Recent Posts

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Connected meters (SQM-LE/LU/LR/DL) / Re: SQMToolbox has now released both SQM Toolbox on macOS and its companion SQM Mobi

« Last post by GerSpatial on June 12, 2026, 11:16:23 am »

Both apps are now updated to v.1.2. I submitted both to the AppStore review process on 29 May 2026. SQM Movie was approved within hours, but SQM Toolbox took longer, and was released on 9 Jun 2026. There are a mix of new features, improvements and fixes in both desktop and iPhone versions: details are on the AppStore pages.

The next version, v.1.3, is currently in TestFlight beta testing and introduces localisation into German, French, Italian, Dutch and US English. It will be released within a week or so.

Could I ask that if you have downloaded and used either or both of the apps that you give it a rating or better a rating and a review on the AppStore? We are approaching 2 months since the first release and there is not a single review for either, and only one rating (for SQM Toolbox).

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Connected meters (SQM-LE/LU/LR/DL) / Re: SQMToolbox has now released both SQM Toolbox on macOS and its companion SQM Mobi

« Last post by GerSpatial on May 25, 2026, 09:40:28 am »

Both apps were updated to v.1.1 about a week ago. For SQM Toolbox the changes were mostly improving usability and preserving measurements in the case that the app is quit and relaunched for any reason. It also addressed a crash which could occur if an SQM-LU is unplugged during measurements.

There were many more updates to SQM Mobile, after extensive field testing. These were mostly usability improvements, including streamlining the workflow of entering measurements and using the bubble level. We also added more metadata fields which are now easier to manage; these include an air temperature field (which is requested on the IDA survey spreadsheet). For those who don't carry a thermometer, this can be filled in by using a button to ask Apple Weather. We also improved the robustness of the CloudKit interaction.

Finally the app now includes a link to a 3d printed bracket (on thingiverse.com) which can be used to hold the SQM and iPhone in a stable relative position.

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Connected meters (SQM-LE/LU/LR/DL) / SQMToolbox has now released both SQM Toolbox on macOS and its companion SQM Mobi

« Last post by admin on April 30, 2026, 07:20:28 pm »

SQMToolbox has now released both SQM Toolbox on macOS and its companion SQM Mobile, for iPhone.

They can each be used alone, but SQM Mobile becomes more useful if used together with SQM Toolbox. As long as both devices are using the same iCloud account (i.e. the same AppleID) then data will be transferred from the iPhone to the Mac with no set up at all.
 
Both are free to download and use indefinitely, but SQM Toolbox has an additional Premium subscription level which offers far more usability and tools. The subscription starts with a 1-month free trial so anybody can try out the premium features for a full lunation.

 Future upgrades in the pipeline:
- extension of the existing Survey Mode from individuals to groups of participants using the same iCloud linked data transfer, where an Organiser can set up the survey, invite participants, set guidelines and process the results. This follows the guidelines from the IDA for such surveys.
- another analysis tool to examine long-term trends (temporal analysis)
- replacement of the empirical airglow model with an adaptation of the ESO advanced airglow model
- localisation into other languages, starting with French, German, Dutch and Italian.
 
Here is the link for SQM Toolbox on the Mac App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sqm-toolbox/id6753897472



 and here's the link for SQM Mobile, on the iPhone App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sqm-mobile/id6753923113

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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

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Connected meters (SQM-LE/LU/LR/DL) / Google App for SQM-LE: DarkZone 2

« Last post by admin on October 22, 2025, 07:32:57 pm »

From the maker of SQM-Reader, Knightware introduces DarkZone2. It allows astronomers and other researchers to read a sky brightness value from an ethernet-connected Sky Quality Meter (SQM-LE) and show the value in multiple units of measure. It also shows the corresponding dark zone color as defined by the New Atlas of Artificial Sky Brightness (2016, Falchi et al).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.knightware.DarkZone2&hl=en_US

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SQM-LU-DL (Datalogging light meter) / Solar eclipse 20210408

« Last post by admin on April 09, 2024, 01:13:13 pm »

Attached (must be logged in to view), an image of the data logger plot set to every one minute trigger during the eclipse during totality in the Niagara Ontario Canada region.
Peak darkness of 12.73 mpsas observed.
About 11 minutes dark enough for the meter to read darkness.

My personal observation:
The clouds cleared up just enough to see the total eclipse.
Had to use eclipse glasses before and after totality.
Had to take glasses off during totality.
Caught a nice glimpse of the diamond ring before having to put glasses on again, but the cloud were still a bit thick to see anything with the glasses.

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General Discussion / Measurements during April 8, 2024 Eclipse?

« Last post by jbirriel on March 03, 2024, 03:09:24 am »

Is anyone planning on taking measurements of the total solar eclipse along the line of totality?  I'm planning on doing so with two sets of LRGB filtered SQM-DLs set to take data every minute. If interested in a collaboration, please contact me at
Dr. Jennifer Birriel
Morehead State University
j.birriel@moreheadstate.edu

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SQM-LU / Re: creating a task in windows 10

« Last post by admin on February 14, 2024, 11:12:29 am »

SQM reader.

Sorry, I misunderstood. That is not our program. SQM-Reader is written by Knightware.

You can get help/support for that program here: http://www.knightware.biz/index.htm

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SQM-LU / Re: creating a task in windows 10

« Last post by galaxy45 on February 14, 2024, 12:59:57 am »

SQM reader.

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SQM-LU / Re: creating a task in windows 10

« Last post by admin on February 13, 2024, 01:02:23 am »

At the beginning seems to work, I wasnt sure enough. This is my written command.

Are you intending to use UDM (Unihedron Device Manager) or SQM Reader (by Knightware)?