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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Baader Steeldrive II won‘t connect

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Could this be an access rights issue ?
nvm i see it's a read timeout, weird.
Maybe debug level logging shows something ?
Last edit: 2 years 4 months ago by Hans. Reason: re-reading
2 years 4 months ago #77131

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The SteelDrive 1 driver you suggested to try gave me:
2021-11-09T13:10:38: [INFO] Error retrieving data from SteelDrive, please ensure SteelDrive controller is powered and the port is correct.
2021-11-09T13:10:38: [ERROR] getHWVersion error: Timeout error.

What's really makes my head scratch: It works out of the box with TheSky.
What am I doing wrong?
Last edit: 2 years 4 months ago by Oliver.
2 years 4 months ago #77404

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I still need help as I'm really lost with this.
When I try to connect with Ekos (KStars 3.5.7 stable) I can hear clearly a short "tick" or "click" from the focuser but then the connection timed out.The focuser will connect without problems with TheSky X and X2 driver (also hear that "tick" before it will connect:
rti-zone.org/software_x2focuser_plugins.php#steeldriveII

Then I installed Astroimager with INDIGO to test the connection.
Focuser won't connect on first try but will on second attempt and runs without any issues, also hear the tick/click sound before it will connect.

My equipment:
MacBook Pro M1 Max 32GB Ram
macOS Monterey 12.2.1
KStars 3.5.7

I tested with following connectors (all have an FTDI 232 chip)
Synchwire OTG USB Typ C Adapter, Thunderbolt 3 to USB
FITFORD USB 3 Hub

After having no success with Ekos I installed FTDI VCP Driver 1.4.7 Beta.
No success with Ekos but with TheSky X.

Any help would be appreciated.
2 years 3 weeks ago #81157

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Here is the log. As I mentioned before the device will connect but time out.
cu.usbserial-3 = FTDI Driver
cu.usbserial-A907KE80 = macOS Driver

INFO    191.490656 sec    : Session log file /Users/oliverforster/.indi/logs/2022-03-10/indi_steeldrive2_focus/indi_steeldrive2_focus_12:28:29.log
INFO    201.037250 sec    : Scan complete. Found 3 port(s).
DEBUG    215.775934 sec    : Connecting to /dev/cu.usbserial-3 @ 57600
DEBUG    215.806306 sec    : Port FD 4
DEBUG    215.806347 sec    : Connection successful, attempting handshake...
DEBUG    215.808286 sec    : CMD <GET VERSION>
ERROR    222.985217 sec    : Serial read error: Timeout error.
DEBUG    222.985459 sec    : Handshake failed.
INFO    237.060988 sec    : Scan complete. Found 3 port(s).
DEBUG    243.912767 sec    : Connecting to /dev/cu.usbserial-A907KE80 @ 57600
DEBUG    243.950647 sec    : Port FD 4
DEBUG    243.950798 sec    : Connection successful, attempting handshake...
DEBUG    243.953440 sec    : CMD <GET VERSION>
ERROR    251.126075 sec    : Serial read error: Timeout error.
DEBUG    251.126507 sec    : Handshake failed.

Unfortunately I won't get any logs out of TheSky, as it connects without any issues on Mac or Parallels. 
However, Baader Steel track II works also onIDGIGO without any issues here's the log:

13:46:09.145 INDIGO Bus: property definition
13:46:09.145 'SteelDriveII (focuser)'.'DEVICE_PORT' TEXT rw Ok 2.0 0  { // Serial port
13:46:09.145   'PORT' = '/dev/cu.usbserial-A907KE80' // Device name or URL
13:46:09.145 }
13:46:09.151 INDIGO Bus: property definition
13:46:09.151 'SteelDriveII (focuser)'.'DEVICE_PORTS' SWITCH rw Ok 2.0 0 OneOfMany { // Serial ports
13:46:09.151   'REFRESH' = Off // Refresh
13:46:09.151   '/dev/cu.usbserial-A907KE80' = Off // /dev/cu.usbserial-A907KE80
13:46:09.151   '/dev/cu.usbserial-3' = Off // /dev/cu.usbserial-3
13:46:09.151 }
13:46:09.160 INDIGO Bus: property definition
13:46:09.160 'SteelDriveII (focuser)'.'CONNECTION' SWITCH rw Ok 2.0 0 OneOfMany { // Connection status
13:46:09.160   'CONNECTED' = Off // Connected
13:46:09.160   'DISCONNECTED' = On // Disconnected

