diff --git a/socs/agents/starcam_lat/__init__.py b/socs/agents/starcam_lat/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/socs/agents/starcam_lat/agent.py b/socs/agents/starcam_lat/agent.py
index 2fa45d623..588d00c7e 100644
--- a/socs/agents/starcam_lat/agent.py
+++ b/socs/agents/starcam_lat/agent.py
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 import argparse
-import socket
-import struct
 import time
 from os import environ
 
@@ -8,127 +6,7 @@
 from ocs import ocs_agent, site_config
 from ocs.ocs_twisted import TimeoutLock
 
-
-class StarcamHelper:
-    """Functions to control and retrieve data from the starcam.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    ip_addres: str
-        IP address of the starcam computer.
-    port: int
-        Port of the starcam computer.
-    timeout: float
-        Socket connection timeout in seconds. Defaults to 10 seconds.
-
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, ip_address, port, timeout=10):
-        self.ip = ip_address
-        self.port = port
-        self.server_addr = (self.ip, self.port)
-        self.comm = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-        self.comm.connect(self.server_addr)
-        self.comm.settimeout(timeout)
-
-    def pack_and_send_cmds(self):
-        """Packs commands and parameters to be sent to the starcam and sends.
-
-        Returns:
-            list: Values sent to the starcam.
-
-        """
-        logodds = 1e8
-        latitude = -22.9586
-        longitude = -67.7875
-        height = 5200.0
-        exposure = 700
-        timelimit = 1
-        set_focus_to_amount = 0
-        auto_focus_bool = 1
-        start_focus = 0
-        end_focus = 0
-        step_size = 5
-        photos_per_focus = 3
-        infinity_focus_bool = 0
-        set_aperture_steps = 0
-        max_aperture_bool = 0
-        make_HP_bool = 0
-        use_HP_bool = 0
-        spike_limit_value = 3
-        dynamic_hot_pixels_bool = 1
-        r_smooth_value = 2
-        high_pass_filter_bool = 0
-        r_high_pass_filter_value = 10
-        centroid_search_border_value = 1
-        filter_return_image_bool = 0
-        n_sigma_value = 2
-        star_spacing_value = 15
-        values = [logodds,
-                  latitude,
-                  longitude,
-                  height,
-                  exposure,
-                  timelimit,
-                  set_focus_to_amount,
-                  auto_focus_bool,
-                  start_focus,
-                  end_focus,
-                  step_size,
-                  photos_per_focus,
-                  infinity_focus_bool,
-                  set_aperture_steps,
-                  max_aperture_bool,
-                  make_HP_bool,
-                  use_HP_bool,
-                  spike_limit_value,
-                  dynamic_hot_pixels_bool,
-                  r_smooth_value,
-                  high_pass_filter_bool,
-                  r_high_pass_filter_value,
-                  centroid_search_border_value,
-                  filter_return_image_bool,
-                  n_sigma_value,
-                  star_spacing_value]
-        # Pack values into the command for the camera
-        self.cmds_for_camera = struct.pack('ddddddfiiiiiiiiiifffffffff',
-                                           *values)
-        # send commands to the camera
-        self.comm.sendto(self.cmds_for_camera, (self.ip, self.port))
-        print("Commands sent to camera.")
-        # Return the list of values
-        return values
-
-    def get_astrom_data(self):
-        """Receives and unpacks data from the starcam.
-
-        Returns:
-            dict: Dictionary of unpacked data.
-        """
-        (scdata_raw, _) = self.comm.recvfrom(256)
-        data = struct.unpack_from("dddddddddddddiiiiiiiiddiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiii",
-                                  scdata_raw)
-        keys = ['c_time',
-                'gmt',
-                'blob_num',
-                'obs_ra',
-                'astrom_ra',
-                'obs_dec',
-                'fr',
-                'ps',
-                'alt',
-                'az',
-                'ir',
-                'astrom_solve_time',
-                'camera_time']
-        # Create a dictionary of the unpacked data
-        astrom_data = [data[i] for i in range(len(keys))]
-        astrom_data_dict = {keys[i]: astrom_data[i] for i in range(len(keys))}
-        return astrom_data_dict
-
-    def close(self):
-        """Closes the socket connection."""
-        self.comm.close()
+from socs.agents.starcam_lat.drivers import StarcamHelper
 
 
 class StarcamAgent:
@@ -159,14 +37,11 @@ def __init__(self, agent, ip_address, port):
         self.log = agent.log
         self.take_data = False
         self.lock = TimeoutLock()
+        self.starcam = StarcamHelper(ip_address, port)
+
         agg_params = {'frame_length': 60}
         self.agent.register_feed("starcamera", record=True,
                                  agg_params=agg_params, buffer_time=1)
-        try:
-            self.starcam = StarcamHelper(ip_address, port)
-        except socket.timeout:
-            self.log.error("Starcam connection has timed out.")
-            return False, "Timeout"
 
     @ocs_agent.param('_')
     def send_commands(self, session, params=None):
@@ -182,7 +57,8 @@ def send_commands(self, session, params=None):
                               f"{self.lock.job} is already running.")
                 return False, "Could not acquire lock."
             self.log.info("Sending commands.")
-            self.starcam.pack_and_send_cmds()
+            self.starcam.send_cmds()
+            self.log.info("Commands sent to camera.")
         return True, "Sent commands to the starcam."
 
