Ascom FEATHERTOUCH User Manual

Installation and Setup Instructions

FeatherTouch ASCOM Driver

Use the instructions in this manual to download, install, setup and test the FeatherTouch ASCOM
Driver. We strongly urge you to read the entire manual before you begin installation.

This is a preliminary document, version 1.0. Please check www.starlightinstruments.com
periodically for additional documentation and updates.

FeatherTouch ASCOM Driver Software Setup June, 2007 Copyright Starlight Instruments Inc. 2007 Preliminary documentation version 1.0

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Software Installation

Download and install the most current ASCOM platform from the ASCOM download web site at:

http://ascom-standards.org/downloads.html

Download and install the most recent FeatherTouch ASCOM driver from:

http://www.SatrlightInstruments.com/downloads.html

We also strongly recommend the Automatic Focus Control program FocusMax,
Available free from

http://users.bsdwebsolutions.com/~larryweber/

To fully use the advanced autofocus capabilities of FocusMax, you will need one the
following popular Camera control programs:

MaxIm DL/CCD from Diffraction Limited
CCDSoft from Software Bisque

If you do not wish to control autofocus through FocusMax for any reason, Maxim DL does provide
native support for ASCOM.
Users of CCDSoft will need to install and run FocusMax to act as bridge to the FeatherTouch
ASCOM driver.
After the software installation(s) are completed, the next step is to perform the ASCOM driver
Setup.

ASCOM Driver Setup

The purpose of the setup is to configure the driver software to your specific focuser installation.
Performing the setup will configure the driver to the focuser travel limits, the step resolution and
direction etc.,

You must re-run the Setup if:

The software is installed again on a different PC
If the focuser is switched to a different FeatherTouch model

Before starting, ensure that the Mechanical assembly, Software Installation and Electrical
hookups are completed.

FeatherTouch ASCOM Driver Software Setup June, 2007 Copyright Starlight Instruments Inc. 2007 Preliminary documentation version 1.0

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Entering the driver setup

If you use FocusMax:

Startup FocusMax. If no focuser was previously selected, the ASCOM Focuser Chooser is
displayed:

If this dialog is not displayed, click on the System tab in the main FocusMax window, then under
Focuser, click the Select button
Select Feather Touch Focuser from the drop-down and click the OK button.
Invoke the setup dialog by clicking the Setup button under Focuser in the main FocusMax
window (System Tab).
Proceed to Feather Touch Setup below (Page 4)

If you use Maxim DL
Click on the Telescope icon (or Select View | Telescope Control Window in the Menu bar).
Select the Setup Tab, and pick "Feather Touch Focuser from the drop down under Focuser

Click on Options, then Setup.
This should bring up the Feather Touch Setup Window.
Proceed to Feather Touch Setup below (Page 4)

FeatherTouch ASCOM Driver Software Setup June, 2007 Copyright Starlight Instruments Inc. 2007 Preliminary documentation version 1.0

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