AstroMax V1 — Installation Guide

1

System Requirements

Component	Minimum	Recommended
OS	Windows 10 64-bit (1903+)	Windows 11 64-bit
RAM	4 GB	8 GB+
Disk	2 GB free	SSD, 20 GB+ (for image storage)
CPU	Any 64-bit x86	4 core+
USB	USB 2.0	USB 3.0 (recommended for cameras)
Network	—	Required for Alpaca (ASCOM over network)
Display	1280×800	1920×1080 or wider

💡 AstroMax communicates with your equipment via ASCOM Alpaca (HTTP/REST). Your camera, mount and focuser need to have either an ASCOM driver or a native Alpaca server.

2

Runtime & Framework (Install First)

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Required

Required by almost all camera and mount drivers. Install both x64 and x86 versions.

⬇ Download x64 + x86

.NET Desktop Runtime 6+ Required

Required by ASCOM Platform 7 and NINA-based tools. Download the latest .NET Desktop Runtime.

⬇ Download .NET

Windows Update Required

Ensure Windows is fully updated. Some driver signatures require recent Windows updates to validate correctly.

⚙ Open Windows Update

3

ASCOM Platform

📡 ASCOM (Astronomy Common Object Model) is the universal driver standard for astronomy equipment on Windows. AstroMax uses ASCOM Alpaca (the modern HTTP-based version), but the ASCOM Platform must still be installed for most equipment drivers to work.

ASCOM Platform 7 Required

The core ASCOM runtime. Installs the platform, developer tools, and built-in Alpaca bridge (ASCOM Remote).

⬇ GitHub Releases 🌐 Official Page

ASCOM Remote (Alpaca) Required

Exposes your local ASCOM devices over HTTP (Alpaca protocol) — this is what AstroMax connects to. Bundled with ASCOM Platform 7.

⬇ Standalone

Download and install ASCOM Platform 7. Requires admin rights. Restart Windows after install.

Run ASCOM Remote server (search "ASCOM Remote" in Start menu). Configure it to expose your devices on port 11111 (default).

In AstroMax: enter http://localhost:11111 in the Alpaca URL field in Settings.

4

ASTAP — Plate Solver

🔭 ASTAP is the plate solver used by AstroMax for GoTo & Center, Polar Alignment, and Mosaic planning. It analyses star patterns in your images and determines exact sky coordinates.

ASTAP Application Required

Free, fast, offline plate solver. Works without internet. Install the application first, then the star catalog.

⬇ ASTAP Download

H18 Star Catalog Required

500 MB star catalog covering all focal lengths. Recommended for most setups (down to ~18 magnitude). Install to ASTAP data folder.

⬇ H18 Catalog

G19 / D50 Catalogs Optional

G19 = deep sky (very wide FOV). D50 = dense star fields near galactic plane. Only needed for extreme focal lengths.

⬇ All Catalogs

Install ASTAP (default path: C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe)

Download the H18 star catalog and install it to the ASTAP data folder. The installer will guide you.

In AstroMax → Settings → ASTAP Path: enter path to astap.exe, or use the auto-detect button.

5

PHD2 — Autoguiding Software

🎯 PHD2 controls your guide camera and sends corrections to your mount to keep the guide star stationary during long exposures. AstroMax communicates with PHD2 via its built-in server (port 4400).

PHD2 Guiding Required

Free, open-source autoguiding software. Industry standard. Supports all major guide cameras and mounts.

⬇ PHD2 Download 📖 Manual

Install PHD2. Use the latest stable Windows build.

Create an Equipment Profile (Tools → Manage Profiles → New). Select your guide camera and mount drivers. Without a working profile, PHD2 cannot connect equipment and AstroMax cannot start guiding.

Connect equipment in PHD2 once (camera icon → Connect All) so PHD2 confirms the drivers work. Then disconnect — AstroMax will reconnect on demand.

In PHD2: Tools → Enable Server (must be enabled for AstroMax to connect). Default port: 4400.

Build a Dark Library (Darks → Take Dark Library) — improves star detection and SNR. Recommended once per setup.

