FAQ & Troubleshooting Guide for DWARF 3 Users

There are two sections below to assist you in answering many questions that "frequently" come up on our social media pages. Additionally, we have tried to include many suggested methods and processes to resolve issues you find when using your DWARF 3. We may not be able to cover them all, but when there is doubt, please email or message us directly through any of our social media connections.

FAQ - We’re here to help! You have questions, we may have answers! Check out our FAQ section to answer those commonly asked items.

Troubleshooting - If you encounter any issues with your DWARF 3, try the steps below to resolve them. If the issue continues, feel free to contact us—we’ll be happy to assist you.

1. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Q1: Can it capture Jupiter / Saturn?

A: Yes...and no. If you want details, you need a much larger aperture. The DWARF 3 is "not" designed as a planetary device. You'll see, at best, a dot, some faint coloring (maybe the rings if lucky), maybe some of the larger moons (as bright dots). It doesn't hurt to experiment and see what you can see

Q2: What can I capture when looking at the Sun?

A: This is more like what you won't see: prominences or flares. When you're looking at the sun, you can most definitely pick up sun spots, and maybe a faint appearance of granulation, but you wont get any specific detail as it gets a bit pixelated at a point in the imaging...

Q3: Can I capture Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)?

A: Yes....but with limitations. You ideally want a strong KP rating, 5-6 or higher for starters. The DWARF 3 is not optimized for real-time video of Auroras for one. There is no Auto Setting (currently) or written procedure as capturing Aurora's is not a primary or secondary function of the device. You'll have to shoot in manual mode, wide-lens, and a low exposure (1-5 seconds). Use burst or time-lapse to capture motion. Although we are biased for our tiny Astro device, you may have a far better experience using a current cell phone camera or "GoPro" type of device for those magnificent space weather events.

Q4: Do I need an internet connection 24/7 to use it?

A: No, you don't need a consistent "internet" connection. While you are using the scope, you simply connect your phone to the Wi-Fi signal(hotspot) sent by the scope itself. But the only exceptions are the following;1. setting up your device initially (Activating)2. downloading or updating the Atlas catalog database3. completing a Firmware update for the DWARF 34. upload or download files through Stellar Studio or the Pano-Weave features. Having no "internet" or cellular connection may affect some phones or tablets from displaying your correction location data. In this instance, we have included a feature in the application to manually set your location, which helps the DWARF 3 accurately complete a calibration/EQ (plate solving) of the star field above it.

Q5: Can I use other filters with the DWARF 3?

A: No—not directly. The DWARF 3 does not include a filter holder as the DWARF 2 did, or have the ability to attach or "affix" 2" filters to the outside of the body/lens area. You can not alter or replace the filters internally either. If you have the need or desire to attach another filter, you would have to find a DIY (do it yourself) solution, for example: a custom 3D printed filter holder, or other type of accessory to mount the filter(s) to the lens area.

Q6: Can I use third-party apps like Stellarium to connect with or control the DWARF 3?

A: No — it’s a closed ecosystem. You must use DWARFLAB’s own app and interface. There are many other "star" apps that are excellent and complementary to the DWARF 3's function. They may help you plan out sessions, forecast weather or cloud cover and find specific RA/DEC coordinates for an object that we may not list or have updated in Atlas.

Q7: If I need to enter manual coordinates, what coordinates should I use?

A: we suggest using the J2000 set of coordinates. This is the current standard equinox and epoch process

Q8: Is there any lens fogging, dew or moisture build up like the DWARF 2?

A: The lens area was completely redesigned to redirect the internal heat to that specific area to eliminate any moisture buildup. While this process is not full-proof, in most operating environments and conditions, there have never been any widely reported or consistent issues with moisture or "dew" that affect a users experience or capture sessions.

Q9: What is the BAYER Array of the DWARF 3?

A: The DWARF 3 uses an RGGB BAYER Array

Q10: Does the DWARF 3 use "Dithering"?

A: Yes, the DWARF 3 does "Dither". All exposures under 60 seconds are 6 shots per session, and those of 60 seconds or above are every 10 shots. The dithering capture is discarded and not saved on the device

Q11: Can the DWARF 3 use an external storage connected directly to it (via USB-C)?

A: The DWARF 3 does not support an external storage connection via USB-C. It has a built-in 128GB eMMC storage for saving captured photos and videos. The best method for backup of your essential image sessions is to connect your DWARF 3 via USB-C to your PC or Laptop, or in some cases, a comptaible phone or tablet. There is also a process to connect via FTP if necessary.

