ASCOM protocol

[turboscrew]

Since there is no general subsection under the "mounts" section...

Does anyone happen to know about the ASCOM protocol?
I found the git repo of the platform, but it's a big haystack of C#/VB code to read.
And on the ASCOM page they say that the spec(?) was generated from the code, so I guess there is no real spec for it, but I haven't found the generated one either.

[turboscrew]

Ah, ASCOM doesn't have its own protocol, but uses different drivers for different mounts, and the drivers know the protocol that the mount understands.

[Graeme1858]

Ah, ASCOM doesn't have its own protocol, but uses different drivers for different mounts, and the drivers know the protocol that the mount understands.

Yes, you install the ASCOM Platform, install the ASCOM drivers for your mount, your cameras and accessories then you forget about it!

Regards

Graeme

[SkyHiker]

ASCOM is Windows only , non-distributed and is essentially obsolete now that Alpaca has been released. Alpaca runs anywhere and is distributed, generates ASCOM stubs for those who need it.

[JayTee]

now that Alpaca has been released.

Hi Henk,
Where does one download Alpaca? I looked all over the ASCOM site and couldn't find where to download Alpaca. The internet wants me to download "FireAlpaca" drawing software.

Cheers,
JT

[SkyHiker]

now that Alpaca has been released.

Hi Henk,
Where does one download Alpaca? I looked all over the ASCOM site and couldn't find where to download Alpaca. The internet wants me to download "FireAlpaca" drawing software.

Cheers,
JT

I was told it's part of ASCOM 6.5 or 5.6, I forgot, it was released recently, from a Bob Denny presentation by Woodland Hills. It should be totally transparent for ASCOM users. Stand alone Alpaca is useless until there is enough vendor support but the transition should be easy.

[SkyHiker]

now that Alpaca has been released.

Hi Henk,
Where does one download Alpaca? I looked all over the ASCOM site and couldn't find where to download Alpaca. The internet wants me to download "FireAlpaca" drawing software.

Cheers,
JT

There's a large Alpaca icon to the left on the ASCOM home page, click on it , https://www.ascom-standards.org/Developer/Alpaca.htm

[turboscrew]

now that Alpaca has been released.

Hi Henk,
Where does one download Alpaca? I looked all over the ASCOM site and couldn't find where to download Alpaca. The internet wants me to download "FireAlpaca" drawing software.

Cheers,
JT

If you want to get only that, https://github.com/ASCOMInitiative/ASCOMRemote/releases

[turboscrew]

ASCOM is Windows only , non-distributed and is essentially obsolete now that Alpaca has been released. Alpaca runs anywhere and is distributed, generates ASCOM stubs for those who need it.

Scary. I have one laptop vith Windows Vista and one minilaptop with Windows 10. Haven't booted them for about a year.
All my other machines run Linux (2 desktops and 3 laptops).

[JayTee]

Alpaca is an API, right? I just downloaded the latest version of the ASCOM controllers (6.5.0.3091) and the telescope chooser window has an Alpaca tab at the top. So now I'm really confused.

JT

[SkyHiker]

Alpaca is an API, right? I just downloaded the latest version of the ASCOM controllers (6.5.0.3091) and the telescope chooser window has an Alpaca tab at the top. So now I'm really confused.

JT

It has a RESTful API that maps 1-1 to the ASCOM API. One of the implications of REST is the difference that ASCOM is stateful (objects stay alive until all references are gone) whereas Alpaca is stateless (one shot calls, may require polling to emulate some ASCOM behaviors). It has a wrapper that makes its Alpaca devices register as ASCOM objects on Windows. There is no such discovery service for remote objects yet. The differences with INDI are that INDI uses a server whereas Alpaca does not, and that INDI has a discovery feature for device specific features while Alpaca, like ASCOM, implements only the essential features.

I presume that the Alpaca tab is for Alpaca devices, of which there are only a few (the Optec autofocuser IIRC). Once you install an Alpaca driver for your mount it should show up there. Remote objects should, also. I have not installed it and am no expert, just watched a few Bob Denny presentations. Maybe if you watched them on Woodland Hills you would find the answers.

[turboscrew]

I'm not sure, and looks like they are not either. They talk about ASCOM remote that talks to Alpaca clients using Alpaca API.