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Regulus
10-11-2014, 04:58 PM
IS there any known software that will run the Meade 497 controller under Linux?
AndrewJ
10-11-2014, 05:10 PM
If you mean "Replace the firmware in the Hbx itself"
Nope

Andrew
Regulus
10-11-2014, 05:15 PM
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
10-11-2014, 05:30 PM
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
10-11-2014, 08:50 PM
DistroAstro...

http://www.distroastro.org/features/ - Look at feature #3 here (http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/gam-2014-blog/item/5-coolest-features-of-distro-astro-linux-for-astronomers.html)


Alternatively, http://www.fisica.edu.uy/~sroland/uar/index.html
Regulus
10-11-2014, 10:35 PM
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
11-11-2014, 10:02 AM
Ubuntu Astro, got a link for that ? The site says it is coming, dated 2011 .. !!
Regulus
11-11-2014, 02:29 PM
Doesn't look like it made it off the ground Brent, does it?
mithrandir
11-11-2014, 11:59 PM
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
12-11-2014, 07:22 AM
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 :D ..
ZeroID
12-11-2014, 07:24 AM
Trevor, Check the RAM specs, I may have heaps of spare that will work and I can throw some your way.