Q12: How large can I print photos taken with the DWARF 3?

A: The images produced have a DPI of 72 pixels/inch. The maximum print size depends on your chosen printing method and materials, so we recommend consulting your printing service for the best results.

Q13: Do you have a process to accept community feedback; if we wanted to request a few feature or ask why something works a certain way?

A: Yes, we have a website setup for this very process: https://a.c1ns.cn/y52Ny

*If this link is not working, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

Q: How can I access the DWARF 3 live video stream (RTSP / HTTP)?

A: You can use a third party live streaming or video player app (such as VLC, OBS, etc.) to directly access the video streams from DWARF.

Live video streams (RTSP)

rtsp://192.168.88.1/ch0/stream0

rtsp://192.168.88.1/ch1/stream0

These RTSP streams provide real time video output from each camera.

Astro stacking stream (HTTP)

When performing astrophotography stacking, you can access the stacking video stream via:

http://192.168.88.1:8092/mainstream

This stream is mainly used for monitoring the stacking process.

When Using STA mode

When STA mode is enabled, you must replace 192.168.88.1 with the actual IP address assigned to DWARF by your router.

For example:

rtsp://<DWARF3_STA_IP>/ch0/stream0

Notes

Make sure your device (phone, tablet, or computer) is on the same network as DWARF.
Some streaming apps may require you to manually enter the stream URL.
Network performance may vary depending on connection type and signal strength.

2. Troubleshooting

Here are some common problems and how to address them:

Connection issues (e.g., device not connecting to the app or network)
Camera freezing or not working (e.g., stuck during shooting or image stacking)
Abnormal photos (e.g., blurry, distorted, or dark images)

Step 1: Log File Upload

To help us identify the root cause of the issue, please upload your log files. The logs contain technical details that are crucial for troubleshooting. How to Upload Log Files:

1. Open the DWARF App and navigate to the Settings section. Select Support-Upload Log.

2. Follow the instructions to complete the log upload. Even if you are experiencing connection problems, you should still be able to upload the log files. If the problem persists, try uploading a screen recording showing the failed connection or any error messages.

Step 2: Provide Additional Information

Along with the logs, it’s helpful for us to have visual evidence of the issue. Please attach the following:

• Photos or videos of the problem: If the issue involves image quality or capture problems, please share any photos or videos demonstrating the issue.

• Description of the steps leading to the problem: Include details about what actions you were taking when the problem occurred (e.g., trying to connect, shooting a specific target, adjusting focus).

Step 3: Contact Support

Once you’ve uploaded the logs and gathered relevant photos or videos, please contact our support team. Provide as much detail as possible about the problem, including:• The model of your device (e.g., DWARF 3)• The firmware version you are using• A description of the issue (connection problem, stuck during shooting, abnormal photos, etc.)• Confirmation that logs and visuals have been uploaded. You can reach out to us via the support section in the app or by emailing our support team at support@dwarflab.com

Firmware Update Failed or Cannot Connect After Update

If your DWARF fails to update the firmware or becomes unreachable after a firmware update, it might be due to an interrupted update, power fluctuation, or incomplete installation. Please contact us immediately at hello@dwarflab.com

2.1 Activation Failure

If you’re having trouble activating your DWARF 3, please follow these steps:

1. Please uninstall the current App and download the latest DWARFLAB App from the App Store (make sure it’s not the Beta version).

2. After connecting to DWARF 3, go to Settings > My Device > STA, and finish the STA connection. This will allow you to use the DWARFLAB App while staying connected to your home Wi-Fi. Activation requires an internet connection. Please ensure your phone is connected to the internet before proceeding with activation.

3. Try activating the device again. Make sure to turn off any VPN!

4. If activation fails again, please:

Upload the log via DWARFLAB App > Settings > Support > Log Upload.
Send us the SN (serial number) located at the bottom of your DWARF 3.
Share the failure message or prompt with us.
Contact us at support@dwarflab.com with details about the problem, including any error messages you’ve received.

