sulaco

Hi,

I think I wasn't clear, it's the mobile app that works in conjunction with the server on the pi that's a bag of problems. Ironically yesterday afternoon they released an update to the server app now it seems to be functioning. I know the programme is developed for little to no income for the guys at stellarmate but communication isn't great and the manuals are out of date. The computer based part of the app is great and generally have no problems but it's when you're outside and need the mobile I have real problems.

I think that is why AsiAir has proved to be more robust in function and is so popular.

Thanks for your help though.

On 06/02/2023 at 08:17, Rallemikken said:

Don't use either ASIAIR or Stellarmate; buT Linux Mint with the latest KStars/Ekos. You configure the optical train once the first time you start a session on a certain profile. Double-click in each column, and a drop-down list appears. Add stuff on the "telescopes and lenses" button. Not intuitive. Can't see how you can have more than two cameras (optical trains), but the guys are working on this. That's why this feature is implemented today, more will come.

Hi, 

I've got all of the gear loaded into the initial profile but the screen that has the optical train doesn't show any nor will it create one when pressed. I surely can't be the only person with this problem? I don't seem to see many discussions about the Stellarmate mobile app here on the lounge given that it's quite a promoted aspect of the Stellarmate and Ekos setup.

Thanks

Hi,

 I’ve been using Kstars with Ekos and the stellarmate app on a Pi4 for sometime, accessing it as a server from a Mac indoors but for the life of me I just can’t get the mobile app to work. 
The screen grabs on the web site look great and on the odd occasion it’s worked but at the moment there’s always some function that doesn’t work, right now it’s just a button to enable a new optical train. I thought tonights update might fix it but no. 
I don’t see a lot of chat about it here so can I assume others have dumped it in favour of ASIAIR?  
Thanks

 Campbell

Thanks for the reply, when in stellarmate app and click onto the Ekos tab all of the gear is there and connected. 
I’ve entered the gear into the profile tab and added the telescope parameters but if I click on the “ Create new” button, nothing. 

Hi,

Haven't used the Stellarmate app for a while so updated it and found the new optical trains section, I've entered the telescope and it give the green tick for "getting Devices" but I can't add an optical train in the "Create New" section, the button does nothing.
Can anybody suggest what I might be missing?
I can see that the ZWO and canon are being detected initially, if unplugged then stellarmate flashes up that they're missing .

if I look in the camera module it says no cameras detected.
This might be because I can't make the optical train though but it still moves the mount and takes an image with the camera despite no train selected.

Thanks
Campbell

I give a vote for for Stellarmate, It works very well. I have it mounted on the finger shore of my 130pds and content over the Wi-Fi via an extender to my Mac with ekos. 
The interface is clean an has more tools than I’ll need any time soon, there’s also a fair bit of support online with regular updates. 
i tried NINA but found the interface a little too muddled, it may have improved. 
i used backyardeos for years but will stick with Stellarmate and ekos for foreseeable future. 

Nope, Can't seem to get this camera to work through the PI 4 with stellar mate, so it's being pushed into an All Sky camera on top of my workshop and I've bought a ZWO 120mm-S. Hopefully this should be good with this setup.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Campbell

If I flash the camera with the arm7 driver I’m assuming it might not work on windows anymore?

2 hours ago, fozzybear said:

what os are you using?  windows?

 

Yep, using windows. Do all the 120mm/mc cameras have this problem such as the new mini version ? I want to stick with ekos as it’s miles better that flicking between several programs on windows and my hope is to reduce the set up time using the stellarmate. What other ASI cameras are more robust with indi? Or switch to the QHYL II

2 hours ago, fozzybear said:

is your laptop a Mac  or PC windows. Just download the  link I provided to https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eXBCN06Uz6pGdf-TDd_8ETVW5QRw9zSO and download the whole bin folder then extract and run the app under your OS concerned. If you have a Mac I am flying blind as do not have one.

Thanks for the link, there doesn't seem to be a way of flashing the software. I can see the usbtool file but it won't launch on windows it just tries to find software that can open the file. ZWO also don't have the tool on their website anymore.

Thanks for the feedback, I've heard that there is a problem with the usb 2 version and the new usb 3 version is fine with Ekos and Linux but the original one works no problem if plugged directly into the laptop. It's just when using the PI4 with stellar mate, it can see the camera and connects but won't allow image capture. How do I go about flashing the camera, I've got a new driver that might work?

Morning folks,

I recently switched to Ekos on the laptop for full control and it works brilliantly so after hovering between the ASIAIR Pro and Stellarmate in PI4 I felt the Stellarmate with a Pegasus PBA would be best......then came all the issues.

I haven't bought the PPBA yet just use a powered usb hub; I've set up all the software on the Mac and iPhone indifferent configurations to ensure sure it would connect outside and it worked well but when it comes to capturing the ASI120mm usb 2 will not capture anything and plate solving with with the ASI or DSLR just won't happen either just keep getting messages that the Plate solve was aborted.

