Hotspot-based images

These images are desgined to run on a single board computer, such as a Raspberry Pi. They provide a hotspot with the IP address 192.168.4.1. The SSID is "Astro-DietPi" and the passphrase is "1234567890". Once connected to the hotspot (from any computer), you can access the Indi-Web-Manager through any web browser. The URL is: http://192.168.4.1:8624.  You can also SSH into the single board computer using the IP address 192.168.4.1 and port 22. But that should not be necessary. The Indi-Web-Manager also allows to reboot or shutdown the single board computer. Here is a screenshot of the Indi-Web-Manager:

Using the INDI Web Manager, you configure your astrophotography equipment (in the screenshot above the CCD Simulator and the Telescope Simulator are selected) and then start the INDI server (using the Start button). You can then use KStars/Ekos for your astrophotography imaging. In KStars/Ekos you need to select Remote Host, IP address 192.168.4.1, and Port 7624 as shown in the screenshot below.

Time and Location

Using this image, the Raspberry Pi is not connected to the internet. Since the Raspberry Pi does not have a real-time-clock. The date and time of the Raspberry Pi is most likely incorrect. To fix this, you can simply connect a USB GPS dongle, such as this one.  However, a GPS dongle with a cable may work better, depending on where the Raspberry Pi is located on your mount, because you can place the antenna at a site with clear view to the satellites.  If you don't use a GPS dongle, I believe there is a function in KStars/Ekos to use the KStars time instead of the time of the INDI driver of the mount. But I have not tested this, because I have a GPS dongle connected to the Raspberry Pi. There may also be the possibility to correct the time in the INDI driver of the mount, but again, I have not tested this.

Download

So far, I have only made the image for the Raspberry Pi 4. It is a small image and a 8GB SD card would work fine. You can download the image from:

Raspberry Pi Zero W (INDI Version 2.1.9) This image does not work with QHY equipment, because QHY does not provide a SDK for the ARMV6 processor used in the Raspberry Pi Zero W.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (INDI Version 2.1.9)

Raspberry Pi 4 Image (INDI Version 2.1.8)

Installation

Format SD Card:
8GB or larger
I use SD Card Formatter
https://www.sdcard.o...oads/formatter/

Write image:
I use Raspberry Pi Imager v.1.8.5:
https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/
Say NO for "Would you like to apply OS customisation settings?"

Run the image:

Insert SD Card into Raspberry Pi 4

Power up Raspberry Pi 4

Wait a little (maybe 1 minute)

Commect to hotspot on any other computer (preferably a computer that has KStars/Ekos installed)

The SSID is "Astro-DietPi" and the passphrase is "1234567890".

Open web browser and enter URL: http://192.168.4.1:8624

Setup INDI configuration and start INDI server in the web browser

Then start KStars/Ekos and connect to 192.168.4.1, Port 7624

Use KStars/Ekos for imaging.