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AstroPiMaker4 script for RPI4 and Ubuntu 20.04

  • Posts: 174
  • Thank you received: 27
Hi All,
I updated my AstroPiMaker4 script and instructions for building astroimaging system using RPI4 and Ubuntu 20.04.

Here are the features of the script:
  • Installs most commonly used Astrophotography software: INDI, Kstars, PHD2,CCDCiel,Skychart, Astrometry with sextractor, ASTAP plate solver
  • Sets up Wireless Access Point
  • Sets up x11vnc to be started automatically with headless operation
  • Defaults to Gnome Desktop, but KDE and Mate can also be installed

More details and script itself are available under:
github.com/avarakin/AstroPiMaker4

Feel free to use and fork.

Alex
The following user(s) said Thank You: Joaquin
3 years 11 months ago #52712

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I have set up two RPi4 using this script and everything is running great so far.
The only issue I ran into was with gnome desktop - for some reason, it is burning a lot of CPU.
For some reason, Kstars/EKOS has issues with managing windows under all desktop environments, except KDE, where it does not show window management buttons for EKOS window and also windows do not behave as independent windows.
I switched to KDE desktop and it runs much better and window management functions work properly.
The script has been updated to install KDE instead of Gnome.
3 years 9 months ago #55687

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Thanks, working on it now. Would be neat to have a message prior to "it would be a good idea to reboot now" to get the IP address for VNC and deliver a message " Your IP is X, please write it down and connect with VNC using that IP"
3 years 9 months ago #55970

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Micheal,
Good suggestion, I will implement this next time I touch the script.
Did you run into any issues?
3 years 9 months ago #55972

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I have not tested anything yet.

I did choose the defaults and when I logged in I noticed that as opposed to other installs I've done in the past, there was nothing on the desk top. I am curious about setting up an auto-start of the ekos server so I can connect to it with the client on my Windows PC. Maybe you have it already auto start transparently? I haven't looked. I have it installed on my RP4 but haven't connected anything to it yet. Maybe tomorrow.
3 years 9 months ago #55974

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Hi Alex,
I wanted to try your script but I am getting "This site can’t be reachedd3s68rdjvu5sgr.cloudfront.net’s server IP address could not be found." when I click on the download image link on Github. I tried two browers on both linux and windows with the same result.
Last edit: 3 years 9 months ago by Brian.
3 years 9 months ago #56033

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Starman, you can just download image from official download page of Ubuntu. Look for Ubuntu server 20.04 for Rpi4 32 bit.
3 years 9 months ago #56036

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I updated the instructions with a link for the download page.
3 years 9 months ago #56043

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Most likely you logged into Gnome. Gnome out of the box has an unusual interface. In any case, for some reason, Gnome is burning a lot of CPU so not recommended.

In the login screen, you need to pick KDE Plasma. KDE is a more conventional desktop system and works very well with Ekos/Kstars.

You have to start Ekos manually from the menu.
3 years 9 months ago #56044

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I've made several changes to the script over the past few months:
1. Repaced x11vnc by RealVNC.  Issue with x11vnc is that it is slow and prone to having corrupt display.  RealVNC is great, but it was challenging to install.  You will get RealVNC if you install from scratch, or if you already have a working system, follow the steps below:2. mate desktop is installed by default
3. automatic login without asking for user id and password
4. better method of installing astap
3 years 12 hours ago #69397

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