[APBeta] AstroPlanner V2.0b34 Notes

[Bob]

Paul,
I have been able to test b34 on an AutoStar mount (LX) and have no trouble
connecting AP using ASCOM and BlueTooth(Aircable). It also will direct
connect using the built in drivers, no BT. AP will not establish a
connection using built in drivers VIA BT. 
AP+ASCOM+ Wire=Good
AP+ASCOM+ BT=Good
AP+Built in LX+Wire=Good
AP+Built in LX+ BT= no connection.
I also noted that if the Aircable is active but not paired and AP has the
built in driver set to the com port that the powered up but not paired
Aircable, AP start very slowly.  AP starts a little faster if the Aircable
is powered off or the com port is set to another non-powered up BT port. I
have not been able to reproduce this one with regularity, only on occasions.
AP starts up quickly if the BT radio is turned off entirely.
Another small and probably insignificant event is that, trying
AP+BuiltinLX+BT, IF com Port is set to currently active Aircable, AP cannot
find scope and times out. Pop dialog.
Else if,  AP+BuiltinLX com port is set to non active BT serial, the data
flow window acts like a partial connection is established.
Data Flow reports:
Connection
Check Firmware Version..
Get Version  #:GVN#              Timeout
Check Communication.
Get RA  #:GRA#

 Then AP just hags (not Responding) and windows pops the windows close
program dialog.
To replicate this after changing any telescope parameters (com ports) in AP
you must restart AP or result will be different.

Also the "Properties" button on the ASCOM driver cannot be access VIA AP.
ASCOM reports: "Failed to load Driver: Invalid Object Use: Only one program
can use this Telescope".  No other astro programs running. I have to start
CDC or some other program to change any ASCOM parameters as a workaround.

I hope to test on the ArgoNavis and Servocat soon.
Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: apbeta-bounces at lists.astroplanner.net
[mailto:apbeta-bounces at lists.astroplanner.net] On Behalf Of Paul Rodman
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 7:50 PM
To: AstroPlanner Beta Testers
Subject: [APBeta] AstroPlanner V2.0b34 Notes



On Apr 15, 2009, at 04:43 PM, Paul Rodman wrote:

> AstroPlanner V2.0b34 is now available for download from:
>
> <http://www.astroplanner.net/alphabeta/>

Not mentioned in the release notes is the the fact that some serious  
work was done on the telescope control stuff. Hopefully it will behave  
a lot better now. Note that this is with the built-in telescope  
drivers, not ASCOM (which might well benefit from this release, or  
not) which was not tested.

Also, for those of you that are suffering major slowdowns with the  
image database builder thread seemingly stuck in a loop, I have  
upgraded the Help->Thread Tracker to show more details about what a  
thread is currently doing. Please try the feature and report back to  
me on your findings.

Development is becoming more difficult as I try and overcome various  
problems with threading. Having stuff happen (effectively) in parallel  
is fraught with challenges and bugs that are a bitch to track down.  
However, we're getting there. Slowly.

Paul R.

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