Since I aquired an Losmandy G11 mount without any goto provision I decided to create my own solution. I was a bit reluctant to use a Gemini, mainly because of the cost, but also due to the reliability since the servo motors are somewhat prone to failure. I also like to have complete control over the software/firmware so that no "show stopper" issues will ever be a problem for me. Looking around the 'net I saw other goto systems that seemed capable, but either they had needlessly complex hardware or were commercial systems that cost about twice what they should.
OnStep is a computerized goto system, usually for stepper motor equipped mounts though any step/dir interface motor driver (including servo) should work. It was designed, from the beginning, as a more or less general purpose system and provisions were made in the firmware to allow for use on a variety of mounts including Equatorial and Alt/Az (GEM, Fork, Dobsonian, etc.) It uses an LX200 like computer command set with a few extensions to suit hand controller-less operation.
There's a telescope hand controller App for Android (free in the Google Play Store,) an option to control through a website (Smart Web Server,) and a dedicated physical hand controller (Smart Hand Controller.) Or, on a PC there's ASCOM and INDI drivers for control. These options allow you to setup and control OnStep using a wide range of software including my Sky Planetarium, Cartes du Ciel, Stellarium, SkySafari, KStars, PHD2, etc. You can see most of the control possibilities in the diagram below:
Also, please visit my StellarJourney.com site for updates, links to OnStep resources, my other astronomy software, or to see some Images taken with the assistance of my OnStep operated mounts.
If you find OnStep useful and would like to show your appreciation and support please consider making a small monetary donation. This keeps me motivated and helps cover expenses associated with my projects.
LIMIT_SENSE - GPOI#34 (input)
LED_STATUS - GPIO#32 (IO)
BUZZER - GPIO#33 (IO)
LED_STATUS2 - GPIO#2 (IO - onboard LED)
PPS_SENSE - Aux 7
DS1820 - Aux 8 (OTA Tube Temp)
PEC - GPIO#36
Note this is on MaxESP3. I'll need to do a bit of hacking on the board, but really very minor stuff.
When done, I'll post a detailed LX200 conversion page, including the mechanics (STL/ STEP models), BOM etc. to my website www.NLobs.com.
Chris
So it is the USB connection by (in this case) INDI/EKOS that does something internally to break the serial connection to wemos - it FEELS like a choice of either computer control or remote control but not both at same time and it is not dynamically corrected.
This is a common problem upon USB devices like we use here, that do not use the USB power, but only need a data connection. At the moment I had the same problem with my MKS 2.0 I reactivated for an older mount. So I just stumbled upon this thread.
This problem can be solved very easily: just remove the 5V pin from your USB connector. Preferably, I do this on the USB-A connector. Take a little screwdriver and leverage the pin out, then go straight to the "end/back" of the pin with the screwdriver and push it down, side wards, until it breaks. That's it. Now you have a "data-only" USB cable. Some people also use adhesive tape, but I don't like this. I also mark the cable as "data only" cable.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware for pins and where the 5V pin is located.
I also do this for all my 3D-Printer devices where I had sudden disconnects. Since then no probs at all :-)
Cheers, Axel
Glad its working for you again.
I posted about AXISn_PID_SENSITIVITY below as I assumed you would want to set it to something other than 0 as that was best for DC motors in my experience.
There was a bit of unfinished code relating to AXISn_PID SENSITIVITY == 0 and the switching between PID parameters under certain circumstances, that should be resolved now as well.
OK thanks Howard! I will give it another try.ChadOn Sat, May 27, 2023 at 8:35 AM Howard Dutton <hjd1964@...> wrote:On Fri, May 26, 2023 at 04:53 PM, Chad Gray wrote:
I will keep testing.Unintended side effect of fixing the stop command behavior was to break the 3-stage homing. I fixed that and its working as intended for me again now.
Authorized OnStep Dealer and Creator of the CGE Pro Conversion Kit
https://graydigitalarts.com/
On Fri, May 26, 2023 at 04:53 PM, Chad Gray wrote:
I will keep testing.Unintended side effect of fixing the stop command behavior was to break the 3-stage homing. I fixed that and its working as intended for me again now.
