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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

  • Posts: 68
  • Thank you received: 2
Hello.

I would like to use the project "Onstep" to control my mount (GP2 vixen). I have already built a control card and I use a card Arduino Mega 2560 (but you can also use a teensy 3.2 for improved performance).

Onstep uses language LX200:
www.stellarjourney.com/index.php?r=site/software_telescope

The developper website identifies very well the controls.
There is an ASCOM driver for Onstep and a software which exploits all the functionality that has create the developer ( "planetarium sky").

I do not need a driver who operates every possibility (driver ethernet, wifi, bluetooth and usb).

I need a driver that connects via USB and has the following functionality:

hand control:
- connection
- On set
- abort
- Parking (park, unpark and set park position)
- Tracking (on and off)

motion control:

- Motion N / S (north and south)
- Motion W / E (West, East)
- Slew rate (guide, centering, find, max)
- Slew Target
- Tracking mode (sidereal, solar, lunar, custom)
- Tracking frequency

Site management:
- As "LX200 Autostar"

Guide:
- As "LX200 Autostar"

Firmware_data:
- As "LX200 Autostar"

I try using the driver "LX200 Autostar", "LX200 Classic", "LX200 GPS". The card that connects (with sudo chmod uga+rwx /dev/ACM0). I even manage to send it to precise position. But once possible to park unpark.

But that's what does not work:

- Sends the UTC time at start
- Sends the latitude and longitude
- The "unpark" (the "park" function works)
- No button to activate the tracking
- Tracking mode does not work
- So "firmware_data", "full" does not.

If we take the driver "LX200 Autostar" should be deleted:

Hand control:
- alignment
- Use pulse cmd

- The menu "Focuser"

It must be added:
- A button on / off tracking
- A set button sets the park position = Parking position this location

This must be corrected:

Hand control:
- unpark
- Connection (wrong order for the latitude and longitude).

Motion control:
- Correct the tracking mode

Site management:
- Correct latitude and longitude control ( "*" instead of a ":")

Firmware_data:
- Correct reading of the order to "full"


To test all this it just sufficed to have an Arduino Mega and inject the code of the branch of -alpha github onstep: github.com/hjd1964/OnStep/tree/Arduino-Mega2560-Teensy3.1-Alpha

Here I hope someone can help me!
It'll be cool Indi compatible with Onstep !!!!

Afterwards we can add features but the features above sity Suffice to good use Onstep.

Thank you in advance for any help you could give me.
Where can I get a tutorial to start working on this change?

I have the basics in Python and C.
7 years 7 months ago #9455

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I tested with the driver windi ascom OnStep. Everything works without any problems!

But I'd rather have a real driver indi otherwise I need a computer running Windows in addition to my raspberry makes server.

It requires in addition to 2 server cascading!
7 years 7 months ago #9458

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+1

I'm in the process of building OnStep for my G-11. If nobody has written support for this by the time that I'm done with the hardware then I'll take a crack at it.

Thanks,
Ben
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dan Holler
7 years 7 months ago #9459

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I have a different project for the OnStep to control an old Celestron 16, for which, I already have an OnStep controller.

If I might suggest, the Arduino INDI projects and drivers listed in this web should provide a fast start to the coding.
Best wishes,

Dan
The following user(s) said Thank You: Alain Zwingelstein
7 years 7 months ago #9462

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Hi DRagonlost,

I am working on the indidriver for the OnStep.

I Join the patch to the 1.2 libindi version

Seems everything necessary works:
Park / UnPark
Track On
Sites
and of course the rest :-)

I am not happy with the way I achieved it since I had to modify lx200generic which I consider stupid.
I will continue to work on it but startin a new branch based on the INDI::Telescope instead
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dan Holler
Last edit: 7 years 7 months ago by Alain Zwingelstein.
7 years 7 months ago #9468

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Hello !

It's cool that we are more used Onstep and that is more to want to do with Indi and Linux!

I also am trying to achieve for electronics Onstep. I already realize a prototype for shiel Arduino to use AstroEQ and there I make a similar shield for Onstep.

if I can help you for the software does not hesitate!
7 years 7 months ago #9472

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Hi,
I found out what was wrong in my approach.
I started with the idea that to create a new driver I should really avoid changes in lx200generic which was wrong.
Definitively I need to declare the new driver in this code (I don't like this but it is how Indi is built)

Now the driver is working:
- Park / Unpark works
- Button for Track Enable/Disable works
- OnStep Firmware Info Tab is working
- Site management is working (there is a bug in the lx200driver.cpp (index tarts with 1 instead of 0)

I think the driver is quite usable as is.

I changed also some code in the Arduino Firmware adding implementation of the :Gc# command (Get Time Format) because it is called by dfautl by lx200generic.

The only problem I have now is to share the code since I am still not able to upload my patch file :angry:

File Attachment:

File Name: changesQT.txt
File Size:28 KB
7 years 7 months ago #9482
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Hi,

I try to attach the full tree for the OnStep Driver

Modified tar.gz with included driver.xml
Also implemented buttons for Reticule Brightness

File Attachment:

File Name: libindi.tar.gz
File Size:5,538 KB
Last edit: 7 years 7 months ago by Alain Zwingelstein.
7 years 7 months ago #9483
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Since I now can attach file, here the libreoffice file for the LX200 commandset
Yellow fields are tested, other on ToDo :)

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The following user(s) said Thank You: Dan Holler
7 years 7 months ago #9484
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I won't get a chance to test this at night, but, I will try it on my board within the coming week or weeks. Thanks again,
Dan
7 years 7 months ago #9485

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Hi,
Some screenshots from the Indi Control Panel


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7 years 7 months ago #9490
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Hello Alain?,

I downloaded the libindiQT.tgz, expanded, ran a sudo make clean, then sudo cmake . , then sudo make, sudo make install. Everything seems to compile ok, make, and install, but, when I ran KStars, I could not find the LX200_Onstep listed anywhere. What part of this am I missing? Did I need to delete the original libindi directory first?

Thanks in advance for everything. And last, a question, are you of Audela fame?
Best wishes,
Dan
7 years 7 months ago #9492

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