Can Sharpcap be used with the ZWO AM7 mount?

[Moonstruck]

Hi Robin,
I am considering getting the ZWO AM7 harmonic drive mount (to hold my C11 Edge), and I just want to make sure I can use Sharpcap to control it. I have always used Sharpcap with other mounts I have had, and it's important to me that any mount I buy is compatible with it.

So... can I use Sharpcap with the AM7? Will this mount automatically show up in the Sharpcap menu when I connect it?

If I can in fact use Sharpcap with the AM7, can I use the Sharpcap polar align function with it, since it is a harmonic drive mount and has no clutches (for moving the scope 90 degrees during polar alignment). How is polar alignment done with Sharpcap using a harmonic drive mount?

Last - do you know what additional mount control software is needed for this mount? I am used to using EQMOD with my Skywatcher mounts but I don't think it will support the AM7. Before I start researching this more I thought you might know. I know ZWO has their own type of mount control software but I am not sure if I have to use that, or if there are any other good options.

Thanks,
John

[admin]

Hi John,

so your last question is the key to all the others - you *will* need new software, which is the ZWO 'ASI Mount' software which lets you control the mount from the PC. I'm not 100% sure if that software includes the ASCOM driver too, or if you also need to install the ZWO ASCOM Driver software, but one way or another you will end up with an ASCOM driver for your ZWO ASI mount that you can select in SharpCap. From that point on, SharpCap should control the ASI mount in pretty much the same way that it does with your current mount via EQMOD. Now, I have to personally say that I have not used any of the different ASI mounts myself, but I know for sure that hundreds of people are using them in SharpCap (and of course other astronomy software that also controls the mount via ASCOM), so all should work fine.

For polar alignment, rather than unlock the clutch you will end up using the mount movement buttons to make the mount slew in RA during the rotation stage of the alignment process. You can either use the normal direction buttons (select a high movement rate), or there are buttons for this now in the polar alignment tool that should move the mount at maximum movement rate.

Hope this helps,

Robin

[Moonstruck]

Thanks - I'm glad I could still use Sharpcap if I got an AM7. Thanks also for the info on adding new ZWO mount control software.

For any imaging session, I would be using either my EQ6 mount and EQMOD, or the AM7 and ZWO mount control software. Does Sharpcap automatically recognize which mount is connected and which software to use, or do I need to tell it (through a Sharpcap menu item?) which mount I am using?

[celkins]

Set up 2 different hardware profiles (easy in newer versions), and have a separate shortcut on your desktop for each one…

[Moonstruck]

Thanks. Can you point me in the right direction on how to set up two different hardware profiles? I've never done that before.

[admin]

Hi,

make sure you have an up-to-date version of SharpCap, then 'File' menu, 'Other Settings Profiles...' then 'Manage'.

From that window you can create new profiles, name them and create desktop shortcuts that will launch them. Once you have a new settings profile, run that profile (check the SharpCap title bar - it will display the profile name and number). You can then change the settings for that profile and that leaves the settings in the original profile unchanged.

cheers,

Robin