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 for stepper motor equipped mounts. 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 (GEM, Fork, etc.) and Alt/Az (Dobsonian, etc.) It uses an LX200 like computer command set with a few extensions to suit hand-controllerless operation.
In addition to the wide range of software supported through it's ASCOM driver, many software packages work directly with it's LX200 protocol. These include Cartes du Ciel, Stellarium, SkySafari, etc.
There are hand-controller Apps for Android and iOS devices available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store (both are free). These allow you to Un-park or Align the mount to get going, then startup SkySafari (for example) and connect (using Bluetooth or IP) to have a full planetarium type control application... All from a cell-phone or tablet.
Please visit my StellarJourney.comsite for updates, links toOnStep resources, my other astronomy software, or to see someImages taken with the assistance of my OnStep operated mounts.
If you find OnStep useful and would like to show your appreciation consider donating code to the project (if capable,) or perhaps a language translation, or new celestial object catalog for the SHC, or a small monetary donation which can be put toward covering my expenses associated with this project.
You may have to estimate the end torques at the rotational axes (RA and DEC in the case of GEM) and divide by the corresponding overall gear ratios to know the motor torque requirements.
Mohamed Abdul
You may have to estimate the end torques at the rotational axes (RA and DEC in the case of GEM) and divide by the corresponding overall gear ratios to know the motor torque requirements.
Mohamed Abdul
Does the Onstep keep the RA/AZ and DEC/ALT motor Drivers always on or does it execute sleep/wakeup protocols based on the need?
Mohamed Abdul Haleem
haleems@...
Does the Onstep keep the RA/AZ and DEC/ALT motor Drivers always on or does it execute sleep/wakeup protocols based on the need?
Mohamed Abdul Haleem
haleems@...
thanks Dave
if i go other site to imaging i need to set new coordinate again in shc?
what if i no using SHC, how to manual key in new site coordinate in smart phone onstep?
thanks Dave
if i go other site to imaging i need to set new coordinate again in shc?
what if i no using SHC, how to manual key in new site coordinate in smart phone onstep?
Khalid
good to see TMC5160 work great in skysafari slew very fast...but
i get error from SHC remote saying ERROR ME!
was it i set the value of:
#define AXIS1_DRIVER_MODEL
Khalid
good to see TMC5160 work great in skysafari slew very fast...but
i get error from SHC remote saying ERROR ME!
was it i set the value of:
#define AXIS1_DRIVER_MODEL
I think my last formal physics classes were a few years before. But in recent years, I re-learned (and got updated on) parts of physics, simply because astronomy and cosmology are built on top of
I think my last formal physics classes were a few years before. But in recent years, I re-learned (and got updated on) parts of physics, simply because astronomy and cosmology are built on top of
The OnStep Configuration Generator is now updated to work with 3.16 (stable) and 4.x (latest master).
This update was done because some people still struggle with the syntax of the configuration
The OnStep Configuration Generator is now updated to work with 3.16 (stable) and 4.x (latest master).
This update was done because some people still struggle with the syntax of the configuration
I recently made a wireless smarthandcontroller, enabling bluetooth communication on the ESP32 controller.
I share the information to modify the original project and obtain a wireless SHC (see zip
I recently made a wireless smarthandcontroller, enabling bluetooth communication on the ESP32 controller.
I share the information to modify the original project and obtain a wireless SHC (see zip
OnStep users, let me first say that I'm no expert on this project, I just completed a successful BluePill build 3 days ago, and had
my own struggles getting my stm32 to flash. My first day trying to
OnStep users, let me first say that I'm no expert on this project, I just completed a successful BluePill build 3 days ago, and had
my own struggles getting my stm32 to flash. My first day trying to
You are absolutely right Khalid. I, for one, have very very limited experience with code. The last time I was in a physics class was in 1979 and it’s kinda foggy after all these years. And in the
You are absolutely right Khalid. I, for one, have very very limited experience with code. The last time I was in a physics class was in 1979 and it’s kinda foggy after all these years. And in the
got my new S6 board, the 5160 stepsticks and the GPS module. Soldered
and assembled everything, loaded OnStep and everything worked perfectly.
OK, not everything, the GPS time and location set did not
got my new S6 board, the 5160 stepsticks and the GPS module. Soldered
and assembled everything, loaded OnStep and everything worked perfectly.
OK, not everything, the GPS time and location set did not
Unfortunately the damned Polar Alignment Assistan makes profuse use of Park/Unpark.
At the end, PAA is very good debugging tool for Ekos+OnStep. It has been caught for every problem that has
Unfortunately the damned Polar Alignment Assistan makes profuse use of Park/Unpark.
At the end, PAA is very good debugging tool for Ekos+OnStep. It has been caught for every problem that has
If you have already updated…follow this process to work with EKSO:
Open the ONSTEP App
UNPARK
Open Kstars/EKOS and run your profile – you will find the status is corrcet and mountis either idle or
If you have already updated…follow this process to work with EKSO:
Open the ONSTEP App
UNPARK
Open Kstars/EKOS and run your profile – you will find the status is corrcet and mountis either idle or
It has beed discovered a problem with Ekos included in version 3.4.3 and the support on the INDI driver for weather functions. When used with OnStep, the system crashes as soon as you try to park or
It has beed discovered a problem with Ekos included in version 3.4.3 and the support on the INDI driver for weather functions. When used with OnStep, the system crashes as soon as you try to park or
Yes, that the problem. At least with the EQ5 “flavor” of this mount. The backlash comes from the horizontal freedom on the worm axis and from the gap between this worm and the driving crown. But
Yes, that the problem. At least with the EQ5 “flavor” of this mount. The backlash comes from the horizontal freedom on the worm axis and from the gap between this worm and the driving crown. But
Hi ,
When I try to use my electric focuser via the Onstep android app the stepper motor will only turn one way. If I press the up arrow it turns clockwise, if I press the down arrow it turns
Hi ,
When I try to use my electric focuser via the Onstep android app the stepper motor will only turn one way. If I press the up arrow it turns clockwise, if I press the down arrow it turns
