Hello

I have a version of the lx200ap_experimental driver that works with GTOCP2 version D and GTOCP4.
The below listed procedure has been tested East of Greenwich and hence people West of it are specially invited to carry it out.
People with a GTOCP3 or with GTOPC2 version above D please contact me.

In order to simplify a test I attached the bash script cold_start_part1.sh which fetches, compiles and starts the indiserver/driver
in $HOME/indi_cold_start/build and it works on x86_64 as well on RPis.

My repo is here: github.com/wildi/indi/tree/ap_park3


Either you create a local profile in Ekos or connect with KStars, Device Manager, Client localhost/7624.

As a rule of thumb, if anything does not follow your/my expectations, please stop. The Abort Motion, Abort button works
but it will not be necessary because during this test the mount will not be moved. It can be carried out indoors.

First thing the cold_start_part1.sh must work.

The procedure is independent of an (not) existing ParkData.xml or driver's config file.


1) Power on the mount and locate one of the markers at the RA circle and remember its position.
2) Start Ekos/INDI and connect
3) Tab Option turn on the logging
4) Tab Main Control, see

Connection: Connect (as usual)
Driver config: Read

The latter reads the dirver's config file and ParkData.xml before one can Unpark(ed)

5) Connection, Connect
6) Driver config, Read
7) Set Unpark From?, Park2 (if not set so)
Set Park To?, Park2 (if not set so)

At this point, AP icon on KStars may be displayed at any location, ugly but unavoidable.

9) Press Parking, UnPark(ed) (only a sync happens, no movements)
10) see HA = -6:00:00, constant
RA : increasing every second
check if the RA circle marker is still at the same position

11) must see: AP icon exactly at az=90, alt=0, no movement
(During startup I stop tracking at the earliest possible moment)

12) Tab Site Management, check
Firmware: your firmware
ap sidereal time: is it correct within a few seconds with e.g. stellarium
AP UTC offset: your TZ offset including DST

The most import point is the sidereal time. If it is not correct, do not proceed.


13) Tab Motion Control, check your settings
in case file ~/.indi/AstroPhysics Experimental_config.xml
was available.
If it was not there: set your preferences followed by
Tab Option, Configuration, Save
14) The mount is still unparked:
Set Unpark From? to Last Parked
15) Tab Site Management, Park Options, Write Data
16) press Tab Main Control, Parking, Park(ed)
17) press Connection, Disconnect
18) check if the RA circle marker is still at the same position
19) kill the indiserver/driver

20) leave the power on

21) start ./indiserver ./indi_lx200ap_experimental
22) Connect with EKos/INDI
23) Connection, Connect
24) Driver config, Read
25) see
Unpark From? Last Parked
Park To? Park2
26) Check log window, see:

2020-07-27T16:01:22: [INFO] Driver's config 'Unpark From ?' is set
to 'Last Parked': will unpark from Alt=0.000000 Az=90.000000
2020-07-27T16:01:22: [INFO] Mount is parked

27) Press Parking, UnPark(ed)
28) see HA = -6:00:00, constant
RA : increasing every second
check if the RA circle marker is still at the same
position like at the very beginning

29) Press Parking, Park(ed)
30) press Connection, Disconnect
31) kill the indiserver/driver
32) Power down the mount

After I received (positive) feedback from people on the Western hemisphere I'll go on with the un-/park procedure and how to check if the meridian flip occurs at HA=0h +/- few seconds (typically the difference of AP and real sidereal time).

Those who ar used to see Unpark From? before connecting may ask why I changed that. In case no ParkData.xml is present or more likely the position therein is not valid an unpark from last_parked will surely fail. In addition I wanted to show a message in the log window where from the mount is actually unparking.

Kind regards, bye, wildi

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