How to get my laptop to connect with focuser?

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Hi IIS'ers,

I am hoping someone can help me. I have recently started using SGPro (probably not too well yet but getting there). One of the big pluses is the auto focus option.

I have a moonlite hi res stepper motor with the mini v2 controller. apparently this should work no worries, with SGPro. I downloaded the ascom driver from the moonlite website... and don't really know what i'm doing. the focuser doesn't connect when I plug the usb into the laptop (win7).

unfortunately the moonlite focuser instructions refer only to the non ascom software installation or how to setup the rotator in ascom...

Does anyone have any ideas?

Cheers

Rusty

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Russell,
Under ASCOM the SGP interface should give an option of connecting to an "ASCOM focuser" then there is usually a drop down list to choose from.
The original focuser drivers still need to be installed...
(I don't use SGP but do use other ASCOM gear)
HTH

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Russell,
Under ASCOM the SGP interface should give an option of connecting to an "ASCOM focuser" then there is usually a drop down list to choose from.
The original focuser drivers still need to be installed...
(I don't use SGP but do use other ASCOM gear)
HTH

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your response.

You are referring to the drop down box section in SGPro? eg Connect to camera, filter wheel, focuser etc?
The drop down box in SGPro "connect" doesn't bring up moonlite as an option.

I haven't installed the non-ASCOM filter control/program, is that what you mean by original focuser drivers? I can't see any other reference for drivers on the moonlite website. Worth a go perhaps.

Cheers

Russell

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Russell,
If you are using the moonlite under ASCOM control, SGP should see it as an "ASCOM Focuser" not as a moonlite.
When the subsequent ASCOM window is opened there should be the moonlite listed if the ASCOM driver is in place.
HTH

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Russell,
If you are using the moonlite under ASCOM control, SGP should see it as an "ASCOM Focuser" not as a moonlite.
When the subsequent ASCOM window is opened there should be the moonlite listed if the ASCOM driver is in place.
HTH

Hmmm, i'll check that out next time I fire up the scope. I can't remember exactly the options but that may well be it. Thanks I'll report back afterwards.

cheers

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

You'll need to install the Moonlite universal ASCOM driver. You can find it here (towards the bottom of the page): https://focuser.com/downloads.php

[vlazg (George)]

Russ , i have the same setup, if you have installed the ascom version from moonlight , it should appear in the drop down focuser as Moonlight DRO Focuser Driver.
Check in the moonlight app which port it connects to , you can hit the refresh button and check the port dropdown, but do not continue with the connection, if you it will conflict with SGP
If the DRO driver then appears in SGP you can check the properties, hit ok and then connect

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

thanks for the heads up guys, i'll get onto it over the weekend

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

ok a quick follow up i spent a bit of time tonight trying to sort this out. moonlite dro was in the drop down box in SGPro but it wasn't connecting to the focuser.

turns out i needed to update my Uart drivers and then reinstall the moonlite driver... took a couple of hours to sort that out. mostly because my laptop is a piece of you know what. so sloooow. anyway, it connected and i could move the focuser in and out.... so fingers crossed auto focus is just around the corner!
but now i can move onto the next problem... before thinking about that.

thanks for your help.

cheers