Hi Jeff, Thx for the pointer on minix. I’ve seen these and wondered if they were underpowered. Now that I think
about it the minix might be appropriate for mount 2 which I’m thinking will initially be doing mostly solar ha
imaging. If you are planning high-speed+high-resolution video capture for solar imaging, then you may want to be careful with the specs of the computer. It can take more CPU to handle high megapixel and/or high frame rate video. Also, disk performance will be a factor, so choose a computer with at least a SATA SSD, and maybe even an x4 NVME SSD. -Ray -----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Jeffc
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2021 9:33 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Off Topic-NUC Computer
Thx for the pointer on minix. I’ve seen these and wondered if they were underpowered. Now that I think
about it the minix might be appropriate for mount 2 which I’m thinking will initially be doing mostly solar ha
imaging.
As for the 2012 i5 Mac mini… I run SGP, APCC, ASTAP, TheSky5 (old school, I didn’t like X), MGBox,
sharpcap (polar alignment) , UPBV2 , with a QHY-268m camera.
The i5 performance is more than adequate afaict. (I use a separate laptop for processing - Apple Mackbook
Air w/ the M1 processor. The MBA is also used for RemoteDesktop to run SGP, etc, on the MacMini at night.)
-jeff
On Sep 25, 2021, at 7:05 PM, Bill Long <bill@...> wrote:
CDC and HNSKY Planetariums do not cause any problems on my current MiniX so they should work
well on this one.
SkyX works fine as well, but I do not pan around SkyX looking at the planetarium directly, I only use it
for object lookup which is instant. SkyX Image Link does delay on my MiniX a few seconds longer than a
normal machine would. I have moved over to ASTAP for everything though, which is also practically instant.
-Bill
________________________________
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Seb@stro
<sebastiendore1@...>
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2021 6:58 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Off Topic-NUC Computer
I can also vouch for this particular Minix model. I've been using the J50C-4 Max since last April with no
issue whatsoever. I can indeed run a powerbox advance client, Ascom OCH, APPC, NINA (Canon DSLR),
PHD2 (QHY5III-174M guider), APT (ASI183MC Pro), and SharpCap Pro (Polemaster) all at once and I get a
snappy user experience.
Adding Stellarium to the mix shows the hardware's limit though (GPU is an onchip Intel UHD 605 with
shared memory) and significantly impairs performance. So I just don't run it while imaging.I suspect it would
be the same with other realtime planetarium software.
One thing to account for is the relatively short range of the internal WiFi patch antennas. These are
perfect for indoor usage or if you have an outdoor signal booster in your backyard for example. But in my
case, I just bought 2 of these (watch out for the U.Fl connector type on your wifi adapter if you go this route) :
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07QKF18KM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=
1
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.ca%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2
FB07QKF18KM%2Fref%3Dppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00%3Fie%3DUTF8%26psc%3D1&data=04%7C01%
7C%7Ce5e6e9bc665b4d3785b808d980912538%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C63768
2183146812471%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwi
LCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ojufO7LNdDbGKnOn84cytk1RYpqRxvL762h5vEUlAW4%3D&reserved=0
Monted them on a side panel and it almost quadrupled the orignial range around my house (about 70
feet radius now) with no other modifications. Enough to reliably connect to my home router from my backyard
portable setup in most places.
Of course ethernet works just fine too for that matter.
It is true the 12V input is protected and needs to be below about 13.V for it to power on but I found that
to be a problem only with a freshly charged battery. My workaround is to connect and power up evey other
equipment (mainly cameras through the PPBAv, heater bands and the Mach2) before hitting the power on
button. Never had any issue after I started doing that routinely.
Sébastien
________________________________
De : main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> de la part de Bill Long <bill@...>
Envoyé : 25 septembre 2021 19:43
À : main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Objet : Re: [ap-gto] Off Topic-NUC Computer
I dont think it would have any problems running all of that. I have a lot of devices on it. Powerbox,
MGBoxV2, PL16803 camera, CFW5-7, Ultrastar, AG Thermal box, Nitecrawler, etc and mine is the older
version with less power.
________________________________
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Steve Reilly
<sreilly24590@...>
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2021 4:40 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Off Topic-NUC Computer
For me with APCC, ACP Expert, MaxIm, FocusMax, and the rest of the automation software/hardware
and weather stuff that may be pushing it for me but then again I often over do the specs to be safe.
-Steve
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Bill Long
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2021 6:10 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Off Topic-NUC Computer
I use a MiniX Mini PC that works well. The specific model I use is no longer made, but they have a
newer one:
Amazon.com: MINIX NEO J50C-8SE, 8GB/240GB Intel Pentium Silver Mini PC with Windows 10 Pro (64-
bit) [Dual-Band Wi-Fi/Gigabit Ethernet/4K @ 60Hz/Triple Display/USB-C/Auto Power On/Vesa Mount] :
Electronics
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB09B266
PFW%2Fref%3Dsspa_dk_detail_0%3Fpd_rd_i%3DB09B266PFW%26pd_rd_w%3Dj1OoF%26pf_rd_p%3D5d8
46283-ed3e-4512-a744-
a30f97c5d738%26pd_rd_wg%3D22BBx%26pf_rd_r%3DS5PHHRSDB2V4SB33HMEP%26pd_rd_r%3D15ec97
ba-e624-4b1b-a186-
bd93eb76e95f%26spLa%3DZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExQ1NHQlZORVpMV0pEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElk
PUEwMTQyODk0MjJHTDBLRzREQVhLRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjYwMjA0NDRQQk8zRU1XWU9LJnd
pZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsX3RoZW1hdGljJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dH
J1ZQ%26th%3D1&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ce5e6e9bc665b4d3785b808d980912538%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435
aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637682183146812471%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMD
AiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=XmtHb01ZEps8f8yNo3haFTLmBTVi
x9SCxGA%2FPkVw2Uk%3D&reserved=0>
Works really good, but the one thing to keep in mind is that it really wants a 12v regulated power input.
If the voltage is too high, it wont turn on.
I run Voyager, SkyX, APCC Pro, PHD2, and my AGO Thermal Control software on it no problem. This
one has a better processor than mine as well. The Win 10 Pro they include is authentic as well, which can be a
challenge from some Amazon mini-PC products.
If you decide you want more RAM or storage you can upgrade it. 8GB of memory and 240GB of
storage should be plenty though, IMO.
-Bill
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