Hi,

What is the proper way to setup the LX200 autostar with Kstars?

I somehow be able to move the telescope in Kstars last week, but not today. Is there any setting I need to do after it is online? Thx
I have attached a picture for reference.
   

Hello Andy,

This -looks- similar to an issue I had with lx200 classic.
Seeing the output of the logging for "Could not process mount date and time" where the string displayed seems to have intermixed time and latitude.

To fix the issue I added mutex's around the communications, where two different requests to mount could not intermix before response was received.
getUTFOffset
getLocalTime (get ctime)
getLocalDate (get cdate)

Your error message is coming from the warning print after executing the above sequence of queries and ends up with a cdate some strange string.
Also, the above series check for error responses but an issue is the underlying routines all return good whether or not there is an error response in talking to the mount.

char datetime[MAXINDINAME] = {0};
snprintf(datetime, MAXINDINAME, "%sT%s", cdate, ctime);

// Now that date+time are combined, let's get tm representation of it.
if (strptime(datetime, "%FT%T", &ltm) == nullptr)
{
LOGF_WARN("Could not process mount date and time: %s", datetime);
return false;

Hi,

May I know where to add " added mutex's around the communications"" inside the Kstars?
Thx

Hi Andy,

I scanned the code and it looks like everything is protected in the paths for the given error messages.
Are the communications to the scope known to be rock solid? What adapter are you using from your computer to the Autostar?

The issue, when mutex's were added, manifested itself when I was running the scope across a TCP link with Meade scope commands (not INDI interfaces) going across the link to the lx200 classic.

What version of Kstars/Ekos are you running?

Two relevant files are lx200telescope.cpp and lx200driver.cpp for 1.9.4 INDI
github.com/indilib/indi/tree/v1.9.4/drivers/telescope


It would be more worthwhile actually passing the errors back up the INDI API's rather than just returning 'true/good'.

If you enable verbose logging for drivers in Ekos it should show the outs to scopes and in from scope for INDI.

Example of an ignored error from the driver

bool LX200Telescope::getLocalDate(char *dateString)
{
if (isSimulation())
{
time_t now = time (nullptr);
strftime(dateString, MAXINDINAME, "%F", localtime(&now));
}
else
{
getCalendarDate(PortFD, dateString);
}

return true;
}

Gene

Hi,

I am using pi4, I just started this month so I assume everything is latest.
And I rebuilt from the source, github.com/indilib/indi
The modified code is in the source right?
Anyway, it seems better now.
I restart the pi4 several times and sometimes, it works. I can control the telescope using Kstars.
Thanks for your suggestion. Cheers

Hi Andy,

What adapter are you using from the PI4 to the Autostar, the USB to serial adapter, make/model or generic?

There are many cases over the years about USB to serial adapters and Meade equipment.

Gene

This morning, same problem... Even after several reboot.
It is generic cable. It seems like a myth about the cable... 9600 is standard right?

Serial Cable is just simple hardware, will it be the problem of the driver itself? Is there a simple way to check the serial communication or monitoring?
May I know if there is any updated driver for the LX200 autostar?

Thx

  Hi,I can get the data from LX200 AutoStar from my PC, so, the cable should be ok. It is probably the problem of the driver... 

Andy,

Did you do the suggestion of enabling driver debug and gather logs?

So far there has been no other actual info supplied to diagnose your issue

Did you do any research on the 'myth' of Autostar and serial cables?

What chipset is your usb-serial adapter using?

