Running two focusers on one PC

[Clarkey]

I am in the process of setting up a dual imaging rig. Good nights are so hard to come by I want to take advantage of every opportunity and increase my imaging time. My question is relating to focusers.

I have two Sesto Senso focusers which I want to use through NINA, but I am wondering how I identify each one and connect to the right one when running two instances of the software. (One slave and one master). Does anyone know how I ensure I connect to the correct focuser through the USB ports?

[Richard_]

Within NINA, when you select the ASCOM driver for the Sesto Senso 2 and hit configure, it will give a list of some COM ports you can select. COM ports are unique for each device plugged into your computer, laptop etc. It'll take a little trial and error in associating which sesto senso is assigned to which COM port but you should be able to figure out which is which. 

You could create different profiles (ie "Imaging Rig#1" and "Imaging Rig #2") and configure the ASCOM driver to associate the correct COM port for either profile. On startup of each instance, it should be a case of loading the right profile for the right imaging rig. 

I've never tried running two instances of NINA so I can't comment on that approach, but the basis of configuring devices/drivers for different profiles should work OK! 

[ollypenrice]

I've used dual rigs for many years but always with two PCs. I think it's much easier and you don't need much of a PC, really.  Just a thought.

Olly

[scotty38]

Not only can you chose  one of two ASCOM driver instances in NINA you can run two discrete instances of NINA and set it up to run the Profile Chooser at startup. That way you can configure the hardware any way you choose. Not sure if that's what Richard meant but anyway there's a couple of ways you can do it in NINA if you wish.....

[Clarkey]

7 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

I've used dual rigs for many years but always with two PCs

I did think of this but I really need to dither with the dslr. If I get a new astro camera it might be less of a problem.

 

7 hours ago, scotty38 said:

Not only can you chose  one of two ASCOM driver instances in NINA you can run two discrete instances of NINA and set it up to run the Profile Chooser at startup

This was my plan. Just need to work out NINA choosing the right bits of kit.

I'll give it a go and see what happens.....

[tomato]

I couldn’t get NINA to work with two HITEC Focusmasters connected via the Generic Hub option to a single working copy of NINA, but it did work using the two instances, and I got the synchronised dithering working also.

However, for other reasons to do with dome control I now run a separate PC for each scope.