an LED for that purpose. It blinks RED once a GPS fix is established. And a few minutes later, it is put into a low-power state, turning off both of its LEDs, another way to know a fix was achieved.

Q) One question: in what scenario that I need a gps? My Nexus 7 2012 tablet has a gps built-in.

A) The primary use for a GPS at the mount, is when using the hand-controller for alignments. Otherwise, it is rarely useful. People using CPWI on a notebook can also use it -- handy for star parties, I suppose.

Q) Could you help out with the correct Wifi settings for use with SkySafari Pro? Works ok on Sky Portal (disconnects pretty often, however), but I can't get past the error message "........can make a connection, but the scope is not responding" when trying to use SS Pro.

The only thing I noticed was the IP address on the Homebrew was shown as 1.2.3.5, so I did change that in the SS7 settings, but still no connection? What am I missing? ...what should I set the port number to in SS....the default there is 4030.

SkySafari 7 A) Settings - Telescope - Presets Add preset

  • Other connection
  • Celestron Wi-Fi
  • Alt-az GoTo (Or your mount type)
  • Direct connection, if connected to homebrew wifi OR\ Use 'AccessPoint' if configured and connected to your home WiFi -TEST CONNECTION -Give it a name -Enable set time & location (phone's time and GPS) -or disabled if using a GPS module. SAVE PRESET

Q) Will the HBG3 still function the same if it is connected to the mount by either an AUX or USB cable?

How do I wire the environmental temperature/humidity sensor to the HBG3 board if I want to control my Celestron 2X dew controller?

A) With a modern mount (Evolution, 6/8SE, GPS, probably most others), the rx/tx jumper can be left in place. Those mounts have the same permanent jumper hardwired internally.

The SHT30 environmental sensor is an I2C device. So just connect it to the I2C header of the HBG3.

The HBG3 does NOT "control the Celestron Dew Controller". Rather, it completely replaces it.