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[mleafe]

Hi,

My father-in-law's telescope controller blew up, and due to the lockdown, I am trying to assist him in making a DIY AstroEQ using a spare arduino Mega I have.
I have programmed the mega using the Config Utility (after having updated the bootloader using the latest Arduino IDE). I used also programmed a sample EEPROM config.

At the moment I just have the Mega and no other components. I wanted to check I could flash it first and get it to communicate with Sterllarium before he orders the rest of the components.

If I set the device model to "Sky-watcher synscan AZ GOTO" in Stellarium it sends the character 'e' when the connection starts. There's no response from the Mega.
(see attachment Sky-watcher_synscan_AZ_GOTO.png).

If I set the device model to "Meade AutoStar compatible" in Stellarium it sends the characters '#:GR#' when the connection starts. The Mega's response is '!' and a carriage return. I assume this is a error response?
(see attachment Meade_AutoStar_compatible.png).

The inbuilt LED (pin 13) on the Mega flashes when serial data is sent from the PC.
I had expected to see some sort of response to the 'e' message.

I tried looking at the code in github, but it's a bit complicated for me to follow.
Is what I'm seeing correct? I wonder if I need the motor controllers to be connected for this to work?

Thanks to anyone who can provide advice.
Matt

[TCWORLD]

You'll need to select the right device for the mount.

I'm not familiar with Stellarium, but it should be something along the lines of EQMOD, or EQASCOM or ASCOM telescope.

The two options you've tried are not the correct ones for AstroEQ. You should see EQMOD load up once you have the right device model.

[mleafe]

Thanks so much for the reply and pointing me in the right direction.
I had misunderstood, thinking it would work with Sky-watcher synscan.

I managed to get EQMOD installed and working, and then we found https://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorial-setting-up-an-equatorial-mount-on-ascom-with-eqmod-stellarium-and-cartes-du-ciel.html for getting it to work with Stellarium.

I can see messages going back and forth now when moving the telescope from within Stellarium.

Thanks,
Matt

[TCWORLD]

Hi Matt,

Glad its sorted for you.

Tom.