Beginner astrophotography setup controlled entirely via tablet - Forums

Topic starter

New contributor

1 day ago

Hi everyone! New to Astrobin here.

After 2 years of visual astronomy with an AstroMaster 130EQ, I’m finally jumping into astrophotography from Bortle 9 skies. Since I don't own a laptop, I plan to run a minimalist setup controlled entirely via my OnePlus tablet connected to the mount. Here is my planned gear for now:

Mount: Skywatcher AL55i pro

Scope: Askar 71F

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel SL1 (with dummy battery + connect it to the snap port in the mount)

Filter: SVBONY SV220 2" Dual-Band

Control: OnePlus Tablet (via USB-C to mount) with Synscan app

Is anyone successfully using a tablet for mount control, guiding, and basic processing? I’d love to hear your thoughts or advice on this laptop-free workflow!

Note: I'm a little short on budget, but I'm saving up to upgrade the rig little by little

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SonnyE

1 day ago

I got close, I guess. I used a Samsung, 2 in one tablet/laptop. It worked, but it didn’t have the power of my laptop I now use.

Mostly, it lacked in Computing power. So I eventually went to my present laptop.

I had high hopes for the 2 in one, but much happier with my laptop.

These later tablets probably have more power than my experience did.

I think you will love the Askar 71F. But I draw the line at using a DSLR as your camera. I lean on using dedicated Astro Cameras. Otherwise, work within your means and have a blast!

Tony Gondola

Frequent contributor

Exemplary contributor

1 day ago

I’m not familiar with One Plus tablets but here’s a couple of things to consider:

The usual way things are configured is to have a main control computer that has all the software need to run a session installed on it. This usually stays with the rig and you remote into it with a phone or other computer. Given that it seems you are missing a computer here. I suppose you could remote in with your tablet but if you are just using it to control everything you will effectively be physically tied to your mount by the USB cable.

Also, the Synscan app, while fine for visual, usually isn’t used for astrophotography. Usually a program Like NINA, which is designed for the task, is used and Synscan isn’t used at all, not even the handbox.

I’m guessing that with everything loaded up on your tablet you could make it work, best advice is to try and see what works and what doesn’t.

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TiffsAndAstro

1 day ago

I use a second hand dell mini pc £40 on eBay quite a few years old and remote desktop into it from my phone or tablet.

It lives in a freezer bag on the tripods shelf.

It has more than enough power to run things.

The only possible down sive is it's obscure power input. It's not 12v so unfriendly if you ever want to run your rig off a battery.

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Willem Jan Drijfhout

Perfect post

1 day ago

Not sure if there’s many people that use a tablet for hardware control + imaging + processing. Tablets are typically not so great in hardware control, so you would need something in between your tablet and your camera/mount.

Most setups will have at least some kind of ‘headless’ computer on the telescope for hardware control. You can then use a tablet to operate that computer.

The cheapest option is probably to use a Raspberry Pi as the ‘headless’ computer. An older second hand version 4 will do fine. The software would be Stellarmate, which comes as a Raspberry Pi image, and has dedicated Android and iOS apps.

You can also opt for a miniPC as the ‘headless’ computer, running Windows. Then you can run various kinds of Windows software, the most popular being NINA. The problem with this solution is that you have to emulate the screen of that miniPC on your tablet (Remote Desktop or otherwise). That is fine to keep control of things, but I find the experience on a tablet overall quite cumbersome and would not use it as the main system to control your setup. If you go the miniPC route with a Remote Desktop solution, a laptop or desktop will give you a much better experience.
For NINA there is now a native Android/iOS app available as well, so that might be an alternative.

The final option is to use an ‘all-in-one’ hardware-control, miniPC and native mobile app solution. Examples are Stellavita from Touptek or ASIAir from ZWO. You just buy the box, put it on your scope, download the app and you’re good to go. ASIAir has limitations in the type of hardware you can use with it, and Stellavita is still relatively new, so the software may still have some quirks to work out.

Many options, so good luck with choosing. One thing I would say if the tablet is the only way of interacting with the system, try to find a solution that has a native mobile app, not a ‘remote desktop’ solution.

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Jean Barba

1 day ago

Hello.

If you want controll all by tablet ASIAIR PRO is the way to go, i am very happy with it.

Eric Gagné

1 day ago

I think you’ve gathered by now that using only a tablet is not exactly the best way to go but it can probably work.

I think your best option would be an Asiair if you can find a used one at a price that suits you, even a mini would do the job.

Another option is something called Touch ‘N’ Stars if you’re willing to learn NINA. Touch ‘N’ Stars is a mobile front end for Nina, works on android and iOS. You can install something called PINS on a raspberry pi. PINS is a fork of Nina, then with Touch ‘N’ Stars you do everything on your tablet.

Then there is the option you are looking at. I never attempted that but if I did I would try to stay away from USB connection from a tablet, in my opinion they are notoriously underpowered and I would expect lots of issues. But the AL55i has wifi so no need for USB. You can use Synscan over wifi, you can also install and app like Sky Safari which would also connect to you mount and give you goto capability from a sky atlas. And if for any reason controlling the camera from the mount you can always get a cheap intervalometer.

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