Skip to content
Merged
Show file tree
Hide file tree
Changes from all commits
Commits
File filter

Filter by extension

Filter by extension

Conversations
Failed to load comments.
Loading
Jump to
Jump to file
Failed to load files.
Loading
Diff view
Diff view
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
---
title: Wanderer ETA M54
categories: ["auxiliaries"]
description: INDI driver for the WandererAstro ETA M54 Electronic Tilt Adjuster, a 3-point motorized tilt adjustment device for optical train collimation.
thumbnail: ./wanderer-eta.webp
---

## Overview

The Wanderer ETA M54 is an ultra-thin (5mm) electronic tilt adjuster with three independently motorized adjustment points. It mounts between optical train components using M54 threads and allows precise tilt correction with 0.001mm resolution over a 0–1.200mm range per point.

The INDI driver communicates via USB serial (CH340 chip, 19200 baud) and provides independent control of all three tilt adjustment motors with real-time encoder position feedback.

## Features

- 3 independent motor position controls (0.000–1.200mm range, 0.001mm step)
- Real-time encoder position readback
- Zero All function to return all motors to home position
- Configuration save/restore (positions are remembered across sessions without triggering motor movement on reconnect)
- Position verification via continuous status stream polling

## Connection

Connect the Wanderer ETA M54 to a USB port. The device uses a CH340 USB-to-serial adapter.

1. In the **Connection** tab, select the serial port (typically `/dev/ttyUSB0`)
2. Baud rate is fixed at 19200 (configured automatically)
3. Click **Connect**

The driver reads the device's continuous status stream to verify the connection and displays the firmware version.

## Main Control

![INDI Control Panel](./images/indi-control-panel.webp)

### Target Positions

Each motor point has its own target position property with an individual **Set** button:

- **Point 1 Target** — Set position for motor 1 (0.000–1.200mm)
- **Point 2 Target** — Set position for motor 2 (0.000–1.200mm)
- **Point 3 Target** — Set position for motor 3 (0.000–1.200mm)

Each motor moves independently. Setting one point does not affect the others.

### Current Positions

The **Current Positions** group shows real-time encoder readback from all three motors. These values update automatically every 2 seconds and reflect the actual physical position of each adjustment point.

### Zero All

The **Zero All Points** button moves all three motors to the 0.000mm position sequentially. Use this to return the device to a flat (no tilt) state.

### Firmware

Displays the firmware version reported by the device.

## Operation

### Adjusting Tilt

1. Connect to the device
2. Set the desired position for one or more points using the individual target fields
3. Click **Set** next to the point you want to move
4. The motor moves to the target position; readback updates in real-time
5. Repeat for other points as needed

The driver waits for each motor to reach its target (within ±0.005mm tolerance) before reporting completion.

### Saving Configuration

To preserve your tilt settings across sessions:

1. Set all points to the desired positions
2. Go to **Options** → **Save Configuration**

On the next connection, the saved positions are restored as targets without triggering any motor movement. Motors only move when you explicitly click **Set** or **Zero All**.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> The device does not have absolute position memory across power cycles. When powered on, the motors report their physical position from the encoders. The saved INDI configuration stores your last-used target values for convenience.

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Cause | Solution |
|---------|-------|----------|
| Timeout reading from device | ETA not powered or wrong port | Check USB connection, verify port in `dmesg` |
| Unknown device identifier | Wrong WandererAstro device on port | Ensure the ETA (not rotator/cover) is selected |
| Motor does not reach target | Mechanical obstruction | Check optical train for binding; reduce target value |

## Hardware Specifications

| Parameter | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| Interface | USB (CH340 serial adapter) |
| Baud Rate | 19200 |
| Thread | M54 × 0.75 |
| Thickness | 5mm |
| Travel Range | 0–1.200mm per point |
| Resolution | 0.001mm |
| Adjustment Points | 3 (120° spacing) |
| Power | USB bus powered |
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
# Display Names (Human-Friendly - Required)
driver_name: Wanderer ETA M54
manufacturer_name: Wanderer Astro

# Categories (Required - can be multiple)
categories:
- auxiliaries

# Additional Metadata (Optional)
website: www.wandererastro.com
executable: indi_wanderer_eta
platforms: Linux, BSD
author: Andreas Ruthner
version: 1.0
Loading