DC-3 Dreams, SP has released its latest Astronomy Automation software package, ACP Observatory Control Software Version 4.1. With its built-in self-learning pointing corrector, dome controller, and we

Mark, you're the greatest! Thanks for helping Dave. -- Bob

This mount cold-start issue is being looked at by the AP ASCOM driver writer and a couple of customers. And what once in

WARNING: Highly technical info to follow: PROSPECTIVE USERS: Please don't read the rest of this note! :-) This is "inside info" I am adding to the discussion of ACP's innards. Like a car, you just hav

I should have read back a bit -- Jim M. already clarified tht ACP does not require MaxPoint. My apologies, Jim. The pointing corrector in ACP uses the -technology- from MaxPoint, as part of a cross-li

--- "David B. Toth" wrote: solve to the Correct guess. This is how ACP has worked for almost 2 years. And more than plate solving "a bit" ... All final images are also used for pointing model updates,

Gary Burk: A formal paper would be the right place to detail it all. But I would like to bring up a couple of things: Variance/covariance (cross-dependence) applies to linear systems. The -model- in A

Toth: It does indeed. As ACP accumulates mapping points (whether during the course of a normal run, or a "training run" which is just another type of run after all), it collects and saves the mapping

Ray Gralak: I'm not sure folks registered my last post on this issue (see below). And Ray, please don't take this personally... From my perspective, RESULTS are what count, not innards. Seemingly, few

Yves Laroche: It depends on the repeatability of the mount for slewing. CA (or backlash compensated) slewing is most useful on low-cost mounts such as Orion, Meade, and Celestron. AP mounts, to their

David B. Toth: of Ah so I now understand, thanks. ACP's corrector does not depend on evenly distributed points. As you move around, it maps the parts of the sky you have used. When you move to an unma

Yves Laroche: Thanks to inputs from folks like Jim McMillan, Ray Gralak, and Dave Tandy, I believe I have the info needed to add the AP to the Telescope Specifics section of ACP Help. There has been a

Randy Nulman: Yes, this issue (time in the mount at startup and shutdown) was the subject of intense work preceding the just-released ASCOM Platform 4.1, and the new driver version contained therein.

Mark -- Thanks for the kind words re: ACP :-) Dennis -- With either ACP or TPOINT, you could save models for each of your OTAs (on your one mount) and switch between them depending on which OTA you're

I have placed the new AP driver online at the ASCOM site: http://ascom-standards.org/downloads.html Since the driver in Platform 4.1 is rather problematic, I also broke with my usual standards and sli

--- "brianwilliambrown" <brianwbrown@s...> wrote: Right. It also has a pointing corrector so that hub clients all share the -corrected- telescope. -- Bob

OK, I reworded the question, and that reset the votes to zero. Now it asks if you PRIMARILY use the handbox or the computer.

Yes. No, I want people to say what they use primarily. I'm trying to find out how important computer control is versus hand/key control. EVERYONE uses the handbox/keypad from time to time, and if ther

Wow, I never expected to create such a stir. and no, I'm not doing market research for a secret product :-) Dennis P -- Thanks for understanding that I'm trying to learn something specific. Over the l

Dave Tandy: to same This says it all. Thanks VERY much for getting things down to this solid evidence. Many astronomer/customers would just throw up their hands and blame it on whatever, or unintstall