teoria_del_big_bang

Just now, Paul M said:

Hope it stays stable for you. I've had many, many more crashes than subs!

Hopefully, if the sky ever clears, my new arrangement will be usable. 

I hope so too, it would be nice if you remember to let me know how it goes over a few sessions. I have not ruled this method out yet.

Steve

31 minutes ago, Paul M said:

Astroberry comes with VNC server. I use that via Ethernet to change settings/configure wifi (don't like the Astroberry hot-spot but I have used that too). 

Just install VNC viewer your remote machine or (as I do) on a tablet. I have been using the tablet for at the mount adjustments like focusing via a hotspot on my tablet.

But having had great trouble with the stability of the Pi  I have just swapped things round on recommendation from the SGL massive. I now have KStars/Ekos on the laptop, connected via Ethernet to the Pi. The Pi is just a server and only runs the Astroberry/Indi server. I now have my Laptop set as a VNC server (free software for personal use) and connect to that with my tablet for at-the-mount work. So I have a remote monitor on my lappy in the lounge and a mobile monitor on the tablet at the mount

Only one incidence of Astroberry running and if needed I can still use a browser to log on to astroberry.local via the Astroberry hot-spot. All screens are identical.

I did think of going this route but just worried that if the connection dropped (I know ethernet should be pretty rock solid - but if it did) then the sequence would abort and the session lost but as it is the sequence still goes on n the RPi as Ekos is on that. On the other hand if it is not stable then the RPi could freeze or shut down and the same. So far the few time I have used the RPi then it has crashed a few times but only when I am messing around, when actually running on its own it has seemed fine - so far (famous last words 😞 )

Steve

35 minutes ago, JamesF said:

You want two monitors to share (as near as makes no odds) exactly the same display?

James

No I wanted to make it like Remote desktop where you can just move open applications from one monitor to the other (effectively double the amount of open desktop viewable at same time). I am just so used to running the sequence software on one screen and the planetarium software on the other.

If not possible then I will just have to get used to switching between desktops on Astroberry.

Steve

Thanks, at least I am not going daft. Apart from RDP then is there anyway of using two monitors remotely with astroberry ?

Steve

1 minute ago, fireshipjohn said:

Hi Steve,

The Astroberry desktop has 4 virtual screens, are you sure you were not viewing on the 'alternate' desktops as they all look the same?

I've done similar things myself, it can appear very odd!

No I thought the same at first but both have the 4 desktops and each screen I could put any running application on them but were not visible from the other monitor.

Steve

Yes I think now I could have changed ethernet settings via the browser but it would not let me through remote desktop, which I didn't realise at the time hence why I plugged the monitor in there, which has now highlighted this odd behavior. (well odd to me as I do not understand it). 

The ethernet is running fine now I gave it a static address I am just worried if this starting a second instance off with remote desktop would cause an issue. I think in past maybe I did cause some issues as I may have inadvertently used both the browser and then connected via remote desktop. But If using one or the other is fine but not both then that is okay I will make sure I do not do it again.

But I really prefer to use Remote Desktop as I can use two monitors.

Steve

I have come across something odd I do not understand and may explain some issues I have had.

I have been mostly using windows Remote Desktop via ethernet to run the RPi remotely and mostly seems to work fine. occasionally use the browser with "http://astroberry.local/desktop/" .

So this time I have used Remote Desktop and all seems to work but I had a monitor and keyboard plugged directly to the RPi as well because I needed to set the configuration for ethernet which it did not seem to let me do remotely. 

The odd bit is that screen plugged into the RPI had the astroberry background  and I could use the keyboard to open programs such as KStars, EKOS PHD2 etc and they appeared on the screen plugged into the RPi but not on my remote desktop. Conversely I could then open up the same programs on the remote desktop but they did not appear on the screen plugged into rpI.

So I am guessing I have two instances of Astroberry server running somehow.

If I use the browser to operate the Pi then the same appears on the screen as the RPi screen.

So can anybody explain exactly what is going on here and can I operate my scope with Astroberry and windows remote desktop. I have had instances when I try to open INDI panel and it says an instance is already running so this may explain that but am I okay to say just use remote desktop to operate my equipment, it is just odd that mostly it does seem to work even though if I plug a screen into RPi it is not changing anything on the screen. I guess I just do not understand what is meant by Astroberry Server.

Steve

Welcome to SGL and if you want to learn then this is the place to be, lots of great knowledgeable astronomers on here thankfully for myself and many others.

Steve

I am due to go on holiday in UK for 2 weeks staying at a couple of fairly remote cottages so a good chance of dark skies if the weather improves.  When you travel does everybody pack  up the rig, take camera off, FW off, close scope up to shortest length and pack everything in their cases then up it all back together the other end. Or do you sort of just carefully wrap it up in bubble wrap and sit the whole right on the back seat.

I do intend to pack it all up as that seems the sensible thing to do with expensive equipment but was curious if everyone did this.

Steve

I really now am not sure, It appears to be the top left more than the left bottom that is worst. So not sure but still worth looking at the individual frames and see what they look like. You could well be right about tilt.

Steve

The blurring is slight and actually a nice image.

Is that a stacked image then because to my untrained eye it almost looks like the stars on the left are just not aligned properly but they are on the right. If it is a stacked image then what do the stars look like on a single frome just stretched to see all the stars?

Steve

This has been great for me as I am trying to master learn Pixinsight and have all the books but still not very good at it. I have often blamed my data for being poor and so my images whilst okay were never outstanding for me. Now I am not saying that statement is not true but I think having known good pre-processed data really helped as I knew what could be achieved from this data and so did not give up. I really want to go back now with some of my better old data and try again with what I have learned.

