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Avalon Instruments StarGo Plus User Manual

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StarGo Plus
User's Manual
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Summary of Contents for Avalon Instruments StarGo Plus

  • Page 1 StarGo Plus User’s Manual All the pictures and contents here included are property of AVALON INSTRUMENTS. The content may bot be reproduced, published, copied or transmitted in any way, including the internet, without the written permission of AVALON INSTRUMENTS...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    3.3. Computer Remote Operations...................36 3.3.1 Use of CDC from an external computers..............37 3.3.2 Connection to StarGo Plus of Stellarium residing on an external computer.....38 Connecting the StarGO to external astrophotography software........40 3.4.1 Accessing the ASCOM Chooser from several applications........41 3.4.2.

  • Page 3: Introduction

    1.1 StarGo Plus First Web App access methods The StarGo Plus is a Raspberry Pi based controller, in order to set up the basical system settings is required to access to the StarGo Plus WebApp. Below are described the two main connection...
  • Page 4 4. After the connection will be established, tap on the Access to WiFi network pop up windows and the WeApp will be opened by the device default browser.
  • Page 5 The PC access requires to know the StarGo Plus IP address. For a quick connection it will be possible to directly connect to the StarGo Plus. In this case the procedure will be similar to the smart device aforementioned, below is described step by step: 1.
  • Page 6 Ethernet cable connection, connecting the StarGo Plus to the router. In this case will be required to know the IP assigned to the StarGo Plus from the router. This information can be found in two way: accessing to the router or using IP scan software. In the...
  • Page 7 However, this is an approach that can be performed only by expert users and with many cautions to avoid possible interference with the StarGo Plus operating system. In any case it is necessary to consult Avalon Instruments before trying this way. Avalon is not responsible of possible software faults due to this approach.
  • Page 8 The third method is similar to the previous one as regards the equipment involved and the connection method to the StarGo Plus. The basic difference is that this time the managing software for both telescope control and astrophotography actions are residing in the remote computer and not in the internal Raspberry.

  • Page 9: The Stargo Plus Controller

    It is also provided of one RCA connectors providing 12 VDC supply to external devices such as CCDs, Filter wheels, Focusers, etc. All these power outputs may be controlled by the operator. Furthermore, the StarGo Plus is also provided of the Raspberry PI typical Ethernet and USB I/Os. Figure 1 shows the StarGO 2 schematic.
  • Page 10 2.1. Use of the StarGo Plus Handcontroller The full control of the setup is made through the StarGo Plus WebApp used together with the Raspberry internal kStar or with external astrophotographic softwares, as explained above. However the controller comes provided with a Handcontroller that allow basic and some advanced features.
  • Page 11 Func AND Left OR Right: Changes Max speed of handcontrol movements from 100% to 50% in steps of 10% (Left) and back (Right) Func AND Up OR Down: Changes tracking speed from Terrestrial(None)/Sidereal/Lunar/Solar (Up) and back (Down) Func AND Focus+: In display equipped controllers increases display brightness Instead in no display controllers, if pressed for at least 5 seconds, triggers "Sync to Home Position"...
  • Page 12 Use of the StarGo Plus WebApp (SGWA) The StarGo Plus WebApp (SGWA) has a very simple and user-friendly display. It is an internet page (called in the following pages “WEB Application”) subdivided in several panels each accessible by clicking on his name. The SGWA automatically resizes itself to the most used device screen sizes and resolution.
  • Page 13 (Avalon, Starlight and other brand to be tested), connected to Focuser plug available on the StarGo Plus box. The - / + buttons make to focuser to move in and out from the current position, which is shown on the upper left corner of the panel.
  • Page 14 StarGo Plus, used to control peripheral devices, like those cited above. The sixth panel INFO (Figure 2.7c) report a summary of the StarGo Plus features to put allow the new user to get the most important characteristics of this new control system.
  • Page 15 5. The D section allows to set the type of used mount and the optional INDI drivers for the EVICES other device eventually connected to the StarGo Plus. 6. The settings in the N section are exactly those reported and before described.

  • Page 16: Telescope Operations With The Stargo Plus

    A final approach consisting of the installation by the users of the desired applications, directly on the StarGo Plus Raspberry, allowing in this way to manage the telescope with on StarGo Plus third party software accessed with smart devices or PC both wired or wireless. This approach, called “Advanced Direct operation”...

