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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

EQ6 with MCU-Upgrade problems with Indi_lx200basic driver

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Oh sorry! CDC = Cartes du Ciel
EQMOD? That's not LX200 compatible!
That's not going to work with the MCU as EQMOD uses another protocol!

Good night and thanks for the chat too :-)
4 years 10 months ago #38617

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I thought EQMODs ability to interface with ASCOM meant it would work fine as long as the correct driver was used in ASCOM?
Shouldn't the ASCOM drivers convert the mount protocol to work with any ASCOM compatible interface?
If that's not the case, I'm certainly confused and my attempts to use EQMOD are pointless :(.

EQMOD aside, I'm still stuck on the issue of not being able to get the ASCOM Littlefoot driver to correctly communicate with my MCU Upgraded mount, with what appears to be because of a random value in the Declination.
Do you have one of the MCU Upgrade firmware v3 versions? I could try that and see if pre v4 works?
If you have any ideas or suggestions of how to fix that one, that'd be great :).

On a side note, is "Sky Chart" and CdC the same thing? I click the link to download CdC and it gives me the "Sky Chart" download?
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Markus.
4 years 10 months ago #38647

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Hi. That is really not the case.
The EQMOD driver provides an interface and protocol specific for Synta/Skywatcher compatible mounts.
There's no translation made between protocols. The MCU uses LX200 protocol as provided by LittleFoot driver.
There is an EQMODLX ASCOM LX200 emulator, this interfaces between EQMOD and LX200 but it was specifically made for statellite tracker.

I only have the v4 version of the firmware, maybe someone here has it? Can't find anywhere. I have just found v3.40 firmware on my files, it's attached.
Carefull, if you revert to 3.40 and it goes wrong you have to find the v4.17D upgrade, I don't have it!!!

You are have exactly the same problem I had with Declination values. At the time I modded the OnStep driver
I found it had something to do with the Precision (High/Low) the values are returned from the controller.

And, yes, Skychart and Cartes do Ciel, are the same software.
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by nMAC.
4 years 10 months ago #38651
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Ok. Thanks for explaining that, better to find out now then keep banging my head for the next 6 months.

You mentioned earlier you had it working fine with CdC (is it the same as Sky Chart?), did you have to do anything different to get it to work or did it just work fine straight away?
4 years 10 months ago #38658

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Yes it worked fine and straight away on Skychart(CDC) using direct LX200 option (without ASCOM) direct to COM port. But this only controls the Goto of course.
For guiding I modded the Hand Controller and added a ST4 port. I know the MCU provides PINs for ST4, but I prefered this way.
I would like to get it working on INDI. I think I will give it another try.
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by nMAC.
4 years 10 months ago #38660

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Ok, so I've installed CdC and it connected to my mount, that seemed easy enough. And it seems to be slewing from point to point.
I was wondering why the MCU upgrade used a 15 pin connector instead of a standard 9 pin. Though I'm not familiar with ST-4, is that a way of controlling the mount externally from a tracking camera? I do have an old modified Phillips web camera I used to use, though I can't remember if it was for manual tracking or automatic.
Can CdC do auto tracking using ST-4?
Is there a way to control the speed of the tracking and slewing in CdC so I can utilise the Conrad gears I changed in my mount or is that just automatic after I set the speeds through v4 Control?
Sorry for the questions, I'm basically wondering if CdC will allow me to use most if not all of the functionality the MCU Update provides such as:-
Goto,
Good PEC, and
Camera Auto Tracking.

