Guillermo_Scheidereiter
Homemade OnStep
When I switched to Linux, the tracking system on my equatorial mount stopped working (it was also very basic and never worked perfectly). So I decided to recycle the reusable components and build a homemade one. In Argentina, a GoTo system for an EQ3 mount like mine costs around $1000 USD, so making a homemade one was worthwhile. With the help of the AI assistant Copilot and after watching some YouTube tutorials, I acquired an ESP32S microcontroller, two DRV8825 drivers, a 12V input/5V output step-down power supply, some capacitors, a PCB, and some cables for the NEMA17 motors (I reused the motors, among other things, and lengthened the cables since the old ones were too short). And that was it! I spent about $50 USD on this! The difference is amazing! I downloaded the OnStep project (authored by Howard Dutton), which is open source (github.com/hjd1964/OnStep), and compiled a minimal version for now. I assembled everything in a small box that used to be a car first-aid kit, haha! Controlled from KStars with INDI/Ekos for Linux, it turned out to be very functional and complete. Although I still need to test it at night with Plate Solving for GoTo, today I was able to do a very basic test, pointing it at the Sun, as you can see in the video.
My Maksutov-Cassegrain f/15 telescope and Player One Neptune-M camera are mounted there, which provides significant magnification, and although I did an indoor test with a basic polar alignment, my OnStep system worked wonderfully! I am very pleased with the work done and I encourage those who need a GoTo system to make one themselves, because although it involves some work, the cost is significantly less than buying one or having one made, and the learning experience is invaluable.
Homemade OnStep
When I switched to Linux, the tracking system on my equatorial mount stopped working (it was also very basic and never worked perfectly). So I decided to recycle the reusable components and build a homemade one. In Argentina, a GoTo system for an EQ3 mount like mine costs around $1000 USD, so making a homemade one was worthwhile. With the help of the AI assistant Copilot and after watching some YouTube tutorials, I acquired an ESP32S microcontroller, two DRV8825 drivers, a 12V input/5V output step-down power supply, some capacitors, a PCB, and some cables for the NEMA17 motors (I reused the motors, among other things, and lengthened the cables since the old ones were too short). And that was it! I spent about $50 USD on this! The difference is amazing! I downloaded the OnStep project (authored by Howard Dutton), which is open source (github.com/hjd1964/OnStep), and compiled a minimal version for now. I assembled everything in a small box that used to be a car first-aid kit, haha! Controlled from KStars with INDI/Ekos for Linux, it turned out to be very functional and complete. Although I still need to test it at night with Plate Solving for GoTo, today I was able to do a very basic test, pointing it at the Sun, as you can see in the video.
My Maksutov-Cassegrain f/15 telescope and Player One Neptune-M camera are mounted there, which provides significant magnification, and although I did an indoor test with a basic polar alignment, my OnStep system worked wonderfully! I am very pleased with the work done and I encourage those who need a GoTo system to make one themselves, because although it involves some work, the cost is significantly less than buying one or having one made, and the learning experience is invaluable.