You can talk to the scope directly using 'screen' and get the responses

screen /dev/YOUR-ADAPTER
Then type in
:GG#
:GL#
:GC#

Do the responses match what is expected as per the Meade serial interface doc?
www.meade.com/support/TelescopeProtocol_2010-10.pdf

HI,

FTDI chip

astroberry@astroberry:~ $ ls -l /dev/serial/by-id/usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_0001-if00-port0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 Feb 28 13:38 /dev/serial/by-id/usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_0001-if00-port0 -> ../../ttyUSB0

I use putty, the screen is blank even if I type something.....


astroberry@astroberry:~ $ sudo kstars
libEGL warning: DRI2: failed to authenticate
QStandardPaths: XDG_RUNTIME_DIR not set, defaulting to '/tmp/runtime-root'
Call to writableLocation without an application-based location.
org.kde.kstars: Welcome to KStars 3.5.7 Stable
org.kde.kstars: Build: 2022-01-29T12:50:57Z
org.kde.kstars: OS: "raspbian"
org.kde.kstars: API: "arm-little_endian-ilp32-eabi-hardfloat"
org.kde.kstars: Arch: "arm"
org.kde.kstars: Kernel Type: "linux"
org.kde.kstars: Kernel Version: "5.10.63-v7l+"
org.kde.kstars: Qt Version: 5.11.3
org.kde.kstars: Processing "unnamedstars.dat" , HTMesh Level 3
org.kde.kstars: Sky Mesh Size: 512
org.kde.kstars: Loaded DSO catalog file: "unnamedstars.dat"
org.kde.kstars: Processing "deepstars.dat" , HTMesh Level 3
org.kde.kstars: Sky Mesh Size: 512
org.kde.kstars: Loaded DSO catalog file: "deepstars.dat"
org.kde.kstars: "Star HD20794 not found."
org.kde.kstars: "Star HD98230 not found."
org.kde.kstars: Loaded DSO catalogs.
org.kde.kstars: Loading comets
org.kde.kstars: Current icon theme is "hicolor"
Shortcut for action "get_data" "Download New Data..." set with QAction::setShortcut()! Use KActionCollection::setDefaultShortcut(s) instead.
Shortcut for action "timestep_increase_units" "Increase Time Scale" set with QAction::setShortcut()! Use KActionCollection::setDefaultShortcut(s) instead.
Shortcut for action "timestep_decrease_units" "Decrease Time Scale" set with QAction::setShortcut()! Use KActionCollection::setDefaultShortcut(s) instead.
org.kde.kstars: Current icon theme is "breeze-dark"
glibc >= 2.1 detected. Using GNU extension sincos()
static bool LibSecretKeyring::findPassword(const QString&, const QString&, QKeychain::JobPrivate*)
QImage::scaled: Image is a null image
org.kde.kstars: Loading comets
org.kde.kstars: Loading asteroids
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "Starting INDI services..."
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: creating new connection...
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: Already connected.
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "INDI services started on port 7624."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: Ekos received a new device: "LX200 Autostar"
Dispatch command error(-1): Device V4L2 CCD not found
<setTextVector device="V4L2 CCD" name="DRIVER_INFO" state="Idle" timeout="60" timestamp="2022-02-28T05:43:53">
<oneText name="DRIVER_NAME">
V4L2 CCD
</oneText>
<oneText name="DRIVER_EXEC">
indi_v4l2_ccd
</oneText>
<oneText name="DRIVER_VERSION">
1.0
</oneText>
<oneText name="DRIVER_INTERFACE">
2
</oneText>
</setTextVector>
org.kde.kstars.ekos: Ekos received a new device: "V4L2 CCD"
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: creating new connection...
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: Already connected.
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] V4L2 CCD is online. "
org.kde.kstars.ekos.focus: "Idle."
org.kde.kstars.ekos.align: "Idle."
org.kde.kstars.ekos.align: "World Coordinate System (WCS) is enabled. CCD rotation must be set either manually in the CCD driver or by solving an image before proceeding to capture any further images, otherwise the WCS information may be invalid."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "V4L2 CCD is online."
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Found initial Input \"Camera 1\", Format \"Motion-JPEG\", Size 1280x720, Frame interval 1/30s "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Setting pixel size to default of 5.60 "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] For future autodetection of pixel size, please report the following: Reported Name: USB Camera: USB Camera, Common Name (Eg: NexImage 10), Pixel Size to the following thread: bit.ly/2S1Vxjq "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Loading device configuration... "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Upload settings set to client only. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[WARNING] Setting INT control White Balance Temperature will fail, currently inactive "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[WARNING] Setting INT control Exposure (Absolute) will fail, currently inactive "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Device configuration applied. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] World Coordinate System is enabled. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] LX200 Autostar is online. "
org.kde.kstars.ekos: All INDI devices are now connected.
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "LX200 Autostar is online."
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:502:17: QML MouseArea: Detected anchors on an item that is managed by a layout. This is undefined behavior; use Layout.alignment instead.
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:428: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:434: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:442: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:479: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:530: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:548: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:566: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:583: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:600: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:617: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:641: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:701: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:723: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:745: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:761: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:796: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:830: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:867: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:878: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:885: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:901: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:914: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:927: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:939: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:958: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:967: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
org.kde.kstars.ekos.mount: "Warning: Overriding AndyConfig configuration."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "LX200 Autostar is online."
org.kde.kstars.ekos.mount: "Warning: Overriding AndyConfig configuration."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "Guider port from LX200 Autostar is ready."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "LX200 Autostar focuser is online."
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[ERROR] Failed to retrieve time format from device. "

