8 replies to this topic

[federicocunico]

Hi everyone!
I'm relatively new to the EEA and, in particular, imaging since I have only done visual astronomy so far, so I am looking for advice from experts on how to actually use Indigo Sky with my SV705C camera since I am having some issues.
I am using a telescope with an SVBony 705C camera (I know it is made for planetary imaging, but I'm planning to get the DSO version as soon as I have money).

 

I own a MacBook (Pro M2), which has a very good battery life. I did try to use AstroDMx Capture as they suggested on the SVBony website, but it is not working, and the software keeps crashing when I try to open the camera. It recognizes the camera gets the parameters, but when I try to open the camera, it crashes.

 

Therefore, since I also own a Raspberry Pi 4, I decided to try Indigo Sky, also because in the future, I'd like to make it control the guiding and the mount as well, but first thing first, I'd like to make my SV705C work and get some image of easy DSO objects and planets. So I installed it, and it is booting fine. The SVBony drivers are there and seem to work.
I am able to connect to the camera, and I can acquire a single frame.

However, like at the second/third capture attempt, the "exposure" button goes yellow, drops to 0 (even if the value was not zero), and just hangs. It seems stuck as no buttons are effective in any way for the camera controls (I can still change pages in the web page and go to other pages, so I believe it's not an RPi system problem), so the only thing I can do is force reboot the raspberry to make it work again.

 

I also tried Ekos, connecting to Indigo on RPi, but without being able to get any frame at all, despite the camera parameters and settings are there.

 

After one hour+ of tries, I desperately gave up and decided to switch to my old Windows PC (with a battery life of kinda 20 minutes) and try to use the SharpCap directly through USB, bypassing Indigo Sky/RPi, which worked as a charm, even though the image was not on focus, was all black (unless an high gain is used, then was all yellowish due to a lot of light pollution), but that was probably my fault, I am using a reflector originally bought for visual astronomy, with a Barlow to get prime focus, light pollution, etc... I was able, however, to get a frame, of a street light at the end of the road, so the image is there, and I can see stuff, just not sky stuff

 

In conclusion, my question is: I want to use Indigo Sky with my Mac using Ekos to capture images, but this seems not to be working for some unknown reason.

Can someone help me?

 

My only alternative is to switch to Windows and use it from there, but it seems to me that the Indigo Sky/RPi combo is the best solution for me since I can use it with my Mac, and in future, I can use it to control the mount and the guiding as well.

What do you suggest?

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

P.S. I did not tried windows compatible softwares along with Indigo Sky, just Mac compatible software, since the issues seems (I believe) to be happening on the Indigo platform. Windows was used solely with direct USB-to-camera cable connection and appropriate drivers (as SVBony webiste indicates). I have seen also a certain "ASCOM" protocol and a NINA software, but don't know exactly what they are. 

Edited by federicocunico, 11 September 2024 - 07:30 AM.

[RodgerDodger008]

Im sure someone can help, in my case I'm unfortunately only familiar with windows and specifically sharpcap live stacking. I have the ZWO version of your camera and it does excellent EAA and the sensor is quite big for the price. Once you get the software going you will love it.

[federicocunico]

Yeah, I’m craving for that! I really hope to find a way to use it with the raspberry.
I just can’t find information across the internet on specific indigo problems, probably a niche in the niche… really hope someone here can give me insights.

[fullthrottle_man]

I have the same camera for my main camera and I love it. I use SharpCap and windows also, so unfortunately I can't help with the Raspberry Pi/Indigo/Mac issues. Hopefully, you can get it all sorted out quickly.

[Planteater2000]

I have exactly the same issue using an SV705C with Indigo Sky - the imaging agent seems to lock up after a few captures although the rest of the system seems to be working.  I have messaged the developers and sent a log file so, hopefully, they can find a fix. This system would be perfect as it would allow me to replace my SLR with an SV705C, rpi and tablet when away from home.

 

I should add that I have had no problems using the camera with AstroDMX on a Linux laptop. This is my preferred method of imaging while at home.

Edited by Planteater2000, 01 October 2024 - 08:44 AM.

[mgCatskills]

I understand the frustration of being a Mac user with a telescope.  The Mac software isn't good enough.

My solution to this dilemma was to go with a miniPC on the OTA, run SharpCap and Windows Remote Desktop ("WRD"), and control them from my Macs running the WRD client over WiFi.  That way I can at least take advantage of the graphics, keyboard, and pointing devices I'm used to.  Also, it enables running the telescope remotely which is a major advantage in winter.  Since I have an EAF, the only operation I need to perform at the telescope is Polar Alignment which, with luck, takes just a few minutes.

 

I prefer MacOS as an operating system, but Windows 11 isn't awful.  WRD supports cutting and pasting files between the Windows machine and your Apple, which makes it easy to move SharpCap's saved .png back to the Mac.

 

Look, in EAA, the imaging software you use makes a huge difference.  And having a Windows machines gives you tons of options:  I use SharpCap for live stacking and NINA for Polar Alignment, Sky Atlas, and focusing.  These are incredible tools and worth the cost of a miniPC. 

