SharpCap Pro not connecting with AZ-EQ 5 skywatcher mount
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 7:14 am
When I load up Sharpcap 3.2.5986 Pro (SC) together with Stellarium Scope (SS) and Stellarium planetarium (SP), SC does not recognise the Skywatcher (SW) mount and even if SS and SP are running or not. I use ZWO cameras (ASI 120, 290, 294) all run well in SC. Noting that SS and SP are able to control the SW mount which carries both a 150mm reflector and a 180mm Maksutov Cassegrain separately. I have no issues with SC running a filter wheel and using the focus aid whilst using the cameras. However, SC does not allow mount control from its righthand side control box (see fig.3). The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite Pro L50-B, X64 based PC with 8GB of ram and 1TB of SSD disk space and OS is windows 10 Pro build 18362.295, with 2 UBS 3 ports.
The laptop (PC) is connected to the SW hand control (HC) synscan version 04.39.05 via a USB 3 to serial cable. This cable allows the SW mount to be controlled with SS and SP running the positioning and guiding from this software. Also note, see (fig.9) for com port identification etc. This suggests that the cable and connection are correct, as it was also used to update the firmware to the SW HC and mount with no issues apparent.
The EQMOD ASCOM (EQAS) mount driver appears anywhere on the PC screen as a second toolbox the SC mount toolbox (see fig.3). This EQAS driver has no control in manual or other, of the SW mount. But if the SW HC is set for PC control only then the EQAS driver will record, track and drive the mount but there is no SC control (see fig.8). The EQAS is connected with the connect box in the SC toolbox and can be parked from this toolbox as well. These the only actions that SC toolbox can perform.
I have played with following settings baud rate, from 9600 to 115200 with no success and back again. Down loaded SW synscan relay 4.41 firmware again no success. Checked the RPC and it was running and on auto. Changed to differing com ports again showing no mount control. Attempted using different drivers in SC, it appears only EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6 driver works with SW HC on PC control only but not SC. I have included an ASCOM trace (see fig. 7).
I would like to perform plate solving and concentric search for out of frame objects using SharpCap Pro. I need some help or directions to overcome the above mayor problem. Noting that Stellarium scope can control the mount without trouble. Maybe Admin can advise me as well. My instinct tells me that windows 10 pro is having an effect as I have approached QHY stating that their driver for polemaster is ineffective in windows 10 pro. They were able to rewrite a new driver immediately to run in windows 10 pro.
I have included screen shots that may be beneficial in identifying the problem.
Fig. 1 is the available mount drivers in SharpCap
Fig. 2 is SharpCap displaying the mount control box right hand side of the screen
Fig. 3 is SharpCap screen showing both the EQMOD mount toolbox and SC toolbox RHS
Fig. 4 is screen displaying full EQMOD mount toolbox
Fig. 5 is full screen with Stellarium planetarium
Fig. 6 is SC and Stellarium running in the background
Fig. 7 is displaying ASCOM trace
Fig. 8 is displaying coordinates of the park/home position when SW HC is set to PC control only (celestial south pole)
Fig. 9 is the device manager showing com port etc.
Fig. 10 is the EQMOD ASCOM and ASCOM SETUP
The laptop (PC) is connected to the SW hand control (HC) synscan version 04.39.05 via a USB 3 to serial cable. This cable allows the SW mount to be controlled with SS and SP running the positioning and guiding from this software. Also note, see (fig.9) for com port identification etc. This suggests that the cable and connection are correct, as it was also used to update the firmware to the SW HC and mount with no issues apparent.
The EQMOD ASCOM (EQAS) mount driver appears anywhere on the PC screen as a second toolbox the SC mount toolbox (see fig.3). This EQAS driver has no control in manual or other, of the SW mount. But if the SW HC is set for PC control only then the EQAS driver will record, track and drive the mount but there is no SC control (see fig.8). The EQAS is connected with the connect box in the SC toolbox and can be parked from this toolbox as well. These the only actions that SC toolbox can perform.
I have played with following settings baud rate, from 9600 to 115200 with no success and back again. Down loaded SW synscan relay 4.41 firmware again no success. Checked the RPC and it was running and on auto. Changed to differing com ports again showing no mount control. Attempted using different drivers in SC, it appears only EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6 driver works with SW HC on PC control only but not SC. I have included an ASCOM trace (see fig. 7).
I would like to perform plate solving and concentric search for out of frame objects using SharpCap Pro. I need some help or directions to overcome the above mayor problem. Noting that Stellarium scope can control the mount without trouble. Maybe Admin can advise me as well. My instinct tells me that windows 10 pro is having an effect as I have approached QHY stating that their driver for polemaster is ineffective in windows 10 pro. They were able to rewrite a new driver immediately to run in windows 10 pro.
I have included screen shots that may be beneficial in identifying the problem.
Fig. 1 is the available mount drivers in SharpCap
Fig. 2 is SharpCap displaying the mount control box right hand side of the screen
Fig. 3 is SharpCap screen showing both the EQMOD mount toolbox and SC toolbox RHS
Fig. 4 is screen displaying full EQMOD mount toolbox
Fig. 5 is full screen with Stellarium planetarium
Fig. 6 is SC and Stellarium running in the background
Fig. 7 is displaying ASCOM trace
Fig. 8 is displaying coordinates of the park/home position when SW HC is set to PC control only (celestial south pole)
Fig. 9 is the device manager showing com port etc.
Fig. 10 is the EQMOD ASCOM and ASCOM SETUP