Celestron - SkySync Telescope GPS Accessory – Automatically Updates your Telescope with 16-channel GPS Data, Time, and Date - Save Time & Improve the Accuracy of your Telescope Alignment, Black (93969)
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About this item
- ADD GPS FOR THE MOST ACCURATE ALIGNMENT: Upgrade your Celestron computerized telescope with ultra-precise 16-channel GPS time, date, and location data.
- SAVE TIME ALIGNING YOUR SCOPE: Instead of entering the approximate time, date, and location into your hand control manually, SkySync obtains this information from orbiting global positioning satellites, saving you time in the field.
- GREAT FOR ASTROIMAGING: SkySync will improve your alignment—a difference you can see in your astroimages.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING TELESCOPE: Simply plug into your hand control or any available AUX port on your telescope mount. Work with all non-GPS Celestron computerized telescopes.
- MOUNTING STRAP INCLUDED: We’ve provided a handy Velcro strap to secure the SkySync GPS unit to one of your telescope’s tripod legs, safely out of the way.
- Upgrade your Celestron computerized telescope to GPS with SkySync
- Improve the speed and accuracy of alignments with 16-channel GPS
- Automatically updates the time and date
- Plugs into the AUX port on the base of the telescope
- Compatible for all non-GPS Celestron computerized telescopes
Reviews
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
This *REALLY* helped
I have been trying to get a computer driven telescope to cooperate for months and just could not get a good alignment. Disclosure: Trying to use an 8 inch telescope in the middle of a huge suburban area between too large cities.
My time was usually off by a minute or more by the time I scrolled through all the entries. My GPS location was the nearest city. The telescope never pointed at a planet, only in the general direction of the planet. Good news is I have learned how to find a planet without help from the computer.
Once I hooked up a GPS to the telescope and figured out how to use it, I was able to get a much better alignment - and for the first time the calibration worked as well. Now the telescope points to the planet and I see it in the eyepiece first try. This is a game changer, as now I can find things like Andromeda which I could not before.
People who have access to good external GPS and experts may not need this device, but for a beginner it is a big help.
(Hint: The GPS is used once at the start of setting up for the night, and is not needed for the rest of the night unless you move the telescope)
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
A MUST HAVE FOR CELESTRON GOTO EQ MOUNTS
Unless you purchased a Celestron CPC with built-in GPS and bought an SE, AVX, CGEM II, CGX or other mount without a built-in GPS, you'll want this. Mine locates my position, date, time and location coordinates here on earth in about 2 minutes. From there I'm set to go to the align mode of my choice. Without it much of the information needs to be manually entered, not worth the time especially if you transport the mount to a different location. Not inexpensive but compared to the price of a good mount, something very necessary in my opinion. I had one of many that would not work and it was returned promptly to Amazon for a refund. Check it when you get it by hooking it up to your mount and ensuring that your hand control utility feature turns on the GPS SkySync module!
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
This is a great piece of equipment
This is a great piece of equipment. Works like a charm. You don't have to worry about the location, date, time etc. I got a sense that the tracking was more accurate, but this could have well been a perception caused by the money I spent on this.
The only negative with this unit is the velcro belt. The darn thing keeps slipping off. Would have loved to see a plastic holder of sorts like the one that comes with the telescope for holding the hand controller to the tripod legs. Well, minor engineering issue, I guess.
Is this worth the price ? I think not. You can get this functionality for free on your mobile phones these days. And it takes some data entry to get things right. But for restless folks like myself, who want to reach a place, fire the scope and get on with observing - this is great.
PS: I come from the cell phone design world, I am always amazed to find GPS units the size of Ford Trucks ... well, that is beyond the scope of this review.
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
Love It!
Awesome product! It worked perfectly with my Celestron 8SE telescope using the stock handset. Plugged it in and set the Time/Location setting to GPS and it was spot on accurate in about 30 seconds. One thing to note, I tried to use this unit with the StarSense handset and it thought it was 2012!! My StarSense experience was bad before trying this unit, so my guess is that it's the StarSense piece and not this one, especially since it works perfectly with my stock handset. If you are tired of putting in the date & time information every time you use your telescope and tired of having to look up your longitude & latitude when you take your telescope somewhere else, then this is a solid addition. Love It!
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
Expensive, but works well. Love it
Got this, as at times need a manual backup when I lose wifi using star sense. It will say when disconnecting connection failed and wont reconnect, so have to resort to using my starsense handcontroller.
I hate inputting time, etc into hand controller and like everything on auto. This works great and puts the time and date correctly, when I know it's entered, hit auto align and then its all automatic.
While it works well, its not cheap, but for me the expense is worth not having to each time manually having to input time, etc on Handcontroller.
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
It works every time
I bought this and the wifi module for my Celestron Nexstar 5se. I am aware that it's redundant to use the GPS module if you're going to use the wifi module as the telescope grabs your GPS location from your mobile phone, but I read mixed reviews about the wifi module not operating correctly and I wanted a backup. In the end, it was the wifi module that repeatedly had issues while the GPS unit was 100% reliable time and time again. I would recommend this product to anyone that values a shorter setup time and the precision of a GPS module.
