New Mini PC user MeLE Quiter4 Mini PC · Menelaos · ... · 11 · 390 · 0

Menelaos 0.90
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Hi guys! I need some tips for the mini pc. I switched from ASI AIR to the mele quieter 4c mini pc. I set up a persistent hotspot and nina and everything. However i found the the whole setup to be quite unreliable! For one, the Hotspot is very weak and i have to be standing right next to the pc for it to work and even then it loses connection every 10seconds or so. Sometimes it doesn’t even show in the available networks. The other problem was with NINA or at least i assume it was NINA. I started a session and left it outside all night. At first everything seemed ok but in the morning i found the mount parked at an unusual position and the session stoped quite early in the night wasting a perfectly good clear night! The pc seemed to have restarted because all of the apps where closed but how could the mount have parked if it restarted? So any suggestions from more experienced people on this type if setup to make it run smoother? Thank you!
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shirejedi 6.64
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Are you trying to use a mobile hotspot (your phone) to keep it online?  I do that out in the field, but if I'm at home in my backyard I like to try to use my home's wifi connection.  You can get a mini monitor to see what's going on with the computer itself if there's some uncertainty.  I got a small screen that is supposed to be used for videographers but it works with anything that has an HDMI connection.  I know there's all sorts of options out there now though.

As far as restarting, I'm assuming you're running Windows now.  Microsoft likes to decide when to install updates and do restarts regardless of what you tell your computer to do with the built-in functionality.  Fortunately someone built a tool to help stop Microsoft from doing this.  It's called Windows Update Blocker by a group called Sordum.  I've just started using this and so far, so good.

I may not be understanding what happened with the mount, but what likely happened is the mount was taking instructions from NINA to track a certain object and then when it lost connection with NINA it just continued on that path, tracking the object until it reached the horizon OR it just stopped tracking entirely when the PC restarted.

So anyway, try to have it set up to remember your home network for a better connection if you can.  I don't think hotspots make sense unless you do not have wifi capabilities where the mount is.  And try that app to prevent restarts.  Assuming the restart was your issue with the mount that should resolve this set of issues.  There's always something new though!
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dunk 1.81
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If you dig around on YouTube you can find instructions on how to make a "clean" windows install - essentially remove all the cruft you don't need on an astro PC. This includes removing auto-update etc. There are a few scripts you can download that automate the whole process.

With regards to WiFi strength, I think it's common knowledge that the Mele doesn't have great range (I also have one). I have bought a small WiFi hotspot which you can plug-in to the Mele (so it will be running on ethernet, not WiFi) - the signal strength is much improved. This is the model I bought (as recommended by Glen/AstroBloke): 

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07794JRC5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
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SkyHoinar 0.90
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I do not have this model, but an older one, MeLE PCG02 and it works fine for me. The signal is strong enough to connect to it from my laptop via RDP, from a distance of 5-10 meters away (MeLE outside in the garden, the laptop inside in the house). Very rarely I had some disconnections, but nothing serious.
Now, how did you setup your hotspot? On the MeLE or on your phone? I know that Windows by default will not let you setup a hotspot if you do not have an active Internet connection. You need to play a bit with the settings and start the hotspot programmatically.
Another solution which was also suggested here is to make your MeLE connect automatically to your home network. This should be more stable, but of course it will not work when you are out in the field.
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GernotSchreider 4.72
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I also use the MeLE Quieter4C and I found the wireless connection not reliable. I think the connection quality somehow also depends on air moisture etc and there is a great risk to loose connection in mid session. I am using a Ethernet LAN cable now to connect it to a WiFi repeater, which I have close to the house. The LAN cable is 20m and sufficient to connect to the telescope in my garden. This setup works well for me now.
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apennine104 3.61
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I have not had issues when connecting my MeLE to home WIFI and using a remote desktop connection to it.