This is my first attempt using only PI and I know there is more I can bring out of the image but thought I would at least present a image in case I do not get the time to improve my efforts. If I improve it later I will replace this image. It does look very similar to some of the above Hubble Pallet entries which gives me encouragement my processing is going in the right direction (although maybe not for winning the competition 😞 ).

Anyway ramble over here it is.

Steve

ah makes sense now thanks 🙂

Only just noticed this, knowing me it's been there all along, but may be an addition with the last major update, but what is the purpose of this draggable line ?

Steve

I have found two on FLO but not sure which it is

ioptron-controller-cable

ioptron-controller-cable-6p6c

But I did think these may be readily available on non astro sites a lot cheaper as with postage its over £20.

Steve

I need a new curley cable for the handset on my I-Optron CEM60. Does anyone know best place to get one. I was hoping that an old landline phone handset would suffice but I think those are smaller plugs on them.

Steve

Russ,

Stop beating yourself up, we have all been there.

A lot of this software is often easy to use when set up but can be a nightmare actually setting it all up and getting all these separate bits of software to work together. Maybe this is a symptom of much of it being complicated softare but free and mostly written by individuals rather than big companies with lots of software writers and testsers on hand. Even much of the paid and more intense software is only written by small groups of enthusiasts. So generally the headaches are just the setting up of it all and you will find loads of threads on SGL all asking similar questions about what to use and how to install let alone how to use, so do not worry, its normal.

But on the upside looks like in the last week or so you have made loads of progress.

Also it is often better for yourself and often more productive to take a step back and even a rest from it for a day or two. I know the thoughts are always to rush to get it all going and working so you are ready for that next clear night but sometimes you sort of get blindsided looking at the same thing and a break sometimes promotes a different approach next time that often works.

Carry on the good work, you will be ready for the darker nights to come I am sure 🙂 

Steve

There is the script for pre-processing the data "Weighted Batch Preprocessing" that can make things a bit more automated and is capable of automatically recognising lights, flats, darks, bias etc. 

But to be honest it is not something I have used too much as yet but have vowed to try it with my next batch of data so cannot comment how good it is compared to other automated software.

Steve

Having used PI for over a year now, and whilst there is still a lot of processes I have not even touched on yet ,I feel I am well over the steepest part of the curve. For myself at least I have found that once you understand the way it works it really does seem a better way of working and I have really come to like it (a lot). But that might just be me 🙂 

That new image really is a great image and well worth having another go with that data.

Steve

This is what I have in my directory, but you may not need all the star databases I have for it to work okay.

Steve

The database should be unpacked and in the same directory (normally "c:\Program Files\astap" but could go anywhere so long as both the database and installed files are in same directory. I think then you need to tell APT where that directory is.

Steve

Again 2nd image is in a different league in my opinion. I am not very experienced but personally without the info I would easily have thought image 2 was a mono camera in HOO.

Steve

6 minutes ago, The Admiral said:

When I need a small number of bolts I turn to eBay providers who provide sensibly small pack sizes. In fact I've just received an order from Kays Fasteners via eBay for a variety of bolt sizes and threads in pack sizes between 4 and 6! The total costs are small, and free postage. A recently received William Optics dovetail has slots for M6 and threaded holes for ¼" x 20 and 3/8" x 20 !

Ian

I have used Kays Fasteners a lot of times too, fast delivery and as you say good prices.

Steve

Hi and welcome to SGL.

Some very good advice above and all pretty much singing from the same hymn sheet 🙂 

I started getting into Imaging just over 2 years ago and had no idea what I wanted when I started but got some great advice on this forum so keep asking all those questions you may have. Everyone is very friendly and there are no stupid questions.

One thing I did learn early on was that really planetary imaging and DSO imaging require different scope / camera setups and in fact to some extent different skills and techniques. So maybe have a think which you fancy getting into first as trying to do both would be difficult and expensive and if you try to do both on a budget then you will not do well at either as the equipment will be compromised.

I chose to concentrate on DSO's and there is certainly no shortage of targets and the good thing is that some are relatively easy to image (with the right equipment), there are many intermediate targets and plenty more challenging, so always something to challenge you in the future.

As well as getting the data on the night there then is the processing which for me was actually more challenging than taking the images but is every bit as important as taking the images and in fact maybe moreso. Many (including myself) find this more difficult that the actual imaging.

Anyway good luck with the hobby, do plenty of reading up on both the imaging and processing before spending a penny, rushing to buy what you may consider a bargain is not worth it, make sure you know exactly what you want, and ask questions on here 😉 

Steve

Whilst people have managed good images using small mounts I think you will find it very frustrating without a decent sturdy mount. You have a pretty sizeable scope that will catch any slight breeze that is present and you will end up with a lot of wasted exposures. When frustrated with these issues a lot may just give up which is a shame as it is just due to equipment not really up to the job and not their ability.

When setting up for imaging on a budget i really would recommend that a large portion of your budget goes on your mount.

A popular way into imaging is a 2nd hand HEQ5, there are a fair number come up for sale and are generally around £500 to £600 depending on age and upgrades they have had.

It may seem a lot but in my opinion is ideal for imaging and pretty surdy with payloads around 10Kg.

Also if looked after tend to hold their value pretty well so if you advance to a bigger scope and need a bigger mount then you can sell it on very easily.

Please don't skimp on the mount, honest you will regret it later.

Steve