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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Fornax Mount support?

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Replied by dolguldur on topic Fornax Mount support?

Flagging this discussion as well. Fornax this to be providing very good value for the money and they claim their mounts have a very low backlash by design.
Also, they are one of the few company to provide absolute encoder under <7.5k euros
Unfortunately, no indi support is a no-go for me. I did not managed to find more information about the mc5 controller: fornaxmounts.com/products/electronics/ur...l#parentVerticalTab1
3 years 9 months ago #55306

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Replied by Nguyễn on topic Fornax Mount support?

Bonjour,
Je possède une Fornax 102 MC5 controller. Avez-vous votre réponse concernant la prise en charge Kstars /Indi.
Je cherche désespérément quelqu'un qui puisse m'aider pour cette prise en charge.
Cordialement.
Je suis d'Annecy.
Scopedome 3m, fornax 102, lunette apo 203mm.
3 years 2 months ago #65463

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Replied by 4ndY on topic Fornax Mount support?

I would also benefit from having the support in INDI for the MC5 controller. How can I contribute with info/data to help making the driver for it?
1 year 2 months ago #89397

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Replied by Hy Murveit on topic Fornax Mount support?

Wouldn't it be great if Fornax themselves contributed the driver?
I'd suggest that if there are a number of customers or potential customers of Fornax, then you contact Fornax and see if they'll do it.
Hy
The following user(s) said Thank You: Jasem Mutlaq
1 year 2 months ago #89398

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Replied by Jasem Mutlaq on topic Fornax Mount support?

I concur with Hy above. Fornax customers should contact Fornax and ask for an INDI driver to be developed.
1 year 2 months ago #89399

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Replied by 4ndY on topic Fornax Mount support?

Unfortunately, I don't know whom to contact - this should be the software developer, however - there is no contact and the Alcorp consulting website no longer exists.
1 year 2 months ago #89443

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Replied by Tamas Butuza on topic Fornax Mount support?

Dear Guys,

I am Tamas Butuza, the developer of the MC5 controller, which is used mostly with Fornax mounts.

If you have any question, please ask me. Please note, that most of the time I am very busy, so sometimes I need a few time to answer questions.

The MC5 understands two different protocols:
- Native Ursa Minor protocol (Can be used with Ursa Minor porogram, and with the Ursa Minor Ascom driver)
- LX200 protocol. (It can be used for many software, for example Indi drivers)

With the LX200 protocol it can be operated with Indi: I tested it with Kstars and Ekos. It worked well, however I did test only the basics:
- goto and sync worked
- MC5 did the Meridian flip correctly.
- Manual guiding (sending pulseguide commands) worked.
One of my users in Hungary uses the controller with Asi Ari Pro. (If I remember, it contains a Raspberry Pi, and it runs Indi inside)

The most important thing is upgrade the controller to the newest firmware (The hand controller also should be upgraded to the most up to date firmware)

Then, I recommend you to try the MC5 with the Ursa Minor program, and get familiar with it (Even, if you would like it later with totally different software environment)
If you configured everything, and the MC5 does everything well (Meridian flip, and synchronize to the absolute encoders), you can switch to any different software you like.

Unde Indi, there are more LX200 drivers. Try to use one "generic" or "standrd" one.

Just another useful info:
The MC5 can be operated withthe encoder, using closed loop control.
It means, It keeps the tracking error within +/- 0.5 arcsecond without encoder. you need Heidenhain 25 bit encoder installed on the Ra axis of the Fornax mount.
See this screenshot:
www.ursaminor.hu/screenshot_MC5_tracking_accuracy.png

Best regards,
Tamas
The following user(s) said Thank You: Nguyễn , 4ndY
1 year 2 months ago #89548

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Replied by Tamas Butuza on topic Fornax Mount support?

Dear guys,

A few minutes before, I tried to post to this topic, however, I cannot see my post. Now I try it again.

I am Tamas Butuza, the developer of the MC5 controller (and all of the Ursa Minor products)
If you have any question about the MC5, please ask me. Please note, in most of the time I am busy, so I need a few time to answer questions.

The MC5 controller can understand two different kind of protocols:
- Ursa Minor native protocol
- LX200 protocol.
The Ursa Minor protocol is used with the Ascom driver, and the Ursa Minor planetarium program.
The LX200 protocol can be used with Indi drivers.
You do not need to switch between protocols. The MC5 recognizes, which language do you sue to talk him.

The most important thing is upgrade the MC5 to the most up to date firmware. The hand controller also need to be upgraded.
You can find the firmwares on my homepga (downloads menu)

I really recommend you to try and get familiar with the MC5 by using it with the Ursa Minor program at first.
If everything goes well with Ursa Minor, you can switch to other software.

One of my customers in hungary uses the MC3 (the smaller brother of MC5) with Asi Air Pro.
If I know correctly, it as a Raspberry Pi inside, and runs Indi within it.

The time, geographic position, mount type, park pos... should be configured correctly, and then the MC5 can be operated with LX200 Indi drivers.
There are more LX200 Indi drivers. Please use some "generic" or "standard" one.

Another interesting info:
If your Fornax mount is equipped with Heidenhain encoders, you can switch on the closed loop control in the MC5. It means, the MC5 will keep the tracking accuracy within +/- 0.5 arcsecond without autoguider.

Best regards,
Tamas
The following user(s) said Thank You: Jasem Mutlaq
1 year 2 months ago #89549

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Replied by 4ndY on topic Fornax Mount support?

Thank you Tamas for your extensive feedback. Great if it works already with INDI! I'll try in following days and I'll report my experience here.
1 year 2 months ago #89550

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Replied by Jasem Mutlaq on topic Fornax Mount support?

If you can test it with "LX200 Autostar" and confirm that it works well, I can add an Alias to this driver.
1 year 2 months ago #89552

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Replied by Tamas Butuza on topic Fornax Mount support?

Hello 4NDY,

Just some important info for trying out the MC5 with Indi:

- MC5 communicates at 115200 Baud on the serial port. (The default setting in most of the systems is 9600 Baud) You should check this before connect.
- The MC5 should be fully configured before connect to it with LX200 protocol. It means: The time, geographic position, park position should be already set in the MC5.
- The MC5 should be initialized before you connect it with LX200 protocol. It means: The MC5 should be unparked or synhronized to the encoders before use it with LX200 protocol. The hand controller automatycally unparks the MC5 just after powering on. Also If the hand controller is always connected, this precondition is always met.
- Please do not modify or set these settings (time, geographic position, park position) via LX200 protocol.

The geographic position and park pos should be set with MCConfig.
The time can be set later with the hand control if needed.
I highly recommend Ursa Minor program to check the geographic position and set the time in the MC5. There is a free demo version of Ursa Minor, available on my homepage.

Tamas
1 year 2 months ago #89576

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Replied by Tamas Butuza on topic Fornax Mount support?

Hello,

I will try it on the weekend, and report which Indi driver found I most suitable.
I will create some screenshots also.

Tamas
1 year 2 months ago #89577

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