1949 replies to this topic

[Steve_uk]

Thank you!

It worked, by pressing the boot button and releasing it when "connecting....." worked! Thank you for the help

Great you should only need to do that once, but if your ESP ever fails to switch to bootload mode, then you know how to fix it :-)

[mlord]

Hi Mark

I have tried to contact you through email and I wonder if either the original message or your reply got trapped in some spam filter... I would be interested in getting a HBG3 kit.

I don't have anything to do with that. Use the email address on the site. They can sometimes be busy/slow to respond.

[jedu]

I don't have anything to do with that. Use the email address on the site. They can sometimes be busy/slow to respond.

Yes, indeed I used the address in the webpage... I got an answer yesterday, all is good

 

Best regards

 

Eduardo

[koprol]

I want to give a load of compliments to Mark Lord and those who helped with this HBG3 project. This restores faith in humanity.

 

The HBG3 works great. I mainly wanted the nunchuck functionality and will add a focus motor too (but how, which, how?).

 

[dlwmacgregor]

I want to give a load of compliments to Mark Lord and those who helped with this HBG3 project. This restores faith in humanity.

 

The HBG3 works great. I mainly wanted the nunchuck functionality and will add a focus motor too (but how, which, how?).

Search this thread. All the information you need is here. Mark is very thorough.

[koprol]

Search this thread. All the information you need is here. Mark is very thorough.

Mark is thorough, I have noticed and I have a lot of confidence in this project.

I have gotten to page 25 of this thread but I don't undeerstand 95% of it. Quite difficult to read through if one doesn't understand what is means (specifically the software bits).

 

Simple question then.

Is it possible to use a non celestron focus motor with the HBG3? (without software adjustments)

Edited by koprol, 09 February 2025 - 08:33 AM.

[dlwmacgregor]

Check all the links at the bottom of this page...

 

https://www.cloudyni...1#entry13619045

[Goofyboy1]

OK 

 

It is all working, the handset reports a good fix.

 

If I do connect the RX pin it no longer communicates either way. So if I leave it disconnected it won't goto sleep after a fix, but happily gives GPS data..

 

IMG20250122185514.jpg

hi,

 

do you use the magnetometer function from it?

[mlord]

Is it possible to use a non celestron focus motor with the HBG3? (without software adjustments)

The HBG3 firmware implements a functional clone of the Celestron Focus Motor protocol. So one can directly wire a $12 motor+driver(chip) package from Amazon to it, along with a 3D printed mount for it, and have a Homebrew focus motor that works with any software that would work with the Celestron product.

The Nunchuck can also be used to control a Celestron Focus Motor, as well as the Homebrew version.

I don't know of any other motor products that use this protocol. So if one really wants to use something a lot more expensive, there is currently no hardware or firmware that interfaces to such from the Celestron AUX bus protocol used by the HBG3.

Edited by mlord, 10 February 2025 - 04:45 AM.

[mlord]

do you use the magnetometer function from it?

Perhaps you mean the magnetic compass function, that is sometimes combined with a GPS receiver module? No. The Celestron software (CPWI, SkyPortal, SkySafari, Focus Utility, etc..) never attempts to detect or use that.

Edited by mlord, 10 February 2025 - 04:48 AM.

[Ice Cube]

the new-to-me HBG3/relay that i received recently came with a much shorter cable than my other unit.

 

do i need a straight through or reversed RJ12 cable for the replacement cable?

[dlwmacgregor]

the new-to-me HBG3/relay that i received recently came with a much shorter cable than my other unit.

 

do i need a straight through or reversed RJ12 cable for the replacement cable?

Place the connectors end-to-end and they should be identical. That will give you your answer.

Edited by dlwmacgregor, 10 February 2025 - 10:07 AM.

[Ice Cube]

Place the connectors end-to-end and they should be identical. That will give you your answer.

they look to be the same color pattern.

for amazon shopping purposes, is that straight through or reversed?

[dlwmacgregor]

Which Amazon item are you looking at?

