/indi-bresserexos2

Indi Driver for Bresser Exos II GoTo Mount Controller.

Primary LanguageC++

Exos II GoTo Telescope Mount Driver for libindi

Disclaimer

You get the driver free of charge and, also may modify it to your needs.

However the software is distributed AS IS.

I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR INJURIES, CAUSED BY THIS SOFTWARE!

Features of the Driver

  • Works with KStars/Stellarium using Indi Connection
  • GoTo Coordinates and Track commands (Sidereal Tracking only)
  • Park and Abort commands
  • Sync command for alignment of Software Sky and actual pointing
  • Get/Set Site Location
  • Set Date/Time
  • Adjust Pointing while Tracking

Note: To Avoid you the trouble of building this driver yourself, Version 0.900 is now integrated in the indi 3rd party driver package, and should be distributed alongside commercial devices. Driver updates will be pushed upstream when relevant changes are implemented!

Introduction

This is a basic driver for the Bresser Exos II GoTo telescope mount controller, allowing the connection to Indi clients/software. The driver is intended for remote control on a Raspberry Pi, running Astroberry with libindi, but may run on any Indi running platform. Its current state is experimental, but hopefully gradually improves. Since its the initial release, feedback for improvement is appreciated.

If your have an improvements, features to add or a bug to report, please fell free to write a mail, a ticket in the issues section or a pull request.

About the Mount

The Bresser Exos II GoTo Mount has a relabled JOC SkyViewer Handbox (PCB Rev. 1.09 2012_08), there are several other versions handbox revisions out there. It runs the Firmware Version 2.3 distributed by Bresser. The mount is quite autonomous, in terms motion controls, when initialized properly no jams or crashes where noticed. On the serial protocol side however, this device is quite primitive. The data exchange is established using a 13 Byte message frame, with a 4 Byte preamble, leaving 1 byte for a command and 8 bytes for command parameter data. The protocol only accepts, a few commands for goto, sync, parking, motion stop and Location/Time/Date setting. The Device is not very talkative, it only sends responses to location command, and only reports back the its current pointing coordinates, without the tracking status information. This makes it difficult to determine the state of the mount. Also this introduces some limitations which competative products may not have.

The serial protocol was reverse engineered using serial port sniffing tools, developping this driver as a result.

Requirements

This driver is intended for Bresser Exos II GoTo System not the Explore Scientific Exos II which may share some similiarities. The drivers for these system and its derivitives are already included in the INDI Environment.

Known Issues and Limitations

  • Tracking modes can not be set, only Sidereal Tracking is working right now.
  • More a Hint than an issue: Sync only works when tracking an object. This behaviour is implemented on the handbox and can not be changed.
  • The sync function only works if you changed the pointing with your hand box not via the EKOS pointing control
  • you can not perform the meridian flip from afar, since the handbox does not allow it.
  • Software Sky Coordinates may differ from Handbox Coordinates

Getting started

Important Note before Further Setup or Observation

It is important that you put the scope in the Home position, Polar and Star Align in accordance to the Bresser manual provided with the telescope and mount.

Its vital in order to avoid damage to your Equipment. This Driver can not handle this for your!

Also do not point your Telescope directly to the sun, without recommended protective equipment, using this driver. It only handles coordinates not objects, and will therefore no prevent you from looking directly in to the sun!

Thanks