Hi,

Here is another similar output

astroberry@astroberry:~ $ sudo kstars
libEGL warning: DRI2: failed to authenticate
QStandardPaths: XDG_RUNTIME_DIR not set, defaulting to '/tmp/runtime-root'
Call to writableLocation without an application-based location.
org.kde.kstars: Welcome to KStars 3.5.7 Stable
org.kde.kstars: Build: 2022-01-29T12:50:57Z
org.kde.kstars: OS: "raspbian"
org.kde.kstars: API: "arm-little_endian-ilp32-eabi-hardfloat"
org.kde.kstars: Arch: "arm"
org.kde.kstars: Kernel Type: "linux"
org.kde.kstars: Kernel Version: "5.10.63-v7l+"
org.kde.kstars: Qt Version: 5.11.3
org.kde.kstars: Processing "unnamedstars.dat" , HTMesh Level 3
org.kde.kstars: Sky Mesh Size: 512
org.kde.kstars: Loaded DSO catalog file: "unnamedstars.dat"
org.kde.kstars: Processing "deepstars.dat" , HTMesh Level 3
org.kde.kstars: Sky Mesh Size: 512
org.kde.kstars: Loaded DSO catalog file: "deepstars.dat"
org.kde.kstars: "Star HD20794 not found."
org.kde.kstars: "Star HD98230 not found."
org.kde.kstars: Loaded DSO catalogs.
org.kde.kstars: Loading comets
org.kde.kstars: Current icon theme is "hicolor"
Shortcut for action "get_data" "Download New Data..." set with QAction::setShortcut()! Use KActionCollection::setDefaultShortcut(s) instead.
Shortcut for action "timestep_increase_units" "Increase Time Scale" set with QAction::setShortcut()! Use KActionCollection::setDefaultShortcut(s) instead.
Shortcut for action "timestep_decrease_units" "Decrease Time Scale" set with QAction::setShortcut()! Use KActionCollection::setDefaultShortcut(s) instead.
org.kde.kstars: Current icon theme is "breeze-dark"
glibc >= 2.1 detected. Using GNU extension sincos()
static bool LibSecretKeyring::findPassword(const QString&, const QString&, QKeychain::JobPrivate*)
QImage::scaled: Image is a null image
org.kde.kstars: Loading comets
org.kde.kstars: Loading asteroids
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "Starting INDI services..."
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: creating new connection...
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: Already connected.
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "INDI services started on port 7624."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: Ekos received a new device: "LX200 Autostar"
Dispatch command error(-1): Device V4L2 CCD not found
<setTextVector device="V4L2 CCD" name="DRIVER_INFO" state="Idle" timeout="60" timestamp="2022-02-28T05:48:47">
<oneText name="DRIVER_NAME">
V4L2 CCD
</oneText>
<oneText name="DRIVER_EXEC">
indi_v4l2_ccd
</oneText>
<oneText name="DRIVER_VERSION">
1.0
</oneText>
<oneText name="DRIVER_INTERFACE">
2
</oneText>
</setTextVector>
org.kde.kstars.ekos: Ekos received a new device: "V4L2 CCD"
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: creating new connection...
INDI::BaseClient::connectServer: Already connected.
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] V4L2 CCD is online. "
org.kde.kstars.ekos.focus: "Idle."
org.kde.kstars.ekos.align: "Idle."
org.kde.kstars.ekos.align: "World Coordinate System (WCS) is enabled. CCD rotation must be set either manually in the CCD driver or by solving an image before proceeding to capture any further images, otherwise the WCS information may be invalid."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "V4L2 CCD is online."
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Found initial Input \"Camera 1\", Format \"Motion-JPEG\", Size 1280x720, Frame interval 1/30s "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Setting pixel size to default of 5.60 "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] For future autodetection of pixel size, please report the following: Reported Name: USB Camera: USB Camera, Common Name (Eg: NexImage 10), Pixel Size to the following thread: bit.ly/2S1Vxjq "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Loading device configuration... "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Upload settings set to client only. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[WARNING] Setting INT control White Balance Temperature will fail, currently inactive "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[WARNING] Setting INT control Exposure (Absolute) will fail, currently inactive "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] Device configuration applied. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: V4L2 CCD : "[INFO] World Coordinate System is enabled. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] LX200 Autostar is online. "