2.2 Connection & Activation Failure Error Code

Error Code	Category	Solution
1000 / 1001 / 1002 / 1003 / 1004	Homepage Connection Issue	1. Completely close the app in the background and reconnect. 2. If the issue persists, restart the telescope. 3. If restarting doesn’t work, go to Settings > Connection Settings and switch to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (for regions like Taiwan, Russia, etc.). 4. Enable Wi-Fi Compatible Mode (for regions like Singapore, etc.).
-9	STA Connection Issue	Reconfigure STA mode: Toggle the STA switch on and off multiple times in Connection Settings, then reconfigure the network and reconnect. Make sure the entered Wi-Fi password* is correct.
200101 / 200102	Activation Issue	1. Download the official app and try activation again. 2. If failure persists, record the SN (serial number) on the bottom of the telescope and send it to the support team at support@dwarflab.com

2.3 Why did the DWARF 3’s LED light turn red?

This is completely normal! In Astronomy Mode, the LED light automatically turns red to reduce light pollution during observation. Additionally, when the battery is low and the device is about to shut down, the ring light will also turn red.

2.4 What should I do if DWARF 3 fails to connect in normal mode?

If you’re experiencing connection issues in Normal Mode, please do the following:

Make sure any VPN and/or Anti-Virus applications are turned OFF or paused.
For iOS/iPad OS Devices: Try the following steps to reconnect to your DWARF using a normal connection

Open Settings > Wi-Fi > select Edit > Under your "Known Networks", find the DWARF devices network profile (example: it will be DWARF_XXXXX or other custom name you created) > either select the red icon and select DELETE, or press the info icon on the right side of the name, then select Forget This Network, located at the top of the screen. This will remove the saved profile

For Android Device(s): Try the following steps to reconnect to your DWARF using a normal connection. *Methods or processes may vary from device to device

Open Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > locate the option for "Advanced Settings" (or similar selection) > Manage Networks > find the DWARF devices saved network profile (example: it will be DWARF_XXXXX or other custom name you created) > select the saved profile name > at the bottom, select "REMOVE" or "FORGET" to delete the saved profile.

Note: After you have completed the previously suggested steps for the applicable phone or tablet device, open the DWARFLAB application, under Connection Settings, verify all settings are turned off, including STA mode. Go back to the HOME page, then press CONNECT to find your DWARF device through the normal connection process. If you still continue to have difficulties connecting your phone or tablet to your DWARF 3, then continue on to the next troubleshooting step below to report your log and contact our support team.

Open the DWARFLAB app and go to Settings → Support → Log Upload to upload your log files (you can do this even if the DWARF 3 is not connected).
Contact us at support@dwarflab.com with details about the issue. The following information will help us resolve it faster:

• Can you see the DWARF 3’s Wi-Fi/Bluetooth name in your phone/tablet’s system settings?

• Can you find the DWARF 3 in your Wi-Fi list and manually connect using DWARF_12345678?

• Did the connection issue suddenly appear, or has it existed since you first received the device?

2.5 What should I do if DWARF 3 fails to connect in STA Mode?

First, check if you can connect when the STA mode is turned off. If the connection also fails when STA is off, please refer to the steps in Issue #7.

If non-STA works but STA Mode does not, please check:• Is the DWARF 3 too far from your router?• Did you enter the correct Wi-Fi password?

If you’ve ruled out these possibilities and still cannot connect, please upload your log files via Settings> Support > Log Upload and contact us at support@dwarflab.com.

For more details on connection settings, check our help page: DWARFLAB Help Center – Connection Settings

2.6 Device Won’t Power On or Charge

If your DWARF 3 isn’t turning on or charging, please try the following:

1. Use a different charger and cable to see if the issue persists. We recommend using a 10W or higher charger.

2. If changing the charger and cable doesn’t help, please email support@dwarflab.com with a short video showing:

• The specifications printed on your charger.• The charging cable plugged into the DWARF 3, along with the side LED indicator.

2.7 My computer asks me to format the DWARF 3’s storage / I can’t download photos from the album

If you encounter this issue, please contact support@dwarflab.com. We will schedule a remote session to assist you in resolving the problem. We also suggest trying another USB-C Cable to see if that resolves the connection issue as well and seeing if you can replicate the problem on another PC or Laptop device. It may simply be a USB driver missing from your computer which doesn't allow the connection, or in some cases, virus software or security settings blocking it.

2.8 Issues with Image Quality or Stacking Failures

Stacking may fail due to the following reasons:

1. Over-exposure: The background is too bright. Try reducing the gain. (Note: Stacking may fail in areas with high light pollution, such as high Bortles level.)

2. Misfocus: Stars appear distorted or not round due to improper focus.

3. Unstable tracking: Star trails instead of round stars caused by tracking instability.

4.Dark frames: Contain streaks or trails, or they were not taken in complete darkness.

