FCUSB/JMI PCFC with CCDSoft

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:10 pm

I'm attempting to use the JMI PC Focus controller, similiar if not identical to the FCUSB, with the @focus and manual focusing features of
CCDSoft. Every time I connect to the focus control an error message
is displayed which is The ASCOM Focuser reported an incorrect value for the MaxPos property. What does this mean? Is there anyway around this error? Is there a more recent update for the Focuser ASCOM driver software for the FCUSB that would work with the PC Focus Control?

Post by **dpanderson** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:23 pm

Bill,

I will contact CCDSoft and see if I can resolve the issue with them. Thanks for reporting this bug.

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:45 pm

Doug,

There is some additional info that might help diagnose the problem. Two CCDSoft error codes appear after the IN and OUT buttons on the Focus tab are activiated. Code 218 Limits Exceeded occurs when the IN button is depressed. Code 1 ACL undefined Error happens after clicking OK on the MaxPos property error box after the OUT button is depressed. Hope this helps.

Post by **dpanderson** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:50 pm

Thanks, Bill. I'll pass this along. It looks like the folks at Software Bisque have taken this week off, so it will be next week at the earliest before we can resolve this.

Post by **dpanderson** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:45 am

Bill,

After some dialogue with Software Bisque tech support and the fellow that wrote the FocusAPI that allows ASCOM drivers to work with CCDSoft, I don't think there is a quick and easy solution to this problem. CCDSoft expects a focuser to be able to report its position. Because the FCUSB has no knowledge of its position, it reports it back as an error. I may try to write a FocusAPI plugin that would allow the FCUSB to work with CCDSoft, but until I can get a temporary license for CCDSoft so I can debug the FocusAPI, I won't be able to work on it.

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:47 pm

Doug,

I thought it might be as simple as FCUSB software providing some kind of positional data to keep the FocusAPI and CCDSoft happy. If you're looking for help in debugging any software to correct the problem, maybe by providing my equipment and CCDSoft as test bed for any downloaded test software that you might want to try could shorten debug time? I would think it worth while for FCUSB to work with the focus features of CCDSoft.

Post by **dpanderson** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:00 pm

Bill,

I'll modify the ASCOM driver so that it reports "position" and email it to you to give a try. I probably won't get to it until Sunday at the earliest. This will not indicate the actual position, but an approximate position based upon how much time in milliseconds the motor has been asked to move. Hopefully that will keep CCDSoft happy, and provide a workable solution.

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:01 pm

Doug,

I'll wait for your modification to the driver this weekend and give it a try.
Since I really have the JMI PCFC version of the FCUSB module which ASCOM driver would you be changing - PCFC or FCUSB? If its FCUSB, is that compatible with the JMI PC focus controller?

Post by **dpanderson** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:43 pm

Bill,

Did you get my private message?

Kcombs · Post by **Kcombs** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:23 pm

dpanderson wrote:Bill,

I'll modify the ASCOM driver so that it reports "position" and email it to you to give a try. I probably won't get to it until Sunday at the earliest. This will not indicate the actual position, but an approximate position based upon how much time in milliseconds the motor has been asked to move. Hopefully that will keep CCDSoft happy, and provide a workable solution.

I have the same issue, using CCDSoft and a JMI Motofocus. I would be happy to beta the driver also.

Kent

Post by **dpanderson** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:29 am

Kent,

Bill has already tried the ASCOM driver that I modified and it did not solve the problem. I am going to attempt to write a CCDSoft FocusAPI explicitly for the PCFC and FCUSB, but it may be a while before I get to it. Do you have any other software you can use until it is ready?

Kcombs · Post by **Kcombs** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:28 am

Oh yea, it is no problem. I would like it to work eventually but I'm in no hurry. Thanks.

Kent

Post by **dpanderson** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:04 am

Bill, Kent,

Just a note to let you know I finally have some time to work on this. I have a basic FocusAPI for the FCUSB, and should have one for the PCFC soon. There are a few thing I want to add, but then I'll get out a beta for each of you to try.

Kcombs · Post by **Kcombs** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:38 am

dpanderson wrote:Bill, Kent,

Just a note to let you know I finally have some time to work on this. I have a basic FocusAPI for the FCUSB, and should have one for the PCFC soon. There are a few thing I want to add, but then I'll get out a beta for each of you to try.

Thanks Doug, looking forward to it.

KEnt