Steve,

We (at SSRO-North) used to have lots of problems with our dome and ACP. We would get frequent dropouts in the communications and the dome would then close. We went to a system where we used DDW itself to control the dome (reading the telescope position file written by TheSky). In this mode, ACP wasn't controlling the dome at all and DDW was good at following the scope -- the method worked well. (With one proviso -- when we did a meridian flip, ACP would sometimes try to start imaging before the dome got around.)

In the last month or so, we installed a new computer down there and in the process, updated to ACP version 6. Since we did that, we haven't had a dome drop and ACP is now controlling our dome very well.

So... Are you running ACP 6? I think it help to have the latest version. And, if you are using DDW to follow the scope (and the dome follows when using TheSky), I think you should be ok when ACP is controlling the imaging plan. Just make sure that ACP doesn't think its controlling the dome as well.

HTH,

Teri