Do this to never worry about connectivity problems outdoors (Linux/Windows)

If you follow me for a longer time, you know that I've struggled with stable connectivity to my Raspberry Pi running Astroberry and my mini Windows PC running NINA. Having the system run smoothly at home is one thing, but have you thought about just taking it to a dark site? Well, how do we connect? Are we using the unstable Raspberry Pi hosted Wifi network or do we have to grit our teeth with options to have Windows automatically host a Wifi network during boot? - We're having none of that, because I'm showing you a robust way to connect to your Astro Computer during situations, where a home network is not available.
If you enjoyed that, maybe you want to know about my ultimate smart telescope setup i.e. having a stable connection to your Pi at home:
• Ultimate Smart Telesco...
#Astroberry #NINA #Astrophotography

[@stevehauser7486]

Hey Chris, I have found that the ras pi has an auto sencing crossover ethernet port so you dont have to worry about the crossover cabling. I just tested it this morning...then googled rasp pi crossover sensing and found my answer. Learn something new every day. CS

[@stevehauser7486]

Hi Chrizz, have you done a sudo apt=get update on the astroberry lately? I did one two days ago and was surprised to what I found. The whole thing has been updated and polar align works so good now with a plate solve method. I also used a dslr image to polar align. Last night I was guiding at .55 rms and I use an Avx mount. Thought Id share. KUDOS to you and your channel, its growing nicely. I remember when astrobackyard had fifty subs. :)

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Hey Steve, hope you're doing well! Havent seen the comment initially somehow... so now my delayed response :D Wow, that sounds like a major update. Used my Pi 3-4 weeks ago as autoguider for a widefield setup, did not perform an update though... I'll do that next time! Your resulting guiding error is fantastic!! What focal length guide scope did you use? Thank you for the kind words, they're appreciated ☺️ Although as of today its hard to imagine how Trevor started out at that level, too :D

[@stevehauser7486]

Hi Chris, I had to chuckel a little watching you set up the ethernet, I screwed it up a couple of times before I got it right...had to go to school on subnetting.....but still great fun. YOU Did a good job on your video. Please figure out live stacking using the pi. I know you can! Steve

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Hey Steve, nice to hear from you! :) Haha, sure, if you've never used it before it looks complicated but it sure will save you when going outdoors 😄 Currently I'm using Nina on my main rig and tried a bit with my Sony Alpha with the Pi, but its still a bit of a hassle tbh. Also dont have enough gear for two separate rigs (yet....we'll see about that). About the live stacking, I mainly know of AsiAir, DSS Sharpcap and Pixinsight which support that (unfortunately). Theoretically you could transfer your files (via cloud/sync) to a PC with DSS and use its live-stack option 🤔 Cheers!

[@stevehauser7486]

@@ChrizzlyUniverse being the engineer that you are I'm betting you can write a script for astroberry to accomplish the task. I'm going a star party in August and would love to show off the little pi that can using live staking. Maybe Robin Glover is watching.:) Cheers, and clear skies

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

@@stevehauser7486 haha, ok, that star party sure sounds fun 👍🏻 For that kind of thing, I think I'm missing both time and partial technical skills on that to start from scratch 😯 Even though, I found something interesting...might check that out at one time, but I've seen in some forums that the Pi might not be beefy enough to handle that all. Here is the link, under downloads there is a Pi-version, too: als-app.org Forum post: www.cloudynights.com/topic/683836-als-astro-live-stacker-v06/ DSSLive works in a similar matter btw. Unfortunately I dont have too much time the next few weeks, maybe you can give it a try 😄 Cheers! Chris

[@douglasfleming1]

Thanks Steve. I connect my mini PC (attached to the scope) to my laptop with the remote control feature. So far this has been a stable connection. Did I understand you correctly: that in your case this wasn't a stable solution?

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Hi Douglas, I assume you meant me, right? 😄 (Or the other commenter?) For my case: The remote control from PC to PC (over my homenetwork) is quite stable, but when you go outside to a dark spot (no home Wifi) you obviously cannot rely on both PCs being in the same network. Initially I tried with a cmd script I found online that would set up a hosted Wifi on my mini PC, but I did not get that working (did not start on boot and was unreliable), thats why for me, the best method outdoors is the ethernet connection with dedicated IP-adresses. Clear skies, Chris

[@douglasfleming1]

@@ChrizzlyUniverse thx!

[@stevehauser7486]

Hey Chris, Off topic but ever thought about installing astroberry on a small form pc? maybe a dual boot set up. Thinking a more robust computer than the pi. Your thoughts Steve

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Hello Steve, not directly the Astroberry image, but I've tried setting up some stuff on an old laptop running Linux (Ubuntu). Tried to install kstars, Indi framework etc. But this is more tedious, as you have to install the drivers yourself (as in comparison in the Astroberry image, where almost all drivers are already pre-installed). I dont think porting the Astroberry image to another computer is easy, as the CPU architecture will be different and probably not compatible. But in theory, you could install/git-clone the drivers etc. yourself on a Mini PC running some Linux derivate. I remember I had some issues though, but I cant recall what exactly, think I explained that briefly in my "Astroberry we need to talk" video 🤔 I guess NINA is not an option for you? Live-Stacking is also easier on there, but I get it, some people are not big fans of Windows (as my Dad 😄). Clear skies! Chris

[@stevehauser7486]

@@ChrizzlyUniverse Oh I don't mind windows, I just hate to learn another new piece of software. lol again! plus I'm a dslr guy, I have modified my own cameras and haven't moved into the 21st century yet. I did just downloaded the ascom dslr driver for sharpcap. I will probably go this way for EAA. You know these star partys are a good outreach to kids to get them started. I like doing that stuff. Take care over there and clear skies my friend

[@stevehauser7486]

Hey Chris, just revisiting old videos and noticed you said you used a crossover cable on the pi, is that necessary, I haven't use one, maybe Im messing up though its working just fine with a straight through from my desktop to the pi direct. I never considered it a pier to pier conection as the pi is a server. CS.

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Hey Steve, that is indeed interesting 😄 Im not sure, but I think I needed the crossover cable🤔Well the Pi is a server, but at the same time it can be connected to a router itself as a peer🤔 For connecting the NINA Mini PC and my Laptop I definetely needed the crossover adapter. Maybe the Pi works in both ways. Cheers and CS, Chris

[@stevehauser7486]

@@ChrizzlyUniverse I think Ill test this this weekend Toodles and CS