Ascom 6

TheDecepticon · #1 09-07-2011, 04:29 PM

Any one running ASCOM 6 and are they having any dramas?

h0ughy (David) · #2 09-07-2011, 05:34 PM

didnt realise it was out

Sharnbrook (Mike) · #3 09-07-2011, 09:44 PM

Yes and yes are the answers to your question.

I updated from v 5.something, and since then, haven't been able to get my laptop to talk to EQMOD. Haven't yet managed to get any feedback from Chris Silletto, but then I only emailed him 15 mins ago. Are you having problems?

allan gould · #4 09-07-2011, 11:10 PM

Sorry, I'm staying with the old system until I know it's bulletproof.

TheDecepticon · #5 10-07-2011, 11:21 AM

No, I'm not having problems, just wasn't sure it was worth the upgrade yet.

g__day (Matthew) · #6 12-07-2011, 09:00 AM

I took the plunge and upgraded my observatory's PC to ASCOM 6. So far I've tried the following software okay:

1. The Sky6 Professional Edition
2. MaxPoint
3. MaximDL Pro Suite
4. PCFC (PC Focus Control)
5. PHD 1.12.4
6. DSLR Shutter 1.12

So far - all is normal (for me anyway)!

Logieberra (Logan) · #7 12-07-2011, 11:14 AM

Using it now with Gemini2, and GeminiTelescopeControl.

Having trouble with two connections:

- RS232-to-USB,
- laptop USB direct to Gemini2...

RJ45/LAN connection is working, but it's much slower when sending and receiving settings from Gemini (compared to V5).

Tiotion (Jack) · #8 12-07-2011, 12:55 PM

Hmmm I may give it a go... But everything is working now with v5.x. Is it worth upgrading? Benefits?

jase (Jason) · #9 12-07-2011, 09:48 PM

Yes. All fine here with ASCOM6. Appears to be stable having ran this over a few remote observing sessions.

Running on Windows 7 pro (32-bit). Works with TheSkyX Pro (telescopeV2 drivers), FocusMax/RoboFocus, ACP6 w/ACP Scheduler 3.3, MaxDomeII. ACP is the hub however, no POTH.

Tandum (Robin) · #10 12-07-2011, 10:04 PM

Jason, do you mean POTH didn't work or you don't use it?

jase (Jason) · #11 12-07-2011, 10:26 PM

Robin, I can't see why POTH wouldn't work, I just don't use it. Best to perform your own system testing in anycase. I typically debug ascom messages the first few hours post an upgrade to validate.

Tandum (Robin) · #12 12-07-2011, 10:30 PM

I got a new pc coming for the shed soon, best to do it then

Tandum (Robin) · #13 18-07-2011, 12:07 AM

Got the new PC installed and running tonight.
Win7 64bit with ASCOM 6 and everything is working.
Ya gotta have a win once in a while

Greg Bock (Greg Bock) · #14 10-08-2011, 03:36 PM

Yes, installed Ascom 6 over Ascom 5 a few weeks ago with no dramas, all went smoothly.

However, using it with my telescope system is a different story.

There is a problem somewhere in the mix if running Windows7 32 bit, SkyX, X2 to Ascom converter, Ascom 6, and Maestro for Astrometric Skywalker telescope control systems for Losmandy mounts.

When a connection is attempted from SkyX to Maestro, SkyX stops responding and has to be killed. I have posted these issues on the Software Bisque forum, ASCOM yahoo group, and Skywalker yahoo group. Astrometrics and Bob Denny, who wrote the Ascom X2 software, are trying to fix it now.
In the meantime, everything still works OK with Sky6.

multiweb (Marc) · #15 10-08-2011, 04:29 PM

I run it too on WinXP pro (32bit) - no drama. So far.

gbeal · #16 10-08-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

I run it too on WinXP pro (32bit) - no drama. So far.

Me too, if anything it fixed a few of the hiccups I was having with the old 5.5 platform.
Gary

TheDecepticon · #17 10-08-2011, 07:54 PM

I bit the bullet and upgraded, as I want to run Focus Max 3.6.12 and you need ASCOM6 for that. All good, runs well.

jase (Jason) · #18 12-08-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDecepticon

I want to run Focus Max 3.6.12 and you need ASCOM6 for that. All good, runs well.

What does FocusMax 3.6 bring to the table? What are the new features? Are you using the AcquireStar routine?

Thanks!

rogerg (Roger) · #19 14-08-2011, 12:12 PM

I tried the newest version of FocusMax recently, it was 3.6.something (can't verify now, obs PC is dead). For some reason it wouldn't work properly with my RoboFocus. I thought the focuser was moving but it wasn't. It was connecting via ASCOM rather than using the RoboFocus program. Perhaps I needed to install something new for the RoboFocus (it's been installed for some years as-is) although I am sure I did have focus driver installed for ASCOM, but I quickly reverted to the earlier version of FocusMax as it wasn't worth messing up the setup. I do have ASCOM6.