MORNING STAR OBSERVATORY
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  • Astrophotography
  • The Observatory
    • The New Observatory
    • - About the ExploraDome
    • - About the Lancaster Dome
    • - Building the Lancaster Dome
    • Some Days Are Better Than Others
  • Equipment
    • Cameras >
      • Celestron 5-1/2" Schmidt Camera
      • Orion Starshoot Pro
      • QSI 683WS
      • Raspberry Pi Allsky Camera
      • ZWO ASI120MM-S
      • ZWO ASI178MM
      • ZWO ASI183MC
      • ZWO ASI294MC Pro
    • Eyepieces
    • Filters >
      • Orion Nautilus Filter Wheel
    • Mounts >
      • Orion HDX-110 (EQ-8) >
        • New HDX-110 Setup
        • Orion HDX110 EQ-8
    • Observatory Computers
    • Telescopes >
      • Astro-Tech AT6RC
      • Celestron C-11 XLT
      • Orion ST-80 Refractor
      • Zhumell 152mm Refractor
  • Projects
    • Arduino Focuser
    • Celestron 5-1/2" Schmidt Camera Mod
    • C11 XLT Mods
    • Orion SSPRO Camera >
      • Disassembled Views
      • Noise Reduction Mod
      • Temp Controller Mod
    • Ultima 8 Mods
    • Zhumell Refractor Mods
  • Non-Astronomy
    • Amateur Radio >
      • Boat Anchor Radios >
        • BC-348N Receiver
        • Collins 51J4 HF Receiver
        • R-392 HF Receiver
      • DIY >
        • Station Boom Microphone
      • Ameco >
        • Ameco AC-1
        • Ameco OCM
        • Ameco PT-2
        • Ameco R5A
      • Heathkit >
        • Heathkit SB-102 Station
      • Knight-Kit >
        • Knight Kit Span Master II
      • Yaesu FT-817 >
        • Yaesu FT-817ND
        • LDG Z-817 Autotuner
        • Windcamp LiPo Battery
    • Antique Radios >
      • Building A Radio Workbench
      • Radio Dial Neon Clock
      • Radios >
        • Crosley 11-104U
        • Echophone EC-1
        • Eddystone EC-10 MK I
        • Eltz Radione 2
        • Lafayette KT-200 Shortwave Receiver
        • Panasonic RF-5000A
        • Silvertone Model 4465
        • Troubador Model 2401 Walnut Bakelite
        • Troubador Model 0-71 Ivory Deco Bakelite AM/SW
        • Truetone Model D1011 Stratoscope
        • 1938 Zenith 6-S-254
    • Geiger Counters >
      • AN/PDR-27G Radiac Set
      • Lionel CD V-700 Geiger Counter
      • RCA WF-12A Geiger Counter
    • Test Equipment >
      • DIY Test Equipment >
        • DIY Curve Tracer
        • DIY Signature Tracer
      • Military Test Equipment >
        • BC-221-AF Frequency Meter
        • LM-21 Frequency Meter
        • TS-323/UR Frequency Meter
        • TS-465 C/U Sweep Generator
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • Tube Testers >
        • Alternating Current Sink
        • Drug Store Tester
        • EMC Model 200 Tube Tester
        • Hickok Model 6000A Tube Tester
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Precise Model 111 Tube Tester
        • Precision Model 10-12
        • Supreme Model 385
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • VTVMs and Multimeters >
        • B&K Model 290 Hi-Low FET Multimeter
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok Model 370 FET Multimeter
        • McMurdo Silver VOMAX 900
        • Micronta 22-220 FET Multimeter
        • Simpson 360-2 Digital FET DMM
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
      • Hickok >
        • Hickok 19X RF Generator
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok 288X RF Generator
        • Hickok Model 370 FET Multimeter
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Hickok 6000A Tube Tester
      • Simpson >
        • Simpson 360 DMM
        • Simpson 360-2 DMM
        • Simpson 480 Genescope
      • Supreme Instruments >
        • Supreme 385 Automatic
        • Supreme 560 Vedolyzer
        • Supreme 560A Vedolyzer
        • Supreme Model 561 AF/RF Generator
        • Supreme's Model 562 Audolyzer
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1941
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1946
        • Supreme Model 563 Audio Generator
        • Supreme Model 576 RF Generator
        • Supreme Model 666 AF/RF Generator
      • Other Test Equipment >
        • Heathkit IT-28 Capacitor Tester
        • Rider 162 Chanalyst
        • Tektronix 326 O'scope
        • VU-Data Model 941B Oscilloscope
    • ---------------
    • Fossils
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Star Trek >
      • Star Trek Rock Mood Lamp
      • Star Trek Communicator

Setting Up New Observatory Computers and Network

My old Exploradome computer was an HP dual-core Athlon originally running Windows XP and later Windows 7. It is old and slow now, so it's time for something a little newer and a lot faster.

