Help with an AM5 Mount

[GrahamD]

Hi all,

I've not used SharpCap extensively as I tend to be an ASIAIR user, but I have had a license for about 6 or 7 years now and it's my goto software for Planetary. (Using ASIAIR to control the mount)

I now want to extend my use of SharpCap to Ha Solar Imaging, and Planetary where SharpCap controls the mount, so that SharpCap can keep the Sun/Planets centred.

I am using an AM5 Mount and planning to do the Planetary Imaging with a Celestron C8 and Powermate 2.5.

My question is about installing the AM5 within SharpCap. When I add the mount to SharpCap it searches for and finds the mount with no problem,(either via Wifi or Cable) but then my PC launches ASI Mount, which appears to be an external program. If I'm using ASIMount, will this work seamlessly within Sharpcap or am I missing a step ?

I would prefer to control the Mount via wifi as I plan to control the Camera via a long USB cable, with me being inside in the warm and the Rig on my Patio, but still well within WiFi range of the AM5.

Many thanks

Graham

[davemartin88]

ASI Mount loads with SharpCap in my setup using an AM5 mount without issue. No problems with it running and I use it to park the mount when ending my session. I also have Stellarium connected to the mount at the same time to use for objects not available in the Sharpcap goto database.

[admin]

Hi,

yes, that's the way it is supposed to work. The ASI mount application is the one that actually talks to the mount and SharpCap talks to the ASI Mount application - regularly fetching status and sending any commands through the ASI app.

cheers,

Robin

[GrahamD]

Hi all,

Thanks for coming back, that's great, I just wanted to check !!

One thing though, I can park the mount but it won't unpark (I have to connect to ASIAIR for that). I have the AM5 (Not AM5N) and wonder if that is the issue ? Firmware on the AM5 and the Handset is up to date.

It's not really a problem as I'm using the AM5 out of the Observatory currently.

many thanks

Graham

[admin]

Hi Graham,

interesting... When you say it won't unpark, exactly what happens? Do you get an error when you untick the 'Park' box in SharpCap or does it just do nothing?

cheers,

Robin

[davemartin88]

As FYI, I use an AM5 mount and when I park the mount from within Sharpcap, the mount moves to the park position (0 ALT, 0 DEC, 270 AZ) as expected. Within the ASI Mount App, the GO Home position is grayed out and the UNPARK button is available. In Sharpcap, the PARK button is checked to indicate mount is parked. Also as expected, you are not able to move the mount using the directional controls within Sharpcap or the ASI Mount app until the mount is unparked from either Sharpcap or ASI Mount.

If I untick the Park box in Sharpcap, there is no movement on the mount but the directional controls on both the ASI Mount and within Sharpcap are available and work correctly. The GO HOME button in the ASI Mount is no longer greyed out and the AM5 will move to the Home position when selected.

I believe this is the expected behavior and is the way my mount has worked since I started using it a couple of years ago.

If this is unhelpful, please disregard but I remember when I first started using Sharpcap, I wasn't sure what was happening with the Park option until I saw the results in ASI Mount.