Basic questions on ASCOM + EQMOD

[Vox45]

Hi all !

So I just started to dig on ASCOM and after a lot of reading I arrived at this conclusion. Could someone be kind enough to validate and add any suggestions or heads up before I take the wrong route and pull my hair out

(1) I got the ASCOM platform downloaded and installed on windows7

(2) I got the EQASCOM driver downloaded and installed

(3) I got Stellariumscope not sure if needed or I just use the telescope plugin in Stellarium  (?)

(4) I looked at C2A (ugly interface but full of feature) and Carte Du Ciel is not free (?)

I do not own an obsy or filter wheels or anything fancy. I just need to control the scope and get rid of the handset on my Sirius EQ-G mount.

I intend to buy this cable as I have an RS232 to USB for now.

Any gotchas I should know about ? Any hurdle ahead that I should prepare for ?

Please let me know !

Cheers,

[RichM63]

Huh, Cartes du Ciel is FREE and is likely the most used software via a laptop/PC for this type of application.

I know nothing about your hardware, but if you can link your 'puter' to the mount and get them to 'hug n kiss' then CdC is a great way.

[steppenwolf]

Yup, the truly excellent C du C is indeed free and a well

proven partner for EQmod.

Sent from my iPhone from somewhere dark .....

[Merlin66]

+1 from me.

The CdC/EQMod combo works 110%

If you have any issues with it, just ask. There are many happy users who can assist.

[kirkster501]

CdC+AScom/Eqmod = Win.  A proven combination with thousands of users.

[Vox45]

Don't know where I got the idea that it was not free :/

I heard a lot of good things about it but never bother to try it as I love Stellarium... but seeing the passionate response I got on this thread, I will install CdC for sure 

So no need for Stellariumscope then...  

[Gina]

CdC is what I use too

[Nathan_Pembs]

CDC user here too, Stellarium doesn't like my laptop for some reason, harps on about OpenGL drivers blah blah

[simmo39]

Sorry to hijack this thread but will this work with windows 8? 

[Vox45]

So I have installed CdC yesterday as the sky was crystal clear here. Of course, the full moon blew everything but hey,  what can you do... Nature ...

CdC has a lot more feature than Stellarium that is a given. But, the look... is a little too '1995' for my taste he he he

I will keep it for sure as there a tons of tools and info plus the fact that it interact really well with ASCOM/EQMOD but I will keep Stellarium to impress my friends and family. They are both great software as far as I am concerned.

[wxsatuser]

I have both Stellarium and CDC but it's CDC I use for control.

For some reason Stellarium scope would not work for me, where as CDC just works.

[Dave_D]

CDC user here too, Stellarium doesn't like my laptop for some reason, harps on about OpenGL drivers blah blah

yeah^^ i have no personal preference to either CdD or stellarium, but my scope control computer runs without a graphics card installed and the bare minimum memory allocated to the onboard gpu. stellarium simply won't run thanks to the 'improvements' therefore it's CdC all the way

[Vox45]

Been working a lot lately with EQMOD and CdC and I have to say that, although it has an ugly interface, CdC is an impressive piece of software

Now, with EQMOD, CdC, a gamepad that came with my FreeBox (a French Internet/CableTV provider) and an EQDIR cable (the only part I had to buy) ... the whole setup is not fully controlled remotely.

With AlignMaster for PA and the point alignement in EQMOD I can be ready in minutes and have (at last) fairly good tracking and pointing in minutes...

Good times !

[Vox45]

Been working a lot lately with EQMOD and CdC and I have to say that, although it has an ugly interface, CdC is an impressive piece of software

Now, with EQMOD, CdC, a gamepad that came with my FreeBox (a French Internet/CableTV provider) and an EQDIR cable (the only part I had to buy) ...the whole setup is not fully controlled remotely.

With AlignMaster for PA and the point alignement in EQMOD I can be ready in minutes and have (at last) fairly good tracking and pointing in minutes...

Good times !

"the whole setup is NOW fully controlled remotely" .... damn typos !