Staff Assigned: Adam Robichaud node.js SBIG control software

Hello,

our research group owns a SBIG STL-11000M with guiding probe, and can access to a STF-8300M for tests.
We recently ordered a SBIG STX-16801 with FW-8, STX-Guider and AO-X.

Our goal is to write a control software for these SBIG cameras under Linux using node.js and the libsbigudrv to control different SBIG cameras.

The software is in an early development stage and can be found here.
https://github.com/Nunkiii/seo
In particular, the package interfacing with SBIG cameras is
https://github.com/Nunkiii/node-sbig/
We currently use the libsbigudrv 2.1, which comes with the indi-sbig software package in Ubuntu repositories. indi-sbig package also correctly installs the firmware.

Tests with the STF-8300M and the STL-11000M indicate differences in the management of the fan.
In the case of the STF, the fan is always on while taking exposures.
In the case of the STL, the fan stops after the end of the first exposure.
We investigated the issue and we wonder if it is related to this:
https://github.com/garlick/sbig-util/issues/38

We would like to ask you where we can find the latest version of libsbigudrv and the firmware in order to repeat the tests, and eventually an official documentation to install library and firmware on a Linux machine, so that we are independent from the release of the indi-sbig package.

Cheers,
Davide on behalf of the ORSA group
http://www.orsa.unige.net/index.php/en/about/

 

If is it possible to test both, it would be great. Otherwise, tarball is OK.

 

Thank you.

I removed previously installed version of the library and the firmware:

Code:

sudo apt remove --purge indi-sbig libsbig libsbigudrv0 libsbigudrv-dev

Than I downloaded and installed the version you provided:

Code:

sudo dpkg -i sbigudrv_4.99_amd64.deb
sudo apt-get install -f

Plugging the camera, the device is recognized. `dmesg`:

Code:

[  136.486217] usb 6-2: new full-speed USB device number 3 using uhci_hcd
[  136.864247] usb 6-2: New USB device found, idVendor=0d97, idProduct=0002
[  136.864251] usb 6-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0

but the fan does not switch on.
This behavior persists after
- unplugging/replugging the USB cable,
- unplugging/replugging the power cable,
- rebooting the machine.

The pc runs Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS, Linux Kernel 4.15.0-64-generic
The tested camera is the STL-11000M
The behavior is consistent with the version of libsbig in Ubuntu repositories.
Actually, the only way to let it work is with the indi-sbig package.

I was then unable to proceed with the actual test: check if the fan stops after the first exposure.

 

We installed fxload. The camera is now detected with the package you provided.
Unfortunately, the behavior is the one we reported:
In the case of the STF, the fan is always on while taking exposures.
In the case of the STL, the fan stops after the end of the first exposure.

 

We make two calls to CC_MISCELLANEOUS_CONTROL in the close_shutter method: (https://github.com/Nunkiii/node-sbig/blob/master/src/sbigcam.cpp#L2158)

Code:

  void sbig::close_shutter(){                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                           
    MiscellaneousControlParams mcp;                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                           
    mcp.fanEnable=0;                                                                                                                                     
    mcp.ledState=LED_BLINK_HIGH;                                                                                                                           
    mcp.shutterCommand=SC_CLOSE_SHUTTER;                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                           
    //    short int err;                                                                                                                                   
    //err=                                                                                                                                                 
    pcam->SBIGUnivDrvCommand(CC_MISCELLANEOUS_CONTROL, &mcp, NULL);                                                                                       
    check_error();                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                           
    mcp.fanEnable=0;                                                                                                                                     
    mcp.ledState=LED_ON;                                                                                                                                   
    mcp.shutterCommand=SC_CLOSE_SHUTTER;                                                                                                                   
    //err=                                                                                                                                                 
    pcam->SBIGUnivDrvCommand(CC_MISCELLANEOUS_CONTROL, &mcp, NULL);                                                                                       
    check_error();                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                           
    //    MINFO  << " Shutter closed !" << endl;                                                                                                           
  }             

Commenting the mcp.fanEnable=0 lines, the fan still stops after the first exposure.
Commenting the CC_MISCELLANEOUS_CONTROL call, the fan does not stop anymore, but then we are unsure whether the shutter closes.