org.kde.kstars.ekos: All INDI devices are now connected.
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "LX200 Autostar is online."
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:502:17: QML MouseArea: Detected anchors on an item that is managed by a layout. This is undefined behavior; use Layout.alignment instead.
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:428: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:434: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:442: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:479: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:530: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:548: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:566: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:583: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:600: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:617: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:641: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:701: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:723: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:745: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:761: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:796: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:830: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:867: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:878: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:885: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:901: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:914: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:927: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:939: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:958: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
qrc:/qml/mount/mountbox.qml:967: ReferenceError: xi18n is not defined
org.kde.kstars.ekos.mount: "Warning: Overriding AndyConfig configuration."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "LX200 Autostar is online."
org.kde.kstars.ekos.mount: "Warning: Overriding AndyConfig configuration."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "Guider port from LX200 Autostar is ready."
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "LX200 Autostar focuser is online."
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[ERROR] Failed to retrieve time format from device. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[ERROR] Failed to get tracking frequency from device. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[WARNING] Failed to get site latitude from device. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[WARNING] Could not process mount date and time: 2/82T00:00:00 "
Dispatch command error(-1):
<setTextVector device="LX200 Autostar" name="Firmware Info" state="Idle" timeout="0" timestamp="2022-02-28T05:49:28">
<oneText name="Date">
21|5 201:5ot142
</oneText>
<oneText name="Time">
7494
</oneText>
<oneText name="Number">
E
</oneText>
<oneText name="Full">
TXutr4Eec 01:5
</oneText>
<oneText name="Name">
Atota
</oneText>
</setTextVector>
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] Loading device configuration... "
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "Re-disabling debug logging for LX200 Autostar..."
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] Auto search is enabled. When connecting, the driver shall attempt to communicate with all available system ports until a connection is established. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] Dome Policy set to: Dome ignored. Mount can park or unpark regardless of dome parking state. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[ERROR] Error setting site longitude coordinates "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] Pulse guiding is enabled. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] Device configuration applied. "
org.kde.kstars.ekos.mount: "Telescope info updated successfully."
org.kde.kstars.indi: LX200 Autostar : "[INFO] Debug is disabled. "