|
ASCOM driver: "CW up?"
Using the latest AP ASCOM driver, I notice that the window now displays "CW up" when that is not the case. I've never seen this before.
I park my AP1200 with the OTA pointing due west at Dec 0, so the CW shaft is pointing straight down. When I connect the telescope in ACP and the ASCOM driver window opens, it shows the mount is unparked (correct) and the CW is up (incorrect). Is this a bug? -- Mike Mike Dodd http://astronomy.mdodd.com Louisa County, Virginia USA
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Hi Stacey,
ACP definitely termnates APCC in its "ShutdownObs.js" script. This is done by calling a fairly "cryptic" routineWell, then that's the reason why the virtual ports are not getting released. To fix the problem you must not let ACP terminate APCC! In APCC I do not have the auto close checked in the "Advanced" settings. I'm not sure how this works. Does itWhen the last client closes its connection to the ASCOM driver APCC will start a countdown to close itself. The countdown duration is configurable in the Advanced settings. I suggest you try experimenting with this manually first by connecting/disconnecting an ASCOM client application like the APJog utility (included with the AP V2 ASCOM driver) to see how the shutdown works. Then try some test ACP plans in the daytime to make sure shutdown works as expected. Best regards, -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Hi Ray,
ACP definitely termnates APCC in its "ShutdownObs.js" script. This is done by calling a fairly "cryptic" routine called "StopProcess". The full shutdown script is here: In APCC I do not have the auto close checked in the "Advanced" settings. I'm not sure how this works. Does it close when the ASCOM driver connection is cut? I wonder if I could check that and then modify ShutdownObs.js so that it doesn't try to close APCC and it will close itself after ACP disconnects from the scope??? Or I could simply not have ACP close APCC and close it myself manually, though ACP would cut the power to the scope.
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
When ACP runs its "ShutdownObs.js" script, it parks the scope, closes the dome, warms the camera cooler andOkay, but I want to understand *how* APCC is being closed down by APC because this is a clue as to why the ports are increasing. You said when you manually close APCC the virtual ports are released, but not when ACP closes APCC. So, I am wondering if ACP might be terminating APCC? If so, that would explain why the virtual ports are not getting released. The proper way to close APCC is to configure it to close itself in the advanced settings. When all connections to APCC are released then APCC should close all the virtual ports and close on its own. -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
When ACP runs its "ShutdownObs.js" script, it parks the scope, closes the dome, warms the camera cooler and then closes all the software including Maxim-DL, FocusMax, and APCC.
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
However, they don't close when ACP closes APCC.Please explain how are you having ACP close APCC? -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Hi Ray,
Well there are strange things going on. It's rather frustrating. When it's working the virtual ports show up in device manager and they close when I manually exit APCC. However, they don't close when ACP closes APCC. Then the next time ACP runs and opens APCC, higher port numbers are used. Uninstalling the virtual ports with device manager leads to more issues and requires rebooting the PC. On top of all that, sometimes the virtual ports DON'T show up in device manager, yet they still work. I spent a few hours working with this tonight. At the moment it's working but I suspect the port numbers will start running up again.
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
OK, thanks. I'll try making the auto-connect to auto-config change.Try deleting the last two virtual ports if you don't need them. -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
OK, thanks. I'll try making the auto-connect to auto-config change.
I'm not sure why four ports show up there. I typically define only two. I'll let you know.
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
In the AP V2 group box try unchecking "Auto-Connect" and instead checking "Auto-Config".
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
BTW, is there a reason why you are creating four virtual ports? -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver
-----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
The link refers back to the original image. Sorry. Here's the correct link:
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Here's the screen shot of the APCC setup window:
I HATE to disconnect or remove the RocketPort card since, with one exception, everything using a serial port on the observatory PC, including the mount, uses the RocketPort serial ports. Sometimes removing and reinstalling leads to weird port reassignments and I'd prefer not to deal with that if at all possible. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Hi Stacey,
I went to device manager and checked on my ports. APCC is closed. Here's an image:Maybe the problem has something to do with the RocketPort driver on your system? I have several Win10 systems and the virtual ports close when I close APCC. Also many others are using Win10 without an issue so something on your computer may be preventing the ports from closing. That multiport driver may be altering the way Windows COM ports are allocated/freed on your system. As a test, can you try removing the Rocketport card and its drivers temporarily to see if the virtual ports close? Also, can you post a screen shot of your APCC setup tab? -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Ray,
I went to device manager and checked on my ports. APCC is closed. Here's an image: As you can see, quite a few ports are still open! Thanks, Stacey
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Thanks, I'll try the re-install. I have manually created virtual ports. That works the first time, but then on the next start of the program, it moves to higher numbered ports because these are still open.
|
|
|
|
Re: SH2 313 / Abell 35 – Low Surface Brightness Planetary Nebula with a Twist
dan kowall
That's an exceptional result to a herculean task.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Well done, Terry. dan kowall photonhunter.com --------------------------------------------
On Thu, 12/20/18, terry.robison@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
Subject: [ap-gto] SH2 313 / Abell 35 – Low Surface Brightness Planetary Nebula with a Twist To: ap-gto@... Date: Thursday, December 20, 2018, 10:12 PM This is an image of a low surface planetary nebula. AstroBin linkhttps://www.astrobin.com/381414/?nc=user Flickr linkhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/97807083@N00/46285431452/ Terry Posted by: terry.robison@... Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (1) To UNSUBSCRIBE, or for general information on the ap-gto list see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ap-gto Visit Your Group New Members 1 • Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use SPONSORED LINKS
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
I think the issue is that somehow the previously used virtual ports stay "open" when APCC closes.APCC always closes the ports when it exits. If it is not doing that then reinstall the virtual ports using the *latest* version of APCC. There is a step in the installation process that asks if you want to reinstall the virtual ports. Also, try manually set the virtual ports in APCC as I mentioned in my previous post. -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Ray, thanks.
I think the issue is that somehow the previously used virtual ports stay "open" when APCC closes. I can see them when I look at the hardware setup. If I delete them then APCC will start over at the lower number. I updated to the latest versions a couple of weeks ago but this problem existed before and after that. I'm not using a USB->serial converter. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Re: APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Apologies if this has been asked/answered before. I've noticed that every time APCC starts it seems to go to aThat is not the usual behavior. Unless you manually set the virtual port, or the previously set virtual port is used, APCC scans ports starting with COM3 going up and selects the first one that is available. Something on your computer may be allocating and not releasing virtual COM ports. Often this is a USB/serial converter that is creating a virtual port before APCC can start. A couple things you can try: 1) If you are using a USB/serial converter, make sure you are using its latest driver. Then, go into Windows device manager and see if you can manually set its virtual COM port to a specific COM port. 2) In APCC, make sure you are using the latest version (1.6.0.3/.4 or 1.7.0.2/.3 beta). Try setting the virtual port(s) manually from the drop down list. APCC will then always try to use those specific ports if they are available. -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
APCC Virtual port number keeps increasing
Apologies if this has been asked/answered before. I've noticed that every time APCC starts it seems to go to a next higher number virtual port. If I delete all the virtual ports, it will start over at the lower end of port numbers. Seems like I shouldn't have to do that. Is there a way to have it keep using the same virtual port number every time it restarts? I'm running Windows 10. Thanks!
|
|
|