In AstroMax → Guide panel: enter localhost and port 4400, click Link. Status changes to "PHD2 connected ✓".

⚠ Guide camera ownership: PHD2 holds the guide camera. AstroMax must NEVER simultaneously connect to it. For non-multi-client cameras (ToupTek, QHY, Atik, Player One, SVBony, Altair) this is critical — two programs cannot share the camera. If AstroMax's Guide panel shows the camera connected in AstroMax itself, disconnect it before starting PHD2.

ℹ Recommended PHD2 settings (Brain icon):

Calibration step: 200–400 ms (auto-suggested by PHD2)
Dither amount: 5–10 px, Dither RA only: off
Settle: pixels 1.5 · time 8 s · timeout 40 s (timeout must be ≥ time)
RA / Dec aggressiveness: 60–80 %
Min Move: 0.10–0.15"
Pixel scale: PHD2 calculates this automatically from your guide camera + focal length profile values — no need to set manually.

6

Camera Drivers — By Brand

⚠ Always install the ASCOM driver version, not just the plain USB driver. The ASCOM driver includes the USB driver inside it. Install ASCOM Platform before any camera drivers.

🔵

ZWO (Shenzhen Zhongwang Optoelectronics)

China — ASI series cameras, EAF focusers, EFW filter wheels

⬇ ASI Camera ASCOM Driver ⬇ EAF Focuser ASCOM Driver ⬇ EFW Filter Wheel Driver ⬇ All ZWO Software 🌐 ZWO Official Site

📌 Install: ASIStudio (includes ASCOM driver) → restart Windows → verify in ASCOM Device Hub

🟢

QHY (Qingdao Qianyan Technology)

China — QHY series cooled cameras, QHYCFW filter wheels, QHYCAP

⬇ QHY ASCOM Driver ⬇ QHYCFW Driver ⬇ All Drivers & SDK 🌐 QHY Official Site

📌 Download "ASCOM Driver" from QHY downloads page. Separate drivers for camera vs. filter wheel.

🟣

Player One Astronomy

China — Apollo, Ares, Poseidon, Saturn series cameras; EFW filter wheels

⬇ Camera ASCOM Driver ⬇ EFW ASCOM Driver ⬇ All Software 🌐 Player One Official

📌 Download from service/software page. Camera driver and filter wheel driver are separate packages.

🟡

ToupTek Photonics

China — ATIK OEM, Omegon, Bresser cameras also use ToupTek sensors/drivers

⬇ ToupTek ASCOM Driver ⬇ All ToupTek Downloads ⬇ ToupCam (consumer) 🌐 ToupTek Official

📌 Also used by: Omegon cameras, some Bresser cameras. Same driver works for all.

🔴

Moravian Instruments

Czech Republic — G0, G1, G2, G3, G4 series scientific cameras

⬇ Moravian ASCOM Driver ⬇ Camera Control Software 🌐 Moravian Official 📖 Drivers & SDK Page

📌 High-end scientific cameras used in observatories. ASCOM driver on mii.cz under "Downloads & Support".

🟠

FLI — Finger Lakes Instrumentation

USA — Proline, Microline, Kepler series scientific cameras; FW filter wheels

⬇ FLI ASCOM Driver ⬇ FLI Filter Wheel Driver ⬇ FocusMax / All Software 🌐 FLI Official

📌 Premium USA-made scientific cameras. Download from flicamera.com/software — both camera and filter wheel ASCOM drivers available.

⚪

ATIK Cameras

UK — ATIK 383L+, 460EX, Horizon, Infinity series

⬇ ATIK ASCOM Driver ⬇ ATIK Capture 🌐 ATIK Official

🌟

Starlight Xpress

UK — Trius, Titan, Oculus series; SXV, SXVR cooled cameras

⬇ SX ASCOM Driver ⬇ All SX Drivers 🌐 SX Official

🔷

SVBony

China — SV305, SV405CC, SV505C, SV605CC, SV705C cooled and uncooled CMOS cameras

⬇ SVBony ASCOM Driver ⬇ All SVBony Software 🌐 SVBony Official

📌 Non multi-client driver — only ONE program can use the camera at a time. If using as guide camera with PHD2, do NOT also connect it in AstroMax.

