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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Focal position not recording into fits headers

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That's a disappointing solution, and one I've considered. Just shoot one filter each night, and then shoot a flat immediately after. This is fine for narrowband and how I've sometimes done it in the past, but for me it wouldn't work well for LRGB.

ZWO has asked me to do a bunch of tests with their own software since they can confirm the SDK version. I plan on shooting some lights indoors where the dust motes show up, then shoot flats to see if they correct out.

I'm going to try the following:
  • Start the position wheel at 0, move to position 6 to shoot OIII. Then repeat to shoot flats.
  • Start at position 5, move to 6, shoot OIII then repeat to shoot flats.
  • Start at position 7, move to 6, shoot OIII then repeat to shoot flats.
  • Start at position 7, move to 6, shoot OIII then move to position 0, then position 7 and shoot flats.

With the above I will test moving from different positions to test bi-directional movement / alignment, unidirectional movement/alignment, and also with the last set moving reverse, then forward again to test alignment.

The hope is to find out if any directional movement can realign the filters, or if they have to remain stationary in all cases. Then get this information back to ZWO to see if they can improve the firmware/driver in some way.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Paul Muller
3 years 6 months ago #59581

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I've finally conducted the testing. Conclusion is that in test 2, the filter wheel is not aligning at the same spot. I believe this is due to bi-directional movement. I did not open the filer wheel to check as I didn't want to mess up the tests. What I think is happening here is in test 2, you move forward from slot 6 to 7. But then when shooting flats, I had it move from slot 0 to 7, and I think it just does this reverse to take the shortest distance. But the sensor that detects the alignment is only reliable turning one direction all the time.

I'll be sending these findings to ZWO to see if they can force the EFW to move in only one direction. If it's possible to fix this in the driver, then we should do that for sure. I also had this issue with my ZWO 1.25 8 slot filter wheel, so I think they all work the same way and this is an issue across the board.

Test 1
Move EFW to Slot 7 OIII
Shot OIII bin 2 light no filter move
Shot OIII bin 2 flat no filter move


Test 2
Move EFW to slot 6
Shoot OIIi light filter move to slot 7
Move EFW to slot 0
Shoot OIII flat filter move to slot 7


Test 3
Move to slot 0
Shoot OIII light filter move to slot 7
Move to slot 0
Shoot OIII flat filter move to slot 7


Test 4
Move to slot 6
Shoot OIII light filter move to slot 7
Move to slot 6
Shoot OIII flat filter move to slot 7
The following user(s) said Thank You: Paul Muller
3 years 6 months ago #59584
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Wow, that's some huge offset indeed!
As for the unidirectional move, that is indeed an issue of INDI. The ZWO SDK does support the EFW[SG]etDirection calls to enable unidirectional movement. It's just that the INDI driver doesn't use it, and/or has no setting that the user can change...

So did you use ZWOs software (ASICAP?) for this test? Does that support the unidirectinal move? Would be interesting to see Test 2 with it enabled...
3 years 6 months ago #59585

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I used EKOS for this, not the ASIIMG program. However, I'm in there looking at it now, and it has an option to move one way. So we must be able to turn this on in the drivers for INDI. I'm going to test it now.
3 years 6 months ago #59586

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I attempted to use the ZWO ASIIMG software to verify filter direction changes using the "One-Way" switch option for the EFW. Unfortunately ASIIMG is saving unexpected characters (quote marks) into the CFA field for CFA='NONE' and Pixinsight will not process it because it doesn't understand. I don't have the patients to erase it from all the images and try reprocessing. But I assume the One-Way switch fixes the issue and should be added to the ZWO EFW INDI driver for all their filter wheels, not just the 2" version.
3 years 6 months ago #59590

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If a filter wheel needs movement in one direction to get accurate positioning that's fine, but that should be resolved by the low level filter wheel control software, not dumped on the high level software.

INDI can probably fix this but it should not need to do so. It looks like a problem induced by the incompetent ZWO developers. Wonder what else they have got wrong.
3 years 6 months ago #59592

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I just pushed v1.9 of the ASI driver with a toggle to enable/disable unidirectional motion. Please update and test.
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3 years 6 months ago #59596

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What's the best way to get the driver? If someone compiles it, I know how to get it into the Mac KStars client package. They would have to send it to me or attach it here. I'm happy to test if it fixed the issue.
3 years 6 months ago #59599

