StarChaser 4

Discussion in 'Guiding and Adaptive Optics - StarChaser and AO' started by Martin Pugh, Nov 23, 2023.

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  1. Chuck_e

    Chuck_e Cyanogen Customer

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    Colin: Works for me.

    Martin: I'm on a GEM with a SiTech controller.
     
    Chuck_e, Feb 3, 2025
    #21
  2. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Unfortunately I leave Chile tomorrow and for now have uninstalled the AOX/SC4 until the issues are resolved. Different hardware is now on the scope, so I dont have time. Hopefully Chuck can test. Will this address both the inability to calibrate in any other mode except Bin 1 and the guide star behaviour?
     
    Martin Pugh, Feb 3, 2025
    #22
  3. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    What progress is being made on fixing the long standing problems with the SC4/AOX combination?
     
    Martin Pugh, Feb 23, 2025
    #23
  4. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Colin Haig, Feb 24, 2025
    #24
  5. Chuck_e

    Chuck_e Cyanogen Customer

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    It looks like this.
     

    Attached Files:

    Chuck_e, Feb 24, 2025
    #25
  6. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    See the orange arrow showing you the button you need to click:
    dl_settings.png
     
    Colin Haig, Feb 24, 2025
    #26
  7. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Hi Chuck
    so is it working? Has the calibration issue been fixed? Does the guide star jump around?

    Martin
     
    Martin Pugh, Feb 24, 2025
    #27
  8. Chuck_e

    Chuck_e Cyanogen Customer

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    Will try this evening. Goinig out soon.
     
    Chuck_e, Feb 24, 2025
    #28
  9. Frank R. Santore

    Frank R. Santore Cyanogen Customer

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    Also interested in the progress of this testing ...
     
    Frank R. Santore, Feb 27, 2025
    #29
  10. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    I guess not.
     
    Martin Pugh, Mar 3, 2025
    #30
  11. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Colin....I have reinstalled the AOX/SC4 and installed the 3 files you list above, but the settings for the SC4 shows DLAPIWrapper.dll as not installed, so I cant connect to it in programs like NINA. Is this a different a file I need to install?

    Also there is a conflict in what you show in the screen shots....in one screenshot you show the DLAPIWrapper to be version 4.0.2.0 and in another version 2.8.0.0

    Furthermore......the download link you show above is SetupDLAPIx64 151Mb in size but on the SC4 webpage, the download gives SetupDLAPI.exe 27Mb in size

    I can no longer connect to the SC4 via PHD2 with the 64bit ASCOM driver you have linked to. I have had to install version 6.0.24 32bit to reconnect. PHD2 is a 64bit platform I believe.
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2025
    Martin Pugh, Apr 9, 2025
    #31
  12. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    It sounds like the computer may have things a bit mixed. This might be due to order-of-operations, old installs, or prior tests.
    While I take a few minutes to write up some details, a few comments:

    DLAPIWrapper.dll is included in the ASCOM drivers, so should be there. There is a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version, installed by different installers.

    Screenshots were done at different times on different setups, and were intended to show something for another user. I'll redo this when I get a chance.

    These are completely different installer files, with different names, sizes, and contents.

    PHD2 is actually 32-bit. I thought it was 64-bit as well, but it's not. The Mac version is 64-bit, not the Windows version.
    So it will need 32-bit ASCOM driver. or the ASCOM JustAHub might work.

    In the meantime, I'm working on a list of what goes where, and will do a clean install and give it a test with PHD2.
     
    Colin Haig, Apr 10, 2025
    #32
  13. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    ok thanks. But so as you know, I uninstalled all of the previous ASCOM drivers then installed Maxim v7.14, followed by the DLAPI followed by the ASCOM 64bit driver and the DLI wrapper does not get installed. The only way I could get that back was to install the DLAPI on the SC4 download page. So yes, I think it needs a clean out and an order of install. But noted about PHD2….so I will just need the 32bit ASCOM driver for the SC4 to work in that app.
     
    Martin Pugh, Apr 10, 2025
    #33
  14. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    also….ASCOM driver v 6.4.22 is on my system but will not uninstall….if that physical file is still there it might be causing conflict, so if you can tell me where it is I can delete it manually.
     
