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Refer to the libindi library

The driver is now included in the libindi library as a 3rd party driver (indi-eqmod). I now mainly put new development stuff on the libindi sourceforge. I use this site to eventually put some specific stuff concerning my home made controller. So do not use it as it is rarely up-to-date.

** Comments about the first releases**

This INDI driver interacts with a mount controller using the Skywatcher Protocol through a serial link. It can directly drive Skywatcher and similar mounts through a serial port after a conversion of signal levels (see EQDIRECT interface), or any other mount hardware which uses this protocol. This project is similar in its goal to the EQMOD/EQASCOM project, but for the Linux/INDI world. Thus the name of the INDI device is "EQMod Mount", and the driver executable is indi_eqmod_telescope.

The project has been developped using a home-made mount controller driving an old modded EQ5. However this home-made controller performs well with the EQMOD/EQASCOM driver itself under Windows/Wine. As of today, it has now been tested with real Skywatcher mounts. If you plan to test this driver with your own mount, first disassemble your telescope from the mount to prevent potential damages. If you succeed to use the driver, please send me an email.

Current features are:

• Goto/Slew at maximum microstep resolution
• Independent slew speeds for both axes variable between x0.05 to x800 of the sidereal rate (step x0.05)
• Sidereal, lunar, solar and custom trackrates
• Pulse-guiding

Normal syncs and Nearest point alignment are functionnal, N-Star alignment mode is in a testing phase.

commit(2013/08/26) _Triangulation used for N-Star alignment (code from Computational Geometry in C, thanks). Corrected many bugs concerning time/position computations. Polar misalignment estimation (paper from R. Johnson (www.whim.org), thanks. Some mount tools available on ndi-mount-tools (including a GUI Pad enabling the use of a joypad, code from qjoypad, thanks).

commit(2013/02/26) Preset Speeds. Full Debug and logging support. Log files are in /tmp/indi_eqmod_telescope_%TIMESTAMP%.log. Logging is not included by default (see INSTALL).

commit(2012/12/25) Fixed exceptions handling issues.

commit(2012/12/14) _N-Star Alignment code has been written, but not yet tested in real conditions. See AlignmentHowto Wiki page for brief explanations.

commit(2012/12/04) _Fixed major properties management issues (thanks to R. James), Enabled Alt/Az mount type 114GT for testing purpose, Compliant to Indi version 0.9.6 (no more Req properties)

commit(2012/10/20) _inherits Guider Interface, alignment disabled (no more syncs), park disabled.

A screenshot of the Main Control panel in KStars (other screenshots on flickr)