🟦

Altair Astro

UK — Hypercam 269C/M PRO, GPCAM3, Astro TRI Series (ToupTek-based sensors)

⬇ Altair ASCOM Driver 🌐 Altair Official

📌 Most Altair cameras use ToupTek-based sensors — ToupTek ASCOM driver works as fallback.

7

Mount / Telescope Drivers

🔭

Sky-Watcher

China/Global — EQ3, EQ5, EQ6-R, EQ8-R, AZ-EQ5/6, Esprit, HEQ5 series

⬇ ASCOM EQ/AZ Driver ⬇ SynScan ASCOM ⬇ All Downloads 🌐 Sky-Watcher Official

📌 Also install SynScan Pro app or use direct EQMod (see below). For EQ6-R use the SynScan ASCOM driver.

🌀

iOptron

USA/China — HEM27, HEM44, CEM26, CEM40, CEM70, GEM45, HAE29

⬇ iOptron ASCOM Driver ⬇ iOptron Commander ⬇ Firmware & All Downloads 🌐 iOptron Official

🌠

Celestron

USA — CGX, CGX-L, CGEM, AVX, NexStar series

⬇ CPWI / NexRemote ⬇ Celestron ASCOM via ASCOM ⬇ All Celestron Software 🌐 Celestron Official

🏔

Losmandy / Gemini

USA — G11, GM8, GM811, HGM200 series with Gemini controller

⬇ Gemini .NET ASCOM Driver ⬇ Losmandy Software 🌐 Losmandy Official

⚡

10Micron

Italy — GM1000, GM2000, GM3000, GM4000 series

⬇ 10Micron ASCOM Driver 🌐 10Micron Official

🎯

Software Bisque / Paramount

USA — Paramount MX+, ME, ME II, MyT, Taurus series

⬇ TheSkyX (includes ASCOM) 🌐 Software Bisque Official

🔧

EQMod (Community Driver)

Open Source — Works with Sky-Watcher, Orion Atlas, SkyView Pro mounts via direct cable

⬇ EQMod ASCOM Driver 🌐 EQMod Project

📌 Bypasses the SkyWatcher hand controller. Requires direct USB–serial cable to mount. Better than OEM driver for many users.

🌌

Astro-Physics

USA — Mach1, Mach2, 1100GTO, 1600GTO, 3600GTO premium mounts (GTOCP4/CP5 controllers)

⬇ AP V2 ASCOM Driver ⬇ APCC (Command Center) 🌐 Astro-Physics Official

📌 APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center) provides the ASCOM interface plus advanced features like horizons and pointing models.

🇮🇹

Avalon Instruments

Italy — Linear, M-Uno, M-Zero, M-Due strain-wave and friction-drive mounts

⬇ Avalon ASCOM (StarGo+) 🌐 Avalon Official

📌 StarGo+ application installs the ASCOM driver. Connect via USB or Wi-Fi (port 11880).

🛸

PlaneWave Instruments

USA — L350, L500, L600 alt-az and CDK telescopes with integrated mounts

⬇ PlaneWave PWI4 (ASCOM) 🌐 PlaneWave Official

📦

Other Brands — Generic ASCOM

Vixen, Takahashi Temma, Bresser, Meade LX, Orion, Explore Scientific…

⬇ ASCOM Telescope Drivers Index 🌐 ASCOM Standards

📌 If your mount isn't listed above, check the official ASCOM Telescope Drivers page. AstroMax works with ANY ASCOM-compliant mount through Alpaca.

8

Focuser & Filter Wheel Drivers

ZWO EAF Included in ZWO

ZWO Electronic Auto Focuser. Driver bundled in ASIStudio package.

⬇ ASIStudio (includes EAF)

Pegasus Astro Optional

Focuser, power boxes (PPB, FHD) and accessories. Popular for remote observatories.

