TCS Setup

Telescope Control Server

This is a Raspberry Pi (currently model 3 B plus) which performs these functions:

• constantly reading telescope position via encoders, via EIB 741 device
• give commands to Axor motor drivers via Modbus / serial connection
• run HTTP API service for ASCOM drivers to connect to
• run control loop for telescope positioning

Setup - Software

1. Base image: Official Raspbian / Raspberry Pi OS

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

2. Install PowerBlock driver

https://github.com/petrockblog/PowerBlock#powerblock-driver

3. Rename user pi to "dagor" and change the password

sudo passwd root # enable root login

logout # cannot rename while logged in

Log in as root.

usermod -l dagor pi

usermod -m -d /home/dagor dagor

Log in as dagor

passwd

sudo raspi-config

• set auto-login in Boot Options.
• add en.UTF-8 locale (choose ANSI-C as default when prompted)

4. Install pyenv

https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv-installer

`curl https://pyenv.run | bash``

cat <<'EOF' >> ~/.bashrc

export PATH="$HOME/.pyenv/bin:$PATH"
eval "$(pyenv init -)"
eval "$(pyenv virtualenv-init -)"
EOF

Install latest Python version (3.8.5 at the time or writing).

Logout, login.

List available versions: pyenv install -l | grep 3\.8

Install:

pyenv install 3.8.5

TODO, we are actually still using 2.7 😊

TODO:

• Create the virtualenv
• Run API as a service
• Run positioning loop as a service