  • Page 17: Smart Device Direct Operations With Skysafari

    4 In the Skysafari main screen, click on the Connect button of the telescope controls. After a few seconds the StarGo Plus will be connected to the application and all other controls will become active (see figure 3.1c). The telescope position indicator will be placed over the North Pole.
  • Page 18 Fig. 3.1.1a Fig. 3.1.1b Fig. 3.1.1c The above images have been taken on a Samsung galaxy Tab 20 smartphone. Skysafari 7 Pro: This app has been very recently published (November 2021). It has many improvements over the version 6 but the most important for us is that it uses two new modes to connect to the StarGo Plus.
  • Page 19 Press the “Scan Network For Device” button to auto detect the StarGo Plus network. If all is OK the IP Address, the port number and the Scope name will be loaded and shown as in Figure 3.1.1i, together with few other information.
  • Page 20 Fig. 3.1.1g Fig. 3.1.1h Fig. 3.1.1i Fig. 3.1.1l Fig. 3.1.1m Fig. 3.1.1n...

  • Page 21: Smart Device Direct Operations With Kstars Lite

    7 Once the connection parameters have been set go to the Skysafari main screen and click on the Connect button of the telescope controls. After a few seconds the StarGo Plus will be connected to the application and all other controls will become active (see figure 3.1.1o).
  • Page 22 To perform more advanced operations, not available in Skysafari, repeat the action 3 up to the point where the INDI Control Panel is pressed. This time, because the StarGo Plus is already connected to the device, a different page will appear. In this page click “StarGo Plus Telescope”...

  • Page 23: Computer Direct Operations

    It involves the use of astronomy software provided with the StarGo Plus and embedded in the SD card coming with the hardware. The internal raspberry is used as a remote computer performing all telescope and other device operations (polar alignment, pointing, centering using plate solve, guiding, focusing, rotating CCD, sequencing and shooting pictures).
  • Page 24 By default, on the StarGo Plus, is already installed the VNC server, so, in order to establish the connection from a remote device such as a laptop or a PC, it must be downloaded and installed the VNC viewer.
  • Page 25 Now a new window will pop up asking Username and Password, the credentials for the log in are the following: Username: pi Password: AVgotosys...

  • Page 26: Kstars, Ekos

    Note that this method is applied using whatever device to communicate with the StarGo Plus (Windows PC, Mac, Linux PC, iOS and Android devices). In any case it is necessary to use a Remote Desktop Application such as VNC, AnyDesk and others to connect to the Raspberry desktop in which will find the KStar application icon.
  • Page 27 Figure 3.2 – Raspberry Desktop At the VNC request enter the Raspberry credential pi and AVgotosys. Once entered the desktop, double click on the kStars icon (the first on top left): 1) Enter in EKOS environment: Launch KStars and, in the main menu (see Figure 3.2) click on “Toggle EKOS”...
  • Page 28 Figure 3.4 – EKOS – KStar window 2) From the EKOS – KStar window we can setup the StarGo Plus file and, once done, we can launch the EKOS session clicking on the triangle icon. The Profile Editor window is opened by clicking the pencil icon between + and -.
  • Page 29 PHD2 has more tools to tweak the guiding operations. LinGuider has not been tested with StarGo Plus. It is also convenient to fill the Primary and Guide Telescope types by clicking the bottom right + icon and filling the next windows with the needed information.
  • Page 30 Figure 3.6a – StarGo Plus Main Control Tab...
  • Page 31 Figure 3.6b – StarGo Plus General Info Tab...
  • Page 32 Figure 3.6c – StarGO Option Tab...
  • Page 33 Figure 3.6d – StarGo Plus Connection Tab...
  • Page 34 Figure 3.6e – StarGo Plus Site Management Tab...
  • Page 35 Figure 3.6f – StarGo Plus Motion Control Tab 4) Once we are satisfied with our controls and sets, we can close the INDI Control Panel. We will note that now, the EKOS – KStars Panel has been renamed EKOS – StarGo Plusfile – KStars and its top is now populated with a long raw of colorful icons, each related to the tabs necessary to operate the single pieces of equipment in our profile (se figure 3.7).
  • Page 36 Figure 3.7 – EKOS – StarGo Plusfile – KStars window 5) The important Tab for the purpose of managing the mount is that with a green one, with a tripod inside: it allows to open the mount Tab window containing the most important selection of parameters and commands (Figure 3.8).
  • Page 37  Centre of the Screen: To insert in the RA, DEC fields the coordinates of the screen center.  StarGo Plus (or whatever other telescope name available) makes possible the choice among several telescope settings.  Slew: This big button primes the telescope movement toward the chosen object the coordinates of which are in the RA, DEC fields.
  • Page 38  Cross keys: Allow the telescope movement in the related directions at the speed selected in the side cursor (Min – Max). For more detailed information on Stellarium use, please consult the site: http://stellarium.org...

