XmCCD - SBIG and Apogee camera control in Linux

[rcheshire]

For anyone interested in "open source" professional ccd and telescope control (you may not be interested if you are a Windows user - not intended to be a comparison with any of the excellent programs available). I have just installed XmCCD (http://www.astro.louisville.edu/software/) on my ubuntu box, along with accompanying packages. For fits image display, NASA's DS9 and communication software, XPA. XmCCD uses the linux indiserver, but runs as a standalone package also. XPA transfers the downloaded fits image to DS9 for viewing.

The package includes the SBIG factory drivers/firmware/libraries, and the source cfitsio library, unlike the distribution provided packages, these work perfectly, but need linking to compile - solved with the new package. fxload is needed to upload the camera firmware on connection. Motif is used for the GUI - very quick and can be run on equipment with limited resources.

The latest package available on the site is the result of a weeks work solving ubuntu library location issues. The package author and maintainer was extraordinarily helpful. Now compiling and installing nicely in ubuntu as well as other major Linux distributions.

Setting up executables for xmccd and indiserver is not an issue and command line is very basic - no brainer...

Features internal and external filter control, Adaptive Optics and guiding. Dome and observatory control packages are also available, with a range of indiserver packages for various control functions.

My ST-8300C is functioning beautifully under XmCCD.

Telescope control (and full camera control) can be through Xephem, (http://www.clearskyinstitute.com/xephem/INDI.html) from the clear skies institute - uses indiserver.

The next job is guiding using Xephem, integrated with XmCCD for image capture and DS9 via XPA for image display. There are lots more features - no coffee maker, however. Can wait til another day - guiding that is, not the coffee maker.

Rowland.

[2stroke]

Thats pretty sweet, guessing mac guys could make use of the source as well?

[rcheshire]

It's pretty much Linux only, Jay. The telescope control Xmtel supports lx200 (incl. Sky Commander), Magellan, Software Bisque, Galil, Sitech, Synscan, Planewave and others. I have tried various protocols. The difficulty is writing your own encoder/PC-side interface for the Arduino or Teensy, in my case. Once working you have a very professional ephemeris tracking setup. It's gonna take a while. But the camera control is very nice.

[garygause]

I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd give it a try. I am trying to connect my SBIG ST-8300C using XmCCD under Ubuntu 12.04.

I can compile XmCCD and its supporting software no problem. When I connect the camera and run 'lsusb', I can see the camera.

Bus 001 Device 011: ID 0d97:0003 Santa Barbara Instrument Group

I understand from the SBIG install notes that this may mean it needs firmware uploaded to it via fxload. I try this command based on the notes:

sudo fxload -D /dev/bus/usb/001/011 -I /lib/firmware/sbigucam.hex

With no change in the output of lsusb or ability to connect. I've also tried all the firmware versions in /lib/firmware/:

/lib/firmware/sbigfcam.hex /lib/firmware/sbigpcam.hex
/lib/firmware/sbiglcam.hex /lib/firmware/sbigucam.hex

I am trying to connect both via "indiserver ccd" and "xmccd1". Here is the output (for indiserver):

...
2013-01-30T21:20:37: Driver ccd: restart #10
2013-01-30T21:20:37: Driver ccd: Camera parameters redefined.
2013-01-30T21:20:37: Driver ccd: Max filter count: 1
2013-01-30T21:20:37: Driver ccd: Filter 1: (1) open
2013-01-30T21:20:37: Driver ccd: FITS telescope: RC24
2013-01-30T21:20:37: Driver ccd: External script ccd_process.sh
2013-01-30T21:20:39: Driver ccd: Error opening camera device 0Camera did not respond to startup request
2013-01-30T21:20:39: Driver ccd: stderr EOF
2013-01-30T21:20:39: Driver ccd: still dead after 10 restarts

It could be something in my prefs file as well. The prefs are printed out above. I can normally figure this stuff out on my own, but there is not enough info online.

Thanks for any help. If solved, I will post a followup.

-Gary


UPDATE: Reviewing the info on this page: http://astrofoto.org/book/export/html/82, I was able to determine that I need the firmware sbigfcam.hex for my camera. Using the fxload command to load this firmware causes this error:

can't write 14 bytes external memory at 0x1f55
unable to download /lib/firmware/sbigfcam.hex

So I am looking into fxload now.

UPDATE: The url in the first update include a "-t fx2" parameter to fxload. Running the command that way loads the firmware onto the device properly.

The correct command:
sudo fxload -D /dev/bus/usb/001/011 -I /lib/firmware/sbigfcam.hex -t fx2

And the lsusb showing the ST-8300C with the firmware loaded:
Bus 001 Device 013: ID 0d97:0101 Santa Barbara Instrument Group SBIG Astronomy Camera (with firmware)

Still not connecting via INDI but one step closer.

UPDATE, SOLVED: And the last step was permissions on the device and setting up the firmware to load on connect. All is working now!

[rcheshire]

Hi Gary. Well done. I had the same issues. Fortunately, the ubuntu library locations were resolved with the new package.

[rmuhlack]

Rowland - do you know if Xephem/XmTel/XmCCD support dithering between images and/or PEC ??

I looked at kstars/Ekos recently on a fresh kubuntu install - telescope control, image capture and guiding is all there but not dithering or PEC

[rcheshire]

I don't know Richard. The best source is probably the package maintainer. He has been very helpful otherwise. I dither with the hand controller and don't use PEC.

[pkubanek]

Hi,

did you know about this:

http://rts2.org

? Autofocusing, autoguiding, scheduling, ESA uses it, NASA plans to use it..

Petr

[rcheshire]

Hi Petr. Yes. I am aware of rts, but decided on Xmccd at the time. rts is quite a system. I have moved onto other interests now.