iPad serial connection

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Anyone done the serial connection for iPad/ iPhone yet? Looking at doing this to control my LX90 without the Skyfi.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Hi Ken - this is the first I've heard of it, and I'm not sure it's even released yet. Interesting though.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/new...nector-design/

Not sure how you'd negate your SkyFi though, and if you could...why? The whole point of it is to provide untethered remote control without cables.

Also, Voyager et al will almost certainly not be written to offer direct control over a hardware serial port on an iPad yet.... Or maybe they are already looking to..

The serial port breakthrough will open the iPad to lots of new uses. Nice!

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I just received this back from Tim at SouthernStars:

Chris-

re: the iPad serial port – wait 2 days then check www.southernstars.com.

-Tim

Not bad...eh?

[chrisionetworks (Christopher)]

Howdy, Chris from io Networks here. I tested the new serial port on the iPad yesterday and it works fine. Whether or not SkyFi can use it is something else, as my serial port requires the iDevice to be jailbroken to be able to access it.

They should be on sale through http://www.ionetworks.com.au in about a month, or if you'd like to test before that, I can arrange to set you up with one of our beta units.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Originally Posted by chrisionetworks

Howdy, Chris from io Networks here. I tested the new serial port on the iPad yesterday and it works fine. Whether or not SkyFi can use it is something else, as my serial port requires the iDevice to be jailbroken to be able to access it.

They should be on sale through http://www.ionetworks.com.au in about a month, or if you'd like to test before that, I can arrange to set you up with one of our beta units.

Chris, I love your hack and this is what I was looking at making like you did. I don't use my iPad or iPhone without being jailbroken and I'm looking to control the telescope directly with the idevice, no skyfi involved. Sure I can get a skyfi but this is more fun to make and alot cheaper. I was thinking of getting one of your 'production run' too.

http://jan.eaglecreekobservatory.org/pinouts.html

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Hi Ken - this is the first I've heard of it, and I'm not sure it's even released yet. Interesting though.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/new...nector-design/

Not sure how you'd negate your SkyFi though, and if you could...why? The whole point of it is to provide untethered remote control without cables.

Also, Voyager et al will almost certainly not be written to offer direct control over a hardware serial port on an iPad yet.... Or maybe they are already looking to..

The serial port breakthrough will open the iPad to lots of new uses. Nice!

Hi Chris, this is the Hack Chris and I are talking about.

http://resolvehax.blogspot.com/

Chris is making a small production run of these or you can make them your self. the Redpark has been in rumor mills since the beginning of this year, it not happening. I don't have a skyfi (yet) and why spend over 200 when I can use a serial connection that is a lot more versatile. Be interesting to see what the skyfi guys come up with tho in the next couple of day.

[dannat (Daniel)]

oh bugger - & i just went & brought a new macbook air

[tonybarry (Tony)]

Hello Daniel,

That is one awesome laptop. I am thinking of getting one for the Mrs. Which version of the Air did you get - 11" or 13"? And how big was the SSD?

Regards,
Tony Barry

[chrisionetworks (Christopher)]

Originally Posted by Osirisra

Chris, I love your hack and this is what I was looking at making like you did. I don't use my iPad or iPhone without being jailbroken and I'm looking to control the telescope directly with the idevice, no skyfi involved. Sure I can get a skyfi but this is more fun to make and alot cheaper. I was thinking of getting one of your 'production run' too.

http://jan.eaglecreekobservatory.org/pinouts.html

Thanks! I thought other Chris was talking about a skyfi port for iDevice, but evidently not - what would you use to control it from the phone? This is an awesome application for it by the way, I built the thing wanting to console into routers, but this sounds way more fun.

Any feature requests etc, now's the time to get them in!

[acropolite (Phil)]

Don't bother waiting 2 days, the sky wire has been announced on the southern star site with release date of December and pricing of $79 US
http://www.southernstars.com/product...ire/index.html

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Originally Posted by chrisionetworks

Thanks! I thought other Chris was talking about a skyfi port for iDevice, but evidently not - what would you use to control it from the phone? This is an awesome application for it by the way, I built the thing wanting to console into routers, but this sounds way more fun.

Any feature requests etc, now's the time to get them in!

Pretty much what this does; http://www.southernstars.com/product...ire/index.html (thanks Phil) which seems to be made by Redpark. Here is the Redpark update...

October Update


We are working within Apple's Made for iPod (MFI) program to develop several cables/adapters that allow an app on an iPhone/iPad/iPod touch to communicate with a serial device. Our cables comply with all Apple's specs and do not require you to jailbreak the phone.
As we announced in the February press release, we provide cables to other brands on an OEM basis. Following a change in Apple's policies this summer, we will also be selling a few cable SKUs under the Redpark brand.
At this stage we are working with iOS app developers who have a use for serial connectivity. We offer Eval Kits for use in developing commercial apps.
We expect to release cables later this quarter. Cables will be designed to work with specific iPhone/iPod/iPad apps (in order to comply with Apple MFI policies).
Pricing and sales channels have not yet been announced.






I want to be able to control my Meade LX90 scope with my iPad and iPhone but with different astro apps as well as normal networking and other serial type interfacing.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Ken, in case you aren't aware, the skyfi will work with other apps and pc via wireless (Chris may have already tried the Pc connectivity)

btw for the next 3 days sky safari (voyager) is on special for just $4.99 if you don't already have it. It's a bargain at the full price let alone 1/3 price. Buy The ipad version and you can load it on both the iPad and pod.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

Ken, in case you aren't aware, the skyfi will work with other apps and pc via wireless (Chris may have already tried the Pc connectivity)

btw for the next 3 days sky safari (voyager) is on special for just $4.99 if you don't already have it. It's a bargain at the full price let alone 1/3 price. Buy The ipad version and you can load it on both the iPad and pod.

I want to be able to connect to other serial port connections for networking and other things which skyfi cannot.

Got sky safari but I prefer Star Map HD which is much more in-depth.