Authorized OnStep Dealer and Creator of the CGE Pro Conversion Kit
https://graydigitalarts.com/
On Sat, May 27, 2023 at 05:08 AM, Szőllősi Tamás wrote:
a Configuration Calculator spreadheat link it doesn't work for meTons of users download from my site, so not sure why that would be, but I added it to the files area here on Groups.io as well.
a Configuration Calculator spreadheat link it doesn't work for meTons of users download from my site, so not sure why that would be, but I added it to the files area here on Groups.io as well.
Set west to positive and east to negative.
If you connect onstep to your laptop application, you will see that it is the correct observing location.
Note that the NTC offset is also the opposite of normal.
There is a reminder on the settings screen as to which is positive.
3. The Bluepill is the least capable, next would be the MaxESP3/4,then MaxSTM. the MiniPCB2 with the Teensy 4.0 is faster but feature poor, best of both worlds is the MaxPCB 3.6/4. The 3.6 is "obsolete". You will need the old pinmap for it. 4 variants can be ordered with most of the assembly done. Teensy 4.1 runs 4X the speed of the other Max controllers. I would say they all perform well. The major difference is in the number of features. As you have invested in the Air many features can be controlled with it. This makes completing the MiniPCB2 sensible. It is compact and fast. While the all the controllers have object databases, sizable databases are provided from your phone, tablet, pc or the Smart Hand Control. I believe that the Air also has a database.
Yeah the single click is not quite accurate enough at least for the cam i designed for the back and forth fine tuning.If i do find home from the low side it clicks and continues ever so slightly to the high side. So if i do goto 0 it is fine. If i do goto 360 it falls off.Then if i do find home from the high side and it clicks and goes slightly to the low side I get the opposite. Goto 0 and it falls off. Goto 360 and it is fine.ChadOn Fri, May 26, 2023 at 6:39 PM Chad Gray <rchadgray@...> wrote:Close... when i click find home the motor does turn to find the switch. It stops after finding the switch the first time. You push find home again and it turns the other direction to find the switch and it finds it and stops again.It does not do it's back and forth to fine tune the home position. I would have to test some more to see if this is accurate enough. I have found since i am doing a full access to 360 my "cams" have to be perfectly opposite on the switch click. If they are not when you try goto 360 or 0 the switch can fall off the "cam" bump and now if you do find home you will get a cable wrap.It seems now globally the back and forth fine tuning is not being done any more.ChadOn Fri, May 26, 2023 at 5:21 PM Chad Gray <rchadgray@...> wrote:OK i will download and test it out.Thanks for the modifications and updates. :)ChadOn Fri, May 26, 2023 at 5:20 PM Howard Dutton <hjd1964@...> wrote:Think this should homing issue should be resolved now.
Authorized OnStep Dealer and Creator of the CGE Pro Conversion Kit
https://graydigitalarts.com/
Thank you!
Marco!
Close... when i click find home the motor does turn to find the switch. It stops after finding the switch the first time. You push find home again and it turns the other direction to find the switch and it finds it and stops again.It does not do it's back and forth to fine tune the home position. I would have to test some more to see if this is accurate enough. I have found since i am doing a full access to 360 my "cams" have to be perfectly opposite on the switch click. If they are not when you try goto 360 or 0 the switch can fall off the "cam" bump and now if you do find home you will get a cable wrap.It seems now globally the back and forth fine tuning is not being done any more.ChadOn Fri, May 26, 2023 at 5:21 PM Chad Gray <rchadgray@...> wrote:OK i will download and test it out.Thanks for the modifications and updates. :)ChadOn Fri, May 26, 2023 at 5:20 PM Howard Dutton <hjd1964@...> wrote:Think this should homing issue should be resolved now.
Authorized OnStep Dealer and Creator of the CGE Pro Conversion Kit
https://graydigitalarts.com/