Astronomical Device Control with INDI
Table of Contents
KStars provides an interface to configure and control astronomical instruments via the INDI protocol.
The INDI protocol supports a variety of astronomical instruments such as CCD cameras and focusers. Currently, KStars supports the following devices:
Table 8.1. Supported Telescopes
| Telescope | Device driver |
|---|---|
| LX200 8"-12" Classic | indi_lx200classic |
| Autostar based telescopes | indi_lx200autostar |
| LX200 GPS 8"-16" | indi_lx200gps |
| LX200 Classic 16" | indi_lx200_16 |
| NexStar GPS, CGE, AS-GT | indi_celestrongps |
| New GT, NexStar 5i/8i | indi_celestrongps |
| Takahashi Temma | indi_temma |
| Astro-Electronic FS-2 | indi_lx200basic |
| Argo Navis | indi_lx200basic |
| Losmandy Gemini | indi_lx200basic |
| Mel Bartels Controllers | indi_lx200basic |
| Sky Commander | indi_skycommander |
| Intelliscope/SkyWizard | indi_intelliscope |
| Orion Atlas | indi_orion_atlas |
Table 8.2. Supported Focusers
| Focuser | Device driver |
|---|---|
| Meade LX200GPS Microfocuser | indi_lx200gps |
| Meade 1206 Primary Mirror Focuser | indi_lx200basic |
| JMI NGF Series | indi_lx200basic |
| JMI MOTOFOCUS | indi_lx200basic |
| FLI Precision Focuser | indi_fli_pdf |
| RoboFocus | indi_robofocus |
Table 8.3. Supported CCDs
| CCD | Device driver |
|---|---|
| Finger Lakes Instruments CCDs | indi_fli_ccd |
| Santa Barbara Instrument CCDs | indi_sbig_ccd |
| Apogee CCDs | indi_apogee_alta |
Table 8.4. Supported Filter Wheels
| Filter Wheel | Device driver |
|---|---|
| FLI Filter Wheels | indi_fli_wheel |
| True Technology Wheel | indi_trutech_wheel |
Table 8.5. Supported Webcams
| Webcam | Device driver |
|---|---|
| Any Video4Linux compatible device | indi_v4l_generic |
| Philips webcam | indi_v4l_philips |
| Meade Lunar Planetary Imager | indi_meade_lpi |
| SBIG STV | indi_sbig_stv |
KStars can control local and remote devices seamlessly via the INDI server/client architecture. INDI devices may be run in three different modes:
Local: The local mode is the most common and is used to control local device (i.e. a device attached to your machine).
Server: The server mode establishes an INDI server for a particular device and waits for connections from remote clients. You cannot operate server devices, you can only start and shut them down.
Client: The client mode is used to connect to remote INDI servers running INDI devices. You can control remote devices seamlessly like local devices.
You can run local device, establish INDI servers, and connect to remote clients from the in the menu.
Here is a screenshot of the Device Manager window:
You can run devices by browsing the device tree, selecting a specific device, and then clicking on the . You can select the operation mode, either local or server as defined above.
To control remove devices, refer to the remote device control section.
