Help Please - Installing USB_Focus V3

[glend (Glen)]

I have installed a USB_Focus V3 (motorised focuser) on my TS 115mm APO. This is what it consists of:

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/...-set-h-500.jpg

that plus the adaptor bracket for my focuser.

This is the exact system made by the French brand USB_Focus. Physically it is all installed on the scope and manually it will move the focuser with the buttons. My problem is in software control. The focuser controller is USB2 connected to my laptop but nothing is happening.
I run ASCOM 6.2 and I have the correct ASCOM focuser driver downloaded from the manufacturer's webpage, and the USB_Focus appears in the drop down list and can be selected. However, no COMs ports. When I open SGP, I can select the USB_Focuser but NO COMS so no connect. At least ASCOM and SGP are on the same page it seems.

Looking in device manager on my laptop, I can find the Focuser on the system but there is no driver shown for it, nor any comms connections available. I am trying it first directly connected to the laptop, but in the observatory it would be connected to my powered Hub (and everything else like the guide camera and filter wheel work through the powered hub now just fine).

I have uninstalled it, restarted, reinstalled, etc and nothing changes. The Microsoft system goes out to the Net looking for drivers but nothing ever happens. Tearing my hair out.

Any ideas? Anyone running this focuser, or any of the similiar ones like Robofocus? Suggestions?

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

hi glen,

have you tried putting it into another usb port and reinserting (with access to the internet on)? sounds like a driver issue.
also have you tried connecting to 'generic motorized focuser' in sgpro?

hope that helps

cheers

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

When connected does it show under device manager??

[RickS (Rick)]

Did you install the Windows driver as well as the ASCOM driver?

[glend (Glen)]

Thanks Guys for the suggestions. I have it working now. To answer your questions; No, it did not show up in device manager initially, even after I had installed the Win device and ASCOM drivers. Well the drivers appeared to install, and were sitting in my driver file. I found a rather obscure reference on the Net and I checked with Vincent in France and it proved to be the fix. My problem was I am on WIN 8.1, which runs with driver signature verification on all the time, and this particular driver is unsigned. The fix was to disable signature verification by going into Test Mode and loading the device driver while in Test Mode. Then when restarting WIN 8.1 defaults back into signature required mode, but my driver stays in place.

So it is working through SGP focuser management window, and working through my observatory powered hub, so as per final configuration for imaging. I had a bit of a play with moving it, zeroing, setting temperature threshold for refocus, etc and certainly a lot more to learn now. I have to go away and read all the SGP doco on how it all works.
Thanks for your help.