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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Avalon mzero Stargo with lx200 protocol

  • Posts: 16
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@Kengs: Thanks for the script ! I'll try this out.
I don't think Uno and Linear are different from a pure command point of view. It's the same firmware for all stargo mounts.
Only motors have different calibration parameters.
:X590# gives no results for me which may be the major problem, due to a too old firmware.

@Wolfgang: Thanks ! Don't worry, no hurry here. Thank you for answering, as I said I will upgrade the firmware and let you know.

In the same time I contacted Avalon to ask if they can share the protocol with us, It may save a lot of time avoiding reverse engineering the mount. With a bit of luck they may accept sharing the protocol. It's in their interest to make the thing available on all platform especially Indi which may become the next new standard.
If they're afraid to be copied, it's a pity, reverse engineering a clear text commands protocol over serial device is quite easy, plus they took the LX200 as a base so no industry secrets here.
5 years 6 months ago #29754

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@DrGkill: I am already in contact with the Avalon development, so let's use this channel.
The following user(s) said Thank You: DrGkill
5 years 6 months ago #29764

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@Wolfgang: Ok nice ! did they gave you the full protocol specs !?
5 years 6 months ago #29770

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Ok ! Works better with the new firmware.
I uploaded the 5.6.6 firmware.
Setting up pulse time doesn't work for now. I will checkout the codes needed.

[2018-09-24T18:45:44.810 CEST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Avalon StarGo : "[DEBUG] sendQuery :X2040# End:# Wait:2s "
[2018-09-24T18:45:46.777 CEST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Avalon StarGo : "[WARNING] Failed to receive full response: Timeout error. (Return code: -4) "
[2018-09-24T18:45:46.781 CEST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Avalon StarGo : "[INFO] Setting RA speed to 40%. "
[2018-09-24T18:45:46.782 CEST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Avalon StarGo : "[DEBUG] sendQuery :X2140# End:# Wait:2s "
Last edit: 5 years 6 months ago by DrGkill.
5 years 6 months ago #29782

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It's really weird. I sniffed the stargo windows mount control software and actually the exact same command are launched to set dec and ra pulse periods. (X20xx, X21xx).
I will analyze all the conversations before to see if other mode commands are launched ot if it is just a matter of delay getting answers.
Maybe some of you already knows (wolfgang if you have the specs??)
5 years 6 months ago #29788

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Looking at my notes it looks like X21nn and X20nn commands do not receive any response from the mount hence the timeout error. Minor change to the code to tell it to not expect a response but we should probably follow up with X22 to confirm the change was applied

Edit: to clarify - it looks like StarGo does not provide any response to X21 and X22 commands. It is unfortunately somewhat inconsistent in sometimes responding with a # terminated response, sometimes a response with no # and sometimes no response at all. Much of my code is aimed at addressing these inconsistencies.
Last edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Ken Self.
5 years 6 months ago #29789

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I've added a fix for this issue. Had to remove the read wait so there is no timeout and also add a short delay between setting RA and Dec guide rates to prevent overunning StarGo.
It's now in the PR
5 years 6 months ago #29792

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Thanks ! I saw your commit.
Not tested yet but it should work as expected.
I'll let you know.
5 years 6 months ago #29891

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Ken, many thanks for your changes. Meanwhile I found the time for a first test, everything seems to work properly.

I introduced an intermediate branch to ensure a safe merge into the main branch. For those interested in the latest changes, please use the ken-self-sync branch .

-Wolfgang
5 years 5 months ago #29986

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Folks, I found an error last night in the ken-self-sync branch that the mount does not correctly report when it is slewing and when slewing is finished. This leads to problems in EKOS where a plate solving for example is started too early while the mount is still slewing to the expected target.

Please use stargo_work , which does not show this behavior.
-Wolfgang
5 years 5 months ago #30039

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Can you send me the debug log which has this behaviour?
5 years 5 months ago #30050

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Hi Ken,
here comes the log file. Please take a look at the entries after 2018-10-03T20:36:10.872, where I started the EKOS polar alignment routine. After the first solved frame, the scope is sent to RA: 07h 59m 17s, DE: 88° 19' 45. At 2018-10-03T20:37:16.470 CEST, the telescope reports that the slewing has completed and a new frame is taken.

What we cannot see in the log file is, that in fact the slew wasn't complete. We can see it only indirectly in a failed solving attempt, which comes from star trails in the taken image.

Currently, my M-zero is in action. I will investigate this tomorrow.

Cheers
Wolfgang

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5 years 5 months ago #30106
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