Starsense Autoalign Error

[Entmister (Julian)]

I have a Celestron Nexstar 6SE, I purchased a Starsense Autoalign, which supposed to compatable with my mount. when connected (as per instructions) I get an error mount no found, can not initialize. message said to check connections and reboot. Still not finding my mount. Celestron replaced the the hand control and still the same error. I went back to the shop and they checked and gave me a new Starsense, which worked correctly on the demo Nexstar. Still the same error on my mount. does anyone have any knowledge or a similar experience? As it is its an expensive paper weight.

[Mark_K (Mark)]

Is the mount still working correctly with the original handset?

[Dave882 (David)]

I’ve used starsense with multiple mounts and the only time I ever got an error was if things weren’t plugged in right. Camera -> aux port and hc -> hc port and all connected before power on. What power supply and you using? Maybe check there’s not a faulty cable in the mix.

Only other suggestion would be to ensure you have the correct firmware installed on the starsense. It is mount-specific so check online for the right one.

[Entmister (Julian)]

Yes the original hand controller and mount work correctly.

[Nikolas (Nik)]

update the mount firmware

[Entmister (Julian)]

I have updated the firm ware. I was able to go to boot mode to update the firm ware of the Starsense Autoalign, but no change. this is the second one the shop has given me, which worked in shop on the demo Nexstar 5SE.

Could be the AUX connection on the mount. Although I have successfully connected a WiFi module and linked to the skyportal app. The WiFi is problematic because of competing WiFi sources in my back yard.

[denodan (Dennis)]

I had starsense, worked great for a few years, then one day Saud, out of the blue, a message this is the first time using it, needs to be calibrated, went to do this and the object I picked as so far off it would always say failed. And would never get close enough to calibrate and centre on the object. Yet before hand worked perfectly.

Also another weird thing is before it totally failed, 100 stars would say has acquired and go to the next location, then say s failed. If it picked up maybe 10 would say success then carry on.

Before all that would never fail picking stars.

So it become a paper weight, and yes time, etc was correct and before for years worked without issue, till I suddenly came up eith needs calibration, first time using it.

I put it down to a memory fault I the unit, could not get object centred, always said failed, no matter what I did. For years was fine never needed to reset it, thrn out of the blue failed to work.

Binned it and went back to the starportal to fo alighment, works just as well, just as fast, so think starsense was a waste of money