The ASI120mm usb 2 works perfectly when connected direct top the laptop and shows connection on the mobile app but just won't work.

Has anyone got any tips or experience with this setup, I felt that the stellar mate would just work but no so.

Thanks

Campbell

I’ve just bought stellar mate but haven’t had it outside yet, can anyone tell me if there is a polar alignment function on the mobile app. I can see there’s one update in the forthcoming version about an improved alignment but before I bought it the online info seems to suggest it’s part of it and not just on the desktop version which I already use. 

On 20/02/2021 at 19:02, StevieDvd said:

The focuser may need a dedicated focuser port and power, new focuser units have a usb & power connections.  Only the premium Pegasus have the special focuser port, for Moonlite, Lakeside etc.

Thanks for the feed back, it was a great help. Decided to go the stellarmate route as I think having the separate power unit is more dependable and I like options with ekos. 

The Pegasus would take care of the focuser power wouldn’t it? The AAP should be able to power the focuser also. 

Thanks, 

The classic zwo120mm seems to be working fine at the moment running ekos on Pop os, I understand you need the new version as a minimum on the asi. 
The asiair pro is 4gb ram so was planning on the 8gb option if going the stellarmate route. I use the dummy battery route at the moment with a plug in adapter but need to get away from the hanging plugs and long cables.

On Flo site it says that the asiair has a “lightweight” power distributor so wanted to know if the Pegasus would be better as I want to run the heq5 through it. 
some people do it with the asi but if it’s lightweight will that be reliable. 
 

Hi, 
Thinking of getting the Asiair pro whenever they come back into stock but wondered about the voltage output for dslr, it states that it’s12v but would that not need to be stepped down to 7.5v for dslr. 
im wondering if the Pegasus power box micro with Stellarmate might be a better option as the dedicated power box is controllable. 
I tried Ekos a couple of years back and had nothing but problems but tried again last night and was amazed at how slick it was, best guiding and first time plate-solvingwas effortless. 
I have the original zwo  120mm  so reluctant to get a new one unless I have too. Has anybody been using the new advanced or micro  power boxes either stellarmate?

Thanks

 Campbell

Thanks for the feedback Roland,

I suspected that the Newtonian Dual set up might be a pain to balance as most dual rigs I've seen are all refractor based like Carole 's above. 

I already used the Sky adventurer mini with a Sigma 105mm 2.8 lens at the same time and it works great for getting the most of an evening even if it's on a totally different scale.

I think I'll focus on getting the obsy up and running and work on the auto focusing so it can have longer unattended and just need to close the roof.

Cheers

Hi Carole,  

Funny enough I was looking at your blog this morning on my way to work. 

I'm using two DSLR's but do plan on a mono at some point in the future.

The current setup weighs 6kg and I don't imaging the 72 ed would increase it much.

Also I use APP for my processing which would handle it ok I think.

Morning folks,

I'm planning a bit of a change in my imaging setup and after much thought I need some input from others if you can.

I want to upgrade my setup, currently a SW 130pds HEQ5 with a 60mm guide scope imaging with a modded 500D.

I often find my imaging time limited but am planning the build of a mini obsy to make longer sessions more practical.

Would mounting a SW72 ed on top of the 130pds be over kill to get an dual imaging system going and increase the data volume, both with a canon 500d and a simple finder guider, the mount should be ok with this.

Or just keep the status quo and add an auto focuser for longer single scope sessions that can be more automated in keeping good focus with the lighter setup.

The dual version I believe would end up having wider field images as I would probably have to add the higher resolution from the longer FL to the shorter FL images.

Any 2p's worth would be appreciated I just want to achieve more productive sessions.

Thanks

Campbell

Thanks for the quick reply, i kind of suspected as much. Don't really want to swap them about so just stick with the status quo.

Cheers

I like this thread a lot, a hand held control is often more versatile that cabled or pc based control.

Does anybody know if it's possible to connect the WiFi adapter in series to the lynx astro eqmod cable which connects via usb to the pc.

Never use handset but it could be usfule sometimes so if adapter can connect to mount port the lynx cable it would be ideal.

Cheers

Campbell

I'm assuming I would be have to buy the "big Easy stepper driver" for my motor if it didn't have the small driver board as the one used in this thread? .

Would of the rest of the instructions still be applicable?

Thanks

I've only got that standard stock focuser for my 200p, I've noticed most here seem to be using dual speed.

I'm aiming it would be best to use this in the dual speed focuser?

I'm hooked on this thread and now want to build it but I've a few questions.

1. The stepper motor used has a 5.6deg step which gives 64 per rev if I'm not wrong. Would it not be better to use a finer motor?

2. If I swapped out for a 12v stepper could I power it with a mains adapter without frying the nano?

Thanks for any feedback

Campbell