ASCOM and the Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver

Quick Start - For Experienced ASCOM Users:

Follow these steps to Install the Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver

1. Go to the ASCOM website and review the latest required Windows OS and DotNet updates (see OS system links in the Platform download box).
2. After the above updates are complete, download and install the latest version of the ASCOM platform.
3. Once the ASCOM Platform is installed, follow this link to Ray Gralak's ASCOM driver page.
4. Download and install the latest beta version (it contains all the latest bug fixes and upgrades).
5. Review the documentation and tutorial videos offered on his ASCOM driver page (see above link).
6. Run the setup screen either directly through the installer or through Start => Programs => Astro-Physics => ASCOM Driver => Setup Telescope.
7. In the ASCOM Telescope Chooser of your ASCOM client program, select "Astro-Physics GTO V2 Mount"

The ASCOM Platform and the Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver will provide you with more comprehensive and fail safe control of your Astro-Physics GTO mount. We encourage you to use this interface for PC-based control of your mount!

For Those Requiring (or wanting) a Bit More Information:

NOTE: Links to third party sites were current at the time of webpage publication, but are not under the control of Astro-Physics.

ASCOM Standards for Astronomy - The ASCOM Initiative

What is ASCOM?

ASCOM (AStronomy Common Object Model) is a go-between to allow different software packages to talk to different pieces of astronomical equipment. The ASCOM platform provides a common language for all the software, and then each individual driver translates that common language into the specific command laguage needed to make the equipment do what we want it to do.

The ASCOM initiative began in 1999 as new mounts and CCD cameras, each with their own unique control systems came on the market. Bob Denny of DC3-Dreams and others realized the complexity of developing mount and camera control software that could be used with a wide variety of instruments. The task of software developers to keep up with new mounts, cameras, focusers, etc. as they came on the market, or to stay abreast of revisions to the code of existing equipment was an enormous (or more correctly: insurmountable) task. So, the ASCOM Initiative was born to establish, develop and promote a driver-client architecture just as the computer industry had done earlier with printers, cameras and other peripherals. For even more information, check the following link: About ASCOM.

Why should I use ASCOM and the Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver?
The ASCOM platform and the AP V2 ASCOM driver are not required to run PulseGuide by Ray Gralak of Sirius Imaging, and they are certainly not required for control of the mount with the Astro-Physics GTO Keypad. However, the platform and driver are required for PEMPro (also by Ray Gralak), ACP (by DC3 Dreams), and other programs, and are extremely useful for anyone wishing to control their mount from an external Windows computer. Most advanced planetarium and telescope control software packages have an option to use the ASCOM platform, or else they require it outright. (Note that these options are referred to as "telescope" control, but the telescope is just along for the ride. It is the mount that is being controlled.) We recommend that you select the ASCOM interface if it is an option in your software. The ASCOM Platform and the AP V2 driver will provide you with more comprehensive and fail-safe control of your mount.

The Astro-Physics V2 driver has been developed for Astro-Physics by Ray Gralak of Sirius Imaging. Unlike the earlier driver, this V2 driver is now fully owned and supported by Astro-Physics. It has been through rigorous testing and is being treated as an on-going project. We thank Ajai Sehgal for the first driver, which he developed on his own. It was a monumental effort that has served our customers well for many years. The new V2 driver, however, is much more fully developed and takes advantage of the advances to the ASCOM platform. If you are currently using the old driver, we strongly suggest that you upgrade. Check out the Features of the Astro-Physics V2 Driver that differrentiate it from the earlier driver.

We also advise you to keep your ASCOM updated to the latest version. At the publication of this webpage, ASCOM is at Platform 6.2. This is a major upgrade from Platform 5.x. For a complete listing of the revisions to the standard, go to the ASCOM History Page.

Installing and Updating the ASCOM Platform, Astro-Physics V2 Driver and other Components
In order to use the Astro-Physics V2 driver, you will need to install these components which are discussed in further detail below:

1. Current updates and Service Packs for your Windows Operating System [Windows 10, Windows 8: RTM, Windows 7: Service Pack 1, Windows Vista: Service Pack 2 at time of website publication. If a later version is available to that shown above, use the later version.] Check updates via Windows Updater.
2. Microsoft DotNet Framework [.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 (contains all earlier versions down to 2.0) is required] Check updates via Windows Updater.
3. ASCOM Platform - Current Release and Updates
4. Astro-Physics V2 Driver - Check for updates regularly.

Microsoft Windows OS and the Microsoft DotNet Framework:
The current release of the ASCOM platform is designed to work with the Microsoft DotNet Framework. It is important that you keep your computer current with the latest updates to the Operating System (i.e. Service Packs) and to the DotNet Framework. The ASCOM website has been pretty good about providing guidance here. As you install the ASCOM platform, you will be instructed which version of the Dot Net Framework is required, either in a warning dialog box as you attempt to install the software, or through instructions on the ASCOM download page. See the section below on the DotNet Framework for more detailed information. Please perform all System and DotNet upgrades BEFORE installing the ASCOM components!

