I just installed the new 5.60.05 version of the AP-V2 Driver and after connecting to successfully APCC with the latest CP4 (P02-15) software installed, and after opening the AP-V2 Driver I am getting the Mount Not Found message in the AP-V2 Driver. The Config Driver button is light blue, indicating that the driver is configured, but do I need to click it anyway ?

Mike

Hi Roland & Ray

My AP-V2 driver window does not have the Find Mount button. 

After I got the Mount Not Found message I went ahead and launched MaxIm DL to see if it would connect to the mount. The connection was (mostly) successful, and when I went back to the AP-V2 driver window and clicked the Check Port button if found the mount and displayed the correct CP4 software version.

I did notice something strange though. When I clicked the OK button at the bottom of the AP-V2 Driver window, MaxIm was suddenly disconnected. 

I am going to try to repeat these tests today to see if I can replicate the behavior.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I am going to try to repeat these tests today to see if I can replicate the behavior.

An ASCOM driver should never be able to kill an ASCOM client (eg MaximDL). They are completely different applications. So, if MaximDL exited, that is an issue with Maxim.

-Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of M Hambrick
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:03 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP V2 Driver Not Finding Mount

Hi Roland & Ray

My AP-V2 driver window does not have the Find Mount button.

After I got the Mount Not Found message I went ahead and launched MaxIm DL to see if it would connect to the
mount. The connection was (mostly) successful, and when I went back to the AP-V2 driver window and clicked the
Check Port button if found the mount and displayed the correct CP4 software version.

I did notice something strange though. When I clicked the OK button at the bottom of the AP-V2 Driver window,
MaxIm was suddenly disconnected.

I am going to try to repeat these tests today to see if I can replicate the behavior.

Mike

Hi Ray

MaxIm didn't close. It simply disconnected from the mount.

Mike

Tonight, I loaded the newest Keypad software version (v5.012) with everything set up indoors again. After installing the new software, I repeated the tests from the other night with the AP-V2 Driver, but I was not able to replicate the behavior that I saw on Friday (described above). When I clicked the Check Port button in the AP-V2 Driver, it displayed the Mount Found message with the current software version right away.

Mike

Hi Mike,

You should not run the driver's setup window with the driver also loaded. If you do, the driver needs to be restarted, as some settings require a driver restart.

I will make a change to the next driver build to prevent opening the set up window when the driver is active.

-Ray

Thanks for that comment Ray. So I am wondering if my setup workflow is all wrong.

If I correctly understand what you said, Should I be able to launch MaxIm DL and connect it to the mount without having to first opening the Setup Telescope window ? Do I need to first connect to APCC ?

Mike

On 3/19/2023 10:23 PM, M Hambrick wrote:

If I correctly understand what you said, Should I be able to launch MaxIm DL and connect it to the mount without having to first opening the Setup Telescope window ? Do I need to first connect to APCC ?

Hi, Mike. I don't have aPCC, but I do use Maxim for imaging and guiding, as well as ACP for automation software.

To give myself greater flexibility for what apps connect and when, I first launch the AP Jog utility, and connect to the mount there. I minimize it and the ASCOM driver GUI for the entire imaging session.

Then, I can connect to my cameras in MaxIm, which also causes it to connect to the mount for Direct Guiding (or whatever it's called). When I'm ready, I launch ACP and connect it to the mount. I also sometimes launch SkyX and connect it to the mount. When I'm done with that, I disconnect and exit XkyX.

The point is, I can connect/disconnect any/all of these apps at any time, and an ASCOM connection is maintained through the Jog utility. No muss, no fuss. My final act just before shutting down the PC is to disconnect the Jog utility from the mount, which closes the ASCOM driver.

HTH.

--- Mike

Thanks All

I watched that video several times before I installed the new version of APCC, but that feature somehow escaped me.

Mike