Interfacing with other programs
The SkyRoof and SkyRoofHub drivers are 100% compatible with all astronomy software that utilize an ASCOM dome driver.
The SkyRoof ASCOM drivers are 'local server' based drivers. This enables the drivers to serve several applications concurrently.
For example, one could have ACP, Starry Night Pro and Maxim all connected to the SkyRoof driver and able to control and monitor the roof
functions simultaneously.
While it is not necessary to run the SkyRoof program when using the driver, it is recommended to do so as the SkyRoof program
contains many safeguard features and monitors along with messaging features that can keep the remote observatory user alert of
the current observatory status.
Connect the SkyRoof driver to the application you are using as you would with any other ASCOM driver.
Below are instructions to connect some of the more popular software applications to the SkyRoof driver.
Astronomers Control Panel: Click on the “ACP” drop down tool bar option and select “Preferences”. Click on the “Dome
Control” tab and click the “Select Dome” button. Proceed to use the ASCOM chooser to connect to the SkyRoof dome
driver.
CCD AutoPilot: From the Main setup page, select “ASCOM” in the “Dome” drop down box, tick the Change Driver
check box. When linking to the software, choose SkyRoof from the ASCOM Dome chooser as outlined in the 'Initial settings' section.
CCD Commander: From the main menu tool bar, select the “Setup” drop down option. Next, click on the Control/Device
tab. Select “ASCOM Driver” from the drop down box and click on the “Configure” button. Proceed to connect to the
SkyRoof driver as outlined in the 'Initial settings' section.
Maxim DL: From the “View” tool bar drop down option, choose “Observatory” to open the Observatory control panel. Click
on the “Setup” tab and click the “Options” button. Click “Setup” from the context menu that appears and proceed to connect
to the SkyRoof driver.
SGP: Click the “Tools” drop down item from the main dialog window then select “Equipment Profile Manager”. In the dialog
window that appears, select the “Other” tab then click on the “Observatory” drop down. Select the SkyRoof driver and then
follow the ASCOM driver connection procedure as outlined in the 'Initial settings' section.
The SkyX: A SkyX X2 plug-in is available for SkyRoof to control the roof directly through The SkyX interface.
The X2 plug-in is available at this url: https://rti-zone.org/macosx_x2dome_plugins.php
Configuration recommendations:
There are multiple ways to configure the SkyRoof software when using it in tandem with an imaging application.
As a general rule of thumb, it is usually best practice to let the imaging software control the roof to avoid conflicts. In this case leave all of the
Action/Alert check boxes in SkyRoof unchecked with the exception of the 'Hardware Failure...' check box and the 'Internet connection...'
check box (if desired).
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