Edited by mgCatskills, 01 October 2024 - 07:37 PM.

[federicocunico]

In the end I gave up using the raspberry.
I am now using windows with sharpcap. I was finally able to get my very first image, I almost cried from happiness, not kidding. I tried so hard. My pipeline is sharpcap to save fits images, deep sky stacker for stacking them and Siril for processing (definitely not a pro on pixinsight / Gimp/ ps).
Even though is not perfect I think I’ll stick to this plan:

When I have some money I’ll buy a 12V power bank with usb c ports and a windows mini pc/pocket pc.
The idea of using Remote Desktop is my only option right now, thank you for suggestion.
A question, how do you make windows 11 pc as access point to connect with rdp? I would not buy also a mini router/access point.

A final question: I don’t exactly know how the other software you mentioned work in pipeline. Could you dive a little bit in details? I only know the pipeline I listed above. For tracking I am using my own nexstar goto mount so I don’t need that, but focuser could be useful, I think, even if I don’t know how does it work in practice

Edited by federicocunico, 02 October 2024 - 01:52 AM.

[mgCatskills]

In the end I gave up using the raspberry.
I am now using windows with sharpcap. I was finally able to get my very first image, I almost cried from happiness, not kidding. I tried so hard. My pipeline is sharpcap to save fits images, deep sky stacker for stacking them and Siril for processing (definitely not a pro on pixinsight / Gimp/ ps).
Even though is not perfect I think I’ll stick to this plan:

When I have some money I’ll buy a 12V power bank with usb c ports and a windows mini pc/pocket pc.
The idea of using Remote Desktop is my only option right now, thank you for suggestion.
A question, how do you make windows 11 pc as access point to connect with rdp? I would not buy also a mini router/access point.

A final question: I don’t exactly know how the other software you mentioned work in pipeline. Could you dive a little bit in details? I only know the pipeline I listed above. For tracking I am using my own nexstar goto mount so I don’t need that, but focuser could be useful, I think, even if I don’t know how does it work in practice

With Windows Remote Desktop, the miniPC is the WRD "Server" and your Mac becomes the "Client".  The server software is built into Windows Pro, and needs an additional installation if you have Home edition.  Client software is downloadable from the Mac App Store and is free.  There is also an IOS client available.  I played with it a couple of years ago and thought the touch-based-UI was awkward, so haven't used it since.  If that's useful to you, you may want to try it.  But the Mac Client works extremely well.

 

For setting up the Windows miniPC, I used Cuiv's tutorial... actually I followed an earlier version, but this is a successor:  https://www.youtube....ive/ZmY4I-JYueA

 

The reason for the successor video revolves around setting up a hotspot on the miniPC.  That's useful if you use this system remotely, or even in your back yard where you don't have a strong wifi signal, and don't want to set up a "travel router" (more on this later).  The problem he solves in the setup is that Windows shuts down a hotspot after a few minutes if it doesn't detect an Internet connection.  There used to be an app that solved this problem, but it's no longer marketed (though my PCs have it installed)... this tutorial provides a different fix to that issue.

 

I've used the hotspot at star parties, with my laptop within 6 feet of the telescope, and it works well.  I would NOT recommend using this approach from your home, particularly if you are in an environment surrounded by lots of other WiFi signals that generate interference.  Reliability of the WiFi connection is critical, and a miniPC mounted on your OTA with lots of USB and power cables coming in and out (which may not be well-shielded) is a recipe for unreliability.

 

I observe from a concrete pier in my back yard that is 60 feet from my home.  When I built the pier, I buried a Cat6e Ethernet cable to it.  I also have an inexpensive Mesh Network system that I use in my home, and I plug in another mesh node at the base of the pier providing an Ethernet back-haul into the mesh.  It works flawlessly.  The cost of a node will vary a lot depending on what mesh system you have, but in my case it was less than $50.  I seal it in a half gallon food container for dew/shower resistance.

 

The other option is to set up a "travel" router.  Note, a travel router is just a router with a battery.  I use an old router that I purchased about 10 years ago and retired about 4 years ago... it works fine though it requires AC power, which I usually have.  I only use it in the field when I need to throw the wifi a little further than the hotspot can handle.  You'll want to set it up close to the telescope because that's the most vulnerable connection. 

 

With respect to the software pipeline, I've described in some other posts how I use NINA with SharpCap.  But the simple form is that NINA and SharpCap are both well behaved Windows apps, and you can switch between them when you need to.  The only issue you run into is that they can't both connect to the camera and  focuser at the same time (though both can be connected to the mount).  I use SharpCap for image capture and live stacking (with dithering and recentering so I don't need to guide).  NINA for auto focus and polar alignment.  In general, I take the simple approach of shutting down one app as I switch to the other so I don't have to worry about conflicts.  On a few objects I may use NINA for its sky atlas and framing assistance, but most of the time I stick to SharpCap's goto catalog and click to recenter tool (but now we're getting into the weeds).

[federicocunico]

Thank you so much for the detailed reply.
I definitely do not know NINA but will take a look.
Thanks also for the suggestions regarding the setup!