​One of my goals is to completely eliminate MS Windows from my observatory network. Everything will be running on Linux Mint, an OS I really enjoy using. I don't even want a Windows virtual machine running in Linux if I can help it. It's not that I don't know Windows, but quite the opposite. I'm a relatively new Linux user, just maybe six or seven years experience with it, but I was a Microsoft Certified Trainer, a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, and a network administrator, for many years before I retired. I've used every version of Windows up to Windows 10, but that's the end of the road for me. I find Linux is a breath of fresh air.

​I now won't buy any equipment or software that won't run on Debian/Ubuntu (Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu) along with the INDI Library. And I won't "rent" software. I was an ardent Photoshop user until it became "rental" software so I dropped it. I moved to the Affinity suite which I like but I'm about to drop it too, because there is no Linux version and it apparently doesn't run under Wine either. I also used other astrophotography apps like Star Tools, and now I'm looking at Pixinsight.

A New Image Processing Workstation

Picture
I purchased a refurbished HP Z420 workstation advertised with a 6-core, 12-thread 2.5GHz Xeon processor, 32GB of RAM and a 2TB HDD, for just $300 shipped. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a Z420 with an 8-core, 16-thread 2.6GHz Xeon at no extra charge. I only needed to add a 240GB SSD for the OS and the HP serial port option to have a "real" serial port.​

​
It already has the no-tools case, extra case fans and ducting for improved cooling, a dual-port DVI video card, USB 3.0 ports, and a 600-watt PS.

Picture
For the OS I installed Linux Mint and started adding Astronomy related programs. And I plan to purchase Pixinsight for image processing.

​I recently found a couple of brand new Acer 27" monitors at a local auction and they work great with the workstation. The keyboard is made by Saitek and has red backlit keys, and I also came across a G-Tech G-RAID 4TB backup drive that should come in handy.
Originally I was planning to use this workstation for controlling everything in the dome, but as things have progressed plans have changed, I will be adding another computer in the dome and keep this workstation in the lab for image processing and remote access.

The Dome Computer

At this time I'm not planning to have a separate warm room attached to the dome, which means I'll not have a climate-controlled space for a normal PC. Instead I'll need a computer that can stand up to a wide range of temperatures and humidity.
Picture
I found this used Advantech model MIC 7700Q online. It's listed as an industrial fanless computer and is built for harsher environmental conditions. Manuals and drivers are also available online and its specs are:
  • ​ Intel i7-6700 3.4GHZ Quad Core CPU
  • 16GB of RAM
  • 500GB SSD (new)
  • 4 USB 3.0 ports
  • 2 serial ports
  • 1 VGA and 2 HDMI video ports
  • 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports
And it can operate in temps from -10C to 40C.
For this location -10C is sufficient as I have some other gear with similar tempurature limits. It does occasionally get colder than that, but not by much. And the unit's max non-operating temps are -40C to 85C.

​​The MIC 7700 can run on any voltage from 9-36VDC, but the lower the voltage the higher the amperage. At 12VDC it has a max current draw of over 10Amps. Its AC power brick provides 19VDC @ 7.9Amps and since the dome will have AC power I'll just use a brick.

Linux Mint has been installed as the OS, plus Kstars, EKOS and INDI. ​Next the mount and imaging cameras will be setup.

The NAS Server

I'm using Linux OpenMediaVault running on an Acer Aspire easyStore H340 as my network attached storage (NAS). It has a 2TB RAID 5 array for data storage and a 200GB drive for the OS and OpenMediaVault. It stores all my astrophotography backups.
Picture
The Acer H340 was originally a Windows Home Server until WHS died on the vine. Then it became a Linux Amahi NAS, but there were a few things I didn't like about it, so I finally ended up with OpenMediaVault, which I really do like.

​Out of the box the H340 is a headless NAS. There's no provision for attaching a monitor, but there is a header on the motherboard that allows for modifying the unit to add a VGA connector. Once I modified it, I replaced WHS with Linux and never looked back.

Remote Control of Dome Power

Picture
I picked up a used WattBox 300 to remote control the AC power in the dome. Since it's used I made sure to order one that had been tested and reset to its default configuration, including the username and password. It provides the capability of controlling three AC outlets through a web interface, which will let me control all my equipment power remotely. I found the manuals and configuration utility software on the SnapAV website and the setup was pretty easy.

