In my never-ending pursuit of a lighter more advanced setup, I recently purchased an ES IEXOS100 EQ mount. I struggled with learning how to control it working through all the methods, and eventually not being happy with the workflows and software ES offered, especially coming from much higher end mounts and more established and plug and play software. So I decided to build an ASAIR, Stellarmate, ATIK Base ‘clone’, and try my hand at plate-solving with KSTARS. I first downloaded the free ASTROBERRY OS software:
www.astroberry.io/
Then mounted it to a 32GB (fast Sandisk Extreme class 10) Micro SD Card and booted my old Rasberry PI 3 from it. Over the next few days I played around with it learning the ropes from various tutorials on youtube. Once I realized what it was capable of and how easy it was to initially configure, I was hooked and ordered a more capable RasberryPi v4.0. (The Pi3 worked great, but i wanted the Pi4's USB 3.0)
Rasberry Pi v4 (all you need besides a fast MicroSD card):
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
I also ordered an Inexpensive (outboard) GPS module:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
How to Setup a GPS module:
• Astroberry and USB-GPS...
For adding a gamepad (wireless or wired), which I also did. Just plug one in and turn it on in Kstars.
The Kstars software controls the main imaging camera, the guiding camera, the focuser, and the mount. Plate solving is done to polar align and sync to targets for extremely accurate go and tracking. Guiding is done via PHD guiding direct from the Astroberry console, while everything else is managed via kstars windows/android app on any machine on my network (or the Astroberry servers own hosted wifi if no other wifi is available). Plate solving data is sent to astrometry.net for reasonably fast solves, but I am impatient so I installed my own local copy of the plate-solving astrometry data on my astroberry server, as a result plate solving an image now only takes about 3 seconds. Info below.
Setup Remote (Astroberry hosted Astrometry data, for fast plate solving):
www.indilib.org/about/ekos/al...
So that is the 10,000 foot view of how to enjoy the IEXOS 100 mount to the fullest and control it remotely like a pro.
But in an effort to increase the functionality of the mount. I utilized a pre-existing Azimuth adjuster I found on thingiverse.com and modified it to suit my needs. I then took an existing laser holder mount and modified it to suit my needs. I then set out to design a IEXOS top mount to hold the laser mount components in a secure and easily removable way, as well as other ways of mounting for future components. The result is the IEXOS 100 mount that I wished it was from the day it was unwrapped. Pointing the scope at the north star is easier and repeatable. And adjusting azimuth is a breeze.
You can find the 3D models available for free to the public from the link below:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:466...
Other random helpful IEXOS/Astroberry tips:
1) For IEXOS 100 mount control using a serial USB mini connection (don't be confused, this is just a regular USB mini to USB A cable, not a special FTDI chipset or anything. The special chipset was built into the IEXOS mount, you just need to flip a bit to make it work), you must install and run FT_Prog and then change/invert the DTR of the FTDI chipset.
2) Change Astroberry console resolution in the OS config file (Edit the Micro SD on windows, then pop back into the pi and boot it)
3) Change the Pi's HDMI output res in the same manner, here are config tables:
www.raspberrypi.org/documenta...
Astroberry pass = astroberry
In terminal:
ifconfig gives IP info
turn on SSH for file transfers
sudo raspi-config
scroll down to 'interfacing options'
enable SSH
Use winscp (www.ninite.com) to transfer files to and fro...use the ip presented when running the ifconfig command from above
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If you found this helpful or if you have any comments, please let me know. Be sure to like and subscribe.
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