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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Driver OnStep (LX200 like) for INDI

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@ Blueshawk.
Thanks for your efforts.

I had a look in your last logs.
Seems that from an alignment point of view things behave correct:
====================
I see and Align request ":A3#"
then a lot of align status ":A?" answered by <413> meaning first star out of 3 is in process
then after :CM" (sync most probably from Ekos after plate solvind"
followed by align status ":A?" answered by <423> meaning second star out of 3 is in process ==> so Sync does what is expected
===============

I really need to speed up my work to complete my set-up to be able to test this in real situation.
Just ordered a "blue pill". I want to build a testing patform, hope this will arrive soon.

I like your approach with testing protocol, this is the right way I would like to go for testing when everythinbg is set-up.

What concerns current Git version, it is tested to work on bench but not in real situation, but form an align point of view, it should behave as version 1.3.

The only differences are the new alignment tab and PEC which both need rework.

Regards
The following user(s) said Thank You: Ray Wells
5 years 6 months ago #29057

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Thanks Alain.
I could also try Azwing/master against the Onstep change sometime without too much effort. I'll leave things as they are for the moment and play with it more, but no more double shifts for a while.

I'm not sure this is the right way to go. It relies on changes to code outside the scope of the driver which could leave it broken at a later date, as well as having implications for legacy user and non indi users of OnStep. We could also try a side branch with James's in driver version sometime after I lick my wounds a bit.
5 years 6 months ago #29064

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.

=> I agree it is not the way to go. I tried to setup two branches, "OnStepTest" and OnStep1.3", thinking I can keep;
-Master as the in Progress but tested version
-OnStepTest as the testing version
-OnStep1.3 as the stable vesion

It works in my local git, I can switch from one to the other with "fgit checkout OnStepxxxx" but I cannot use fixes on version 1.3 to pull requests in main master.
Git is most probably very powerfull but I am not able to use it in the right way I guess.

Concerning Legacy ... this is the reason why I don't want to release any changes before everything is tested against a stable version of OnStep Firrmware.
Seems the cat bites his tail here :-) but soon or later we will manage.

Rome was not built in one day !
5 years 6 months ago #29072

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Now that I looked in the log, the alignment using plate solving is working as intended.

Before :CM#, there are Sr and Sd commands (set RA, set Dec), and the results from :A?# increment the number of 'stars' aligned on, from 413, to 423 to 433.

The first digit, 4, is the maximum number of alignment stars (because this is an Arduino Mega), and the second digit is the number of star aligned on, and the third digit is the number of stars that are intended to align on.

Once the second and third digit are equal, alignment is complete.

You mentioned that it is not plate solving (too fast or something). That is separate issue, but at least coordinates are returned and are used in Sr, Sd, then CM syncs.

Thanks for testing this. It confirms what I found testing indoors.
5 years 6 months ago #29073

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Hi Folks,
I have the following issue.

Connecting the indi_lx200_OnStep driver that came with kstars the following error arises
#2018-09-02T16:13:38: [WARNING] Communication with /dev/ttyACM0 @ 9600 failed. Starting Auto Search...

There is no /dev/USB0 as suggested by default. So the determination of the /dev/ttyACM0 works (scan).
But i am not possible to establish a connection

Using MaxPCB (V1.12), libindi V1.7.x

May be you have a solution for this?
Regards,
Gerrit
5 years 6 months ago #29207

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Ignore KStars and INDI for a moment, and focus on USB at the Linux level.

Close KStars and make sure no INDI driver is running, then unplug the controller from your Linux box.

Plug it again, then do the following:
lsusb

Do you see a device for it?

ls -l /dev/ttyU* /dev/ttyA*

Do you see an ACM or USB device?

Install picocom, then do this:

picocom -eq -b9600 /dev/ttyX

(replace X by USB0 or ACM0, depending on what you see above.

If that is successful, enter:

:GU#

See if there is a response.

You may need to add the Teensy's udev rules .
5 years 6 months ago #29212

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@Clearskyhopper,

Using maxpcb you have a teensy 3.5 or 3.6 I suppose.
First of all do you have read/write access to /dev/ttyACM0
========= here how you check the port rights
alain@alain:~$ ls -l /dev/ttyACM0
crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 166, 0 sept. 2 18:32 /dev/ttyACM0
========= then check if you are in the dialout group
alain@alain:~$ groups
alain tty dialout voice cdrom floppy sudo audio dip video plugdev scanner netdev bluetooth pulse

If not in the dialout group you shoud use "sudo vigr" to add you in the "dialout" group

========= Can you test the connection with minicom
alain@alain:~$ minicom -s

then configure your serial port and speed as well
and type someting like
:GR#
or
:GD#
to see if you get answers from OnStep

========================================= excerpt of minicom screen

Bienvenue avec minicom 2.7.1

OPTIONS: I18n
Compilé le May 6 2018, 08:02:47.
Port /dev/ttyACM0, 18:32:19

Tapez CTRL-A Z pour voir l'aide concernant les touches spéciales

:GR#12:55:51#
:GD#+90*00:00#
=========================================================
Try this and see if you can have access

====================

If no success please come back here with indi logs and copy ls -l /dev/ttyACMx
and we will see further

Additionally it is a good idea to have you device listed in udev so you can refer to always the same symbolic device
============= hereunder my udev rules for usb serial
alain@alain:~$ more /etc/udev/rules.d/99-usb-serial.rules
SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{idVendor}=="2a03", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0042", ATTRS{serial}=="8553130323135141D1F0", SYMLINK+="onstep"
SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0403", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6001", ATTRS{serial}=="A600emN7", SYMLINK+="arduino"
SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0403", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6001", ATTRS{serial}=="AH032K35", SYMLINK+="picastro"
SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0403", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6015", ATTRS{serial}=="EB1XJY0G", SYMLINK+="eqmod"
5 years 6 months ago #29214

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Hi Khalid,

we were edditing at the same time :-)
5 years 6 months ago #29215

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5 years 6 months ago #29216

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Hi Folks,
i added the udev rules already

1. lsusb:
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 16c0:0483 Van Ooijen Technische Informatica Teensyduino Serial

2. ls -l /dev/ttyU* /dev/ttyA*
crw-rw-rw- 1 root dialout 166, 1 Sep 2 18:58 /dev/ttyACM1

3. picocom -eq -b9600 /dev/ttyACM1
:GU# nNpHzE0#
:GR# 03:06:34#
:GD# +90*00:00#

So it seems to work. I think the trick was in restarting the onstep, and not only in rebooting the system.
Many thanks!
:)
And now I can connect the indi_lx200_OnStep driver as well.
Regards,
Gerrit
Last edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Gerrit.
5 years 6 months ago #29218

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@ clearskyhopper,

glad to hear it works.

Woulkd be nice if you give feedback of your experiences in field.

Clear Skyes
5 years 6 months ago #29225

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Howard merged the plate solving align code into OnStep Alpha (as of a few minutes ago).

So anyone who wants to use the Mount Model tool, can do so, with the stable version of INDI packages (no need for a special fork or branch).

The procedure is the same: click 3 Star (or a number suitable to your controller and obstructions), go to Mount Model and select stars that are far apart, and then click Run. That is all there is to it.
5 years 6 months ago #29288

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