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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Mesu Mount 200 Driver Request

  • Posts: 69
  • Thank you received: 5
I am very tempted to get the recently released MesuE200 mount but don't want to have to use a windows machine for the Sitech drivers.
I am a very satisfied INDI user with Kstars on a RaspberryPi4 which works great with my skywatcher AZ-EQ6GT mount.
Having an Indi driver for the MESU would be a big plus in helping me take the plunge.
4 years 3 months ago #47271

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You got Sitech program to work on Raspberry PI4? It was extremely complex to get up and running and even then it failed to install properly. IMO, the whole process needs to be simplified if this going to be viable for end users. Since Sitech is written in .NET, it requires Mono to run such executables. They probably need to invest in a solution where everything is bundled as one executable (App image or whatever) otherwise it would be extremely tedious for end users to set it up on non-Windows platforms.
4 years 3 months ago #47274

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No, I think you have misunderstood my post.

I would really like to have an Indi driver on my RPi4. As far as I know, none exists. Just trying to log the request for Sitech to produce one.
4 years 3 months ago #47278

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Already been down that road. There is low-level control for the mount, but developing an INDI driver for that takes considerable experience and time. It's even more complex than EQMod driver. SiTech solution is to use their existing software, which has been refined over many years, to offer high-level control, thereby making the development process a lot more straight forward. I will take a look at the software again and see if I can get it to install properly.
4 years 3 months ago #47281

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I received a friendly response with technical tips &tricks&links when I contacted Sitech with a link to the release of the Linux version of SiTechExe that in the long run might help.....
But that is not the customer-friendly solution I am waiting for. Does anyone knows if there is any news about a release of an Indy driver?
It's a bit frustrating to see that Argonavis, the controller that I changed for Sitech, delivers a INDI-driver for the Stellarmate.
4 years 2 months ago #48122

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I actually gave it a go and was able to run the SiTechExe using Mono after a bit of work, but then couldn't proceed farther. The problem is that all is handled via their .NET app, and there is no direct connection to the mount OR some high level libraries to do that. If they provided some SDK library that can you link with to do such control then it would work. That would better separate the GUI from the low-level implementation on their end.
4 years 2 months ago #48141

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@knro

I originally thought I could use INDI with a Sitech controller in an LX200 compatible mode. However I notice that mode is just a layer in front of the windows app. And the driver on github still expects the windows driver to be running (maybe it can be done through wine if mono didn't work? It would still launch their UI (Maybe on a Xvfb virtual buffer so can be headless? But maybe better than nothing?)

Last I heard(from the github issue) you didn't have any of the hardware, would it help if you had the hardware? Maybe I can contribute in part to a fund to help in the cost of one of the controllers? If you are not interested going that route, it is okay, was just thinking.

Thanks!

Edit: I guess wine would limit you to x86 :( Low Level seems the way to go if it is even worth the effort I guess.
Last edit: 4 years 2 months ago by Russell Valentine.
4 years 2 months ago #48519

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They simply need to invest some resources to get an SDK/API usable without their .NET/Mono app. That's the only way I can see this is proceeding.
4 years 1 month ago #49311

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Is there any support for the idea of incorporating what they had in their github repo into the 3rd-party repo of drivers that get built? Maybe with a warning that the driver is not self contained.
github.com/JeffRossMT/sitech-indi-driver

I know it requires a windows machine with their software running, but could be better than nothing and make it possible to still use very nice kstars/ekos/indi stack with it. I can understand if you are totally against the idea, but thought I'd ask.

I think I am about to try this next. I imagine it might need some modification since it hadn't been updated in a year, if I can fix it up, would a PR to include it be accepted?
4 years 1 month ago #49824

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Replied by Hans on topic Mesu Mount 200 Driver Request

Hi bluthen,

I expect such a PR to be accepted for the 3rd-party repo yes.

-- Hans
3 years 5 months ago #61945

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Replied by ZS1RA on topic Mesu Mount 200 Driver Request

Hi,

My first post here. I had my EQ6R PRO running with Astroberry. I have just received my new Mesu 200 mount and couldn’t find a driver for it. Is this going to be pursued, if so I’m willing to assist in anyway I can. Do know that I know nothing about coding but could make my machine accessible via the Net for development purposes.

Thanks
Shaun
3 years 2 months ago #65649

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Replied by Hans on topic Mesu Mount 200 Driver Request


Hi Shaun,

Given the info in this thread I think the best approach for you is to reach out to SiTech as a customer and ask them to rewrite their SiTechExe .NET program like Jasem already said a few posts up to an SDK/API that is usable without their .NET/Mono app.
Ideally this would be an open source driver in C or C++ that can run natively on all of Windows+Mac+Linux, is not limited to Intel architecture and exposes something as well known as the LX200 protocol. But that's probably too much to ask.

-- Hans

ps. I do not have a Mesu mount, but I've met Lucas a few times and think his mounts are really great.
The following user(s) said Thank You: ZS1RA
3 years 2 months ago #65652

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