Pre Shipping Checklist

Preparing Your Telescope for Remote Operation at Starfront

If you're preparing to ship or bring your telescope to Starfront, this guide will help ensure a smooth transition to remote operation.

Think of building a remote telescope setup like preparing a space telescope mission. You're sending your system to another world, and the mission will go much more smoothly if all necessary remote-observing preparations are completed beforehand.

Pre-Deployment Checklist

If you're preparing your existing home telescope for remote operation, ask yourself:

  • Does my system have all the required power supplies?
  • Does my system have all the required USB cables?
  • Does my system have a way to remotely cycle power?
  • Is my PC configured to automatically power on after a power outage?
  • Does my system function properly at home?
  • Does my system fit within the reserved hosting tier?
  • Does my system have Chrome Remote Desktop installed?
  • If my system requires collimation, do I have the necessary adapters for attaching a laser collimator?

Before going remote, you should have a clear answer to each of these questions.

The fastest way to verify everything is to fully assemble your telescope at home exactly as you plan to run it remotely. Complete a successful night of imaging, measure your swing diameter accurately, and confirm that you can remotely access your system. Once you've completed a successful test, pack everything you used.

Proper preparation will significantly reduce installation time and help get your system operational as quickly as possible.

Does My System Have All the Required Power Supplies?

Your setup needs to provide power to:

  • Computer
  • Camera
  • Mount
  • Focuser
  • Rotator
  • Flat panel

You can accomplish this using individual AC power supplies or a centralized power solution such as a Pegasus or Wanderer power box.

Consider the following:

  • Do all power cables have enough slack for proper cable management?
  • If shipping internationally, do you have US-compatible plugs for your power supplies?

Does My System Have All the Required USB Cables?

Your system must be able to communicate with all connected devices, including:

  • Main camera
  • Guide camera
  • Flat panel
  • Focuser
  • Mount
  • Rotator
  • Dew controller
  • Power box
  • Other accessories

Make sure you have:

  • The correct cables for every device
  • Adequate cable length and slack for clean cable management

Does My System Have a Way to Remotely Cycle Power?

At some point, you may need to power-cycle your PC, camera, or other equipment remotely.

We strongly recommend using a remote-controllable power switch such as:

  • Kasa Smart Plug
  • Digital Loggers Power Switch

This allows you to troubleshoot and recover equipment without requiring someone on-site.

Is My PC Set to Auto-Power On After a Power Failure?

If you unplug your PC and plug it back in, it should automatically turn on without anyone pressing the power button.

This setting is typically called "Restore on AC Power Loss" or "Auto Power On" and can be enabled in your computer's BIOS.

This feature is essential because it allows remote power cycling to fully restart your system when needed.

Be sure to verify this setting before shipping your telescope.

Does My System Function Properly at Home?

Before sending your telescope to Starfront, confirm that:

  • Your mount tracks reliably
  • Your autofocus system works correctly
  • Your imaging workflow runs successfully
  • You can complete a full night of imaging without major issues

If problems exist, it is almost always easier and less expensive to resolve them at home rather than troubleshooting them after deployment.

A successful night of imaging at home is the best indicator that your system is ready.

Does My System Fit Within the Reserved Hosting Tier?

While testing your setup, take the opportunity to accurately measure your system's swing diameter.

The swing diameter determines whether your telescope fits within your reserved hosting tier.

Follow the measurement process outlined in the instructional video provided by Starfront.

Does My System Have Chrome Remote Desktop Installed?

You must be able to remotely access your computer once it is installed.

We strongly recommend using Chrome Remote Desktop, Google's free remote-access solution.

Benefits include:

  • Immediate access to your PC once it is powered and connected to the network
  • Fast and seamless setup process
  • Reliable remote operation from anywhere

If Chrome Remote Desktop is not installed before deployment, installation and setup may be significantly delayed.

If My System Needs Collimation, Do I Have the Required Adapters?

We have collimation tools available on-site. However, some telescope configurations may require special adapters.

For example, if your telescope uses a custom focuser, ensure that we can easily attach our:

  • M54 collimation tools
  • M48 collimation tools
  • 2" visual-back collimation tools

Having the correct adapters available will make any required collimation much easier and faster.

Final Thoughts

Most installation issues can be identified and resolved with a complete system test before shipping or bringing your telescope to Starfront.

A successful home test run is the single best way to ensure a smooth deployment and rapid installation once your system arrives.