I believe that the problem is that I’m not making a network connection between the Starbook-S and my Windows XP laptop. The Starbook-S instruction manual outlines a procedure for registering orbital elements for comets by connecting to a PC so I figured I’d try that capability first to see if I could make a connection according to their instructions. When I entered my IP address in the Internet Explorer address bar I didn’t see the Starbook-S screen that the instructions said would appear; instead my PC stated that no connection to that IP address could be made.

Thanks for replying,
Peter

Thank you,
Peter

Although I am a big supporter of open source, I don’t intend to open source my code for a variety of personal reasons. The code was originally written in VB6 and I am part way through a port to .NET (which is what ASCOM has moved to) but as noted elsewhere, I am making slow progress as I don’t have a strong motivation to do so given the driver meets my needs and the level of donations vs downloads doesn’t add any incentive.

I have downloaded your 4.4. driver and it works fine with the Starkbook S.
I just wonder why it should be impossible to stop the sidereal tracking. The S enables tracking to be set in 20 steps from 0.1x to 2.0x sideral.
Also the autoguider only seems to work on the y-axis. Which makes no sense as I can move both motors in parallel through the S.

It would be worth 100$ if park and autoguiding could be fixed. Or if your driver was open source and I could employ some of my programmers to get it done.

I will move to astrophysics gear next year but will have to stick with the Vixen part until then and want to test new cameras and a roof installed observatory (vibrations etc).

Because your previous comment on Vixen’s interest in computer age astronomy is dead right: The Japanes companies have by and large missed the computerization of machines and are still trapped in their high-precision mechanical age. Sony’s Playstation is proof of this. Also Vixen’s Web Page is stone age like. It’s about time they woke up before people stop buying their mechanical parts. It’s the Kodak effect that has hit the Music and Video industry.

If I was Vixen’s Product Manager for telescopes I’d ensured top notch drivers and a replacement of the S and any other paddle parts through the iPad. That’s how it will be. a small piece of USB connector Interface but otherwise handheld and finger-operated.

So any suggestions how I could help or get to improve the driver myself is welcome.

Otherwise: really admirable how you keep Vixen-Astronomy afloat with your expertise and service – chapeau!

Alex

I am going to buy the Starbook-S which controls the Vixen GP2 Mount. Is your driver compatible with the Startbook-S?

Thanks,
Peter

I have a Vixen Sphinx SXW and it’s working perfect. Using the driver celestial objects can be easily targeted by planetary software. Personally I am using Cartes du ciel.
Even if most of the time beeing under a quite persistent cloud layer, I am progressing quite a bit in astrofotography and lately decided to move over to a notebook having long life batteries for an up to 8 hours use. This would keep me away from carrying extra load each time. The operating system is Windows 7 (64 bit) and the Sphinx driver was rejected due to incompatibility. On 32 bit operating systems it’s installed without problems. Does Is Vixen aware of that and do they possibly offer a solution ?
It would be very much of a petty if the comfortable planetary software control would become impossible .

Regards,
Adrien