RE: update on RIT activity

["Creager, Robert S" <CreagRS@LOUISVILLE.STORTEK.COM>]

Michael,

If you are interested, I can get the downfits running under native Linux
very easily.  It was mostly developed it under Linux...

Rob

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stupendous Man [mailto:richmond@a188-l009.rit.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 3:16 PM
> To: tass@listserv.wwa.com
> Cc: mwrsps@rit.edu
> Subject: update on RIT activity
> 
> 
> 
>   A very brief update, I'm afraid.  In order to teach myself how
> the Mark IV control software works, and in order to create a non-
> interactive version, I have written a QuickBasic program which
> reads commands from an ASCII input file, sends them
> to the telescope and/or camera, and prints diagnostics to an 
> ASCII output file.  
> 
>   I've figured out how to call the QuickBasic program from 
> DOSEMU, the DOS emulator for Linux.  So, in a very roundabout
> way, I can have a computer running Linux which controls the 
> Mark IV.   I have successfully taken pictures with it, 
> moved the telescope with it, etc.
> 
>   I have a Rubbermaid shed outside on a concete pad at the 
> RIT Observatory.  There is power and Ethernet into the shed.
> I have a UPS and a surge protector for the Ethernet line.
> 
>   Problems: the DOS emulator is sl-o-o-w.  This is critical only
> for reading out the memory card.  It takes me over 2 minutes to save
> an image to disk!  Also, for some situations, I'd like to send
> individual commands to the Mark IV and read the responses before
> deciding what to do next.  That would require executing a separate
> DOSEMU process for each command, which makes me (and my video card)
> queasy.
> 
>   Breakthrough: I have just figured out how to read the memory
> card directly from Linux, in a very simple and stupid way.  It's not
> as elegant as Chris A's device driver .. but I can't get his device
> driver to work under the kernel I have.  My own fault, of course.
> 
>   Delay: I _would_ started re-writing the control software in 
> C or some other language for use directly under Linux, but the
> cataclysmic variable WZ Sge just went into outburst on Monday --
> for the first time in 30-odd years.  I was up all night observing
> it with our 10-inch telescope on Tuesday, and I'll be out again
> tonight.  I don't do much the next day (lack of sleep), so as long
> as long as this star is bright (a few weeks) and the skies here are
> clear, I'll move forward on the TASS stuff only slowly.  
> 
>   Arne -- have you considered having your Mark IV monitor WZ Sge?
> It's 8'th magnitude right now, and will remain brighter than 13'th
> for several weeks.  It seems an ideal candidate for the Mark IV...
> 
>   As soon as the weather here reverts to its usual form, I'll
> write up briefly a description of the control command language,
> so that others can help me improve it before I commit it all to code.
> 
>                                                Michael 
> 
>