I built myself a DIY Standalone Autoguider - running Ubuntu

The Lacerta MGEN3 and Staraid Revolution are two popular standalone autoguider sets, but they are quite expensive (~1000€). So I decided to build myself an open source DIY standalone autoguider running Ubuntu.
This is based on my previous experience with the Astroberry image, but this time we'll try out Ubuntu on the Raspberry Pi.
The guiding itself will run in EKOS or PHD2, depending on the preference.
In this first of two videos, I'll go over the hardware requirements, the advantages and the HW setup, in the next video we'll check out the software and a real session.
Link to the Ubuntu Image:
ubuntu.com/download/raspberry-pi
Link to balena etcher:
www.balena.io/etcher/
#autoguider #diy #astroberry

[@AndreasHoecker]

Great Video! But I would be much more fair in comparison to an MGEN if you only have to power it on, and it starts automatically. But I would love to see you working with EKOS again. I've been using an PI4 with stelalrmate almost 2 Years and solved many problems since then. The Wi-Fi is split up: External USB antenna for Client mode (aka. connect to Home Wi-Fi). And the internal Wi-Fi module span up an Ad-Hoc Network for field use.

[@stevehauser7486]

Update, I now have a le potato running libre computer of Ubuntu 22.04 desktop. I installed indi library, and the indi web manager and enabled ssh service. I run the potato remotely using kstars on my windows 10 computer. It runs great on wifi, I use an external dongle. I set ip address static, and computer is absoultely headless. If I need to access the potato I ssh it and commabd line. I have about 25 hours of acquisitions on it with no problems. I assume it runs so well all the graphical load is on the windows computer. Thought yuo might want to know. Steve

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Thanks for the update! Definetely interesting for me and others interested in that idea! :)

[@stevehauser7486]

Hi Chris, I dont know how I missed this one till today but a great video and ideas. Question I was wondering if I could set it up on a Le Potato am 905 board? They have an Ubanutu sp distro. Can't see why not. The potato is only $35 US and readly available an in a 2G version. Your thoughts Steve

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Hey Steve, hope youre doing fine! Oh wow, havent heard of that board, but I love the name :D Tbh it looks to me like a nice replica of the Pi, so if Ubuntu runs on it and the drivers for the equipment are working the same way, I dont see a blocker as to why it should not work. Clear skies!

[@stevehauser7486]

Hey Chris, I did flash a ubuntu 22.04 jammy lts desktop image for the potato, it came out running I put indi lib and kstars and phd2 on it and it ran, no modifications needed. I did have to buy a wifi dongle, cheap $6US off amazon. Thanks for getting me thinking. I'm going to try the server version next, the desktop version has a lot of bloat I don't need. CS Steve

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

@@stevehauser7486 Nice! Glad that it worked out for you with the potato PC and Ubuntu! :)