Changing the ASCOM standard to support Offset

jbrazio

Hi, I've started this topic at SGP forum about automating the Offset value which can only be set using the ASCOM driver property page. The main idea is to be able to adjust Gain (already supported by SGP) and offset during the execution of a sequence. The issue is that ASCOM standard does not foreseen any API to deal with Offset.

We can read on the topic, supposedly, one ASCOM developer stating that in the past vendors didn't shown any particular interest on this feature, and then he goes on with his own opinion about the subject.

We can also read the answer from SGP developer stating that there are no plans to natively support additional cameras using vendor's API.

If ZWO users would like to fully control their cameras then the ASCOM standard would need to evolve.

My question is about the position of ZWO about this point, should ASCOM support changing the camera's Offset or there is no interest on it ?

Sam@ZWO

yes, we do think it would be good if ASCOM can support offset

but maybe we can fix offset at it's highest value and only allow the gain adjustable

jbrazio

SAM, do you plan to contact the ASCOM committee to place such request ? This is something that will gain much more traction if it comes from the manufacturers vs coming from the customers.

Sam@ZWO

we can do it, but it still take lot of time for ASCOM to update

and client software need to update too

what do you think if we don't allow customer to change offset?

we may can fix it at a reasonable value