The ASCOM remote system works in completely different manner than conventional ASCOM drivers of the past.

 Instead of using a Window .dll library driver and perhaps a serial port to communicate between the driver and the hardware, the ASCOM Remote system

(coin phrased "Alpaca") uses platform independent JSON strings to communicate between the ASCOM Remote Client and the hardware via Ethernet.


 There are several key advantages to this schema including complete platform independence (Windows™  drivers are not needed), flexibility and speed of

Ethernet which can provide remote access to the hardware from anywhere and the added robustness of Ethernet over the conventional serial port.



Refer to the diagrams below:


Created with the Personal Edition of HelpNDoc: Easily create iPhone documentation