Rotator & focuser problem !!! (same device)

[Bob Denny]

Hello,

This ASCOM driver implements 2 different drivers in one single program "out-of-process". Software who want use these drivers must call "existing" driver. This means that client software must create a new driver instance if the driver is not running; but if driver is already running the client must connect to that driver (driver can be running for example when you start manually RF control panel interface).
You can try this, for example, using VBA in Excel and Word application at the same time: if you create instances for rotator and focuser in VBA Excel and in VBA Word you have only one application opened at time. Probably, software you are using create multiple instance of these drivers ad there is a conflict over serial port (low level driver uses the same access to the electronic device!).
We are working for a solution at the problem you have; at the moment I suggest to try use POTH downloadable to ASCOM website.

Best regards

Rotofoc Software Engineer

I don't understand this 100% but it is clear that they did not implement a Local Server pattern. It is up to them to allow two separate programs to share access to the device via its single serial port. There is nothing more that I can do. It is a limitation of the software for this device. POTH cannot manage a Rotator.

[nikos paschalis]

Ok i will contact them and i will give them the response about the POTH.

[nikos paschalis]

Dear Bob
after long time and with the excuse that they are waiting their engineer i got these reply....

Dear Mr Paschalis,

We are waiting our engineer, I thank you for patient.

If you would like, at the moment you can try to use a serial protocol comunication, probably Mr Deny can help you .

These are links

DEMO:
https://app.box.com/s/aaxhxbe7wwmyd619jxa8
MANUAL:
https://app.box.com/s/650z9iybi3z4j8sbuu3flu671kbbw2m2
https://app.box.com/s/5mc5m4hr1r5v9gmdzcff950jduurlvpj

I hope these information can help you

[Bob Denny]

Nikos -- I am so sorry but I can't do a programming project that is essentially another driver for their device. I would need to implement an ASCOM driver to adapt to the serial protocol. But this is what you paid them to do. And I don't write drivers for any devices, since I don't make them and don't really know what is going on inside.

I really hope you understand...

[nikos paschalis]

Thanks Bob ,
of course i do . Ok i will see what i can do...

[nikos paschalis]

Hello Bob
after long time the engineer of the Reginato manage to make the new driver , and rotator - focuser connected and worked fine in a simple one image run.
After focusing is is supposed to start a 60 sec image but the run stopped .
Attached is the log file.

[Bob Denny]

18:01:57 **Can't create parent folder $C:
18:01:57 **Probably an illegal character in custom file/folder name
18:01:57 **Can't create parent folder $C:\Users
18:01:57 **Probably an illegal character in custom file/folder name
18:01:57 **Can't create parent folder $C:\Users\Asteroskopeio2
18:01:57 **Probably an illegal character in custom file/folder name
18:01:57 **Can't create parent folder $C:\Users\Asteroskopeio2\Documents
18:01:57 **Probably an illegal character in custom file/folder name
18:01:57 **Can't create parent folder $C:\Users\Asteroskopeio2\Documents\ACP Astronomy
18:01:57 **Probably an illegal character in custom file/folder name
18:01:57 **Can't create parent folder $C:\Users\Asteroskopeio2\Documents\ACP Astronomy\Images
18:01:57 **Probably an illegal character in custom file/folder name
18:01:57 **Can't create parent folder $C:\Users\Asteroskopeio2\Documents\ACP Astronomy\Images\20170324
18:01:57 **Probably an illegal character in custom file/folder name
18:01:57 **Script Error (Tracking has been stopped)**
18:01:58 Source: ACP Observatory Control Software
18:01:58 Message: Creating folder: Non-existent drive letter or root name $C:


Look at your file ImageFileConfig. I'm guessing that one of your templates has a $ before it. This is an illegal character for the drive letter.

Matbe you have $$DEFPATH Which will translate to $C:\users\...

[nikos paschalis]

Yes , in the imageconfig file , it was as
$C:\Users\Asteroskopeio2\Documents\ACP Astronomy\Images\$DATENITE\$FILTER\$TGTNAME-S$SETNUM-R$RPTNUM-C$CNTNUM-$INTERVALS-B$BINNING-PA$TGTPA-$MERSIDE-$FILTER

So i removed the "$" . ​I believe it is ok now .

[Bob Denny]

OK, good. Thanks for letting us know...