EQASCOM is a telescope driver that provides the astronomical 'brains' of the mount control system. It provides functions such as: Control of the mount using any ASCOM compliant planetarium software or client application Gotos/Slew at 0.144 resolution (depending on planetarium database accuracy and mount type). Virtual COM Port Drivers for USB2EQ6 and USB2EQ5: LXUSBCheck v1.1.0: GPUSB ASCOM Driver v1.0.0: Combined FCUSB/FCUSB2 ASCOM Driver v6.0.0: Legacy FCUSB ASCOM Driver v1.3.0: Legacy FCUSB2 ASCOM Driver v1.3.0: FCUSB FocusAPI Driver for CCDSoft: FCUSB2 FocusAPI Driver for CCDSoft: DLLs. DSUSB DLL: FCUSB DLL: FCUSB2 DLL: GPUSB DLL: LXUSB DLL.
Telescope/Mount Drivers
ACL Telescope Controllers (6.0.1)
Installs a driver for telescope control systems that speak the Merlin Controls Astronomy Command Language. Please note that there is a specific driver for the COMSOFT PC-TCS control system below. Version 6.0.1 corrects a COM port setup bug, and has sources for building under Platform 6.Advanced LX-200 Driver (Generic, not for Meade scopes)
Installs a driver that uses a subset of the LX-200 protocol. Use this driver with mounts that purport to use the LX-200 protocol like FS2, Picastro etc...Ascom 2X Mount Adaptor (Paramount, etc., 6.1) for TheSky X (external link)
This is supplied by Software Bisque and is available from the Downloads section of the Software Bisque site, the file is called Ascom 2X Mount Adaptor Setup.exe
Installs a driver that connects to Software Bisque's TheSky X/6/5 Astronomy Software and makes it look like a standard ASCOM telescope. This allows ASCOM-based astronomy software to use TheSky (including TPOINT and ProTrack) as a smart telescope controller.It is required for the Paramount mounts, and may be used with TheSky controlling any other of its supported telescope types, or via its built-in outbound ASCOM support, and then using ASCOM telescope drivers. This driver provides Telescope V3 support, 100% conformance, and compatibility with TheSky X (10.2.0 or later).
Astro-Physics GTO - Factory Supplied Driver and Software
This is the installer for the Astro-Physics factory-supported driver for all Astro-Physics telescope models. Please go to the Astro-Physics Software Updates web page for their driver and associated software.
AstroShop Omegon EQ500X Equatorial Mounts
This is the installer for the Omegon Mount EQ-500X sold by Astroshop.eu. Omegon mounts are a collection of Alt-Az and Equatorial mounts for visual observation and astrophotography. The Conformance report is part of the release. The mounts and driver pass with two errors related to coordinates granularity (1 arcsec minimum).Celestron Unified (6.1.7350, Feb 2020) Telescope & Focuser
Installs a driver for all computerized Celestron telescopes, now including the new Celestron Focuser. NOTE: Focuser moves are prevented if the focuser is not calibrated. Calibrate the Focuser before anything else! Also this driver does its best to compensate for the extra time needed for final approach in slews but which is not reported via the Celestron controller. This driver has passed the Conformance Checker tests. See the help file and release notes(!), installed as part of the driver, for a full description.
This driver does NOT support Synta mounts. Use the Sky-Watcher drivers listed below.
Digital Setting Circles (David Ek, external link)
This ASCOM driver allows the use of a variety of commercial and homebrew passive encoder-based digital setting circles systems with any Windows software that supports the ASCOM standard. This driver works with either alt-az mounts (like a dobsonian) or equatorial mounts. Equatorial mounts do not need to be accurately polar-aligned (although an accurate polar alignment will likely lead to a more satisfying observing experience). The button leads to David's web site for this driver as well as other info on DSCs.Explore Scientific PMC-Eight Mount Controller Driver
This is the link for the PMC-Eight Mount Controller to download the PMC-Eight Software Development Kit. This kit includes the ASCOM-Standards driver and other information needed to develop applications for the controller. This version of the driver has passed the Conformance Checker (report included in SDK). Please contact Explore Scientific for more information.Ascom Driver Nikon
EQMOD Project (external link)
With the EQMOD ASCOM driver, the user will be able to control the Modded EQ mount using any ASCOM based astronomy software at 0.144 arcsecond resolution. This is an ongoing project, so be sure to check the site for updates.Gemini Telescope .NET (1.0.75, April 2020)
Installs a driver for mounts controlled by René Görlich's Gemini Astronomical Telescope Positioning System. This latest version (2020) addresses compatibility with ASCOM Alpaca and also makes some needed changes for soon to be released firmware (stay tuned for this upcoming firmware release). Current firmware required!Ascom Driver
Generic LX-200 (5.0.1)
Installs a driver that uses a small subset of the LX-200 protocol. Features are limited, and end-of-slew detection may be unreliable (requires adjustment of encoder resolution). Use this driver with mounts that purport to use the LX-200 protocol. Be prepared for limitations and problems. Simple applications (such as planetarium slewing) are more likely to work than demanding automation applications.
GS Server (July 2020) for Sky-Watcher and Orion Mounts
This is a server with its own graphical interface that provides an ASCOM Telescope interface as well as a Synta Protocol for Sky-Watcher and Orion mounts: EQ8, EQ8-R, HDX110, AZ-EQ5GT, Sirius Pro AZ/EQ-G, AZ-EQ6GT, Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G, EQ6-R PRO, NEQ6, HEQ5, EQ5, EQ4, AzGTi.iOptron CEM60 and iEQ45 Pro
Installs a driver for the iOptron CEM60 and iEQ45 Pro mounts. This driver has been supplied by the manufacturer and has passed all conformance tests (report here).LittleFoot Controller (1.0.0)
Driver for the LittleFoot Controller Project, specifically the LittleFoot Classic. For more info see Astronomie & Elektronik (a German/English forum).Meade Autostar/Audiostar Project (October 2019) <- TRY THIS FIRST
Link to a new 'Meade Generic' driver for the Meade Autostar/Audiostar controlled Meade telescopes. This driver project is listed in hopes that the author can get feedback and work out any remaining issues. This driver has been created after discovering that the 'Meade LX200 Classic and Autostar #494, #495, and #497 (combined telescope/focuser, 5.0.4)' driver listed below does not implement enough features to allow the telescope to be properly operated remotely.The driver can be installed alongside any other driver (including the 'universal' one listed below). See the driver project website for details.Meade Universal Driver Project (June 2014)
Link to a driver that recognizes new Meade telescopes (LX850 and LX600), some earlier LX200GPS telescopes, and telescopes that recognize basic Meade Commands (e.g., LX200 Classic, Centurion). Provides position readout, slews, side of pier (where appropriate), and pulse guiding among its basic capabilities. It has passed Conformance Checking for the LX850 and the LX600 and has been run with a number of other Meade telescopes. While not complete functionality (e.g., missing tracking control, focus control, slew rate selection), this is the first iteration of a driver that is intended provide replacement capabilities for all existing Meade drivers. Please Note: This driver reports that it cannot control tracking (on/off) so it may not be suitable for automation applications.