PMC-Eight Quickstart Software Package
Package date: 2026-05-18
This ZIP is a convenience package for PMC-Eight users who want the current public software, tools, firmware payload, and beta INDI packages in one download. It does not replace the individual release pages; use the linked public repositories for source code, issue tracking, and future updates.
What Is Included
Windows
- OpenGOTO Community PMC-Eight ALPACA Server package for Windows x64:
Windows/ALPACA-Server/
- Current Explore Scientific PMC-Eight ASCOM driver installer:
Windows/ASCOM-Driver/
- Current PMC-Eight Universal Firmware Configuration Tool, UFCT 1.5:
Windows/UFCT/
- Current public PMC-Eight firmware binary and firmware documentation from the ASCOM driver payload:
Windows/Firmware/
- Support utilities included with the current public ASCOM payload, including Propellent and home-network configuration utility:
Windows/Support-Utilities/
Wes PMC8 Tools Additions
- ESP32 OTA updater package and quick-start documents:
Wes-PMC8-Tools/ESP32-OTA/
- ESP32 serial flash package and user guide:
Wes-PMC8-Tools/ESP32-Serial-Flash/
- PMC8 Dashboard Python tools and user documents:
Wes-PMC8-Tools/PMC8-Dashboard/
- Wes PMC8 firmware branch documents and BT/no-WiFi firmware binaries:
Wes-PMC8-Tools/PMC8-Firmware/
- ExploreStars Envision README, licenses, and user manual from Wes' tools repository:
Wes-PMC8-Tools/ExploreStars-Envision/
The large ExploreStars Envision app release assets are intentionally not embedded in this ZIP. Use the dedicated Envision download buttons on the software page for Android, Windows, and PWA packages.
ExploreStars Envision PWA for Apple Devices
Current Apple iPhone and iPad use requires the ExploreStars Envision PWA server package to run on a Windows PC host. The Apple device does not install a native Envision app at this time. Start the Envision PWA server on the Windows PC, then connect to that PC-hosted server from Safari or another browser on the iPhone or iPad.
A native Apple App Store version is planned for a future release. Until that native app is available, Apple devices use the PC-hosted PWA path.
INDI Beta Packages
- Ubuntu 22.04 / Jammy runtime package sets for amd64 and arm64:
INDI-Beta/Ubuntu-22.04-Jammy/
- Ubuntu 24.04 / Noble runtime package sets for amd64 and arm64:
INDI-Beta/Ubuntu-24.04-Noble/
- macOS Apple Silicon and Intel beta artifacts:
INDI-Beta/macOS/
Recommended Use
- For modern Windows astronomy applications that support Alpaca, start with the ALPACA Server package in
Windows/ALPACA-Server/.
- For ASCOM-only Windows applications or existing ASCOM Platform workflows, install the ASCOM Platform first, then run the PMC-Eight ASCOM driver installer in
Windows/ASCOM-Driver/.
- For controller setup and firmware-related support tasks, use UFCT 1.5 in
Windows/UFCT/. Only update firmware when directed by Explore Scientific support or when following official release instructions.
- For Ubuntu/KStars/Ekos beta testing, install the matching INDI package set for your Ubuntu release and CPU architecture. Each Linux target needs
libindi-data, libindi1, and indi-bin from the matching folder.
- For macOS INDI beta testing, use the matching macOS ZIP artifact for Apple Silicon or Intel.
Linux INDI Install Examples
Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy amd64 example:
cd INDI-Beta/Ubuntu-22.04-Jammy/amd64
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ../libindi-data_2.2.1+es1.jammy_all.deb ./libindi1_2.2.1+es1.jammy_amd64.deb ./indi-bin_2.2.1+es1.jammy_amd64.deb
Ubuntu 24.04 Noble arm64 example:
cd INDI-Beta/Ubuntu-24.04-Noble/arm64
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ../libindi-data_2.2.1+es1.noble_all.deb ./libindi1_2.2.1+es1.noble_arm64.deb ./indi-bin_2.2.1+es1.noble_arm64.deb
To restore distribution-provided INDI packages:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --reinstall indi-bin libindi1 libindi-data
Source and Release Pages
Verification
Use CHECKSUMS-SHA256.txt in the root of this package to verify the packaged files after download.
