set up ASCOM drivers

Finally got 'round to setting up all the ASCOM bits for SkyTools on John Phil. I definitely wanted this dealt with before sitting beside a telescope out in the cold... Previously had loaded the ASCOM engine onto the ASUS. The equipment specific drivers were already downloaded. Installed the Vixen Sky Sensor 2000 (version 6.1.7) driver. Configured the simulator.

SkyTools exploded on first use! OK. Tried again. ST3P froze. I killed the process. Found ASCOM still running so I ejected it too. Installed the TheSky (5.2.12) then the Celestron (5.0.30) drivers. Fired up TheSky 6. Activated the simulator. Connected to the virtual 'scope. Ugh, disabled the goofy red light mode switch. Fired up SkyTools, loaded a small observing list inside the Real Time tab, gracefully closed, restarted, connected via TheSky driver, configured it. Connected. No problem. Slewed. Watched TS6 in the background as it moved the pointer. No problem. Yeh. Disconnected SkyTools and shut down TS6. Connected to Celestron and configured basic settings. Final config will need to wait for another day. Activated the ASCOM simulator again. Held my breath. Connected via the Vixen again. No problem. Watched the "controller display" update as ST3P slewed. Yeh. And there was much rejoicing. Remembered to change the real-time update frequencies for the two chart types and the observing list. Two minutes.

So, back on the horse. Ready to drive the NexStar 11 at the CAO, the Paramount at the CAO, and of course my supercharged Vixen Super Polaris!