Equipment Sync¶
The AstroManager plugin continuously syncs your equipment status to the cloud, enabling remote monitoring and intelligent scheduling.
What Gets Synced¶
Mount Status¶
| Data | Description | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Position (RA/Dec) | Current pointing | Every 10 seconds |
| Position (Alt/Az) | Altitude and azimuth | Every 10 seconds |
| Tracking Status | Tracking, slewing, parked | On change |
| Pier Side | East or west | On change |
| Tracking Rate | Sidereal, lunar, etc. | On change |
Camera Status¶
| Data | Description | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor Temperature | Current temp (°C) | Every 30 seconds |
| Target Temperature | Cooling target | On change |
| Cooler Power | Percentage | Every 30 seconds |
| Exposure Status | Idle, exposing, downloading | On change |
| Current Exposure | Progress countdown | Every second (when exposing) |
| Camera Settings | Gain, offset, binning | On change |
Focuser Status¶
| Data | Description | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Step count | On change |
| Temperature | Focuser temp | Every 60 seconds |
| Moving | Whether moving | On change |
| Last Autofocus | Time and result | On completion |
Filter Wheel Status¶
| Data | Description | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Current Filter | Active filter name | On change |
| Filter Position | Wheel slot number | On change |
| Moving | Whether changing | On change |
Guider Status¶
| Data | Description | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Guiding, calibrating, stopped | On change |
| RA RMS | RA error (arcsec) | Every 10 seconds |
| Dec RMS | Dec error (arcsec) | Every 10 seconds |
| Total RMS | Combined error | Every 10 seconds |
Other Equipment¶
| Equipment | Data Synced |
|---|---|
| Rotator | Position angle, mechanical position |
| Flat Panel | Brightness, cover status |
| Weather Station | All sensor readings |
| Safety Monitor | Safe/unsafe status |
| Dome | Shutter position, azimuth |
Sync Configuration¶
Per-Equipment Toggle¶
Enable or disable sync for each equipment type:
- Go to Options → AstroManager
- Find Equipment Sync section
- Toggle each equipment type
Sync Intervals¶
Adjust update frequency:
| Setting | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast | 5 sec | More responsive, more bandwidth |
| Normal | 10 sec | Balanced (recommended) |
| Slow | 30 sec | Less data, less responsive |
| Manual | On-demand | Only when explicitly requested |
How Sync Works¶
Background Process¶
- Plugin runs background sync thread
- Polls equipment at configured intervals
- Detects changes from last sync
- Batches updates for efficiency
- Sends to AstroManager API
- Receives acknowledgment
Event-Driven Updates¶
Some changes sync immediately:
- Target change
- Filter change
- Exposure start/complete
- Error conditions
- Safety status change
Heartbeat¶
Even without changes:
- Heartbeat sent every 30 seconds
- Confirms plugin is alive
- Maintains session state
- Enables real-time monitoring
Data Flow¶
┌─────────────────┐
│ N.I.N.A. │
│ Equipment │
└────────┬────────┘
│ Poll
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ AstroManager │
│ Plugin │
└────────┬────────┘
│ HTTPS
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ AstroManager │
│ Cloud │
└────────┬────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Web Dashboard │
│ & Mobile │
└─────────────────┘
Bandwidth Usage¶
Typical Usage¶
| Scenario | Data/Hour |
|---|---|
| Idle (no imaging) | ~500 KB |
| Normal Session | ~2-5 MB |
| With Thumbnails | ~10-50 MB |
Reducing Bandwidth¶
- Disable thumbnail upload
- Increase sync intervals
- Disable unused equipment sync
Privacy & Security¶
What's Sent¶
- Equipment status data
- Image metadata (not full images unless configured)
- Session information
- Error logs (optional)
What's NOT Sent¶
- Full-resolution images (only thumbnails if enabled)
- Local file paths (can be disabled)
- Other personal data
Encryption¶
- All data transmitted over HTTPS
- TLS 1.2 or higher
- Encrypted at rest
Troubleshooting Sync¶
Status Not Updating¶
- Check connection status in plugin
- Verify internet connectivity
- Check AstroManager service status
- Review plugin logs
Delayed Updates¶
- Check sync interval settings
- Verify no firewall blocking
- Check API rate limits
Missing Equipment¶
- Ensure equipment connected in N.I.N.A.
- Check equipment sync is enabled
- Verify equipment type is supported
Tips¶
Enable What You Need
Only sync equipment you want to monitor remotely.
Thumbnails vs. Bandwidth
Disable thumbnails on slow connections; enable for visual confirmation.
Check Connection
Glance at connection status before leaving equipment unattended.
Review Regularly
Occasionally check that sync is working as expected.