Camera Control Plug-ins

For Astroart 9/8/7/6/5.
Copyright 2025 MSB Software. All rights reserved.

Version 2.80 for the ASCOM platform version 6 and 7.

LICENSE

This plugin is copyrighted freeware. This means that this plugin can be freely copied, but not sold or used as a separate product. This plugin should be used only with Astroart software, by the owner of the Astroart license.
This plugin is provided "AS IS". It's not guaranteed that it will work properly on all PCs and all CCD cameras and related hardware. This plugin and its documentation are provided without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including the fitness for every purpose. In no event shall MSB software be liable to you for any special, consequential, indirect, or similar damages, including any lost profits or lost data arising out of the use or inability to use this product even if MSB software has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation may not apply to you. In no case shall the MSB software liability exceed the purchase price for the product. MSB Software will help to solve the most common problems related to the setup of this plugin and the host PC, but it's not guaranteed that this plugin is able to work on all systems.
If you don't accept these terms don't install the plugin in the system.

INSTALLATION

Before installing this plugin it is required to install the ASCOM platform 6 or 7 and the ASCOM driver for your camera, which is developed by the camera's manufacturer.
The ASCOM platform can be downloaded from: https://ascom-standards.org/. The ASCOM driver for your camera must be downloaded from the web site of the camera manufacturer.
To install this plugin copy the files d_ascom.dll , g_ascom.dll , d64_ascom.dll , g64_ascom.dll and this guide into the Astroart installation folder.

SETUP

Click Camera control from the menu Plug-in, then select "ASCOM" and click "Setup".

- Selection:
Here it's possible to select an ASCOM driver using the "ASCOM Chooser" or to connect directly to the last used driver, or to select a driver manually.
- Temperature:
Write the desidered setpoint and click the "Set" button. If you want to display the temperature in real-time click the "Display temperature" checkbox. If supported by your camera, you may also turn on and off the cooler.
- Ascom properties:
Click this button to display the Dialog Window (if available) of your ASCOM driver, where you may set other options of the camera.
- Image format:
These options control the rotation and flipping of every image downloaded from the camera. To rotate by 180° just flip both X and Y axes.
- RGB color download:
Enable this option only for some modern cameras which are not able to download images in RAW format. Downloading images in color is not recommended for several reasons (3X disk space, impossible dark frame and flat field correction, unknown algorithm used). The only recommended use is just for live events.
- Disable subframes:
Not recommended. When ASCOM subframes are disabled, Astroart always downloads a full frame from the camera then crops it via software. This will cause slow downloads in the focus and guide window, unless your camera has low resolution. This option was added to support the Meade LPI-GM, which did not support CCD subframes.
- Read time from camera:
This option gets the exposure time from the GPS internal clock of the camera (when available, usually in scientific cameras), requires Astroart 8.0 or newer.
- Flip axis in PulseGuide:
If you camera support the PulseGuide feature (the connector for direct autoguide of the mount), here you may flip the direction of each axis.
- Delay after "StopExposure":
If your camera supports stopping and downloading an exposure, set here a delay between the stop of the exposure and the download of the partial exposure. Some cameras may require it.
- Timeout for "ImageReady":
This is a safety timeout for those drivers that wait forever during the exposure or the download, if an hardware problem show up. After the timeout the exposure will be terminated anyway.

HISTORY

2025/10/29: 2.80: Option for downloading images in color from modern cameras.
2025/06/10: 2.74: Software binning 2x2 is compatible with "Disable subframes" and with guide cameras.
2023/04/29: 2.73: Bug fix: settings were not saved by the 64 bit plugin on some PCs.
2023/01/18: 2.72: Bug fix: writing an invalid temperature could block the plugin.
2022/11/13: 2.70: Some corrections for the ASCOM Chooser and the 64 bit version.
2022/06/25: 2.60: Timeout for ASCOM cameras that wait forever in case of an hardware problem.
2022/06/21: 2.50: Option for software binning 2x2, requires Astroart 5 or newer.
2022/02/04: 2.40: Script reading and writing of Gain and Offset, requires Astroart 8 SP1 or newer.
2022/01/13: 2.30: Option for reading the GPS time, requires Astroart 8 or newer.
2021/05/17: 2.20: Option to connect the last used ASCOM driver.
2018/01/26: 2.00: Improved support of "partially compatible" ASCOM drivers.
2013/06/19: 1.50: Two ASCOM cameras at the same time, requires Astroart 5 SP1 or newer.
2012/07/31: 1.40: Rotation and flipping of downloaded images.
2011/11/13: 1.30: Options for PulseGuide.
2011/05/20: 1.20: Fix for dialog window not in foreground.
2010/10/23: 1.00: The first release.
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www.msb-astroart.com