This quote from the Shoestring Astronomy page on FCUSB:
"Third-party software that supports the ASCOM Focuser standard will also work with the FCUSB using the FCUSB ASCOM driver. DC focus motors don't provide absolute positioning repeatability like a stepper motor does, but we have tried the FCUSB with third-party autofocusing software and obtained decent results. However, there is no guarantee that this will work for all systems."
1) Peter (or others), from your experience with FCUSB in EKOS, will I have any success at all (even crude success) letting EKOS schedule an unattended observation and capture even a 1/2 decent result? I would consider even moderately focused images of the Moon Jupiter, or M42 a success. Initially, I would just like to be able demonstrate EKOS imaging something without intervention of any sort once scheduled. Is it too much to hope for without investing in a absolute focuser or more sophisticated focuser or some other platform than EKOS?
2) I am currently using python to control a continuous rotation servo which can "serve up" and remove my bahtinov mask on command at the end of my dew shield remotely controlled while I am imaging. Prior to acquiring the jmi focuser I also was successful achieving fine focus using a similar CR servo on the focus knob. Its not a stepper, but I can control extremely slow rotation of the servo and thus the focus knob. If I were to use a homebrew servo focusing solution in leui of the indisupplied drivers and devices, might there way to be a way to insert a scripted routine into the unattended observing plan or alternatively time the observing plan so that such a script had time to execute outside of EKOS? If EKOS was taking a fresh image every 5 minutes, and my routine analyzed the recently acquired image with something like BAHINOV GRABBER and adjusted the focuser prior to the next scheduled image, then when error was acceptable removed the mask for actual imaging. Any thoughts? I'm just hoping as I start to investigate, there's a way to use my crude hardware unattended in some fashion with meaningful results. My project is at
www.starsherpa.net and recently my emphasis is an all Indi observing site.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts, and thanks again for helping me over my recent hurdle in understanding.