Page created 12/28/2021
​Last update 4/18/2023
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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Astrophotography
  • The Observatory
    • The New Observatory
    • - About the ExploraDome
    • - About the Lancaster Dome
    • - Building the Lancaster Dome
    • Some Days Are Better Than Others
  • Equipment
    • Cameras >
      • Celestron 5-1/2" Schmidt Camera
      • Orion Starshoot Pro
      • QSI 683WS
      • Raspberry Pi Allsky Camera
      • ZWO ASI120MM-S
      • ZWO ASI178MM
      • ZWO ASI183MC
      • ZWO ASI294MC Pro
    • Eyepieces
    • Filters >
      • Orion Nautilus Filter Wheel
    • Mounts >
      • Orion HDX-110 (EQ-8) >
        • New HDX-110 Setup
        • Orion HDX110 EQ-8
    • Observatory Computers
    • Telescopes >
      • Astro-Tech AT6RC
      • Celestron C-11 XLT
      • Orion ST-80 Refractor
      • Zhumell 152mm Refractor
  • Projects
    • Arduino Focuser
    • Celestron 5-1/2" Schmidt Camera Mod
    • C11 XLT Mods
    • Orion SSPRO Camera >
      • Disassembled Views
      • Noise Reduction Mod
      • Temp Controller Mod
    • Ultima 8 Mods
    • Zhumell Refractor Mods
  • Non-Astronomy
    • Amateur Radio >
      • Boat Anchor Radios >
        • BC-348N Receiver
        • Collins 51J4 HF Receiver
        • R-392 HF Receiver
      • DIY >
        • Station Boom Microphone
      • Ameco >
        • Ameco AC-1
        • Ameco OCM
        • Ameco PT-2
        • Ameco R5A
      • Heathkit >
        • Heathkit SB-102 Station
      • Knight-Kit >
        • Knight Kit Span Master II
      • Yaesu FT-817 >
        • Yaesu FT-817ND
        • LDG Z-817 Autotuner
        • Windcamp LiPo Battery
    • Antique Radios >
      • Building A Radio Workbench
      • Radio Dial Neon Clock
      • Radios >
        • Crosley 11-104U
        • Echophone EC-1
        • Eddystone EC-10 MK I
        • Eltz Radione 2
        • Lafayette KT-200 Shortwave Receiver
        • Panasonic RF-5000A
        • Silvertone Model 4465
        • Troubador Model 2401 Walnut Bakelite
        • Troubador Model 0-71 Ivory Deco Bakelite AM/SW
        • Truetone Model D1011 Stratoscope
        • 1938 Zenith 6-S-254
    • Geiger Counters >
      • AN/PDR-27G Radiac Set
      • Lionel CD V-700 Geiger Counter
      • RCA WF-12A Geiger Counter
    • Test Equipment >
      • DIY Test Equipment >
        • DIY Curve Tracer
        • DIY Signature Tracer
      • Military Test Equipment >
        • BC-221-AF Frequency Meter
        • LM-21 Frequency Meter
        • TS-323/UR Frequency Meter
        • TS-465 C/U Sweep Generator
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • Tube Testers >
        • Alternating Current Sink
        • Drug Store Tester
        • EMC Model 200 Tube Tester
        • Hickok Model 6000A Tube Tester
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Precise Model 111 Tube Tester
        • Precision Model 10-12
        • Supreme Model 385
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • VTVMs and Multimeters >
        • B&K Model 290 Hi-Low FET Multimeter
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok Model 370 FET Multimeter
        • McMurdo Silver VOMAX 900
        • Micronta 22-220 FET Multimeter
        • Simpson 360-2 Digital FET DMM
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
      • Hickok >
        • Hickok 19X RF Generator
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok 288X RF Generator
        • Hickok Model 370 FET Multimeter
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Hickok 6000A Tube Tester
      • Simpson >
        • Simpson 360 DMM
        • Simpson 360-2 DMM
        • Simpson 480 Genescope
      • Supreme Instruments >
        • Supreme 385 Automatic
        • Supreme 560 Vedolyzer
        • Supreme 560A Vedolyzer
        • Supreme Model 561 AF/RF Generator
        • Supreme's Model 562 Audolyzer
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1941
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1946
        • Supreme Model 563 Audio Generator
        • Supreme Model 576 RF Generator
        • Supreme Model 666 AF/RF Generator
      • Other Test Equipment >
        • Heathkit IT-28 Capacitor Tester
        • Rider 162 Chanalyst
        • Tektronix 326 O'scope
        • VU-Data Model 941B Oscilloscope
    • ---------------
    • Fossils
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Star Trek >
      • Star Trek Rock Mood Lamp
      • Star Trek Communicator