Using the 32-bit v5.2.1 ASCOM ServoCAT driver with 64-bit Applications
Your best bet is to use the ASCOM Device Hub to serve as an intermediate bridge
between any 64-bit software and a legacy 32-bit ASCOM driver. An extra benefit
of using a software hub is that multiple applications can connect to your
ServoCAT at the same time.
Here are some steps you can take to use the ASCOM Device Hub:
Install ASCOMPlatform65SP1 (or higher), install ServoCAT ASCOM driver, start ASCOM Device Hub, then
Tools, Setup, Telescope Setup, then choose ServoCAT.Telescope
Now Connect to Telescope and Start Cartes du Ciel or Stellarium or ???
Use ASCOM Chooser to choose ASCOM Device Hub in your planetarium software then click Connect
Note, the Device Hub is only needed between your planetarium software and
ServoCAT ASCOM driver if the planetarium software complains about needing
a 64-bit driver, otherwise you can connect from the planetarium software
directly to the ServoCAT ASCOM driver.
A bit of background: the driver was last updated in June of 2015, and is
currently not widely used, especially with people moving toward Sky Safari and
other solutions like INDI to control their ServoCATs. The driver is written in
Visual Basic 6 (VB6), which is an unsupported legacy compiler and programing
language. Creating a 64-bit version would require a complete rewrite from
scratch in a different programing language. A rewrite would take weeks of
undivided attention. A completely new driver would also require extensive
testing time on the ServoCAT hardware. This is not something I would consider
doing at this time.
As long as an intermediate software bridge works (like the ASCOM Device Hub
or Optec AltAz Derotation Server), there is really no viable return on the
time investment needed to build a 64-bit version. This driver is an
uncompensated volunteer project, and much of my astronomy related volunteer
time is now devoted to RMS/GMN meteor cameras. For details on this project,
please see the
RMS/GMN Global Meteor Network.
Thanks,
Peter Eschman, December, 2021