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
How nice when something really works!
I argued with myself for a long time before I bought this; I hated to spend the money just to do something I could do manually in a couple minutes when I set up by NexStar scope. But then I splurged and bought it, and I am happy I did. It works just like it is supposed to, and it saves time fiddling with another separate GPS device and clock, especially when traveling to a new viewing site. I think it may even improve the accuracy of the GoTo function, although I can't prove that (nor understand how it could if you enter your time and GPS coordinates from an accurate device rather than choosing the nearest city from the telescope list.) It seems a little expensive to me for what it does, but it is a nice gadget and well packaged to go with my scope. Bottom line: I am glad I got it and it works well.
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
Very convenient
I can use SkyPortal to set the time and location but I don't use it all the time. Manually setting the time and location can be a hassle for me especially if my power plug comes undone and I have to start all over again. This GPS accessory solves a huge problem for me and it works very well. Once the telescope is powered up, it takes about a minute and the time, date and exact longitude and latitude are entered into the handset automatically by this device. I have a Celestron NexStar 8 SE and Starsense Autoalign and they all place nicely together. I wish I had purchased this a long time ago.
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
Works great
Works great, automatly sets up location time and date and all the information you telescope needs to begin your alignment, moving to a different location can be a timely pain reprogramming your scope but with this just power up and start your alignment. Haven't had a single problem with it seems to respond great every viewing session now I'm spoiled should have bought one earlier.
★★★★★
Style: GPS Accessory | Verified Purchase
Great product, but overpriced
Great product, but overpriced for what it does. If this were available 10+ years ago, it would be good value, but technology moves on, this is now old school (relatively), and is worth half the cost compared to present-day tech. Still, I use it and am pleased with the results. Occasionally it does NOT read (GPS) accurately, and I have to manually input. But for most areas I travel, it works.
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Celestron Wedge with NexStar Evolution/SE, Black (93665)
Question & Answer
Question :
With the GPS will I dispense with this products: "NexGuide Autoguider" and "Starsense autoalign"?
Answer :
The short answer is no. The GPS only provides accurate latitude, longitude and time rather than you entering them manually. This is especially helpful when you observe from multiple locations. The Starsense provides telescope alignment with the sky after the GPS has done its job. The auto guider tracks a star closely to keep the telescope on subject for photography without star trails in the image.
Question :
What exactly are the advantages of having this? What all can it do?
Answer :
No advantage. Suppose to locate your position to aid in the alignment process. Everything still needs to be done manually as a backup. Don't waste your money.
Question :
I was just told by a celestron employee that it could take 20 minutes for this gps to sync. Has anyone had a positive experience with this product?
Answer :
We have never had to wait for the GPS to sync. By the time the StarSense aligns (~5minutes), we are ready to go. I don't know what they were referring to when saying 20 minutes...that is not right.
Question :
Wich is better to align: SkyScout Personal Planetarium, SkyQ Link Wi-Fi Adapter, NexGuide Autoguider, Starsense autoalign, SkySync GPS Accessory?
Answer :
I can't answer your whole question but I can tell you what I know about a some of the Celestron products you mentioned. The sky sync GPS does not align it just enters time and location so you don't have to, the Skysync can also be used together with other accessories like Starsense for example. The Star Sense Autobalign will read the stars automatically so you don't have to do an alignment manually. The SkyQ Link will enter your time and location via your mobile device and then you can use your mobile device (iPad) to control you telescope, however you will have to align your scope first and the current model does not work with the Starsense accessory.
Question :
Will this work with a nexstar 6se??
Answer :
everything seems to be working well
Question :
I have an ioptron cube 2,I cant get this to work.Do I need to return it ?
Answer :
This mounting is a rather cheap one all Chinese made
It is possible that it has a malfunction
return it if it does not work properly or at all
These devices do what the Handcontoll wants them to do
The fault can also be in the Handcontrol
Question :
Will this work with nexstar gt telescopes ? Description says all but I remember reading somewhere that gps will not work with GT series
Answer :
This device plugs into my NexStar SE8 AUX port. I would be lost in telescope alignment without this device. It takes about 2 to 5 minutes, depending on location to synchronize time and GPS coordinates. I don't know about GT. My mount configuration is Single Fork Arm Altazimuth Mount. The main compatibility concern with be with integration with the Hand controller.
Question :
Will this work in the Southern Hemisphere ?
Answer :
Yes
Question :
I have the celestron 8se and I find I don't use it a lot because alignment can be a pain will this device help & how do I still have to locate 3 stars
Answer :
I also have the 8SE and the GPS module is a great help. I no longer have to enter correct time and location data as the module receives very accurate data from GPS satellites. This is especially helpful when viewing from a new location and latitude /longitude is not readily available. Alignment does not always have to be based on three stars as simple alignment on a single star or planet usually works well. Mr. Moore's comment about needing Wi-Fi is inaccurate as the data comes from satellites, not the internet or any other earth based source.
Question :
Does this work with the Nexstar 4se?
Answer :
Yes. I have a 4se and it works just fine.
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