hgastro

Hello Dave, I am (almost) afraid to ask: Did you have a chance/time to look at the trace files I had sent earlier? There appear to be some "halt" commands and "isMoving" replies in the case of SG-Pro operation that do not appear in the trace files from your own code(s). I still have the same problems - controlling the focuser from SG-Pro does not seem to work reliably. I think that I observed that in the beginning the focuser moves, but then SG-Pro does not even display the poition anymore (it stays stuck in the first position it had read when initializing). Is there something I could do on my end to help you figuring out what is going on/wrong (for example a simple test for focuser movement in a) FocusAAF2 and in SG-Pro)? I tried to understand the ASCOM driver (developer) part, but I got lost in the many details of the code. I really would like to get AAF2 working together with SG-Pro (again, since it used to work fine a few weeks ago before the AAF2 upgrades from V2.3 to 2.4), because then I can just choose a filter, and SG-Pro would adjust the focuser position automatically. Also autofocusing, even with temperature compensation would be possible. Please let me know how I could help! Thanks in advance, Helmar

> Thanks for the feedback. I dont have SG-Pro so it would be difficult for me to test. I'll have a more detailed look at the trace files. Which version were you using previously with SG-Pro?< I believe it was AAF2 V2.3.0 (I found a downloaded file from March 7, 2015). Not that I want to increase your work-load: SG-Pro allows a free test for 30 days... Best, Helmar

Hello Dave, Thanks for mentioning the improvements. I am aware of them , but have not used any temperature sensor, yet. I am currently using an Arduino Uno, because I had some USB (FTDI-chip?) problem (serial driver?) in the beginning with a different version. The UNO worked right away (sometimes you get what you pay for...). During my current testing I still have problems with "manual mode" changes to the focuser position from my control program (Sequence Generator Pro := SG-Pro). Here are my "experiments": I switched on the "Trace" button in the Ascom window for the AAF2 driver. Using your "AAF2Focus" all works well, e.g. I can use the "coarse" and the "fine" button, the trace files demonstrate the proper functioning very nicely. I attached the AAF2... and Driver... files, see the xxx184815,txt versions below. When I do the same experiment from within SG-Pro, things do not go well for V2.4 (it worked for the old version). I have the feeling the communication gets confused, see the attached files xxx185108.txt I am hoping you will be able to look at these and figure out what is wrong, or what has changed compared to the former version. Also I am wondering if anybody else has reported similar problems. Thanks in advance, Helmar AAF220150420184815.txt Driver20150420184815.txt Driver20150420185108.txt AAF220150420185108.txt

Hello Dave (tekkydave), This is my first post on this forum (and you could add me as another successful user of your focuser). First of all a BIG THANK YOU! for your efforts! I have been using your focuser and software for quite a while in my observatory (LX200 8" classic with custom-modified belt-driven Meade-focuser). I am observing variable stars (member of AAVSO), and I use your driver in an ASCOM 6.1 environment. I use Sequence-Generator Pro ("SG-Pro") for my observing control, and it works well with AAF2 . Lately I "upgraded" my PC to a newer version with Win8.1 as the OS (not recommended, but it was a cheap deal...). I have been battling the "safety" features of Win8.1 since (but successfully). Here is why I finally post (additional to my "thank you"): 1) Your last update (V2.4) worked perfectly in regard to installation and registering (Win8.1, 64-bit)!! [ I uninstalled the former version first, then also updated my Arduino version to the newest, installed the needed libraries in the Arduino IDE, uploaded the new "ino"-file and ran your new AAF2 windows driver installer (no manual install/registering anymore, yaeehh...).] 2) AAF2Test and AAF2Focus work flawlessly. 3) But now the big test: How would everything work with SG-Pro? SG-Pro has several ways to operate the focuser (also autofocusing!): Additional to the programmatic control (could not test, yet, due to unsupportive weather), SG-Pro allows manual control through a "Control Panel" with fine and coarse relative movements, and a "Go To" with absolute positioning. Here is something different now: Whereas the "Go to" appears to work fine, the "fine" and "coarse" controls do not show any updated positioning (but the focuser seem to move correctly). I am not sure what you have changed in the new code(s), but all worked in the former version. I had no time, yet, to compare the ino-files. I am sure it is only a small problem that can be solved without a big effort (famous words...). In any case: Thank you again for this great effort (you are one of my heroes)! Cheers, Helmar