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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Problem with Moonlite Focuser [SOLVED - (re)set baud rate 9600]

  • Posts: 205
  • Thank you received: 19
This is from a test I did just now, stripping out non-Moonlite stuff:
org.kde.kstars.indi: INDIListener: New device MoonLite
org.kde.kstars.ekos: Ekos received a new device:  MoonLite
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < CONNECTION >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < DRIVER_INFO >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < DEBUG >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < CONFIG_PROCESS >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < CONNECTION_MODE >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < DEVICE_PORT >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < DEVICE_BAUD_RATE >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < DEVICE_AUTO_SEARCH >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < DEVICE_PORT_SCAN >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < SYSTEM_PORTS >
...
rg.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] Error retreiving data from MoonLite, please ensure MoonLite controller is powered and the port is correct. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[WARNING] Communication with /dev/ttyUSB0 @ 9600 failed. Starting Auto Search... "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] Error retreiving data from MoonLite, please ensure MoonLite controller is powered and the port is correct. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] MoonLite is online. Getting focus parameters... "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] MoonLite is online. "
org.kde.kstars.ekos: MoonLite is connected.
org.kde.kstars.ekos: 3  devices connected out of  5
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < FOCUS_MOTION >
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "MoonLite focuser is online."
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < FOCUS_SPEED >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < FOCUS_TIMER >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < REL_FOCUS_POSITION >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < ABS_FOCUS_POSITION >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < FOCUS_ABORT_MOTION >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < Presets >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < Goto >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < USEJOYSTICK >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < FOCUS_TEMPERATURE >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < FOCUS_MAXTRAVEL >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < Step Mode >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < Temperature Settings >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < Temperature Compensate >
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < FOCUS_SYNC >
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] Unknown error: focuser position value (- Unk �ϬU) "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateSpeed error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateStepMode error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] MoonLite paramaters updated, focuser ready for use. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] Loading device configuration... "
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < SYSTEM_PORTS >
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] Device configuration applied. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] Scan complete. Found 3 port(s). "
org.kde.kstars.indi: < MoonLite >: < SYSTEM_PORTS >
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] Focuser is moving to position 2000 "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] isMoving error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] Focuser reached requested position. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updatePostion error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[ERROR] updateTemperature error: Timeout error. "
org.kde.kstars.indi: MoonLite :  "[INFO] MoonLite is offline. "
org.kde.kstars.ekos: MoonLite  is disconnected.
org.kde.kstars.ekos: "MoonLite is disconnected."
 

I can operate the focuser manually via the controller.

I'm going to try some other tests and see if I can get more debug information, but if the above is a clue to anyone, I'd be interested in hearing it.

Building from latest source, last built about 24hrs ago.
Last edit: 6 years 2 months ago by Chris Ryan.
6 years 2 months ago #22536

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  • Posts: 205
  • Thank you received: 19
I tried swapping cables, different ports on the usb hub, direct connecting to the laptop. Nothing worked.

So I tried changing the baud rate since it was a "serial" connection. It was theoretically defaulted to 9600. I switched it to 19200 and still nothing.

I then set it back to 9600, tried again, an lo! Eureka, it works.

So, a bit weird.
6 years 2 months ago #22537

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Your log shows that the autosearch was enabled. This is a cool feature, but for serial devices it will pick the very first serial device that can be opened. Moonlite INDI driver will thus connect to whatever tty it can find and start sending stuff to it without any question. You would be under the impression that the device is connected, but actually it might not be talking to your Moonlite device! To avoid this, configure a udev rule which identifies your usb-to-serial connector, from its serial number for instance, and which makes a symlink with a specific name of your choice. Configure that symlink name in the INDI device configuration, disable autodetection, and save. Next time the INDI driver connects, it will try to connect to the expected device.
I must note that I could also reproduce that issue with a custom arduino moonlite firmware. I think I solved it when I optimized the duration of each run loop in the firmware, as I did not reproduce the timeout problem after that. Agreed, that doesn't relate to the real Moonlite device, but that symptom may hint of a weakness in how the protocol is written, leading to that desync in some situations.

-Eric
The following user(s) said Thank You: Chris Ryan, nMAC
6 years 1 month ago #22909

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Thanks for the explanation - that makes more sense. I was/am returning from a long break and wasn't familiar with the autosearch feature and how it actually worked.

I'll look into doing the udev rule.
6 years 1 month ago #22942

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