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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Ubuntu MATE now works on Raspberry Pi4

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I have not tried the Ubuntu 19 installation yet. I have heard about the limitations of the RAM to 3 GB, but don't quite understand where it is coming from, because the installation of Ubuntu MATE 18 on the Pi4 works just fine, with 4 GB of RAM available, zRAM working, Swap working, USB ports working, no problem.

The problem I have with it is with the internal wireless connectivity and the fact that KStars keeps crashing for unknown reasons.

The wireless I have developed a work around, I use a 2.4 GHz dongle to connect initially, then activate the internal wireless after initial connection and then disconnect the dongle. That gives me good and stable 5 GHz connectivity.

The unexplained KStars crashes are a far bigger problem. This is NOT a KStars problem, though, since the same KStars versions work fine on my Zotac mini PC with the same version of Ubuntu MATE, so it must be Pi4 related.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Paul Nixon
4 years 4 months ago #45830

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Thomas,
I did not use this script for real work yet, I only tested the build under the simulator.
Yes, there are some issues with indi drivers in the PPA, although there was no problem with sbig driver at the time when I was building my Pi4.
I guess 19.10 is not fully cooked yet.
I did not notice slowness with wifi, although I mostly connected to it using ethernet. How long does it take for you?
My Pi4 is 2GB version, I guess I was lucky that I did not go with 4GB version.

Here is my older script (see Pi4 section) which I used for building my current production system. Even though this build is very hacky, it is rock solid and I never had problems with it for couple of months:
github.com/avarakin/astropi
The script is a little messy because it started with Mate 16.04, then moved to 18.04 and finally to Pi4, so I am not sure all is working there, but it is very simple so it should be easy to troubleshoot.
Feel free to try and let me know if you run into issues.


Alex
4 years 4 months ago #45845

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El,
I am running Kstars on Pi4, which is based on 18.04 and I did not have any crashes.
Here is the process I used for building my 18.04 system (see Pi4 section):
github.com/avarakin/astropi

Alex
4 years 4 months ago #45846

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Got it!
I used the same server image and just built up the system from there by adding Gnome and MATE desktop environment and other components I wanted.

Crashes may be dependent upon the peripherals that are connected. With my Nikon D3300, I would get these random crashes. When I use my ASI1600MC-Pro instead, so far it looks a lot more stable.
There are still a few idiosyncracies, though: For instance, I cannot Polar align if I choose the mount to go towards the East. Then everything crashes at the solver stage. I need to restart and slew to the West ONLY. Then there is no crash and the solve completes fine.
That could also be mount specific, though, have only tested on iOptron SmartEQPro+ so far.

Anyway, why are you trying to use Ubuntu 19, if 18 gives you full RAM and USB functionality?

Jo
4 years 4 months ago #45847

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Just for reference - my equipment is ZWO 174 guider, SBIG ST8300 CCD, OnStep mount.
Never had problems with polar alignment, although I dont use it much given that I use permanent setup most of the time.

I don't like 18 because it is a big hack - Raspbian firmware transplanted into Ubuntu.

Alex
4 years 4 months ago #45848

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Hi

This all above is als about ubuntu 18.04 but what about ubuntu.com/download/raspberry-pi 19.10 its fully supported RP4 . Did some already try Kstars/Indi on this version?
and what desktop do you advise?.

I also understood that the 32bt is more stable


Chris
Last edit: 4 years 4 months ago by Chris Alberts.
4 years 4 months ago #46183

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Chris,
The script, which I shared above github.com/avarakin/AstroPiMaker4 is based on the distro you are referring to.
My script installs both Mate and Plasma Desktop. I switch between them once in a while, they both work fine, it is just a matter of preference.

Alex
4 years 4 months ago #46184

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Alex

Thanks, so its based on the 19.10, cool i will check your script, i am folling you now Gith..

Chris
4 years 4 months ago #46185

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Have you had any further luck with the internal wifi? I ask because I have the same problem - the internal wifi cannot even see my home network using Stellarmate OS. However, Astroberry on the same Pi4 has no trouble seeing and connecting without using a dongle.
4 years 3 months ago #46441

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Not definitively yet.

I have added auto wlan0 to /etc/interfaces. That now let’s me see my networks.

It still doesn’t connect automatically to the internal WiFi, though.

I have not gone through this possible solution yet:

weworkweplay.com/play/automatically-conn...i-to-a-wifi-network/

If you try it out, please let us know if it works.

Cheers

Jo
Last edit: 4 years 3 months ago by Jose Corazon.
4 years 3 months ago #46442

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Remove the netplan stuff, it is in the way when you just want to use ifupdown and /dev/network/interfaces to control your networking.

I did it like I described here (in section 2): atm.udjat.nl/stepper/Remote%20Control%20-%20EN.pdf

Edit:
Just found out that hostapd re-initializes the wlan interface, so it has no longer an address.
In the user .profile file I now added at the end:
sudo ifconfig wlan0 192.168.3.1
sudo service hostapd restart
Last edit: 4 years 3 months ago by Arjan.
4 years 3 months ago #46454

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I had to rebuild my imaging Pi4 about a month ago and I used the latest Ubuntu Server 19.10 images.
I updated my scripts on
github.com/avarakin/AstroPiMaker4
as part of this rebuild.
The issues I observed in the past are solved now and after several imaging sessions, I can conclude that the system is very fast, stable and reliable.
Feel free to use and/or fork and let me know if you see any issues.

Looks like the good old Ubuntu Mate distribution is still lacking support for RPi4. I don't think I will ever go there again - much safer and faster getting the images directly from Ubuntu, given that all groundwork of building the system from Ubuntu Server image is now completed.

BTW, Mate is getting really long in the tooth and I am switching to Gnome 3 on my computers.
It is running surprisingly well on RPi4.
"Dash to Panel" and "System Monitor" Gnome extensions are making Gnome work very similar to Mate.
They are included as part of my script.

Alex
4 years 4 days ago #51060

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