Here are the basic steps to use SkyQ Link PC in both direct and access point modes.
Before plugging in the SkyQ Link module to your mount, be sure the switch is in the upper or direct connect position. Plug in the module to the hand control port then turn on your mount. (NOTE: you can use an AUX port on your mount if it has one. You can also leave the real HC plugged if you want. You MUST leave the HC plugged in on the 4/5SE mount while using SkyQ Link.)
When first plugged in to your mount, the power light will glow steadily while the mode and transmit lights will flicker.
Next, click on your wireless connection icon on the taskbar in Windows. Select the SkyQLink-xx network (example SkyQLink-6c)
and connect to it. Now the power light will be steady, the mode light will flicker and the transmit light will be dark.
Open SkyQ Link PC.
Right-click on the program's window, which looks like the SkyQ Link module itself.
Choose the settings option. A small square window will pop up with three lines (this window may also already be open when the app opens):
SkyQ Link IP should have the entry 1.2.3.4
TCP Port should have the entry 2000
COM Port should have a valid entry for your computer (example, COM 5)
Press "Connect". The real module will show a steady power light and a flickering mode light. The virtual module will show a green dot to the lower left. These indicate that there is a connection.
(If you don’t get a connection, double check the settings and be sure they are as described above. Check to be sure your PC is connected to the SkyQ Link. You can also try closing the SkyQ Link PC app (right-click and choose exit) and power off the mount and then attempt to connect again.)
Now start NexRemote. (NOTE: you should not start NexRemote until SkyQ Link PC has established communication.) Select the same valid COM (PC) port that you used previously in the settings window for SkyQ Link PC.
Choose the mount model you are using or wish to use and the firmware version. Settings shown below are for the LCM mount and version 4.21 of the firmware for this mount:
For virtual port leave as None. Press OK on the NexRemote interface. The message “Initializing firmware…” will display and then the NexRemote interface will look like the real hand control and show the mount name in its virtual display.
Now the upper left of the SkyQ Link PC program module will show green indicating a connection between kit and NexRemote. Press one of the arrow keys on the virtual hand control. The mount should respond by moving in the correct direction.
Both red indicators on the right side of the virtual model will flash. The transmit lower indicator light on the real module will also flash. These lights indicate that data is being sent and received.
(If NexRemote does not connect, close it and try again. Then repeat the steps suggested above if the SkyQ Link PC does not connect with the mount.)
Exit NexRemote before proceeding to set up the access point mode.
Before starting on the access point mode, find an open IP address on your local wireless network to assign to SkyQ Link. You may already know of an open address, be able to get one from your local network administrator, use a network discovery application (such as Fing), or try an address until you find an open address using utilties in Windows command line such as Ping.
(NOTE: Pinging an available IP address will show “request timed out”, while an unavailable address will show a message such as “destination host unreachable”. Pinging the IP address used by yuor computer will show “bytes=32” and the other successfully transmitted packet information.)
To set up your module for the access point mode, start by a right-click on the SkyQ Link PC interface and choose “Configure SkyQ Link Settings”. A new screen-size window called SkyQ Link Configurator will open. In this window, you will see the IP address for the direct connect mode.
Click the button below, "Check Conection". On the part of the window to the right, information on the connectivity will appear.
On the left of the window, the previously grayed out button "Read Settings" will now be active. Press it. It will read any previously existing information that has stored for an access point. There may be no information or it may be wrong, in which case you need to change it.
Once you have entered the proper information for your network name (SSID, here it's ASTROBOY), security passphrase (here ORIONNEB1954), SkyQ Link IP (here 10.10.20.110), Gateway IP (in this example 10.10.20.1) and network mask (always 255.255.255.0), save it to the module by clicking “Write Settings”. Then use the “Reboot” button to associate with the wireless network using these settings.
Finally, to connect to your wireless network in the access point mode, type in the SkyQ Link PC IP address (example 10.10.20.110) in the SkyQ Link Current IP box on top of the configurator. Turn off the mount/module. Flip the switch to the access mode. Wait at least 15 seconds. Turn on the mount/module. Now push the “Check Connection”. The module will now connect to your network and the information will now be displayed in the right-hand window.
You can now close the configurator. When you do so it will break the connection. The smaller SkyQ Link PC settings window will appear. Verify that the settings in this window are the same for the SkyQ Link IP as they were in configurator and press “Connect.” The virtual module will show a green dot to the lower left.
Launch NexRemote. As previously make the settings for COM port the same as chosen for the module. Upon pressing okay, NexRemote will connect to the mount and show a message like “LCM Ready. Press ENTER to begin alignment.”
Press an arrow key and your mount should move. The red right-side lights on the SkyQ Link PC program will flicker while the two left-side lights will glow green.
If you plan on using SkyQ Link PC on the same network and with the same IP address the next time you use it, simply plug the module into your mount with the switch in access mode, power on the mount, connect your computer to the wireless network, start the SkyQ Link PC app, verify the entries in the small settings window that pops up and click “Connect”.