Did a bit more investigative reading and it looks like PHD2 combined with CdC should give me what I'm after and negate the need to use PEC, I'll see how it goes :)

Thank you so much for your time and help. Please keep me up to date how you go with your INDI connection and hopefully I can provide some help at some stage. Regards.
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Markus.
4 years 10 months ago #38669

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So that confirms it's really working ok.
The MCU has 15pins because there are extra funcions on those pins (ST4, SLR Control, FAN).
ST4 is one of the guiding methods. MCU also supported pulseguide. With a webcam you should use Pulseguide because it does not have a ST4 port.
The speed is controlled by the Hand Control. You can change the speeds that are associated with the Hand Contrl with it's own software (V4Control).
But you can't do it on the PC. You only change the speeds on V4 Control, guide speed and Goto are automatically set to the values stored on the Hand Control

CDC is only a planetary it does not provide observatory control as you wish, only some functions. To do that you need special software for ex:
INDI, CCDCiel, SGP, etc. This kind of software provides all the functions. (Capture, Guiding, focusing, etc). MCU VControl does this too but in a simple way.
Anyway for any of this you need a working LX200 Driver.

My hope was to get a suited driver for INDI.
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by nMAC.
4 years 10 months ago #38673

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That was a well (or unlucky) timed post I did in updating my previous post, I even checked to ensure you hadn't posted before I did.

Thanks for explaining the MCU details and the associated speeds.

From my small play with CdC it looked like I could Goto any of the locations on the sky map, which it did, then it would just keep tracking once it got there? A quick read about PHD2 seems to imply if can connect to CdC and provide auto guiding even with the web cam I have. (I'll remember to use Pulse Guide if the option is available).

I did come across CCDCiel, it looks like a pretty good capture software, it does mention working with INDI and ASCOM, but I'll do some deeper investigation to see if it can work with CdC, otherwise I may be back here working with you again to get the INDI driver sorted :)

I do have pipe dreams of eventually setting up a fully automated system, which may end up leading me down the INDI path anyway...
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Markus.
4 years 10 months ago #38674

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You just issue a Track/Goto command to an object and it will goto to the object and activate tracking. Just that.
Yes, you can setup CDC with PHD2 using pulseguide. That's one way. But you still need the capture software.
CCDCiel does all this and connects to both CDC and PHD2. It's algo a good choice. While we don't have a working INDI driver.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Markus
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by nMAC.
4 years 10 months ago #38675

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Hi NMAC,
Did you ever get your MCU to connect to PHD or PHD2? I've loaded up PHD2, but when I'm required to choose a mount, there is nothing in the small list of options even close. All I can choose from are:-
GPINT 278
GPINT 378
GPINT 3BC
GPUSB
INDI Mount
None
On-AO
On-camera

I've seen example that show many other types, but can't find how to get them.
4 years 10 months ago #38718

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In my case, using ST4, I was selecting On-Camera option. But that requires a camera with ST4 output.
4 years 10 months ago #38737

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:(, there seems to be a non-stop set of hurdles.
So I have the control of my mount working through CdC, and my Phillips SPC900NC Long Exposure B/W Modded camera is recognised by PHD2 as the tracking camera, but PHD2 now doesn't seem to have a way to connect to my mount.
How does CdC and PHD2 work together to control the mount or is CDC just used to get you to a new location then PHD2 is activated to keep you accurately there? Is there an instance when to two clash or is their isolation a user control thing?
If that is correct that CdC and PHD2 are individual things, does that mean I can look for any other software that is compatible with my camera and my mount?

In regards to my big dream future plan of a fully automated astro photography setup. From my limited experience, I assume there would be a need to set all the viewing limits of your scope/mount, to take into account mount stop points and viewing limitations due to interference like buidings, etc. Does CdC allow you to program in all those limitations so it automatically stops heading to unviewable stars/ etc?
Is there a software that allows you to set up a photography plan, where it goes to a point, starts capturing, then goes to another point, etc? But it can also tell you, based on your set limitations, if they are possible to do? One issue may be automating the auto tracking star. Conceptually it would be possible, but not sure if it's currently done. I gather auto focusing the photography camera may be another issue depending on what in the viewer where your photographing, or is thee software smart enough to go to the nearest know star, focus, then go back to where you want to photograph?
4 years 10 months ago #38761

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