Astronomical Device Control with INDI
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Chapter 8. Astronomical Device Control with INDI

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

TelescopeDevice driverVersion
LX200 8"-12" Classiclx200classic1.0
Autostar based telescopeslx200autostar1.0
LX200 GPS 8"-16"lx200gps1.0
LX200 Classic 16"lx200_161.0
NexStar GPS, CGE, AS-GTcelestrongps0.9
New GT, NexStar 5i/8icelestrongps0.9
Takahashi Temmatemma0.1
Astro-Physics APapmount0.1
Astro-Electronic FS-2lx200basic0.1
Argo Navislx200basic0.1
Losmandy Geminilx200basic0.1
Mel Bartels Controllerslx200basic0.1
Sky Commanderskycommander0.1

Table 8.2. Supported Focusers

FocuserDevice driverVersion
Meade LX200GPS Microfocuserlx200gps0.9
Meade 1206 Primary Mirror Focuserlx200generic0.9
JMI NGF Serieslx200generic0.1
JMI MOTOFOCUSlx200generic0.1

Table 8.3. Supported CCDs

CCDDevice driverVersion
Finger Lakes Instruments CCDsfliccd1.0
Santa Barbara Instrument CCDssbigccd0.1
Apogee CCDsapogee_ppi, apogee_pci, apogee_isa, apogee_usb0.1

Table 8.4. Supported Filter Wheels

Filter WheelDevice driverVersion
FLI Filter Wheelsfliwheel0.9

Table 8.5. Supported Webcams

WebcamDevice driverVersion
Any Video4Linux compatible devicev4ldriver1.0
Philips webcamv4lphilips1.0
Meade Lunar Planetary Imagermeade_lpi0.1

INDI Setup

KStars can control local and remote devices seamlessly via the INDI server/client architecture. INDI devices may be run in three different modes:

  1. Local: The local mode is the most common and is used to control local device (that is, a device attached to your machine).

  2. 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.

  3. 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 Device Manager in the Devices menu.

Here is a screenshot of the Device Manager window:


Start device drivers

You can run devices by browsing the device tree, selecting a specific device, and then clicking on the Run Service button. You can select the operation mode, either local or server as defined above.

To control remove devices, refer to the remote device control section.

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