⚠️ Especially note: if stacking fails at the very start, this is most likely due to incorrect dark frames.

5. External factors: Wind or an unstable tripod can cause stars to appear distorted or elongated.

If you notice issues with your images or stacking fails:

1. Locate the unstacked photos:

Connect DWARF 3 to your phone/PC via a USB-C cable.
Look for the "DWARF_RAW" folder and locate the affected photos.

2. Share the files with us:

Upload the unstacked photos via Google Drive or WeTransfer.
Share the viewing permissions with hello@dwarflab.com and sm3muzi@gmail.com.
Include the sharing link in your response.

How to improve stacking results:

The automatic stacking feature activates when the camera detects celestial objects. To ensure successful stacking, follow these steps:

1. Shoot a starry sky: Ensure stars are visible and unobstructed. Stacking will fail if stars are blocked by clouds or obstacles.

2. Focus properly: Make sure the stars are sharp and round.

3. Avoid overexposure: Reduce the gain if the image is too bright.

4. Wait for stable tracking: After using GoTo, wait 30 seconds for stable tracking. Stacking may fail if stars have trails due to unstable tracking, wind, or vibrations.

5. Delete the problematic dark frames and re-shoot them properly — make sure the lens is fully covered and no light enters.

2.9 Tele Photo and Wide-Angle Views Do Not Align

If the tele photo and wide-angle views seem mismatched, try refocusing the long-focus lens during daylight for better alignment.

2.10 Focus Not Right (Value Not Displayed)

When entering Photo mode, the focus value does not appear, and the image remains out of focus. This issue is often software-related and occurs when the focus motor fails to retrieve a focus position.

Step-by-Step Solution

Connect to DWARF 3
Make sure your mobile device is connected to the telescope and launch the DWARFLAB App.
Enter Photo Mode
From the home screen, go to Photo Mode.
Adjust Lens Position
Move the telescope so that the telephoto lens is pointed at a bright object approximately 5 meters away.
Manually Adjust Focus

Tap the Focus button.
Use the + / – buttons to manually adjust the focus until the image becomes clear.
Once the image sharpens, the focus value should reappear.

Use Auto Focus for Distant Objects

Now point the telephoto lens at an object more than 5 meters away.
Tap Auto Focus.
Fine-tune the result manually if needed.

Save Focus Settings in Astro Mode

Switch to Astro Mode.
Tap Function → scroll to Manual Adjust Focus → tap Update to save the focus settings.

2.11 Color Swirls or Colored Borders in Stacked Images

If your stacked image shows colored edges, RGB fringing, or a swirled/vortex-like filed rotation pattern, this usually indicates that some frames affected by light pollution or inconsistent brightness were included in the stacking process.

Possible Cause

When a frame with light pollution, lens flare, or significant brightness shift is included in the stacking, it can distort the alignment and create edge artifacts or color distortions.

How to Fix It?

Go to the Album
Open the DWARFLAB App and tap Album at the bottom.
Enter Mega Stack, Open the Folder for the Problem Image and Select View Single Frames
Go through the individual frames and uncheck any that are overexposed, discolored, affected by light pollution, or clearly misaligned.
Tap “Mega Stack”
Re-stack the Clean Frames

Tips: Common causes include outdoor lights, moonlight, or daytime reflections entering the frame.

2.12 Colored Stripes, Dotted Noise, or Black Artifacts in Your Photos?

If your stacked astrophotos show colorful streaks, spotty artifacts, or black line patterns, this is often caused by a mismatch between the ambient temperature and your existing dark frames.

The dark frame (used to subtract sensor noise) is sensitive to temperature changes.

If the environment has changed significantly since you last took your darks — especially if the temperature is higher or lower — the dark subtraction becomes inaccurate, and residual noise patterns can appear in the final image.

What To Do?

In this case, please retake your dark frames at the appropriate settings:

Go to the Astro Mode - “Function-Darks” in the DWARFLAB App.
Cover the lenses using the solar filter (or take the darks in a fully dark environment).
Ensure the device has stabilized at the current ambient temperature before capturing.
Retake the dark frames for both wide and telephoto lenses if needed.
To fix image sessions with the issues identified in the example pictures above, use the MEGASTACK function and the "new" darks you captured (as long as they are similar to your image settings) will be used for the re-stacking and should resolve the visual issue.