IMPORTANT NOTE: For owners of Vista and Windows 7 based systems, you may need to turn off "User Account Control" from within Control Panel to successfully install and use the various ASCOM components, drivers and ASCOM client programs. This is a Microsoft issue and is not caused by the ASCOM platform or the Astro-Physics V2 Driver.

Installing or updating the ASCOM Platform.
If you are installing the platform for the first time, the installation is rather straight-forward once the necessary Windows and DotNet updates have beeen completed. If you are updating from an earlier platform version, pay special attention to any warnings or instructions that you see on the web page or in the installer program. The installer program will guide you. At an earlier date, it was recommended on the ASCOM site that you NOT uninstall earlier versions, but that recommendation has now been removed, and is apparently no longer valid. The only valid instruction that we can provide is to follow all instructions on the ASCOM website to the letter! To install, click the link below and click the download button on the respective web page. Also be sure to install the AP V2 driver after the full platform installation is finished as described in the instructions a bit further down.

PLEASE NOTE: Since it is important to use the latest versions of the platform, we provide the necessary links to the various web pages where the most current files can be found. Please add these pages to your favorites (bookmarks) and check regularly for updates!

ASCOM Platform 6SP1
Simply click the link above to go to the ASCOM website's home page. On the right hand side of the page is a Platform 6SP1 Download Box. Click the download button and follow the installer instructions to install the platform from the website. In a normal installation, you should then be instructed to proceed to the most recent update release of the platform. Be aware that the latest platform update may also require the latest DotNet upgrade. This is why we advise keeping your Windows Operating System and DotNet Framework updated.

To install the driver, simply click the link under the "Latest Beta Version" heading (called beta version due to documentation, not driver) and either run the file or save it and run it later. The file's name will be: Astro-Physics V2 Setup v.5.xx.xx.exe and will be followed by the release date. You do not need to uninstall earlier versions of the driver, but please note the following if you are upgrading from a beta version of v.4.99.59 or earlier:

IMPORTANT CHANGE: In this version, the Settings file location has been moved to a common data directory so all users and processes can share the same settings file. This means that you will need to either re-enter your settings (e.g. Longitude/Latitude) or copy AP.INI from //My Documents/<your Name>/Astro-Physics/ASCOM to C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\Astro-Physics\ASCOM or equivalent folders on Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Ray's AP V2 driver page will also have the latest help documentation for the driver. Since the driver and the documentation are both ongoing works in progress, we suggest that you also bookmark this page and check back often for the latest versions.

Instructional Videos for the AP V2 ASCOM Driver - MPEG 4 movie files:
Installing the AP V2 Driver
Setting up your AP V2 Driver
Operating your Mount with the AP V2 Driver

• Adheres to the ASCOM Telescope V2 Standard (the old driver only complied with the V1 standard).
• Has a Control Window which provides comprehensive status and control over mount operations.
• The driver is a telescope "hub", meaning multiple ASCOM client applications can connect simultaneously. The old driver only allowed a single client application thus requiring the use of the POTH driver. The new driver does not require POTH.
• Provides robust communications with the mount, retrying commands if it detects a communications error or corruption in a response message.
• Saves multiple observing/imaging site coordinates.
• Can be configured to convert SYNC commands to RCAL commands to prevent possible mount mis-positioning. (Recommended!)
• Caches common commands that client applications query (RA/Dec/Alt/Az/Pier Side/Sidereal Time/Time) so serial port traffic does not become excessive when many clients are connected simultaneously.
• Provides a Meridian delay feature like PulseGuide and the Astro-Physics keypad have.
• Provides custom RA/Dec tracking rates for both GTOCP2 and GTOCP3 mounts.
• Monitors and reports communications errors.
• Provides asynchronous PulseGuide support. This allows autoguider moves to be made to both RA and Dec simultaneously.
• Provides control over reticle brightness.
• Provides a handy icon in the system tray that provides quick access to status and certain commands.
• Adds custom tracking rates for GTOCP2 mounts.
• Incorporates comprehensive logging.
• Provides a focuser driver for DC synchronous focus motors operated through the GTOCPx Control Box.

Some Special Notes on using TheSky from Software Bisque
To use the ASCOM interface with TheSky planetarium software, you will need to install a plug-in. Instructions for this are on the ASCOM website at this link in the FAQ pages. Scroll down to the section entitled: 2. TheSky Controlling a Telescope With an ASCOM Driver. Use of ASCOM with TheSky 6 requires the TeleAPI v5.04 driver. It is available on the ASCOM website.