--- In guide-user@yahoogroups.com, Bill J Gray <pluto@...> wrote:

>

Hi Bill,
It has been some time since we last talked. As you might imagine, I
am taking something simple and turning it into a project.

I installed the most recent version of Guide8 (the one with the ASCOM)
radio button. Changed the line in startup.mar from 100 to 325. Tried
to connect to the telescope but it is not responding. Am using the
same com port (1) that I use with the Gemini Control Center program.
I can goto objects with GCC with no problem on com 1. I then shut it
off GCC entirely (not minimized) and then bring up Guide8 on com 1
with the "LX200" selected. However, no connection between the two.

I also tried using the ASCOM driver, per the link info you provided
but received the same results...no connection.

I am using the version of Guide8 that was modified to work with the
Sky Tracker. However, I set that up years ago and don't recall all the
mods we made. When I installed the newest version of Guide8 today it
didn't appear to change any of the settings in startup.mar that were
made for the skytracker.

Likely this has a simple solution and any guidance would again be
greatly appreciated.

RonM

> Hi Ron,
>
> This ought to be straightforward: you can either tell
> Guide you have a Meade (LX200-type) scope, or go through
> ASCOM.
>
> I'd recommend the former route, if you can do it,
> because it's somewhat simpler: you just plug in the scope,
> tell Guide you have a Meade scope, and you're off to the
> races. You _may_ have to make one small change, one that
> helps Guide get around an oddity in how the Gemini replies
> to slew commands:
>
> http://www.projectpluto.com/rare_q.htm#gemini
>
> But that's about it.
>
> If you're using Guide in combination with software that
> relies on ASCOM, then Guide will have to do so as well;
> ASCOM doesn't "play well with others" in this regard. Its
> default behavior is to grab the scope, then not surrender
> it; all commands must go through ASCOM. In that situation,
> you should look here:
>
> http://www.projectpluto.com/update8d.htm#ascom
>
> for info as to how to get Guide to work through ASCOM.
>
> -- Bill
>