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INDI Library v2.0.7 is Released (01 Apr 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

indi_celestron_aux

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Replied by Ken Kelso on topic indi_celestron_aux

I am not seeing any of the problems mentioned above, I am connecting to a NexStar 6SE via the serial port on the hand controller (so using AUX passthrough) in Alt/Az mode.

The parked position is Alt 00:00:00 Az 000:00:00 (this is currently fixed in the driver), I have the scope horizontal using the levelling marks and pointing north.

I UnPark and using the virtual hand controller in EKOS enter Alt/Az co-ordinates as above, then Sync.

Now I can GoTo a star and use the Align tool to plate solve, repeat this on a couple of other stars and I'm in business. Looking on the INDI Celestron AUX alignment tab the number of alignment points has indexed up.

Another way to start is to enter the Julian date and alignment points straight into the INDI Celestron AUX alignment tab. In this case one has to enter the RA/DE and as I am using Alt/AZ mode starting with the scope pointing to the northern horizon it's easier just to enter this into the virtual hand controller.

I am testing with the CCD Simulator as the weather here is foggy:(

The only funny thing I have had is that if I delete all the alignment points the scope goes on a tour of the universe at an ever decreasing speed. Of course this is not something one would usually do so is not a big deal.

I am still finding my way around the driver code but as soon as I have it figured I will try to help out.

Ken
3 years 4 months ago #64135
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Replied by Tunafish on topic indi_celestron_aux

Ken, I think main difference is that you're using it in Alt/Az mode while we were using it in EQ mode.
3 years 4 months ago #64145
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Replied by Ken Kelso on topic indi_celestron_aux


That's true Tunafish but from a testing/debug point of view it is important to know what is working in one use case as many of the functions in the code are used by both.
3 years 4 months ago #64166
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Replied by Tunafish on topic indi_celestron_aux

Okay, playing around a little more inside (It seems like it has been cloudy for weeks). AVX mount in EQ mode connected through aux port via SkyPortal WiFi. Im using the HC to verify where the mount is pointed versus where the aux driver thinks its pointed.

Start at the index marks. Do an alignment using the alignment tool with plate solving (alignment set=1).
Then I use the HC to go to Capella (east of NCP). KStars tracks the movements on the display and they go west & south instead of east & north. Any way I right click on Capella and sync the mount once I'm aligned using the HC. KStars updates the telescope location on the display (Alignmet set=2).

Then I use the HC to goto Deneb (West of NCP). KStars display of the telescope seems to track the movement east to west properly and stops on Deneb. I again use right click and sync (Alignment set=3).

Now with 3 alignment points I right click on Aldebaran and select goto. Kstars tracks the telescope moving west to east and the telescope cross hair stops on Aldebaran. Using the Identitfy function on the HC, I check to verify whethr or not the HC and the AUX driver agree. And, yes they agree. Success.

Finally, I try to swing back west by right clicking on Vega and selecting goto. The mount goes the wrong way in RA and basically tries to get to look at Vega upside down and hits the slew limits and aborts. Instead of doing a simple rotate west to east in RA it has gone the wrong way and rotated east to west.
3 years 4 months ago #64261
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Replied by Fabrizio on topic indi_celestron_aux

Thank you all for the extensive testing.
I tried to reproduce the problems seen with partial success. I did not experienced any coordinate inversion, but I have seen wrong GOTOs that unfortunately are not repeatable. The alignment subsystem its a complex black box for me (experts needed), I can only work around it. I think to start to understand the motion inversion on AVX mounts.

Since on my celestron CPC and on Nexstar 6SE (Ken) there is no inversion, where is the difference with AVX mount? The difference Eq / AltAz does not explain it to me. A first check can be looking at Az/Alt coords printed by ReadScopeStatus in the log window (enable driver logging). These coords are read directly from motor encoders. Az should increase going CW, Alt should increase going upward. If using the last driver version, this check should be done selecting first the Equatorial mount and then repeated selecting the AltAz mount. Nothing should change.

TIA
3 years 4 months ago #64313
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Replied by Maciek on topic indi_celestron_aux

4. "Crazy movements" - after sync to first point my evo mount started moving to the left, just after "sync" click. Another one was when I was removing 4 alignments, and when I removed last one - mount started moving again

5. I connected PS4 controller and Indi_celestron_aux lack possibility to use analog speed control. For example if I move joystick only half left then speed could be half of maximum. Now it is 1 or 0 and speed is controlled by other buttons

3 years 4 months ago #64325
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Replied by Tunafish on topic indi_celestron_aux

Hi Fabrizio,

Same basic test as before with log attached. AVX mount in EQ mode connected to Aux via SkyPortal WiFi, simulators for CCD and GPS using it indoors.
1 - Start by doing an HC Quick Align so I can use it to set up alignment points for the Aux driver.
2 - Start KStars, connect Ekos and INDI then do a plate solve align at the NCP - Alignment point 1
3 - Use the HC to go East to Deneb. Tracking in KStars is off but directionally correct. Then right click on Deneb and do a sync to the mount driver. Alignment point 2
4 - Use the HC to go west to Denebola. Display tracking is good and KStars display shows cross hair on Denebola after slew complete. Right click and sync. Alignment point 3
5 - Now use KStars & Aux driver to do a goto East. Right click and goto on Vega. After slew complete verify with the HC that both think they are looking at Vega. All is good - success.
LOG: Goto - Celestial reference frame target RA:279.402000(18.626800 h) Dec:38.804200
6 - Now try to go back west with right click goto on Dubhe. This time fail - the mount seems to rotate the wrong way in RA for the slew and hits the slew limit pointing at the Zenith.
LOG: Goto - Celestial reference frame target RA:166.248000(11.083200 h) Dec:61.634900

File Attachment:

File Name: log_09-58-04.txt
File Size:492 KB
The following user(s) said Thank You: Fabrizio
3 years 4 months ago #64330
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Replied by Rick Bassham on topic indi_celestron_aux

Have you set the cord wrap position? The celestron mounts will try to take the shortest path to the new point. Setting the cord wrap position MIGHT help with this.
3 years 4 months ago #64333
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Replied by Fabrizio on topic indi_celestron_aux

Yes, I experienced the same problem. It happens when the "On Set" property in main control tab is set to "Track". This means that the automatic transition from end of sync to tracking on again isn't correct. If tracking is activated manually after sync all seems good. This problem exists on both older and newer driver versions.
Joystick is not supported now.
3 years 4 months ago #64334
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Replied by Maciek on topic indi_celestron_aux

6. Can't stop EKOS with indi_celestron_aux connected, have to disconnect, than Ekos stop button working.
3 years 4 months ago #64336
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Replied by Tunafish on topic indi_celestron_aux

I had wondered if that would matter. I did some quick googling earlier and that had indicated that cord wrap didn't matter in for EQ and most people leave it off for EQ. But maybe since this seems to be mainly an Alt/Az driver with translation to EQ coordinates it does matter. I'll give it a try later although not sure if I set the wrap to East (the side the cord connects to) or what.

Thanks.
3 years 4 months ago #64339
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Replied by Maciek on topic indi_celestron_aux

Testing today with my evo. After connect activated align subsystem, sync East, used "mount control panel" to move 90deg to North. Mount indicator on kstars map did not move, ReadScopeStatus ALT-AZ did not move, RA,DEC moved. Is this ok ?

Warning: Spoiler!


3 years 4 months ago #64345
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