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Connected meters (SQM-LE/LU/LR/DL) / SQM Toolbox macOS SQM software - Invitation to public beta test
« Last post by GerSpatial on October 23, 2025, 10:57:02 pm »This release is the public beta of SQM Toolbox, a macOS app which works for all versions of macOS from macOS 12 upwards. Some features (eg analysis tools) don't work in earlier versions - that is because of the rapidly-evolving Swift ecosystem.
Here is the link. You will need to install Apple's free TestFlight software to use it (details in the link).
https://testflight.apple.com/join/KKdXAUun
Notes
The app is fully functional and is confirmed to work correctly with SQM-LE, SQM-LU and SQM-LR.
There are several items not yet implemented. The automatic upload of Skyglow-formatted data to external servers is only confirmed for "Light Pollution Map".
SQM Toolbox is originally designed to support a permanently installed SQM device, typically at an observatory. It is designed to run 24/7. Such installations will typically have other sensor systems too, such as an all-sky camera, a weather station, a cloud-detection system, perhaps a seeing monitor.
SQM Toolbox will, if configured, write a JSON summary of the key data every minute, for eventual aggregation with data from such other systems. It can also ingest files reporting on cloud and other conditions in the quasi-standard ClarityII format, and use such measurements in its displays and analyses.
But of course it also works free-standing without any of those devices.
It benefits enormously from an internet connection to allow it to download public data like space weather and moon images, but should work without any external connections if necessary.
There is a companion app for iOS which enables users with a handheld SQM device to enter measurements in the field and have them instantly sync back to this app, but though the iOS app works, it needs more work before releasing it as a beta test version.
This is a first public beta release, so all features are open for testing. Please find out what doesn't work!
Thanks!
Richard Francis
Here is the link. You will need to install Apple's free TestFlight software to use it (details in the link).
https://testflight.apple.com/join/KKdXAUun
Notes
The app is fully functional and is confirmed to work correctly with SQM-LE, SQM-LU and SQM-LR.
There are several items not yet implemented. The automatic upload of Skyglow-formatted data to external servers is only confirmed for "Light Pollution Map".
SQM Toolbox is originally designed to support a permanently installed SQM device, typically at an observatory. It is designed to run 24/7. Such installations will typically have other sensor systems too, such as an all-sky camera, a weather station, a cloud-detection system, perhaps a seeing monitor.
SQM Toolbox will, if configured, write a JSON summary of the key data every minute, for eventual aggregation with data from such other systems. It can also ingest files reporting on cloud and other conditions in the quasi-standard ClarityII format, and use such measurements in its displays and analyses.
But of course it also works free-standing without any of those devices.
It benefits enormously from an internet connection to allow it to download public data like space weather and moon images, but should work without any external connections if necessary.
There is a companion app for iOS which enables users with a handheld SQM device to enter measurements in the field and have them instantly sync back to this app, but though the iOS app works, it needs more work before releasing it as a beta test version.
This is a first public beta release, so all features are open for testing. Please find out what doesn't work!
Thanks!
Richard Francis