Regarding the reboots, I prefer to not install third party software to stop it from updating, or disable it in other ways. I like to keep Windows updated to protect from vulnerabilities since it is attached to my home network. To stop the reboots at night, you can go to "Windows update >  Advanced Options > Active Hours", and set that to night time. Then it won't auto reboot during that time period (assuming yours rebooted due to a Windows update).
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EdDixonImages 3.82
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I use one of these, which works great.  I velcro it to a tripod leg.  I can connect to it from 75 feet away and it never fails.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BPSGJN7T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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fredvallee 2.71
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Hi, 
I am using the same mele quieter 4C fanless mini PC.
regarding your loss of a session it most probably comes from the triggering of an automatic standby mode. I had to track all the parameters of a standard PC of my mele and turn off everything that can trigger a standby of the PC. You also have to track the USB port to remove the option to turn it off to save power. I do not know it by heart but you'll find a lot of ressource on the internet related to it.
regarding the wifi as far as I know there is no way to switch on a PC and have it in access point mode directly. I struggled endlessly to do it. The only way is to start with an existing wifi network declared in the minipc and switch the internal access point later.
To simplify everything, I am using a dedicated hotspot connected in ethernet to the mele 4C and I am using remote desktop to control the mele through this hotspot so the solution is working everywhere even on the field. So I turn on my PC, log on it with RDT from my mac and that's it, it works once setup.
If you decide to control with RDT you most probably go through the well known problem about the way to get access using you classical login giving you access to onedrive. If so there is a solution but I do not have it by heart but I know it exists and where to find it again.

hope this helps, Frédéric
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shirejedi 6.64
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I have not had issues when connecting my MeLE to home WIFI and using a remote desktop connection to it.

Regarding the reboots, I prefer to not install third party software to stop it from updating, or disable it in other ways. I like to keep Windows updated to protect from vulnerabilities since it is attached to my home network. To stop the reboots at night, you can go to "Windows update >  Advanced Options > Active Hours", and set that to night time. Then it won't auto reboot during that time period (assuming yours rebooted due to a Windows update).

I've personally had issues with reboots happening regardless of any settings I tried with Windows, including disabling them through the registry. That's why I resorted to third party software.
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GreatNeckObservatory 0.00
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I am currently using this mini PC as well.  I have had some issues using Remote Desktop on my PC.  Sometimes I loose the signal from the mini PC, to my PC in the house.  I am approximately 20 yards from the outside setup, to my PC inside.  I do try to keep the two in line with each other, and that seems to help.  Sometimes it does take a reboot of both systems to get things to settle down.  Sometimes, when I reboot my PC, it reconnects to the mini PC, which has been happily working away!  Cuiv, The Lazy Geek, on YouTube has some good videos on how to set up this mini computer, for using it as an astro computer.  I found them helpful.  I really don't think any of these are perfect, but I am finding that even with some of the problems, it is much easier for me to use this setup, than running 65 foot powered usb cables, out to my rig.  I am not an engineer, but I would have to think, in a world where the is so much RF, that there has to be some interference from all of that, that can mess with the signals.  Check out Cuiv's videos.  He is very helpful.  Clear skies, and good luck!
Mark
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Juno16 5.01
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I have had very good luck  running my Mele Overclock 3C through my home wifi. The little router that Ed @Ed Dixon uses looks pretty cool. My imaging rig is pretty close to my home router, but if I had any issues, I would just run an ethernet cable.

I set up the  Win11 Pro Group Policy to disable updates. They never happen unless you manually check for updates. If you are interested, go to this link https://www.windowscentral.com/how-stop-updates-installing-automatically-windows-10 and scroll down to "How to disable automatic updates using Group Policy". Easy fix and works perfectly. I used this on my old imaging laptop (Win10) and on the Mele without ever having an issue.

I used Microsoft Remote Desktop for quite a while and have recently changed to mainly using Chrome Remote Desktop. Seems much easier to use than RDP, but both have their limits and advantages. I keep both handy in case of a connection issue.
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StewartWilliam 5.21
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I use the Mele Overclock 4C on my main rig, I use the Mele mini PC stick for my AllSky camera, and also have used the Mele Overclock 3C in the past too, here are links to YouTube video reviews on all 3 of them….yes they are great and I personally highly recommend then fully.

Mele Overclock 3c review
https://youtu.be/afBgkVs5xhQ?si=c47zkaLtFCNbMdZf

Mele Overclock 4c review
https://youtu.be/6QayJnl9-zQ?si=aSo7WTTVBAPsfvnS

Mele Mini PC stick, latest model and very good
https://youtu.be/4Og8c7YXr5M?si=NifIV_kR0o49Aqu-
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