SharpCap Forums

Hi Robin,

For my last nine sessions, SharpCap has reported an error soon after start up. It offers me the opportunity to send an error report before an enforced closure.

Yet, each time, SharpCap works fine after reloading.

SharpCap behaves normally when I open my laptop without being connected to my astro gear.

Here are screenshots from two events:
- - - - -

It seems to be a USB issue of some kind but if you have any idea what can cause this I would appreciate it.

I am in Sydney Australia, on daylight saving time, eleven hours ahead of GMT. All sessions are in the evening.

I am running 64 bit SharpCap latest version, with Windows 11 home on an HP core I7 laptop using ASCOM and EQMOD.

Connected are Skywatcher EQ6 mount, ZWO ASI071 camera, ZWO EAF focuser and ZWO ASI 290 guide cam.

Regards,

Roger Powell

Hi Roger,

I think I have located the uploaded bug reports associated with your problems, and from those reports it looks as though the fact that you have set up SharpCap to use the 'ASCOM Switch Simulator' in the hardware settings is the cause of the recent problems.

The 'ASCOM Switch Simulator' is actually an out-of-date ASCOM simulator (recent versions of ASCOM have the 'ASCOM Switch V2 Simulator' and the 'ASCOM OmniSim Switch' as options for a simulated switch device). It looks as though the older simulator device is not responding properly to the request for the minimum switch value that SharpCap makes when initializing the switch UI.

I would suggest setting the Switch Device selection in the SharpCap hardware settings back to 'None' to hopefully immediately fix the problem. Also, it's probably worth updating your ASCOM platform to the latest version to get the latest simulator devices and also updating SharpCap - you will find a newer version available by auto-update and even more up-to-date versions on our download page (your version is now about 4 months old).

cheers,

Robin

Hi Robin,

It seems that I had the hardware setting for switches set to "Simulator" (not "Ascom Simulator" and not "None").

As I do not use any switch devices, I took your advice and reset it to "None".

You were spot on! I tested it tonight and for the first time in months it did not crash on start up, so I therefore assume it is resolved. Thank you. Thank you.

Tomorrow I will follow your other advice, which was to update Ascom and SharpCap.

Regards,

Roger