I am currently in communications with ioptron support regarding this topic. The command set syntax can vary per mount even if each mount has an 8408 HC. They directed me to a link with command sets for their mounts and this raised further questions. I will provide any further useful information supplied to me. I will also try my best to provide screenshots as soon as I can.

Sorry, Jasem, I haven't been able to use the iOptron SmartEQPro mount recently, so can't provide detailed logs. However, please have a look at the attached screenshots.

SmartEQprior shows a screenshot of the Control panel after starting Indi with the sidereal RA guide speed on the 8408 HC set to 0.5x. On the control panel that setting is reflected as 50.5x. If I then set the guide speed to 0.5x (SmartEQafter) then the Control Panel will reflect that new setting, but the guide speed I read on the HC is now set to 0.05x. If I then shut down Indi and restart it, the guide speed on the Indi Control panel is now show as 5.5x (see SmartEQafterMountSetTo0.05x.jpg screenshot).

That error has to lie in the coding somewhere.

I'll send logs next time I use the mount and can go through the routine again. As I wrote, one can work around this, as long as one is aware of that particular bug.

Jo

Thanks, but the log is required to inspect the communication with the mount. I'll wait until then!

The guide rate command response is different for a CEM60 with a firmware version of 20171001 and later. This explains the issue El Corazon is facing. For CEM60 the response should be:

I will provide logs as soon as I can. I also have figured out the SmartEQ Pro (original post) issue. There is a third product, the SmartEQ Pro+. This product uses the same command set as the CEM60, but does not share the same command set as the SmartEQ, nor the SmartEQ Pro. I can link to references shortly...

Kindly
cl330b

IOptron sent all the command sets today with a product matrix for which version applies to which mount. So at least now there is a clear distinction and the mount behavior can change after detecting the firmware version.

Ok, after examining iOptron documents today, looks like I have to write a new driver since the commands are now quite different for the new firmware. So stay tuned. I also need access to test, so anyone who has a mount with firmware 20171001 or higher let me know. I need remote access to the mount in order to test the new driver.

Thanks cl330b!

That perfectly explains what I am seeing, i.e. that the SmartEQPro+ works just fine with the CEM60 driver, except for the minor hiccups I have described.
My firmware is 170516, though.

Jasem, when you update the drivers, I assume I will have to update the firmware as well at that point for the mount to continue to work in Ekos, right?
Or will the current CEM60 driver remain available for the SmartEQPro+?

I'm writing a new driver for firmware version 20170101 or higher, including CEM120. So update your firmware to this or later and use the new driver once released.
Also, I really need the documentation part.

Please see link below. Hope the link works, I'm posting from my mobile device. please let me know if I can answer any questions.

Docs

No not that. iOptron already sent me the command set documentation. I need the USER documentation like this: indilib.org/devices/telescopes/eqmod.html

There is now user documentation for IOptron but it is just stubs, it really need to be on the level of EQMod documentation. This is iOptron pages: indilib.org/devices/telescopes/ioptron.html

Who ever can edit those let me know and I'll grant you edit privileges. Please follow the same documentation template as EQMod.

I am interested but could only work on it sporadically at this point.

cl330b

Ok you have privileges now! I'm working on the new driver now, so would appreciate it if you guys work on the user documentation part!