     @ocs_agent.param('_')
@@ -231,8 +107,16 @@ def acq(self, session, params=None):
                     'block_name': 'astrometry',
                     'data': {}
                 }
-                # get astrometry data
-                astrom_data_dict = self.starcam.get_astrom_data()
+                try:
+                    astrom_data_dict = self.starcam.get_astrom_data()
+                    if session.degraded:
+                        self.log.info("Connection re-established.")
+                        session.degraded = False
+                except ConnectionError:
+                    self.log.error("Failed to get data from star camera. Check network connection.")
+                    session.degraded = True
+                    time.sleep(1)
+                    continue
                 # update the data dictionary+session and publish
                 data['data'].update(astrom_data_dict)
                 session.data.update(data['data'])
diff --git a/socs/agents/starcam_lat/drivers.py b/socs/agents/starcam_lat/drivers.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6039c6d41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/socs/agents/starcam_lat/drivers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+import struct
+
+from socs.tcp import TCPInterface
+
+
+class StarcamHelper(TCPInterface):
+    """Functions to control and retrieve data from the starcam.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    ip_addres: str
+        IP address of the starcam computer.
+    port: int
+        Port of the starcam computer.
+    timeout: float
+        Socket connection timeout in seconds. Defaults to 10 seconds.
+
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, ip_address, port, timeout=10):
+        # Set up the TCP Interface
+        super().__init__(ip_address, port, timeout)
+
+    def send_cmds(self):
+        """Send commands and parameters to the starcam."""
+        cmds = self._pack_cmds()
+        self.comm.send(cmds)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _pack_cmds():
+        """Packs commands and parameters to be sent to the starcam.
+
+        Returns:
+            bytes: Packed bytes object to send to the starcam.
+
+        """
+        logodds = 1e8
+        latitude = -22.9586
+        longitude = -67.7875
+        height = 5200.0
+        exposure = 700
+        timelimit = 1
+        set_focus_to_amount = 0
+        auto_focus_bool = 1
+        start_focus = 0
+        end_focus = 0
+        step_size = 5
+        photos_per_focus = 3
+        infinity_focus_bool = 0
+        set_aperture_steps = 0
+        max_aperture_bool = 0
+        make_HP_bool = 0
+        use_HP_bool = 0
+        spike_limit_value = 3
+        dynamic_hot_pixels_bool = 1
+        r_smooth_value = 2
+        high_pass_filter_bool = 0
+        r_high_pass_filter_value = 10
+        centroid_search_border_value = 1
+        filter_return_image_bool = 0
+        n_sigma_value = 2
+        star_spacing_value = 15
+        values = [logodds,
+                  latitude,
+                  longitude,
+                  height,
+                  exposure,
+                  timelimit,
+                  set_focus_to_amount,
+                  auto_focus_bool,
+                  start_focus,
+                  end_focus,
+                  step_size,
+                  photos_per_focus,
+                  infinity_focus_bool,
+                  set_aperture_steps,
+                  max_aperture_bool,
+                  make_HP_bool,
+                  use_HP_bool,
+                  spike_limit_value,
+                  dynamic_hot_pixels_bool,
+                  r_smooth_value,
+                  high_pass_filter_bool,
+                  r_high_pass_filter_value,
+                  centroid_search_border_value,
+                  filter_return_image_bool,
+                  n_sigma_value,
+                  star_spacing_value]
+
+        # Pack values into the command for the camera
+        return struct.pack('ddddddfiiiiiiiiiifffffffff', *values)
+
+    def get_astrom_data(self):
+        """Receives and unpacks data from the starcam.
+
+        Returns:
+            dict: Dictionary of unpacked data.
+        """
+        scdata_raw = self.comm.recv(256)
+        return self._unpack_response(scdata_raw)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _unpack_response(response):
+        data = struct.unpack_from("dddddddddddddiiiiiiiiddiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiii",
+                                  response)
+        keys = ['c_time',
+                'gmt',
+                'blob_num',
+                'obs_ra',
+                'astrom_ra',
+                'obs_dec',
+                'fr',
+                'ps',
+                'alt',
+                'az',
+                'ir',
+                'astrom_solve_time',
+                'camera_time']
+
+        # Create a dictionary of the unpacked data
+        astrom_data = [data[i] for i in range(len(keys))]
+        astrom_data_dict = {keys[i]: astrom_data[i] for i in range(len(keys))}
+        return astrom_data_dict
diff --git a/tests/agents/test_starcam_lat_agent.py b/tests/agents/test_starcam_lat_agent.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..356fcdfbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/agents/test_starcam_lat_agent.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+from socs.agents.starcam_lat.drivers import StarcamHelper  # noqa: F401
+
+
+def test__pack_cmds():
+    cmds = StarcamHelper._pack_cmds()
+    assert cmds == b'\x00\x00\x00\x00\x84\xd7\x97A\x13\xf2A\xcff\xf56\xc0fffff\xf2P\xc0\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00P\xb4@\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xe0\x85@\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xf0?\x00\x00\x00\x00\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x05\x00\x00\x00\x03\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00@@\x00\x00\x80?\x00\x00\x00@\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00 A\x00\x00\x80?\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00@\x00\x00pA'