Lunatico PocketCW2 User manual
Lunático Astronomía’s
pocketCW2
User's manual
PocketCW2—User’s manual 1 / 8 Apr, 2023
Thanks for purchasing this device!
Setting up for the irst time
Wi-Fi connection (optional)
This feature is currently only available when using a smartphone,
PC users hold on tight!
If you are planning to use your pocketCW2 via Wi-Fi:
★Power on your pocketCW2, it will set up an access point
called PocketCW_SN (where SN is your pocketCW2’s serial
number).
★Using your PC or smartphone, connect to the access point (if
it takes more than 2 minutes for you to connect, the access
point will be automatically shut down—please power o/on
the pocketCW2 again).
★Launch a web explorer and connect to pocketcw.com (if this
doesn’t work, you can connect to http://192.168.4.1 instead).
★Select conig, ill in your access point details, and check
connect to access point.
★Press apply—the pocketCW2 will reboot and try to connect to
your Wi-Fi network.
You can access this coniguration window in the future using the same steps, should you
need to ind out the IP address assigned to the pocketCW2 by your network.
PocketCW2—User’s manual 3 / 8 Apr, 2023
Using the smartphone app
If you are using your smartphone, install the pocketCW app (iPhone-iPad /Android),
check your Wi-Fi is on (and connected to the same network as the pocketCW2), and
launch it.
App appearance
Once you open the application,
you’ll see several information
bubbles, one for each dierent
reading. If the pocketCW2 is
powered on, in a few seconds the
data will show on-screen.
In order to access the dierent
settings, press the gears icon. The
information bubbles will begin to
“dance”, and you’ll be able to press
any of them to conigure the
alarms (more information on them
below). If instead you press the
pocketCW2’s logo, you can access
the general settings, which include
sound and vibration, preferred
units, and a couple of other alarms.
App usage
Most things are self-explanatory, with just a few exceptions:
★The dew point alarm is set in relation to the delta between it and the ambient
temperature. We are interested in avoiding condensation, so the alarm speciies
how many degrees higher than the dew point is considered safe.
★For best cloud protection, we recommend setting the alarm each night, at 15 °C /
27 °F above that of the clear sky. If the sky is not 100% clear when leaving the
equipment working, that number should be reduced.
Let's say we're going to sleep for a while, leaving the telescope taking images. The night
is nicely clear, with a sky temperature of -10 °C / 14 °F. We can set the clouds alarm at 5 °C
/ 41 °F. This suggestion is, however, not carved in stone and may be dierent for your
location—just check the sky condition and temperature and in no time you'll ind it easy
to predict.
PocketCW2—User’s manual 4 / 8 Apr, 2023
Important: in order to provide eective protection, the app must be
active at all times. The app will disable the “auto-sleep” while running,
so you just have to remember to have the pocketCW application open.
It is recommended to lower the screen brightness and, for prolonged
periods, connect the smartphone to a charger.
Note as well that the alarms will not go o unless the app has established an initial
connection to the pocketCW. Make sure data is being received before going to sleep.
Types of alarms
The app can have alarms go o for unsafe conditions, but also for safe conditions. You
have the option to reverse the logic from the alarm coniguration menu, and any time an
alarm goes o. It's also possible to completely disable alarms—then the menu is the only
way to turn them back on, for safe or unsafe.
Alarm logic
To better understand how this works, let's see how each alarm will go o:
★Unsafe: every time data is received from the pocketCW, if the conditions
measured are unsafe and the delay and snooze period have elapsed, then the
alarm will go o.
Safe: if the last data received from the device was safe, and the delay and snooze
period have elapsed, the alarm will go o.
★Data age: at any time, if the pocketCW has failed to communicate for the
speciied period of time, the alarm will go o.
If all alarms have been cancelled, or if the app is in one of the coniguration screens, the
alarms will not go o.
Screen saver
To protect modern OLED screens (and also to save battery and reduce light), there is the
option to enable a screen saver. Touching the screen anywhere will make the screen
visible again.
PocketCW2—User’s manual 5 / 8 Apr, 2023
Using a computer
If you don’t already have the CW Windows software, download it (Software & other
downloads – LUNATICOASTRO.COM).
Note: using the pocketCW2 with a computer, through the CW’s software,
opens a wide range of possibilities, from using ASCOM safety monitor and
observing conditions drivers to inter-operation with almost every session
automation program in the market!
Operating the software
The operation of the software is basically the same as with the CloudWatcher (be sure to
check its manual if you don’t know how that is). However, keep in mind the following
notes:
★The serial port assigned will be displayed by Windows when connected using the
USB-C cable. If you missed it, check in the device manager for a new CP210x
device, under the Ports (COM & LPT) section—COM3 in the image below:
★The connection may take a few seconds to establish and result in good data.
PocketCW2—User’s manual 6 / 8 Apr, 2023
★The rain sensor values are meaningless, as the pocket does not have such a
sensor. The same applies to the heating status and switch state.
Other than that, the behaviour will be very much the same as a standard CloudWatcher.
If Windows does not automatically install the drivers, please download and
install them from our webpage, Software & other downloads –
LUNATICOASTRO.COM.
About battery and power
If your pocketCW includes a battery (which will last for almost 7 hours when full and
new, at normal temperatures and Wi-Fi active), it will be slowly charged while
connected to the PC.
Please keep in mind that cold temperatures shorten battery life.
About ambient temperature readings
Please note that when using the smartphone app, the pocketCW2 itself corrects the
temperature readings to account for the device’s heating. However, this is not the case
for the Windows software, as the readings in that case come from the humidity sensor,
which in the CloudWatcher is external and hence don’t require the correction. To solve
this issue, setting an oset of around 5 °C should be enough.
About sky quality readings
Additionally, kindly note that the standard SQM darkness reference value for the pocket
is 20.0, instead of 19.6 like the CloudWatcher. You should change this value in the
settings, in the Setup tab, Device side tab.
PocketCW2—User’s manual 7 / 8 Apr, 2023
Some last notes
Technicalities
Please note that the battery on – o switch is inverted (on meaning o and vice versa). If
you are wondering why that is the case, just know that so are we :).
Safety warnings
★Do not leave the device in the rain or exposed to other heavy weather
conditions—if you are looking for a weather resistant safety monitor, you should
take a look at its older brother, the CloudWatcher.
★Only use batteries supplied or recommended by Lunático Astronomía
(PocketCW2 rechargeable battery).
★Dispose of old batteries properly.
Support
If you require additional information to operate your PocketCW2, please refer to our forum
(lunaticoastro.com - Forum). If you still require assistance, please reach out to us at
support@lunaticoastro.com. We hope you enjoy our product!
PocketCW2—User’s manual 8 / 8 Apr, 2023
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