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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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James,

A few months ago, when I was working on getting PEC running, I noticed that the import and export of PEC training data are not working. The buttons are there, but they don't do anything.

Alex
3 years 9 months ago #55689

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Hello,

I have a problem with the last version of indi_lx200_onstep with Kstars 3.4.3 (not tested with older Kstars versions).
If i park or unpark mount, kstars segfault.
It works fine with the older version of lx200_Onstep driver (1.8.5).
The new version (with weather) does not seem to worki for park/unpark (segfault on Kstars)
3 years 8 months ago #57108

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Hello,
I just tested with lx200_onstep in simulation mode and same problem: kstars crashes.
Tested with lx200_teenastro (simulator): OK
Test with EQmod (simulator): OK
Test with the previous version of lx200_onstep: OK
I think there is really a problem with the latest version of lx200_onstep.

However, the latest version of lx200_onstep works perfectly with "skychart".


Just tested with kstars 3.4.2: same result with lthe last lx200_onstep -> crash on park/unpark.
Last edit: 3 years 8 months ago by Serge CLAUS.
3 years 8 months ago #57224

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I can confirm your test on my rig also - wrote a long winded test report on facebook group with a number of combination tests:

Major issue with latest release - Crashing KStars and Ekos when using the updated LX200_OnStep driver under EKOS:
all Cameras OK
EFW OK
Able to capture pictures and plate solve
Mount connects and PHD can connect to INDI and the mount

Crash happens when attempting to UNPARK - immediate death of KSTARS/EKOS but INDI is still running.
PHD can still connect to INDI server for the mount despite KSTARS/EKOS being dead
prior to crash all control tabs are ok and setting can be set expect unparking
Mount is OK and controllable via OnStep application and can UNPARK, move, PARK with no issues
With KSTARS/EKOS dead i connected to mount with its app and UNPARKED....restarted Ktsars and pressed NO to the restart server warning (since INDI was already left running) and the EKOS panel shows the mount in a tracking state - so I know that the status and connection is alive
Able to control mount via Kstars goto while in this state (which means this is a work around of whatever the issue is)
Since the latest update it seems there is new feature that may be related as it never blocked unpark before - the dome status (I do not have a dome and driver has set itself to simulator) - parking and unparking is impacted by this setting whihc is always starting in DOME LOCKED despite changing the setting on each start up
After successfully connecting and moving/goto and checking all other devices - I pressed PARK and immediately crash EKOS/Kstars
However the COMMAND to park has reached the mount and it has successfully moved to park position
Conclusion - Bug in LX200_OnStep or Mount controls panel in EKOS directly related to PARK controls and STATUS incoming messages (since the mount parked we know the outgoing message was OK....but the EKOS dies on (suspected) the return status
Was able to recreate at will
There is NO indication of issues in the logs - they just end on crash
No photo description available.

follow on updates as I tested:

Jamie Flinn addition - when PARKING via the mount application, the status is NOT being updated in EKSO/KSTARS are they show only the last GOTO position
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Jamie Flinn
Jamie Flinn addition - appears that general DISCONNECT of device via the button on the main EKOS panel is also affected as the Crash was also induced by pressing this button (most likely trying to work the OnStep driver?)
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Jamie Flinn
Jamie Flinn addition - using telscope simulator = no crash. conclusion the LX200_OnStep dirver is the problem and has a defect related to park/status
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Jamie Flinn
Jamie Flinn addition - restart with mount in PARK as per OnStep app and status in EKOS is IDLE (wrong)...unpark via ONStep app...status changes in EKSO to TRACKING (correct)....this indicates the processing of status is no longer stable as prior to this release PARK was alway properly indicated
Last edit: 3 years 8 months ago by JAMIE FLINN.
3 years 8 months ago #57293

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So this was reported by Dan and I can confirm it. There is a bug in Ekos is that it cannot handle Mounts that define WEATHER_INTERFACE. The problem is quite complex since Ekos uses decorator pattern to "upgrade" generic devices to concrete classes of one specific type (telescope, camera...etc). Right now, so right now, once the device is identified as Telescope, its class is ISD::Telescope. However, when it detects weather properties, it tries to send the same pointer to the Weather handling class, which them just casts it to ISD::Weather since it assumes it was initialized as such, when it wasn't. There it would crash since it's trying to use ISD::Weather signals on an ISD::Telescope objects and all kind of weird stuff happens leading to a segmentation fault.

I started working on a fix, but it was pretty complex and requires major re-write for some parts because you actually DO need two instances to handle different aspects of the driver separately. This change started snowballing and I decided to delay it post 3.4.3. Maybe there is another solution in which the driver defines a separate WEATHER device along the mount, but really the driver should not work around client bugs. However, this might make it easy for other clients to handle as well.
3 years 8 months ago #57311

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So If I don’t use the weather functionality from OnStep, the driver should work fine isn’t it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
3 years 8 months ago #57320

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Correct. This is the issue now, but as I said this only affects Ekos and not other clients.
3 years 8 months ago #57322

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Sorry but it didn't work as expected.

I've OnStep configured with all the Weather options off (because I don't have hardware to use it),



But the INDI driver, still creates the weather sheet on INDI driver and a new observatory tab.




Obviously the crashes each time I try to park / unpark the mount. So independently if you are using or not the weather options in OnStep, it use with the version 3.4.3 is limited.

Regards
3 years 8 months ago #57398
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Yes - this makes it impossible to do fully automated sequence with unpark and park and even automatic park - so the danger to equipment is real here (no unattend operation) - is it possible disable these part in EKOS itself?....I am currently doing manual parks via the OnStep app and all the other 3.4.3 stuff is good (and really nice IMHO)
3 years 8 months ago #57399

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On my part, I will continue to work on fixing this issue at the root level in 3.5.0 but it requires a bit of complex re-tooling so this is going to take a while.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Rafa Barberá
3 years 8 months ago #57426

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Thank you for your effort @knro. I'll keep using 3.4.2 and I'm available to make any test that you will need in the future: beta versions, puntual test, what you'll need.

Regards
3 years 8 months ago #57427

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Same here Jasem.....I can run any beta and do some debugging if needed - IN THE MEANTIME, is there a way to "update" back to 3.4.2????? some magic "sudo apt" revert command?......
3 years 8 months ago #57434

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