Installation - FearL0rd/ASCOM.DSLR GitHub Wiki

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Install ASCOM Platform

  1. Download the ASCOM Platform from here and install it. Direct download link for ASCOM Platform 6.5 (hopefully not broken!): Download ASCOM 6.5

A problem was found with SharpCap and latest ASCOM driver. SC is not able to connect to any ASCOM camera including the simulator V3 (other apps are working). If you use SC, I have uploaded the tested ASCOM versions to this location: https://github.com/FearL0rd/ASCOM.DSLR/tree/master/TESTED%20ASCOM

Install ASCOM.DSLR

  1. Download the installer from here ASCOM.DSLR Installer
  2. Run the installer. Note: you may the following window popping up when you run the installer. If so, click on the "More info" link, and then click on the "Run anyway" button.
  3. NOTE: if the you Windows settings anything other than a period character (".") as a decimal separator, the driver will run into issues!

Window Defender - Windows protected your PC popup window

Test the installation (optional!)

  1. Connect your camera using a USB cable.
  2. Make sure everything is set to Manual(M) mode, including the camera, and lens autofocus switch (if using a lens).
  3. Open Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer!) and navigate to the installation folder (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera\ASCOM.DSLR.Camera), and click on the file "ASCOM.DLSR.Test.exe".
  4. Click on the "Choose" button in the ASCOM DSLR TestAPP window that appears. TODO: add image here
  5. In the "ASCOM Camera Chooser" window that appears, select "ASCOM Camera Driver for DSLR" and then click on the properties button. TODO: add image of ASCOM Camera chooser
  6. In the properties window that appears, ensure that you have right option selected in the Camera Method drop down. For Canon Camera, select "CanonSDK". If have BackyardEOS Premium installed and want to use the BackyardEOS API, select "BackyardEOS". For most Nikon cameras, select "Nikon", but some older and some cheaper Nikon camera require "Nikon Legacy". For Pentax cameras, select "Pentax". TODO: Add image of the properties window.
  7. Ensure that Image Mode is set to "RGGB". Some application only work with RGGB mode, even though ASCOM is supposed to support them all.
  8. Set the ISO you wish the ISO dropdown. Note that not all ISO values are supported by all camera.
  9. Click the "OK" button. At this point, your camera will take a short test exposure so the driver can get the details of your specific camera. Once the test exposure is complete, the properties window should close, and you should be back the "ASCOM Camera Chooser" window. Click "OK" to return to close the "ASCOM Camera Chooser" window and go back to the ASCOM DSLR TestAPP.
  10. If the "Connect" Button is enabled, click on it.
  11. Click on the "Preview" checkbox.
  12. Set the "Exposure Test" dropdown to the length of the exposure you want to use to test (longer exposures are better when their is less light).
  13. Click the "Take Image" button. The camera should now take an exposure, and then display it in the test window. Note that the display is very slow, as the code to parse the image is not very optimized at all at this point.
  14. If an image appears on the window, everything is working properly! Go use whatever ASCOM enabled camera control software you want. Sharpcap and N.I.N.A. are the most used by the developers.

Using LiveView with SharpCap (Only for Canon and Nikon at the moment)

1 - Run ClearDSLRSCProfile (this should be on your desktop)

2 - Open sharpcap.

3 - With the camera connected but off. Select the "ASCOM Camera Driver for DSLR", under the "Cameras" menu as shown in the following picture:

Sharpcap -> Cameras menu -> ASCOM Camera Driver for DSLR

4 - Check Liveview.

5 - Turn on the Camera.

6 - Click ok.

P. S. Please don't flip LV and Normal mode while sharpcap is working. Close the application and reverse the process using the utility(ClearDSLRSCProfile ) or ASCOM Profile Explorer.

## #if you want to build the code yourself

## Development environment preparation

  1. Install Visual studio 2017/2019
  2. Download and install Inno Setup 5.5.8 http://files.jrsoftware.org/is/5/isetup-5.5.8-unicode.exe
  3. Install ASCOM platform 6.4 or greater https://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm
  4. Install ASCOM development components https://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/PlatDevComponents.htm
  5. Open visual studio solution, right click on Solution item in Solution Explorer - Restore nuget packages.
  6. Now you will be able to build solution

Installer building:

Run build.bat https://github.com/FearL0rd/ASCOM.DSLR/blob/master/build.bat This script will compile C# project and build installer. Installer will be placed in same folder (filename DSLR.Camera Setup.exe) Note: script is created to work on x64 systems. If you are using x86 - please modify script to correct patch to "Program Filex (x86)" Install path