Orion 5969 StarSeek Wi-Fi Telescope Control Module, Serial/USB

OUTSTANDING Product! .. A little on the Expensive side, but certainly worth it IMO. Definitely, the missing link. (OK, pun intended..)Only had it one day, but stayed up all night using it! Set up without any problems in ad hoc mode with my iPad2, iPad Mini, iPhone 4S, SkySafari 4 Pro and a CELESTRON 5 SE SCT using the "Celestron NexStar GPS/SLT/SE" preset in the SkySafari settings/setup menu. Worked like a charm! (Will update after setting it up to work with my home WiFi network tonight).One thing I noticed, was that the iPad app SkySafari 4 Pro defaults to "auto-detect" Celestron's "SkyFi" unit, and wouldn't automatically detect ORION'S StarSeek module, but was easily solved in the SkySafari "settings/setup menu - SkyFi settings - web page" were you can specify and/or change all the settings of the unit, I simply renamed the default "StarSeeker" SSID to "SkyFi" and it recognized THAT name immediately and connected itself flawlessly.I didn't do any range-checks or anything out of the ordinary, but it worked very well within your typical range of 10-15' near the telescope.I powered it with a 12v 1.5A wall brick power supply I had laying around that came with an external computer hardrive enclosure. The connector was center positive and the same size, and worked without any problems. (BTW, that's how I power my CELESTRON 5 SE - using a 12v 2.0A wall brick LIPO charger power supply I had laying around from E-Flight that came with an RC model, when I'm not using my portable 12v vehicle battery/jump starter power pack for field use.)I'll have to do some more research and experimenting tho, as I'm not sure if after doing your usual scope setup/alignment procedure, then connecting to the iPad app, if the scope acatually becomes more precise using the coordinates from SkySafari, since it goes exactly where you tell it to, or if one of the other thought the 'other pilot' was flying the plane..., especially when the iPad app seems a bit inaccurate sometimes d/t magnetic compass interference. If the iPad app is off a bit, then does my SCOPE become blind and follow the blind? Or do they actually communicate somehow to keep things accurate? I see the scope's coordinates reading out in the corner of the iPad app, but if IT'S compass is off a bit, and the scope thinks IT'S right on, then who's actually flying the plane?I realize this is off topic a bit, but only realized the connection (no pun intended this time.., well, maybe a little one...sorry ) after connecting the WiFi unit to my iPad and driving the scope from my iPad for the first time -- Especially when you click the link that aligns the app and the scope, which then makes the app recenter itself on the existing coordinates of the scope. Did seems like we got "off course" after awhile since neither "pilot" was actually following the real "flight plan" if you get what I mean.Anyhow, all part of the fun. Any input appreciated of course, since I'm definitely a newbie amateur astronomer.If you can't decide whether or not to get one, just BUY one! Works a LOT better than the hand control you can't seem to find dangling in the dark somewhere... I got mine in two days here on *A* paying an extra $11 for 2 day shipping.Clear skies! Robert

Returned it. Didn't work with my Meade LX90. Got the SkiFi instead.

If it worked consistently, it'd be five stars (still overpriced though). I have gotten this to work with my Celestron Nexstar scope and iPhone, but only twice, once for five minutes, the other time it worked great (testing in the day), but once night came, I could not get it to connect for the life of me.I've contacted Orion (no response), Southern Stars (no response) and posted questions on a few websites with no help. I've done extensive troubleshooting on my own as well. I know Orion and SS will just chalk me up to the minority (maybe) who's scope setup is incompatible. I feel obligated to post my experience while this product accumulates five star reviews.My advise, providing Amazon/Orion respect the return policy (and I don't see why they wouldn't), I'd say give it a try, if it works, great, if not, return it.UPDATE: Bumped up from one star to three. Keep "send location" option disabled. If connection is lost, reset scope, not StarSeek and iPhone - chances are they are fine. Just be sure your iPhone/iPad hasn't reconnected to your home network, which it does on iPad more frequently than iPhone. For me, once connection is really lost, reset scope, align and reconnect. Since initial review, I've been able to stay wireless for a whole observing session (3 hours). Still, this is an expensive product, and I never got any response from Southern Stars, or Orion in regards to my problem.

Cannot get it to consistently connect to my Nexstar 6SE. Ipad finds it and connects, but it continually drops the telescope.

I use this with the SkySafari Pro iPhone app, not the Orion app that the item description says to download. Because this product is made by the same company that makes SkySafari and is rebranded for Orion, the two are easily compatible and work seemlessly together!I bought this product last winter; we kept having crystal clear nights but it was so cold out (I live in the Philadelphia area). Because I was setting up astrophotography sessions where I wouldn't need to touch the set-up for a while, I wanted to be able to set my scope on a new target from inside (I know how lazy this sounds... But it was REALLY REALLY cold!!) this wi-fi device allowed me to photograph on nights when I would've just stayed in. That's why I bought it, but I have continued to use it and love it! So much easier than using the scopes controller!!

This is a very nice addition,and powerful tool, it works perfectly with the Orion's atlas mount,it works either with batterIes or with a AC to 12v DC converter making the observing sessions a pleasure, being able to control the mount wirelessly via your iPad or iPhone, is priceless, and the app is amazing, the database is huge!! With lots of information, is like having a professional astronomer next to you all the time, for astrophotography is very usefull for choosing and locating the DSO, makes it very easy,Excellent product, I strongly recommend it

Seems to work, but only after you buy an app on your wireless device in order to use it. Orion's least expensive iPhone app was almost $15, so be ready to pay extra. Personally, I didn't appreciate being surprised with Orion about this - sell a device without the software necessary to make it work, then charge for the software? Not okay.

Works fine with my Celestron CPC Deluxe 1100 HD and SkySafary4 Plus. No problem with installation at all. So far so good.