Please, help.
Last edit: 2 years 2 weeks ago by Oliver. Reason: Forum don't like Safari it seems
2 years 2 weeks ago #81290

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Jasem, is it possible that there is in fact no Baader Steeldrive II driver for EKOS available?
On the devices site there’s only Baader Steeldrive but not Steeldrive II: www.indilib.org/individuals/devices/focu...ader-steeldrive.html

And Baader also saying it’s only compatible with INDIGO and TheSkyX.
Is there anything I could do to help to bring this driver to EKOS?
www.baader-planetarium.com/en/blog/steel...-theskyx-and-indigo/
1 year 4 months ago #87877

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While I have no Mac and no Baader Steeldrive focuser either I'll try to help.
In the INDI log you posted I see a baud speed of 57600 . Is that also the port speed in TheSkyX and INDIGO ?

Another approach is to try to access the Steeldrive serial port via another program like Screen or Minicom pbxbook.com/other/mac-tty.html in a console. You have to 'talk' the protocol to see anything assuming it is ASCII based. This may help diagnose the issue.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Oliver
1 year 4 months ago #87880

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is there a published command set for SteelDrive II? If yes, then perhaps the current driver can be modified to communicate with it.
1 year 4 months ago #87881

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I think I found the spec, Chapter 3 of www.baader-planetarium.com/en/downloads/...al_documentation.pdf
Also worth noting: baudrate 19200
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1 year 4 months ago #87882

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Actually, I just checked and I developed SteelDrive II INDI driver back in 2019. Baud rate is 19200 by default. From Oliver logs, it appears he was trying to connect at 57600 which will not work.
1 year 4 months ago #87883

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Thank you very much Jasem.

I've tried all Baud rates available with no success.
However, it works out of the box with TheSkyX and INDOGO AstroImager. :-(

@Hans: I've noticed that there is a new version of the FTDI VCP Drivers for macOS. I will try and report tomorrow.
1 year 4 months ago #87884

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Nah, no success at all :-(
Updated to Ventura, KSTARS 3.6.1stable and my Steeldrive won't connect with EKOS.
No problems with AstroImager and TheSkyX. Both rely on /dev/cu.usbserial-A907KE80.

I was saving the settings of Baader Steel drive II and got this:
[2022-11-07T17:05:05.766 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] Auto search is disabled because /dev/cu.usbserial-A907KE80 is not a system port. "
[2022-11-07T17:05:16.463 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII :  "[INFO] Saving device configuration... "
[2022-11-07T17:05:16.464 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII :  "[INFO] Device configuration saved. "
[2022-11-07T17:05:16.465 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] Configuration successfully saved. "

Here's the log:
[2022-11-07T17:06:41.674 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - INDI Server:  ""
[2022-11-07T17:06:41.675 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] Toggle Debug Level -- Driver Debug "
[2022-11-07T17:06:41.890 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "Baader SteelDriveII" is connected and ready.
[2022-11-07T17:06:41.898 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "LX200 10micron" is connected and ready.
[2022-11-07T17:06:41.902 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "ZWO CCD ASI178MM" is connected and ready.
[2022-11-07T17:06:41.906 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "ZWO CCD ASI294MC Pro" is connected and ready.
[2022-11-07T17:06:51.346 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.ekos] - "Failed to connect to \nBaader SteelDriveII\nLX200 10micron\nZWO CCD ASI178MM\nZWO CCD ASI294MC Pro\nPlease ensure each device is connected and powered on."
[2022-11-07T17:06:55.921 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] Connecting to /dev/cu.usbserial-A907KE80 @ 19200 "
[2022-11-07T17:06:55.933 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - INDI Server:  "2022-11-07T16:06:55: Driver indi_steeldrive2_focus: Handshake lines currently set to 6"
[2022-11-07T17:06:55.934 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - INDI Server:  ""
[2022-11-07T17:06:55.934 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] Port FD 3 "
[2022-11-07T17:06:55.934 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] Connection successful, attempting handshake... "
[2022-11-07T17:06:55.934 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] CMD <GET VERSION> "
[2022-11-07T17:07:00.098 CET INFO ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII :  "[ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. "
[2022-11-07T17:07:00.098 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - Baader SteelDriveII : "[DEBUG] Handshake failed. "
[2022-11-07T17:07:13.413 CET DEBG ][           org.kde.kstars.indi] - INDI: Stopping local drivers...
1 year 4 months ago #87910

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Does it work from Raspberry PI?
1 year 4 months ago #87928

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