    Martin Pugh, Apr 10, 2025
    #34
  15. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    What program is telling you DLAPIWrapper.dll is missing?

    DLAPIWrapper.dll 32-bit is found in:
    C:\Windows\SysWOW64

    DLAPIWrapper.dll 64-bit is found in:
    C:\Windows\System32

    Standby on the ASCOM driver...
     
    Colin Haig, Apr 10, 2025
    #35
  16. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Maxim….when you click on the setup dialogue for camera 2, as in your screenshots. It is still showing ‘not installed’ now
     
    Martin Pugh, Apr 10, 2025
    #36
  17. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    I also have DL Config Utility and DLConfig 64 installed on my PC…I suspect I need both right? One for 32bit and one for 64.
     
    Martin Pugh, Apr 10, 2025
    #37
  18. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    You know, it would be good if you could write a utility that ‘cleans out’ all the drivers and old installs for a complete reset. This kind of utility exists for many other programs i think.
     
    Martin Pugh, Apr 10, 2025
    #38
  19. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Great suggestion!
     
    Colin Haig, Apr 10, 2025
    #39
  20. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Here are the details of files:

    Description of Files:
    DL Config x64 - This is a 64-bit hardware configuration utility. Needed for Windows 11, Windows 10 64-bit.
    DL Config Utility - This is a 32-bit hardware configuration utility.
    - It is deprecated (not needed, obsolete) as the operating system is 64-bit.
    There are 32-bit and 64-bit types of the following files:
    dlapi.dll - Diffraction Limited Application Programming Interface
    - DLAPI talks to the hardware drivers for Aluma/STC/SC cameras and accessories
    DLAPIWrapper.dll - DLAPI Wrapper that wraps dlapi.dll for use by DL ASCOM drivers
    ASCOM.DLImaging.Camera.dll - ASCOM driver for DL Camera
    ASCOM.DLImaging.CameraExt.dll - ASCOM driver for DL Guider
    ASCOM.DLImaging.FilterWheel.dll - ASCOM driver for DL filter wheels
    CCDPlugDLImaging.dll - MaxIm plug-in for DL Imaging devices

    32-bit system file locations:
    The folder C:\Windows\SysWOW64 is named by Microsoft for the 32-bit Windows programs on 64-bit Windows operating systems like Windows 11.
    It ends with "64", but contains 32-bit stuff. This can be confusing.

    C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dlapi.dll
    C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DLAPIWrapper.dll

    32-bit ASCOM drivers:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera\ASCOM.DLImaging.Camera.dll
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera\ASCOM.DLImaging.CameraExt.dll
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\FilterWheel\ASCOM.DLImaging.FilterWheel.dll

    32-bit Applications:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL 6\CCDPlugDLImaging.dll
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Diffraction Limited\DL Config Utility
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Diffraction Limited\MaxPoint

    64-bit system file locations:
    The folder C:\Windows\System32 is named by Microsoft for the 64-bit system components on 64-bit Windows operating systems like Windows 11.
    It has the opposite naming - It ends with "32", but contains 64-bit stuff. This is confusing.

    C:\Windows\System32\dlapi.dll
    C:\Windows\System32\DLAPIWrapper.dll

    64-bit ASCOM drivers:
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera\ASCOM.DLImaging.Camera.dll
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera\ASCOM.DLImaging.CameraExt.dll
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\FilterWheel\ASCOM.DLImaging.FilterWheel.dll

    64-bit Applications:
    C:\Program Files\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL 7\CCDPlugDLImaging.dll
    C:\Program Files\Diffraction Limited\DL Config x64

    If the installation has gotten corrupt somehow, I recommend using Control Panel - CPANEL.exe - to uninstall the applications.
    The fancier Windows Start - Settings - App - Installed apps - sometimes is less effective
    NOTE: If you have manually deleted, copied, or installed .DLL files, the reference count in the registry may be inaccurate, and this can cause leftovers after uninstalling.

    More to come...
     
    Colin Haig, Apr 10, 2025
    #40
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