SimScope is a multi-threaded C# ASCOM telescope driver for use with astronomy software. Modeled after the ASCOM .Net Simulator this project uses the local server model or hub to control its own internal telescope mount. It is built using C#, WPF, and a variation of MVVM. Its purpose is to help those that want to create their own mount drivers in understanding the fundamentals of telescope control. Included is a mount library that mimics a small set of telescope mount commands and works in N-Hemi and S-Hemi observatory and axes configurations.
You can download the executable version at https://groups.io/g/GSS/files. Its located in the files section under the SimScope folder.
All settings or persisted data are not store in ASCOM Profile but stored in user settings along the window sizing information and window state. Serial information is also stored but the application does not make a true serial connection to the simulator. There are some included examples for serial port communications. The solution does not have logging or error handling so add your own or use external tools.
- ASCOM.SimScope.Telescope - COM/.Net Class Library implementing the ASCOM device interface for V3 telescope driver.
- Benchmarks - Console application for using the BenchmarkDotNet performance library to perform basic performance testing.
- Mount - Class Library that contains the communication command set of actions, Queues for command executions and responses, and the simulator that mimics a mount.
- Principles - Class Library that contains a number of fundamental methods including Coordinates, Conversions, Hi Resoulution dates, Julian dates, Timers, Time, and unit functions.
- SimServer - WPF application that runs the ASCOM local server.
- Unit Test - basic unit tests.
Install the ASCOM platform and developer tools located at https://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm
To run SimScope download and build the solution. Your option to remove the Benchmarks and Unit Test projects. they are not needed to run SimScope. After a successful debug build you must register the COM objects with ASCOM. To do this navigate to the debug build directory and locate SimServer.exe. Run SimServer.exe /register from a command prompt with administrator privileges. This will register SimServer with ASCOM. The driver "ASCOM SimScope Telescope" will show up in the ASCOM chooser when selecting a driver from your astronomy software. You can also test with some of the installed ASCOM tools such as Conform, Profile, or Diagnostics.
Run SimServer.exe /register from an administrator command prompt
If you want to use this project to create your own telescope driver there are a number of steps needed.
- Recommend to copy the solution to another work location
- Remove the Benchmarks and Unit Projects, unless you wan to keep them.
- Change all the project names and namespaces to new names. I recommend you keep the word ASCOM as the first part of the driver project. Preface the other project names with your own.
- Setup the project references and usings with new names.
ASCOM.MyDriver.Telescope
ACME.MyDriver.Mount
ACME.MyDriver.Principles
ACME.MyDriver.Server
- Search solution and replace all the GUIDS with new ones except for those in the IClassFactory.cs file
- Modify all the AssemblyInfo.cs with your information
- In ASCOM.SimScope.Telescope/Telescope.cs change the ServedClassName and ProgId attributes to match your new project name.
- Check your App.config and App.xaml for namespace changes.
- After successful build, register your exe with ASCOM Run "ACME.MyDriver.exe /register" from an administrator command prompt.
- If it does not show up in the ASCOM Chooser, unregister using "ACME.MyDriver.exe /unregister" fix the problem then re-register again.
In the installer directory are the files to create a deployment executable using Inno Setup. Review the .iss script file for paths and change the GUID.
- Visual Studio 2017 Community edition
- .Net Framework 4.6.1
- BenchmarkDotNet version="0.11.5" nuget package https://github.com/dotnet/BenchmarkDotNet
- ASCOM platform and developer tools
- Inno Setup Compiler version 5.5.8 http://www.innosetup.com
Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for details on our code of conduct, and the process for submitting pull requests to us.
- Robert Morgan - Initial work - https://github.com/rmorgan001
See also the list of contributors who participated in this project.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE.md file for details
- Hat tip to anyone whose code was used
- ASCOM development team
- Andrew Johansen & Colm Brazel