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Another update.
The current system is a local Nettop running XP attached to the scope mount. It’s running XP, Ascom v5.5.1, EQMOD v1.23e, Maxim DL v5.1.4. It’s connected to the scope with a Hitec USB-EQDIR module (Prolific based). The latest Prolific driver for XP is 2.0.13.130. Maxim will connect to the scope with EQMOD OK. However, it will loose comms during a slew. The mount will continue to the target and stop, but no further comms is possible without restarting Maxim or a reboot. However, I can get a reliable system if I connect through the handset in PC Direct mode. I do get the occasional comms error with the handset, but they don’t happen frequently enough to be fatal.
If I use my HP laptop instead, it's running Vista and the latest Prolific driver is 3.3.11.152. It’s running EQMOD v1.19g, (not sure what the Ascom, Maxim versions are). My Vista laptop controls the mount without any issues at all using the Hitec EQDIR module (Prolific based).
The second setup shows there is nothing wrong with the mount or the EQDIR module. So the problem may be related to the EQMOD version (not checked yet) or, more likely, the Prolific driver. The driver is impossible to remedy in XP since the drivers are now for Vista/W7 and haven't been upgraded in XP for some time. It looks like I need to upgrade the operating system to get the latest Prolific driver. Again, I could try the Keyspan USB-Serial-Shoestring EQDIR route, but the all-in-one Hitec EQDIR route is neater, and I have shown it to work. This option may also suffer from the old XP driver.
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