SQM Reader and SQM Reader Pro
Read Your Sky Quality Meter LE, LU or LR electronically!
Unihedron's Sky Quality Meter allows you to determine objectively how dark the sky is at your astronomical observing site. Now you can get readings from the meter remotely or locally! The Sky Quality Meter delivers a darkness reading in magnitudes per square arcsecond. The model LE (SQM-LE) delivers readings via Ethernet connection, model LU uses a USB port and cable, and the model LR uses a 9-pin serial port and cable.
Knightware supports Sky Quality Meters with two software products:
- SQM Reader is a free package that allows you to read a meter and view the result in magnitudes per square arcsecond and theoretical Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude. These values can be stored in a file in comma separated value (CSV) format.
- SQM Reader Pro is a low-cost package that adds graphing, statistical calculations, extended data storage and transmission capabilities to the basic feature set of SQM Reader.
Knightware would like to thank Unihedron for their kind assistance while developing SQM Reader and SQM Reader Pro.
Suggested Uses
- Personal use: Connect the meter directly to your laptop in the field or to your observatory computer. Readings can be viewed immediately and stored for later analysis.
- Star Party or Club observing site use: Connect the model LE to a wireless router in the field and allow wireless connection to computers within range. Any user can receive readings from the meter wirelessly.
- Remote observatory use: Connect the model LE to a publicly addressable network. Any user can receive readings from the meter through the Internet.
Feature Matrix
| Feature | SQM Reader | SQM Reader |
| Reads SQM-LE, LU and LR on-demand or automatically |  |
|
| Displays reading in mag/sq arcsec, NELM | |
|
| Displays date & time of reading | |
|
| Stores reading to CSV file | |
|
| Suspends automatic reading during twilight and/or sun up | |
|
| Displays graph of readings in real-time | |
|
| Time-averages readings | |
|
| Shows min, max, mean and standard deviation of readings | |
|
| Stores graph as JPEG | |
|
| Stores reading as JPEG | |
|
| Sends data or JPEG files to a remote FTP server | |
|
| Sends data or JPEG files to a program, script or batch file | |
|
| Includes online Help and examples | |