SiPi Quick Start Guide
Welcome to SiPi, your browser-based interface for Sidereal Technology telescope control. This manual will help you set up, connect, and start operating your telescope quickly and confidently.
0. Before you begin
- The SiPi interface runs best on modern devices. It will work with older devices, but formatting and layout can be inconsistent.
- If your device has a system wide dark/night mode it is highly recommended you enable
it while using the SiPi. This will help with night vision.
- There is always a risk controlling your mount with a touch screen. Use caution and be prepared to remove power from your Servo Controller if the mount looks like it will crash
1. System Setup
- Power on your SiPi by plugging in the USB power cable
-
On your device (tablet, or phone, or PC), connect to the Pi's Wi-Fi network.
SSID and password can be configured in the settings if needed. Default SSID=SiPi password=12345678
-
Open your browser and go to:
https://192.168.11.1:5000
If the page does not load, confirm that you are on the correct Wi-Fi and the Pi is fully booted.
2. Settings
- Set your site location by entering your current SiteLongitude and SiteLatitude
- Set your Mount Type and Scope Encoder Settings
- Enabled/Disable Drag mode and Az/RA No Wrap
- Click the SiTechExe Config button to show/hide the SiTechExe options.
- You can backup your SiTechExe configuration or restore the backed up configuration
Always click Save Config after making changes to SiTechExe!
- System Time can be set by entering a time HH:MM and Clicking Set. Clicking Sync will enter your device time.
- Set your Wi-Fi SSID and password if desired.
- Hanpad tilt and vibration settings can be set here. (Note these features are not supported by all web browsers)
- Check for and apply SiPi updates
3. Main Interface Overview
- Status Panel: Live RA/Dec, Alt/Az, Controller Status, Time, LST, and HA
- Object Search: Search for stars, Messier objects, planets, and more.
- Model: Create a mount model to improve pointing and tracking
- Handpad Controls: Slew the telescope with on-screen arrows.
- Button Bar: Mount Control, Settings and Help
4. Buttons
- Sky will switch to SkyView
- Auto is used for normal operation. Manual disengages the motors for maintenance, adjustment or after parking
- Park or Unpark your mount. Set the park position in Settings
- Click the ⚙ button to access SiPi and controller settings
- Click the ⛶ button to go fullscreen. This is very helpful in Night Mode.
- Click the Help button to access this help file
5. Handpad Control
- Up/Down: Secondary axis (Declination/Altitude).
- Left/Right: Primary axis (RA/Azimuth).
- Change Speed: Tap the center to toggle Slew, Pan, or Guide modes.
- START begins Tracking if the mount has been initialized.STOP Halts all motion instantly.
6. Sync on an Object
- Slew to a known object and center it in the eyepiece
- Enter the object name (e.g.,
Vega, M13) in the search bar.
- Click Search. Select your desired object from the results if prompted.
- Then Click Sync
- The mount status should now indicated that it's Tracking
7. Model Building
A mount model can greatly improve your pointing and tracking accuracy.
- Search for an object and perform a GoTo
- Use the handpad to center the object in the eyepiece and then press +Cal Pt.
- Repeat with additional objects across the sky.
- When done, click Save to save your pointing model.
- To create a new model, click Clear to remove all calibration points
- You can remove the last added Cal Pt by clicking - Cal Pt
You will start to see improvements after a few objects are added to the model. Cal Pts can be viewed & enabled/disabled
in SkyView
If the mount remains stationary between uses, the model can be reused. If the mount is changes location, a new model is needed.
8. SkyView Planetarium
- Click Sky to open a live sky map
- The Obj menu has checkboxes that allow you to enable/disable each type
- Pan/zoom to explore, select (click) objects for info
- A selected object's coordinates will appear in the box below the SkyView projection. Clicking Sync will align the telescope with the selected object. Clicking Go will perform a GoTo the selected object.
- Click the Search button (magnifying glass) to search for objects by name (e.g., M31, Vega, NGC 224)
- Click the refresh button for default zoom or the home button to return to the main screen
9. Typical Workflow
- Power on your Pi and telescope.
- Connect to the Pi's Wi-Fi and open SiPi.
- Search for and slew to a bright star.
- Center, then Sync.
- Create and Save Mount Model.
- Ready for GoTos all night!
10. Troubleshooting
- Page won’t load? Check Wi-Fi and Pi power.
- No telescope response? Make sure the SiTechEXE service is running (Settings)
- Slow or unresponsive UI? Wait a minute after boot for initialization.