Celestron – SkyPortal WiFi Module – Control Your Computerized Telescope via Smartphone – Telescope Wi-Fi Accessory
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From the manufacturer
SkyPortal WiFi Module
Leave your hand control behind and explore the sky wirelessly with your iOS or Android mobile device. The SkyPortal WiFi Module generates its own WiFi network. No batteries or external power needed.
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Easy to Use
Simply plug SkyPortal into your telescope and connect via WiFi. Instantly, your mobile device becomes a wireless hand control, ready to guide you through alignment and locate thousands of objects.
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SkyPortal: Your Ultimate Planetarium App
Developed in collaboration with SkySafari, SkyPortal offers an intuitive user interface with a 100,000+ object database. Not sure what to view? Choose Tonight’s Best from a customized list.
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Celestron is Here for You
Astronomy can be intimidating, but Celestron is here to help. As the premier telescope brand since 1960, we offer free US-based tech support & how-to videos, so you can enjoy stargazing hassle-free.
Includes Bonus Features
Use SkyPortal to plan your next observing session, find the best moment to view or photograph upcoming celestial events, view astroimages, and listen to hundreds of audio descriptions.
Specification: Celestron – SkyPortal WiFi Module – Control Your Computerized Telescope via Smartphone – Telescope Wi-Fi Accessory
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Photos: Celestron – SkyPortal WiFi Module – Control Your Computerized Telescope via Smartphone – Telescope Wi-Fi Accessory
10 reviews for Celestron – SkyPortal WiFi Module – Control Your Computerized Telescope via Smartphone – Telescope Wi-Fi Accessory
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$102.98
Scott H.Scott H. –
Oh my goodness! This device with the free SkyPortal app from Celestron (by Sky Safari) makes nighttime astronomy with my CPC 1100 telescope an incredible amount of fun. The old hand controller doesn’t begin to compare to how easy this is to use, continue to learn and navigate about the sky. Quickly learning about star names, features, constellations and finding all those allusive deep nebula and clusters. Detailed information about anything in the sky is just a couple touches away, including full narration about what your looking at. Neptune and Uranus were awesome to see and the alignment procedure of my telescope is now so easy. Not sure what your looking at? Just point the telescope and the SkyPortal app (through the skyQ) Shows you the star name, particular information and the constellation you looking at all right on the screen. The app also had night time viewing (dim red) to keep your night vision in tact. The guys at Celestron definitely hit a home run with this one! This works with any of the Celestron go-to telescopes. I had some issues at first. It seems I was experiencing a conflict between the original hand controller and the SkyQ/SkyPortal App). I did not see in the instructions were told me to not have my hand controller plugged in but they must conflict somehow. Once I unplugged the hand controller and restarted everything, the telescope quickly becomes aligned everything worked perfectly.Update 10 June 2016. I upgraded my telescope to an 11″ Edge HD telescope on a CGEM DX mount and have lots more use to report on. In warmer weather I still regularly use and prefer the WIFI Skyportal. When it’s really cold I use the hand controller as I can wear gloves when operating. I did also upgrade to SkySafari Pro 5 and really like the extra features including comets, asteroids and identifying various satellites including alerts when the ISS International Space Station as well as Iridium flares will occur overhead. Just a note for no matter what kind of mount you have- be sure to balance your scope to maintain dead on goto accuracy.Update-22Nov 16. I am now using an Ipad Pro with Sky Safari 5 and it continues to work great and totally love it! EVERYONE- DONT FORGET TO UNPLUG YOUR HAND CONTROLLER when using Skyportal as the two do not work well together! I did add a photo of the compatibility list below:
AmazonDMD –
It connected very easy! This, combined with the star sense autoaligner and Sky Safari (or Celstron Sky Portal app) makes for an incredibly easy, fun viewing experience. The only thing I would change is really more of a software thing. You have to stay within the apps, or it will lose connection with the app. That is, the wifi is still connected to your phone, but if you exit out of the app even for a second, it will need to reconnected and sometimes even need to repeat the alignment process.It is much smaller than what I expected. It looked bigger that the picture. Like the size of a slightly oversized USB thumb drive. Great!Buck for buck, this may be the best $100 for your telescope. Recommended!
Georgi Marinov –
Greatly increased productivity operating my Celestron CG-5 Computerized Mount of my C8-SGT telescope.Thank you to the seller.Keep up the good work!
Bret S.Bret S. –
I have Celestron 114 GT scope with Nextstar + control pad. Every once in a while the control pad would be stuck with errors on booting. Which would require flashing the firmware. Until that is done the scope is dead in the water. The SkyPortal WIFI dongle has the ability to do away with the control pad. With my model scope I only have one input and no Aux input. So it basically takes its place in the only input, and does it way better I might add. If one wants to use the control pad one with SkyPortal WiFi one will need to get a splitter. I see no need for it at the moment. The SkyPortal Wifi module is much easier to use, and makes it much faster, and makes it an overall enjoyable experience for amateurs and kids alike. I’ve been watching the sky and have done many astrophotographies over the years. Hands down, SkyPortal is the way to go. It also connects to other Pro software like Skysafari, and Celestron’s StarSense auto align accessories. If you don’t have StarSense that’s not a problem. You can choose 3 star align, solar, etc with the mars finder scope. It makes that process so much easier. One would wished they had known about it sooner.
Rick –
Works great with a good connection. Hasn’t dropped yet.
jpn311 –
If you are trying to do any sort of astrophotography, or if you are just tired of wires, this is a must. I haven’t had any issues with connectivity that others have reported. Perhaps I just have the latest model. One thing you must be very careful about is the placement of your tube on your mount. If you have the tube mounted too far back it has the potential to snap the unit off when pointing your scope straight up. I almost did so on the first use with a Celestron 8SE, not realizing the focus knob was about to break it. Other that that, it has made alignment and searching far easier than using the handheld unit.
Brion Pellarin –
Works great out of the box. Great purchase.
Michael Moore –
So far this has worked great. I love being able to control my telescope with my phone or tablet. I think it a lot easier than using the hand control.
Michael Lisenbery –
It goes to a port on the side and other than that the wife set it up on an app and it works. I haven’t heard her complain. So I assume that’s a good thing. So again I haven’t seen it after the wife grabbed it and got it working. The app they provide is good no issues from what I used it for. Would recommend it if you want the connectivity on your phone.
Michael Frazier –
I had heard mixed reviews about the SkyPortal Wifi module. And there is a bit of a curve in connecting the device to my phone. But once I realized to click “Yes” on my Android, it connected perfectly. Also, the first time I used it out on my side yard, the alignment was successful the first time. Once the alignment was complete, I chose Jupiter. It was very close with just a few slight up and to right to center the planet. By the way, I only started the hobby in August 2022. So, I am not a pro by any means, but it worked and will make my observation of planets and nebula easier. One closing point, purchase the Celestron Aux Port Splitter. It will dangle below the control base and not interfere with the operation of the telescope. I own a Celestron NexStar 8se. I would highly recommend it!!!