The Simplest of Questions re. ASCOM

[CheapAsAstronomer]

Hi all, new to guiding and just got my first image using PHD2 and st-4...after a few issues it worked well, but have read that ASCOM is much better.

I'm far away from a WIFI source....do I need WIFI for ASCOM guiding?

[david_taurus83]

The main benefit of Ascom pulse guiding is  that you don't need to calibrate every time you move position of the scope and you don't need the ST4 cable either. Another benefit of Ascom is you can completely control the scope via a PC or laptop, assuming its a GOTO mount. You don't need WiFi as typically you have a direct connection between mount and PC though it can be done with WiFi..

[CheapAsAstronomer]

Excellent thanks!

Yep its a GOTO mount, I just wont have an internet connection.

[malc-c]

ASCOM is like a "driver" that can be accessed by various applications on the computer.  So your imaging software can access it, as can PHD2 (and EQMOD for that matter if you use that to control the mount).  It doesn't need an internet connection to function.

[alan potts]

Exactly what David has stated above, he was instrumental in getting me up and running and it worked very well for a good while before I changed mounts.

Alan

[CheapAsAstronomer]

Great thanks guys 👍