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Thanks!
I just compiled it, and the new entry in the Main menu of EFW is there. But when I try to enable unidirectional motion the button only turns red, and movements are still bidirectional. I re-tried with debug log enabled, but there's unfortunately no mention at all of me pressing that button:
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.111 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Received new device ASI EFW
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.112 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - INDIListener: New device ASI EFW
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.112 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - Ekos received a new device:  "ASI EFW"
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.114 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < CONNECTION >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.115 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < DRIVER_INFO >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.116 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < DEBUG >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.116 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < SIMULATION >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.117 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < CONFIG_PROCESS >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.117 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < POLLING_PERIOD >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.118 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Received new device ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.119 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - INDIListener: New device ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.119 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - Ekos received a new device:  "ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro"
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.122 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < CONNECTION >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.131 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < DRIVER_INFO >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.133 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < POLLING_PERIOD >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.134 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < DEBUG >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.134 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < SIMULATION >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.135 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < CONFIG_PROCESS >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.135 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro :  "[INFO] Debug is enabled. "
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.135 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < DEBUG_LEVEL >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.186 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < LOGGING_LEVEL >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.194 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < LOG_OUTPUT >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.197 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ZWO CCD ASI1600MM Pro >: < ACTIVE_DEVICES >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.203 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Debug is enabled. "
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.203 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < DEBUG_LEVEL >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.205 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < LOGGING_LEVEL >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.206 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < LOG_OUTPUT >
[2020-09-09T10:31:37.246 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW : "[DEBUG] Toggle Debug Level -- Alignment Subsystem "
[2020-09-09T10:31:41.933 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Detected 5-position filter wheel. "
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.385 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW : "[DEBUG] Connect(): current filter position 1 "
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.385 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "ASI EFW" Version: "1.9" Interface: 16 is connected.
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.387 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - 1  devices connected out of  3
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.513 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < FILTER_SLOT >
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.533 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < FILTER_NAME >
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.534 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "ASI EFW filter is online."
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.540 WEST WARN ][                       default] - QObject::disconnect: Unexpected nullptr parameter
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.552 WEST INFO ][     org.kde.kstars.ekos.focus] - "Idle."
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.576 WEST INFO ][     org.kde.kstars.ekos.align] - "Idle."
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.586 WEST INFO ][     org.kde.kstars.ekos.align] - "Detected Astrometry.net version 0.78"
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.656 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < USEJOYSTICK >
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.657 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < FILTER_UNIDIRECTIONAL_MOTION >
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.662 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Loading device configuration... "
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.663 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Debug is disabled. "
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.663 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "Re-enabling debug logging for ASI EFW..."
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.664 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Setting current filter to slot 1 "
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.844 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Device configuration applied. "
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.845 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Debug is enabled. "
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.845 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < DEBUG_LEVEL >
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.850 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < LOGGING_LEVEL >
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.851 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - < ASI EFW >: < LOG_OUTPUT >
[2020-09-09T10:31:42.853 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW : "[DEBUG] Toggle Debug Level -- Alignment Subsystem "
[2020-09-09T10:32:12.050 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Setting current filter to slot 2 "
[2020-09-09T10:32:16.612 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Setting current filter to slot 3 "
[2020-09-09T10:32:20.466 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Setting current filter to slot 4 "
[2020-09-09T10:32:26.209 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - ASI EFW :  "[INFO] Setting current filter to slot 3 "
[2020-09-09T10:32:33.221 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "ASI EFW"  is disconnected.
[2020-09-09T10:32:33.221 WEST INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "ASI EFW is disconnected."
[2020-09-09T10:32:36.184 WEST DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - INDI: Stopping local drivers...

Ah - just tried to remove the device xml files of EFW in ~/.indi. Now the unidirectional movement is working, but still the LED button is red and the text button says 'Disable' in bold also when uni is active...
3 years 6 months ago #59614

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Addendum: I've manually edited ~/.indi/ASI EFW_config.xml and set 'Enable' to On and 'Disable' to Off. This does put the EFW in unidirectional mode on start, although the buttons still say Red/Disable.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Jasem Mutlaq
3 years 6 months ago #59615

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There was a small bug in the code, now pushed a fix. Please test again.
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3 years 6 months ago #59643

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Agreed - owning three EFW's I would prefer they did their job without having to buy something more expensive. Based on my own testing, and yours form what you shared below (THANKS!), unidirectional seems to be the penultimate optimal setting, with an automated Flat capture immediately after shooting Lights - same focus position, same filter wheel position, etc - being the most reliable (if you have the hardware and automation to support it).

To be honest, I'd not really had to worry about this until I tried using the large frame-count integrations using the High Gain/Low Exposure method championed by Shiraz over in Cloudynights - any misalignment between sessions becomes really evident, so I've taken to shooting multiple targets using one filter each night at really high frame counts and then flats in the morning and rinse/repeat over each night - where that strategy falls over is when the weather fails to cooperate and you get 2-3 weeks of drift over the run, making targets lower in the sky more difficult than they already were!

Really love your website btw Andrew - the Mac has always felt like a poor cousin to Windows in the astro world and your passion project is an inspiration!
The following user(s) said Thank You: Andrew Burwell
3 years 6 months ago #59654

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