Linux for Meade?

[Regulus (Trevor)]

IS there any known software that will run the Meade 497 controller under Linux?

[AndrewJ]

If you mean "Replace the firmware in the Hbx itself"
Nope

Andrew

[Regulus (Trevor)]

No, sorry Andrew, I was unclear.
To drive it from a lappie via the USB port to the RS232 and to control the goto and tracking.

[AndrewJ]

Gday Trevor
Ahh OK
Not sure what will work under linux, but as long as it supports the std Meade Protocols, it should work.
IIRC, Cartes Du Ciel has a few linux distros and used to have a direct Meade Protocol support, but i dont know exactly what is supported in Linux at present.

Andrew

[OICURMT]

DistroAstro...

http://www.distroastro.org/features/ - Look at feature #3 here


Alternatively, http://www.fisica.edu.uy/~sroland/uar/index.html

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Thx guys, these suggestions all seem promising and since I was about to install a Linux disto then the Ubuntu Astro version seems a close to ideal choice.
Just find my little netbook is a bit underpowered, and therefore slow, with Win7 and 1GB RAM (being shared with the graphics processor).
Trev

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Ubuntu Astro, got a link for that ? The site says it is coming, dated 2011 .. !!

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Doesn't look like it made it off the ground Brent, does it?

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Regulus

Just find my little netbook is a bit underpowered, and therefore slow, with Win7 and 1GB RAM (being shared with the graphics processor).

Trev, you might be able to increase the RAM. My netbook arrived with 1GB but supports 2GB and adding the extra 1GB made quite a difference.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by Regulus

Doesn't look like it made it off the ground Brent, does it?

Apparently not although Ubuntu does list quite a few compatible apps for astronomy. Be nice to put a Linux box together for astro. The hardware requirements are minimal, it's stable and Ubuntu has a good gui interface.
I have several spare older laptops that have no further purpose. Might be an exercise to get control and guiding to work as a package. Camera drivers are the only real issue but for basic guiding any webcam setup should work.

Add it to the project list ..

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Trev, you might be able to increase the RAM. My netbook arrived with 1GB but supports 2GB and adding the extra 1GB made quite a difference.

Trevor, Check the RAM specs, I may have heaps of spare that will work and I can throw some your way.