I can test it,
If i update the indi files through “ update_indi_core” via terminal would that work.
I am not a programmer but I am aware of compiling source code but haven’t done so before.
Regards
Read More...
Hi
I don’t think i got it to work to be honest, are you trying to send dither pulses through to the mount directly?
Or via st4 connection and guidecam.
I think that’s the issue the mount only accepts pulses through the st4 connection and i don’t think i saw a change in the mount with the same method you describe.
How have you modified the code to allow that.
Id love to try it out , ive been using the am5 for some things but theres no comparison in quality of the subs on the astrotrac but little things like this make the final data potentially limiting to process.
Read More...
I am trying to figure out how to set up non guided dithering with this mount.
Apparently it can't be pulse guided and only via an ST4 cable can guiding be done I am not sure why.
But due to its encoders and focal lengths I use 135-400mm for my portable widefield setups I have no need for a guide camera of scope as my stars are pinpoint for all the exposures that I have done and require.
Is there way to do dithering with this, the natural drift of the mount I don't think is sufficient enough to 'naturally dither' over the course of exposures.
Ive seen that you can in the guide module but am not sure if my mount qualifies for that?
Read More...
Thanks for posting that, its as I remembered, I think one of my laptops is already setup for it so that should be quiet doable. Have you tried with a smaller polling rate since the upgrade to see if that works ok.
Also in the UI from a web browser if you type the following commands you can check the current version of the firmware.
1zv? to check firmware of RA drive
2z?? to check firmware of Dec drive (do not need separate connection to it)
Read More...
So you mean you werent able to load the UI files from the UI. A member on cloudynights had the same issue apparently but Richard did say that you could upload it from the UI.
By the way the latest UI is only compatible with the latest fw. Did you update FM then try load the UI files from the ui?
Also what were the steps to load it via arduino, I had to do some time ago like a year so Ive forgotten the complete steps. Do you mind posting the steps in sequence, in case I wreck mine.
Read More...
I don’t think I have got that problem with the unpark/park.
But when I first connect the mount in ekos.
I got to park and physically press unpark then park again to force it to park. For some reason the mount always begins unparked and tracking. This is default firmware behaviour since the mount is technically designed to be turned on and immediately start working. When using an external software one has to trigger a park event first for the program to “take over” I feel all our problems are related to something with the native design of the mounts firmware.
Also there is new firmware and UI files from Astrotrac on there website. I am yet to update them as well not sure of they make a difference. I am also assuming your astrotrac driver for indi is uptodate.
I have not used my mount due to weather and other commitments for some time , but will likely start again soon and I’ll probably update the firmware and UI first.
I hope Richard participates in this discussion.
For me the TheSkyX plugin was also unusable due to frequent timeout errors although I never tried with a high gain antenna etc.
I also suggest what sameer told me use the ethernet cable to connect to the pi inside whilst testing to eliminate some latency. Unfortunately there is no way to connect a wired connection to the mount. I feel if it could that would fix all our problems for good. Not sure how to go about doing that.
Read More...
That is interesting about the polling.
So basically indi is querying the mount every 3 secs? and that stops the timeout errors.
What does that signify? Is 3 seconds sufficient time to ensure that appropriate parameters from the mount a read in a timely fashion.
If that fixes it for good that is excellent.
Also I agree richard needs to take a more active role in the development as even TheSkyx Has the same serial timeout error. It maybe worthwhile communicating with him about appropriate polling rates for the mount for external software. Within the console a code outputs an answer about encoder status in ms <20ms . But indi is chatty so maybe every-time it polls it may involve more information provided/checked that may cause the errors.
Getting Richard is the difficult bit, he had some issues but I understand that is all recovered.
It would be useful to work with him with regards to this.
Read More...
You and me both it would seem.
Read More...
And additionally apparently its not best practice to be connected to mount via the ui and a web browser AND external control software such as stellarmate or theskyx.
So you can get into the Ui first via web browser setup the mount /or in my case force the dec to be a dec /other settings/ then close that connection/refresh browser, then connect to the mount via ekos/kstars.
So
Turn on mount without turning on stellarmate
setup mount via web browser as required
close browser
turn on stellarmate ensure antenna is best positioned minimise usb 3 interference
connect to mount and gear from ekos/kstars
avoid using the stellarmate os taskbar once connected
setup
Read More...
The serial times out errors are a problem.
I found that using a high gain external wifi dongle on the stellarmate via one of its usb 2 ports is the best bet with regards to minimising the errors. The antenna has to be setup just so and I’ve posted about my setup before. I feel that there must be some interference with the aluminium body of the mount and the stellarmate despite Astrotrac saying there shouldn’t be. I briefly discussed with Colin who wrote the theskyx drivers and he noticed frequent wifi issues even and timeout issues even when using a windows laptop.
Once you get a run of serial timeout errors its more likely to keep happening in which case I suggest disconnecting mount from ekos/k stars and reconnecting it. Also whilst the mount is doing slews etc avoid lookout at the taskbar of the stellarmate. I noticed everytime I hovered and pressed over the taskbar for example to check the network connection strength etc a serial timeout error would be triggered. And if I didn’t stop doing it it kept happening and in my view it “corrupts” the session so disconnect and reconnect renews the setting. This is whilst using vnc to connect to it from my mac.
Now no one seems to know why that error happens for sure but this is what I have found. On its own the wifi broadcast from the mount seems robust it’s just a matter of the other device consistently picking it up or not.
When I spoke to Richard from astrotrac he stated that during testing the wifi connection were tested for days at a time to check data transmission and integrity and apparently was ok. But obviously the same error happens on both the skyx driver and also this indi driver.
Maybe you all might have an idea.
But short of it is if use high gain antenna as desribed above and dont play around in the stellarmate /os taskbar outside of ekos/kstars it seems not to have any errors.
Read More...
No problem
Below is the 'short' version with little reference to other devices
Its a device that needs some detail to setup correctly unfortunately.
You can ignore the Polar Alignment component if you want but some of it is relevant
The rest is pretty important to know I think
Read More...
Astrotrac 36O Documentation short version Equipment usedAstrotrac mountLatest Astrotrac FirmwareStellarmate/RPI 4 with 8gb OptionalRTCExternal USB dongle Order of connection Notes
Polar Alignment screens tested in simulation in these pictures , works perfectly in Actual imaging
Read More...
Various Tabs related to Astrotrac mount in the INDI control panel
Read More...