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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

New iOptron Go2Nova 8409 controller for CEM26 and GEM28 mounts

  • Posts: 17
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Just an update, in case anyone wondering. I join an official group and found a manual, but it is in Chinese and it has already been updated to v1.1, so the US version is lagging behind by two versions (yeah ioptron is a Chinese company so why not). Basically if you are using the commander software and ascom you just plug in to the HC usb port; so it is true that the indi driver needs to be updated. I also bought this edmod cable which should be delivered today, and it is mentioned in the manual that 1,2,3 stars alignment is stored in the HC and will not be used if connected directly to the mount (in red letters and explicitly stated cem26/gem28), implying that an edmod cable is probably going to work.
Sorry i just used the “quick reply” button, just in case you are still interested ;)
The following user(s) said Thank You: Wouter van Reeven
3 years 2 months ago #65508

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Confusing. EQmod and iOptron looks strange to me. Do you have some details/link to the cable you ordered?

Paul
3 years 2 months ago #65513

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It is one of those RS 232 to usb cable with a FTDI chip like the one used for SW mounts. I don’t know if they really go by that name, but the seller labels it as “eqmod cable for cem25 cem120 and other”, I asked the seller and he said cem26 should be using the same thing, if not I can return it with shipping covered, so i just thought why not give it a try.
So maybe the ioptron version is also called edmod...unofficially? Im not sure but the seller lables it as eqmod. I’m also wondering, thought eqmod is for SW mounts. Well they are both RJ232 to usb; if a SW cable can also be used on an ioptron mount, i guess it’s okay to say it’s an eqmod
3 years 2 months ago #65517

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Plug that cable in mount at your own risc.
A CEM 60 for example has same plugs (telephone jack style) for hand controller and computer connection. But these are different and iOptron warns never to plug anuthing else in de HC connector port on the mount than a HC. Nothing special with that cable, please don't call it EQMOD. EQMOD is a completer mount steering that talks to SynScan Motor controller boards, nothing else. iOptron uses a completely different protocol.

I still woule like to see the result of a dmesg or lsub command after you plug that USB cable that came with the mount into your Linux box. (connected to the HC and mount powered of course) Thta will give some clues/ (Is Ascom just connects via that cable to the mount HC then Indi can do that as well that way). But without knowing what logs says difficult to trace)

Paul
3 years 2 months ago #65529

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Ok this is embarrassing. First the cable didn’t work, the connector is different. But I tried to modify my own driver and it worked. Then i thought why not test it again with the old driver, and it turns out the v3 driver IS working okay with this mount, the only thing i need to do is to change the baud rate to something else than the default value. I don’t know why it didn’t work before and I’m pretty sure i tested every baud rate and every driver because the same thing happened to me once when I was using the eq6r. It is an embarrassing moment but I’m happy it worked finally, on the other hand I did get to know the code structure... maybe it is because of the cable that comes with the mount, i can’t find it today so I used a cable that came with my filter wheel which I know is 100% working.
3 years 2 months ago #65537

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I did more testing and it is because of a faulty cable, should’ve checked the most obvious thing first...
3 years 2 months ago #65540

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welcome to the club. Happened to me several times.
Good you solved it. So probably only thing to do is add modelnumber to the driver ...

Rgrds,

Paul
3 years 2 months ago #65541

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so which driver is working for 8409? indi_ieq_telescope or indi_ioptronv3_telescope ?? Let me know so I can add entries for both CEM26 and GEM28 with the correct settings and baud rate to make it easy for end users.
3 years 2 months ago #65593

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The v3 one works for me. I don’t think it is a baud rate problem since the same issue happened to me once and only once when i was using the synscan driver with my eq6r. I don’t think there is any issue with the current driver but maybe more tests are needed. I do hope an update on the supported devices list, easier for future people who runs in to the same problem ;)
3 years 2 months ago #65594

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so you confirm iOptronv3 driver works fully OK using baud rate 115200 for 8409?
3 years 2 months ago #65595

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Yes 115200 is working. But I tested it today and some times it fails to slew to a target; I’d say like 20% chance. Don’t know if it is a hardware issue with the mount or a bad connection/cable or a software one. The console says it is slewing but it just stuck there. I didn’t turn on log output so i dont have a log unfortunately. Other than that it seems to be functioning well.
3 years 2 months ago #65644

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I did another run, log is attached. When i started kstars and ekos, i did my first goto, but the driver said the mount is slewing, but in reality it not moving at all. So i hit “abort” and “tracking on” in indi control panel, and the next goto is working again. I did some other runs after that so the log file can be a little confusing;)
3 years 2 months ago #65655

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