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.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 and support please consider making asmall monetary donation. This keeps me motivated and helps cover expenses associated with my projects.
I have posted about this before. The DEC is running much slower than RA in slew mode using my laptop with ascom. I had changed EVERYTHING in the hardware twice now with no success. This morning I set
I have posted about this before. The DEC is running much slower than RA in slew mode using my laptop with ascom. I had changed EVERYTHING in the hardware twice now with no success. This morning I set
Hi All...
New boards arrived today and they immediately connect and can upload, so my original was duff! - I have loaded both OnStep X and 4.24 - can connect when the CNC3 borad is not connected -
Hi All...
New boards arrived today and they immediately connect and can upload, so my original was duff! - I have loaded both OnStep X and 4.24 - can connect when the CNC3 borad is not connected -
Barry,
A little bit of background is probably valuable at this point. I have not looked at the code that is servicing that interrupt for a while so it is possible this has some wrong information. If
Barry,
A little bit of background is probably valuable at this point. I have not looked at the code that is servicing that interrupt for a while so it is possible this has some wrong information. If
Hi John, if the microcontroller is doing the quad decode then I agree with what you are seeing. I am not sure how implementable it is but there are chips that do the quadrature and counting for you
Hi John, if the microcontroller is doing the quad decode then I agree with what you are seeing. I am not sure how implementable it is but there are chips that do the quadrature and counting for you
Hi Bob, I dont really know as it was second hand to me. I have got the mount out from the store and remeasured. The original was 8mm thick and my replacement (in clear anodized) is 12mm. I also
Hi Bob, I dont really know as it was second hand to me. I have got the mount out from the store and remeasured. The original was 8mm thick and my replacement (in clear anodized) is 12mm. I also
I leaned Vlad's way until I saw how Kevin Ma used such a drive to convert a Meade LX fork. The fork originally was equipped with a tangent arm Dec adjuster. I had been advising folks to avoid these
I leaned Vlad's way until I saw how Kevin Ma used such a drive to convert a Meade LX fork. The fork originally was equipped with a tangent arm Dec adjuster. I had been advising folks to avoid these
What confuses me are the Schottky diodes that link 3.3V to the higher voltage lines, in the maxstm circuit.
Think that they are there to protect the TMC drivers from back EMF damage.
What confuses me are the Schottky diodes that link 3.3V to the higher voltage lines, in the maxstm circuit.
Think that they are there to protect the TMC drivers from back EMF damage.
The op amp is part of what my diagram calls battery charging circuit. It's a LM321 low power single op amp. The TI part is marked A63A and is what my "WeMOS" D1 R32s uses. The M7s are Zener
The op amp is part of what my diagram calls battery charging circuit. It's a LM321 low power single op amp. The TI part is marked A63A and is what my "WeMOS" D1 R32s uses. The M7s are Zener
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 06:15 AM, <lrosellpardo@...> wrote:
I have big backlash in az axis about 30arc/min.
Can i get better results or it's normal acuraccy?Not sure if your question is about the
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 06:15 AM, <lrosellpardo@...> wrote:
I have big backlash in az axis about 30arc/min.
Can i get better results or it's normal acuraccy?Not sure if your question is about the
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 02:58 AM, John Scherer wrote:
Maybe he just wants to design a small board and share it with the group, for his own reasons. I for one welcome this and do this often myself
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 02:58 AM, John Scherer wrote:
Maybe he just wants to design a small board and share it with the group, for his own reasons. I for one welcome this and do this often myself
Could check the DIR pins on the drivers to see if they go from 0V to 3.3V as they should when you change directions. Just be super careful to only touch the yellow pins with the volt meter probe.
Could check the DIR pins on the drivers to see if they go from 0V to 3.3V as they should when you change directions. Just be super careful to only touch the yellow pins with the volt meter probe.
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 04:37 AM, Gerry Byrne wrote:
Here are my Axis Stepper Driver Config.h settings. Can they explain the fact that the motors will only turn in one direction?There are no settings
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 04:37 AM, Gerry Byrne wrote:
Here are my Axis Stepper Driver Config.h settings. Can they explain the fact that the motors will only turn in one direction?There are no settings
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 04:05 AM, Gerry Byrne wrote:
It occurs to me that the following might be factors: I am giving the motors arbitrary instructions without setting Lat and Long or timeIts a good
On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 04:05 AM, Gerry Byrne wrote:
It occurs to me that the following might be factors: I am giving the motors arbitrary instructions without setting Lat and Long or timeIts a good
Here are my Axis Stepper Driver Config.h settings. Can they explain the fact that the motors will only turn in one direction?
Gerry
// AXIS1 RA/AZM
// see
Here are my Axis Stepper Driver Config.h settings. Can they explain the fact that the motors will only turn in one direction?
Gerry
// AXIS1 RA/AZM
// see
Kevin,
As you may see from my latest post I tried some spare LV8729s and it made no difference. But that doesn't rule out the probability I may have got duds!
Gerry
Kevin,
As you may see from my latest post I tried some spare LV8729s and it made no difference. But that doesn't rule out the probability I may have got duds!
Gerry
1. I swapped the wiring for the two motors but both continued to drive one direction only, no reversal possible either in slewing mode or using the control in an attempt to "nudge" the motors
1. I swapped the wiring for the two motors but both continued to drive one direction only, no reversal possible either in slewing mode or using the control in an attempt to "nudge" the motors
Hello, I've converted my 8" Dob with Onstep. yesterday I did some test, I did 3 star align (not perfect) but I managed to get a star at 150x during 20 min in FoV.
I have big backlash in az axis about
Hello, I've converted my 8" Dob with Onstep. yesterday I did some test, I did 3 star align (not perfect) but I managed to get a star at 150x during 20 min in FoV.
I have big backlash in az axis about
I plugged a LV8729 driver in reversed once ( in a different board ) and afterwords when installed correctly it would only work in one direction. New one worked OK.
I don't have one of those boards
I plugged a LV8729 driver in reversed once ( in a different board ) and afterwords when installed correctly it would only work in one direction. New one worked OK.
I don't have one of those boards
Mike,
That's a very good point. However I'm using a FYSETC S6 V2 which requires very little soldering. At the same time I have been using a temporary bench testing connection between the
Mike,
That's a very good point. However I'm using a FYSETC S6 V2 which requires very little soldering. At the same time I have been using a temporary bench testing connection between the
