iAstroHub is:
- the world's first mobile astrophotography solution. A user can interact with all astrophotography devices from any mobile device using a web browser.
- developed by Anat Ruangrassamee, Ph.D., Bangkok Thailand. (aruangra at yahoo dot com)
How does iAstroHub work?
- iAstroHub is installed on MK808 (or RK3066 device)
- Astrophotograpy devices are connected to the MK808.
- iAstroHub will function as a web server with all engines running in background.
- A mobile phone or tablet can connect to iAstroHub directly. Control of all devices is done via a web browser.
Supported devices.
1. Autoguider: Orion Starshoot autoguider, QHY5, QHY5-II, QHY5L-II, QHY6
2. DSLR
3. CCD: QHY5,6,8,8L,9,11,12
4. Filter wheel: Starlight Xpress
5. Focuser: Robofocus
6. Flat fielder: Flip-Flat
5. USB serial adapter (PL2303-based) for controlling a mount via a serial port. I recommend ATEN UC232A.
6. Powered USB hub
7. TRONSMART MK808 (with RK901 wifi) or MK808B (with RK903 wifi). I got it from geekbuying.com. Or any RK3066 mini PC stick + an external Ralink5370 usb wifi adapter.
8. Class-10 micro SD card (at least 8GB).
Features
- only need a web browser on a mobile device to control everything! ( "i" stands for internet)
- control Orion Starshoot autoguider, QHY5, QHY5-II, QHY5L-II, or QHY6 for autoguiding using customized Linguider engine
- control a DSLR camera (tested on Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras)
- control DSLR setting and Liveview from DslrDashboard on Android
- support DSLR Mirror Lock-Up using DSUSB
- control QHY5,6,8,8L,9,11,12 for imaging using OpenSkyImager engine
- control a Starlight Xpress filter wheel
- control a Robofocus focuser
- autofocus by finding best focus point from V-curve
- control Flip-Flat for flat-fielder and lens cover
- show real-time guiding error graphs and alert logs
- preview images taken by a camera
- perform dithering between frames
- manipulate histogram of images from a CCD camera
- assist polar alignment
- perform plate-solving using the standalone Astrometry.net engine
- re-align mount based on the position from plate solving
- show skychart and control mount from built-in Skychart (Cartes du Ciel)
- show a plate-solving result directly in Skysafari and re-align the mount from Skysafari
- support the control of a mount from Skysafari on iOS and Android
- save all images on a USB flash drive
- support an external Ralink5370 wifi usb adapter for any RK3066 device
****************** EASY WAY: TO USE PRE-BUILT IMAGE *************************
Step-by-Step Guide to setup and use iAstroHub
1) Download the complete iAstroHub image (2.3GB) from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3RSuv91xWggdUp6VzRjUVJwQ2M/edit?usp=sharing
and uncompress the file.
2) Write the image to a micro SD card (at least 8GB)
For Win: http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
3) Now you need to make the MK808 boot Linux in the micro SD card directly instead of Android. This process is called "Flashing Kernel".
3.1) Download the Linux kernel image from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3RSuv91xWggTGFWZ05xeEZYTm8/edit?usp=sharing
3.2) Download RKAndroidTools v1.35 and the Finless ROM from:
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?3207-MK808-Finless-1-6-Custom-ROM
3.3) Unzip the Finless ROM and follow the instruction to install the device driver.
3.4) Run RKandroidTools
3.4.1) Erase IDB
3.4.2) Leave all checks as default but replace the recovery image with the new "Kernel_iAstroHub_MK808.img" by clicking the rightmost column.
3.4.3) Flash ROM
3.5) Then the device will boot to Linux
3.6) Unplug the device.
4) Insert the micro SD card and supply the power. The device will boot to Linux. And iAstroHub is available for you.
5) MK808 can be accessed from Wifi. You will see iAstroHub as an access point. The password is "1234512345123"
6) Open a web browser and go to http://10.0.0.1/. You will see the iAstroHub web interface.
7) Configure Linguider
7.1) Click "Admin" on the main page and Click "Start Apps" on the Admin page.
7.2) Click "Start VNC Server"
7.3) Use a VNC client program (for example tightvnc client) on your PC to connect to iAstroHub at 10.0.0.1 Port 5900 (or 5901). You will see Linguider interface.
7.4) Setup your autoguider device and guider scope.
Setup > Guider Setup > Device
Setup > Guider Setup > Frame
Setup > Guider Setup > Focal length. (If you prefer the unit of the guiding error as Pixel instead of Arcsec, input the focal length = pixel size (um) x 206.27)
Setup > Drive Setup > Device
Setup > Settings > Check "drift data" (Make sure that it is checked)
Processing > Calibration > Check "two axis" and "auto mode" (Make sure that it is checked)
7.5) Exit Linguider in order to save the configuration file.
7.6) Click "Stop Apps"
7.7) Click "Start Apps". You will see that Linguider connects to your autoguider.
7.
The configuration for Linguider is completed. You do not have to do this configuration again.
Upload plate solving index files
8.1) Index files are needed to use the plate-solving feature. Download the index files from:
http://data.astrometry.net/4200/
You need only some of them. Read the instruction in
http://astrometry.net/doc/readme.html
From my experience, if the image scale is above 40-50 arcsecs, I can get the solution within 30 sec when using the files: 4206 - 4209.
8.2) Upload the index files to iAstroHub using an SFTP client. I recommend the SSH, SFTP and X client program called MobaXterm from http://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/
Use the command: ssh -l root 10.0.0.1
The username is "root"
and the password is "ubuntu"
Upload FITS files to /usr/local/astrometry/data/
8.3) You can speed up the computation by specify "Minimum FOV" in the Admin page. Try 1.0 deg first.
9) Customize the skyset file for SkySafari.
Plate-solving results can be shown on Skysafari. iAstroHub automatically "cooks" your SkySafari setting file (.skyset).
9.1) Save and email the Skysafari setting file to your email. And download it to your PC.
9.2) Rename the skyset file as "setting.skyset"
9.3) Upload the file to /home/pi/www/
Skysafari can connect to iAstroHub at Port 3300, IP 10.0.0.1.
This video shows how iAstroHub works with Skysafari. I hope you like it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kYv98nKM8w
10) You can shutdown iAstroHub from the Admin page.
--------------------------------------
Now, iAstroHub is ready to control astrophotography devices from your tablet.
Next time you boot MK808, just click "Start Apps" to start using it.
To start autoguiding:
1. Goto Admin, Press "Start Apps"
2. On the main page, you can set the RA DEC gain. (set 0 when doing the drift alignment, and set about 100 when guiding)
3. Press "Manual" to open a star finder page. Press "Auto" to choose a star automatically.
4. On the star finder page, you can choose a star by dragging the star you want and release your finger. The position is registered when dragging stops. Then press "Set position"
5. Back to the main page, press "Calibration" and then "autoguide"
Please see how to use iAstroHub from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sncd3j8ipBQ
I think you understand how the interface works. The detailed instruction will come soon.
******************* HARD WAY: TO BUILD THE PACKAGE *************************
see readme
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