[Ice Cube]

Which Amazon item are you looking at?

this (reversed)

https://www.amazon.c...asin_title&th=1

 

and 

this (straight):

https://www.amazon.c...asin_title&th=1

[Ice Cube]

this (reversed)

https://www.amazon.c...asin_title&th=1

 

and 

this (straight):

https://www.amazon.c...asin_title&th=1

fwiw, i received both of these today from amazon.

the straight part seems to be the correct one (displays works, yada, yada, yada)

 

hope plugging in the reverse one didn't damage the HBG3

[calhaus]

I'm also having problems with my nema17.

 

I have a A4988 on an expansion board.

I've pushed from HBG3 the ABCD pins to the correct places, pushed also 12v, GND and 5v.

 

Now i've checked that the nema17 i've bought needs 3.5V and 1A, i've turned the A4988 poteciometer but i can only get there 3.2v there.

I'm not sure if this is the problem or some configs.

 

Which nema17 stepper motor do you guys have? One that works at 12v 0.7A?

 

p:S.: Now I've bought a 28byj-48 with a driver but haven't receive yet, because i'm confident it will be easy to install, it's super cheap and lighter, just not sure if it'll be the best motor for this...

Attached Thumbnails

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[Steve_uk]

I also had a 12V NEMA17.

 

But the little 5v 28xx board and motor combo works a treat on my 4SE focuser. No issues with power, no jitters and the nunchuck control is so nice! 

 

I am pretty sure the stepper will be best on external 12v power, hence why I opted for the 5v version.

 

Edited by Steve_uk, 11 February 2025 - 06:45 AM.

[calhaus]

New update, while i'm waiting for the stepper motor and other parts, and because i want a cordless controller, first i thought about trying to implement a Bluetooth controller, but then i found a wireless nunchuck for 8euros and i've got one. 

 

The wireless nunchuck seems to work ok with the wii, but with the HBG3 i have this problem:

13:50:14.880 -> nchuck detect: 30 00 00 00 00 00
13:50:14.880 -> I2C Device is not a Nunchuck
13:50:24.858 -> nchuck detect: 5a 05 13 06 a1 00
13:50:24.858 -> I2C Device is not a Nunchuck
13:50:34.869 -> nchuck detect: 00 16 00 00 00 00
13:50:34.869 -> I2C Device is not a Nunchuck
13:50:44.893 -> nchuck _detect: 89 31 20 00 01 03
13:50:44.893 -> I2C Device is not a Nunchuck

Can you help me Mlord?

 

My new cordless nunchuck is this one:

Edited by calhaus, 12 February 2025 - 01:53 PM.

[mlord]

Send me one of those and I'll make it work. 

[calhaus]

Send me one of those and I'll make it work. 

I will be glad to do it! 

 

One problem is that i've bought mine from a spanish store to Portugal.

 

I've seen them selling on ebay from the US, not sure if there's a better option inside Canada. Can i paypal you the money of the ebay costs+shipping and you order one for you? It would be easier for both i think.

This is the model of the model i've got: https://www.ebay.com/p/93842767

Tell me if this is an option to you and i'll send you the money  

[calhaus]

Btw, my first option was this small controller:

https://www.walmart....mwg_rnd=1274900

 

It's cheap and sells everywhere....

 

It's a Bluetooth controller so the challenge is bigger, but it's smaller than a nunchuck, it could work with both at same time, it's rechargeable, smaller and has more buttons. Also it's more updated than a nunchuck and easier to get anywhere. If you think this could be a better option and you could make it work, i would be even happier if i could get you one of these instead of a cordless 2.4Ghz rf nunchuck... 

[mlord]

One problem is that i've bought mine from a spanish store to Portugal.

Interesting.. I'm in Porto right now, and heading out to the East on Thursday..

[calhaus]

Cool. I live in Bragança

[calhaus]

Focuser Update.

 

Today i received the 28byj-48 with a driver, first time i connected it i found the problem i was having with Nema17. Not all the connected to the HBG3 pcb were touching the ESP32 board. It was easy to see with 28byj-48 driver because it has leds... 

This was my problem:

 

Also here is my working focuser if you need ideas (it still needs a bit of adjustments but works), it has two springs for the tention and it's a similiar idea to some previous ideas in this foroum, the diference is that is not around the diagonal and it does not change anything in the telescope so you can take it from the telescope very quickly