Special Occasion: If you notice black stripes in your processed images, this usually means that there was light leakage during dark frame capture. Please follow these steps to fix the issue:

Step 1: Delete the old dark frame file

Connect your DWARF and navigate to the storage path:

DWARF3\CALI_FRAME\dark\cam_0

Find the dark frame file that matches the same exposure time and gain as your captured images.

dark_exp_15.000000_gain_60_bin_1_9C_stack_7.fits

Delete this file.

Note: The darks that need to be deleted are the stacked calibration frames in CALI_FRAME, since bad darks in Astronomy\DWARF_DARK are only used once to build the calibration frame and won’t affect future stacking.

Step 2: Capture a new dark frame

Use the same exposure time and gain as your original capture.
Try to keep the temperature as close as possible to the original capture.

Step 3: Re-stack with Mega Stack

Use Mega Stack to re-stack your data like the instructions said above.
DWARF 3 will automatically apply the newly captured dark frame.

Notes
Make sure the dark frame is captured in complete darkness to avoid any light leakage.
Exposure time and gain must match your actual capture, otherwise the dark frame won’t apply correctly.

2.13 Strange Square Artifact in the Stacked Image.

This effect is usually caused by issues during stacking, such as target drift or instability in the setup. Possible reasons include:

Target drift or misalignment

The telescope may have slowly drifted off the target during capture.

Obstruction or corrupted frames

Sometimes the stacking “catches” an obstruction or includes single frames with drifted stars (to the left or right).

How to fix it?

Try re-stacking the original FITS files using Mega Stack.
Check the individual subframes in your album. Delete those with drift or artifacts, then restack the remaining frames. It may recover a more usable area and re-center the target in the final stacked image.
If the issue persists, you may need to reshoot the session with a more stable tripod and careful alignment.

2.14 Stellar Studio Upload Takes a Long Time and Then Fails

If you see the error “upload failed”, it is usually caused by an unstable network connection. Here’s what you can try:

Finish your capture session first
Switch to STA mode

After finishing, connect your DWARF device to a stable home Wi-Fi network in STA mode.

Choose a strong and reliable signal

Uploading from a location with strong Wi-Fi (such as your home network) will make the process much more stable.
Many users in the community have reported that this greatly improves upload speed and reliability.
If you continue to have an "upload failed" message, our cloud services may be down. Please wait for a period of time and try again. Check our social media pages for any notifications or updates of disrupted services. We intend on adding a cloud service status notification in the Dwarflab application at a future date.

2.15 Astro Photos Not Showing in Your Album

Issue cause:

If the device shut down unexpectedly during shooting (or you forgot to press stop button and shut down the device directly), the system may fail to generate the final stacked image, causing the photo not to appear in the in-app gallery. (But files are existing in DWARF drive)

Follow the steps below to restore your image display.

1. Power on your D3 and connect it to your computer using a USB data cable.

2. Locate the target folder

Open the D3 storage (USB drive) on your computer.

Go to the Astronomy folder.

Inside it, find the folder of the target object that failed to generate a final image.

You can identify it based on:

1. Target name

2. Exposure time and gain

3. Shooting date and time

3. Add the missing required files

Inside the target folder, you need to add the three required files.

Step 1: Copy the following two JPG files from any normal, completed astronomy folder (to let the photo show up again in the album)

stacked.jpg
stacked_thumbnail.jpg

Step 2: Create a placeholder FITS file and rename it as a stacked file (to let the photo show up again in the album)

From the broken folder, copy any FITS single frame and paste it again in the same folder.

Rename the copied file to:

stacked-16_[target][parameters][mode]_[time].fits (to fool the device to think this is the missing file)

📌 Important: Remove the temperature part from the filename. （Since Stacked files don't have temps）

Please refer to the following correct format.

4. Check the restored result

Restart your D3 and reconnect using the App.

Open the Gallery and check whether the image now appears normally.

5. Re-stack your data using Mega Stack

Once the file appears in your Gallery:

Open Mega Stack
Re-stack your FITS frames to generate a fresh real stacked image
You can then process it using PC software or Stellar Studio as usual

Additional Notes

Since the JPG and thumbnail are copied from another target, the restored item in the gallery will temporarily show the wrong preview (from the donor target), but this does not affect your FITS data or re-stacking.
If the image still does not appear, please ensure that all three required files have been added to the folder.
This fix doesn't apply to Astro mosaic sessions.

Hi, how can I help you?