  • Page 39: Computer Remote Operations

    StarGo Plus wireless through WIFI or wired via Ethernet cable, being the second preferred due to higher speed and reliability. The software programs proven with the StarGo Plus with this method are the same already described.

  • Page 40: Use Of Cdc From An External Computers

    In case of need use the connected keypad for this purpose. The IP address to be used is retrieved from the StarGo Plus on the Device Display (ODD) and the other pieces of information are the default (IP Port 11111, Remote Device Number...
  • Page 41 Figure 3.24a - Windows Figure 3.24b - Mac Figure 3.24a - Linux The telescope coordinate values (RA, DEC, AZ and ALT) are also retrieved from the StarGo Plus after the connection. Even the Park and Tracking will become active after the telescope has been connected.

  • Page 42: Connection To Stargo Plus Of Stellarium Residing On An External Computer

    3.3.2 Connection to StarGo Plus of Stellarium residing on an external computer The procedure to connect the StarGo Plus to Stellarium for Mac is similar to that shown in section 3.2.3. Here below, we will summarize the needed steps which refer to the points and figures reported on that section: 1.
  • Page 43 1. Once launched the app on the Mac click the Setup item under the Telescope main menu (Figure 3.26). Figure 3.26 2. The Setup panel will open on the top left of the main window. Fill all the fields with the information provided in Figure 3.27, with the only exception of the IP address that will be taken from the main ODD (see Figure 2.5 of section 2).

  • Page 44: Connecting The Stargo To External Astrophotography Software

    For this reason, in this section we will show how to use with StarGo Plus several software suites which may be more familiar to users, making it a very flexible mount control system.

  • Page 45: Accessing The Ascom Chooser From Several Applications

    Figure 3.4.1a In this window select ASCOM in the “Telescope” dropdown menu: the ASCOM chooser will be proposed for selecting the StarGo Plus telescope. TheSkyX On the TheSkyX main screen, under the Telescope menu choose Telescope Setup… to open the “Imaging System Setup –...
  • Page 46 Figure 3.4.1c Repeat the operation but finally selecting the Setting… sub-menu in Fig. 3.4.1c, (green arrow). The ASCOM Telescope Chooser panel will open as needed. Voyager Voyager is a very good shareware program, with a nice, unusual graphical interface that can be intimidating at the beginning but with the use it shows to be a very powerful and complete application for astrophotography.
  • Page 47 ASCOM. This will pop up the required ASCOM chooser if this is the first setup. In the subsequent accesses we will find the StarGo Plus telescope as it has been set during the first access.
  • Page 48 This is the companion program of the CartduCiel planetary, written by the same developer. The resemblances between the two are really evident. To access the ASCOM Chooser in this program, after its launch, click the menu items “Edit/Devices Setup…” (figure 3.4.1g) to open the homonymous window.

  • Page 49: Choosing The Stargo Plus Driver

    3.4.2. Choosing the StarGo Plus driver We have seen that any of the analyzed application has a different approach to get the ASCOM Chooser panel. Once this is available, the procedure to connect the application to the mount is the same for each one.
  • Page 50 Figure 3.4.2c In the first raw it is highlighted the new discovered device, which is our StarGo Plus, with the indication of the related parameters. Click on the line to select and connect the StarGo Plus telescope to the software in use. Note that the above two figure may be the last time you see them because the next times you will invoke the chooser, it will automatically detect the StarGo Plus.

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