⬇ Pegasus Drivers

Moonlite Focusers Optional

Premium stepper focusers. Require separate USB driver and ASCOM plugin.

⬇ Moonlite Driver

FocusLynx (Optec) Optional

Optec FocusLynx hub controller supports most stepper and DC motors.

⬇ Optec Software

Lacerta MFOC Optional

Lacerta MotorFocuser MFOC series. European build, popular with refractors.

⬇ Lacerta ASCOM

Starlightxpress Filter Wheel Optional

SX Filterwheel ASCOM driver (separate from camera driver).

⬇ SX Filter Wheel Driver

QHY Filter Wheel (CFW) Optional

QHYCFW1/2/3 series. Separate ASCOM driver from QHY camera driver.

⬇ QHY CFW ASCOM

Atik EFW Optional

Atik EFW2 / EFW3 5-position and 7-position filter wheels.

⬇ Atik EFW Driver

Xagyl Filter Wheel Optional

Xagyl 5- and 7-position 36 mm filter wheels with ASCOM driver.

⬇ Xagyl Driver

Generic ASCOM Focuser/Wheel Fallback

If your focuser or filter wheel isn't listed above, check the official ASCOM driver index. Any ASCOM-compliant device works through Alpaca.

⬇ ASCOM Drivers Index

9

Installing AstroMax V1

✓ By this step you should have installed: Visual C++, ASCOM Platform, ASTAP + catalog, PHD2, your camera driver, and your mount driver.

Download the latest AstroMax-V1-Setup-x.x.x.exe from the GitHub Releases page.

Run the installer. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning ("Unknown publisher") — click More info → Run anyway. This is normal for unsigned apps.

Choose installation directory (default: C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\AstroMax V1). Per-user install, does NOT require admin rights.

After install, a desktop shortcut is created. Double-click to launch.

On first launch, Windows Firewall may ask to allow AstroMax network access. Click Allow — this is required for ASCOM Alpaca communication.

10

First Start & License Activation

🔑 AstroMax includes a 30-day free trial. To unlock permanently, purchase a license and activate with your Computer ID (HWID).

Trial mode: AstroMax starts automatically in trial mode. All features are available for 30 days.

To activate: Click License in the bottom bar → copy your Computer ID.

Send your Computer ID to astrohopper53@gmail.com after purchase. You will receive your key by email.

Enter the key in the activation dialog → click Activate → restart AstroMax.

ℹ Computer ID is tied to hardware, not Windows. Reinstalling Windows, updating to a newer version, or changing drivers does NOT change your Computer ID — your license keeps working after Windows reinstall. The ID only changes if you replace the motherboard or CPU. In that case, contact support with both the old and new Computer IDs for a free license transfer.

11

ASCOM Alpaca Network Setup

📡 AstroMax communicates with all equipment through ASCOM Alpaca (HTTP REST API). Most modern ASCOM drivers include a built-in Alpaca server, or you can use ASCOM Remote to bridge classic ASCOM drivers.

Option A — ASCOM Remote (most common)

Start ASCOM Remote Server (installed with ASCOM Platform 7)

Add your devices: Camera → Device #0, Mount → Device #0, Focuser → Device #0

Start the server. Verify at: http://localhost:11111/api/v1/camera/0/connected

In AstroMax → Settings: set Alpaca URL to http://localhost:11111

Option B — Native Alpaca (ZWO, QHY, Player One)

ZWO ASIAir, QHY ASCOM, and Player One cameras support native Alpaca without ASCOM Remote

Install the manufacturer's native Alpaca driver (check their website for "Alpaca" or "network ASCOM")

Set URL in AstroMax to whatever port the native server uses (check manufacturer docs)

⚠ Firewall: If AstroMax cannot connect, check Windows Firewall. Allow both inbound and outbound connections on port 11111 for ASCOM.RemoteServer.exe.

# Test Alpaca connection in your browser or PowerShell:
Invoke-RestMethod http://localhost:11111/api/v1/camera/0/connected
# Expected: { "Value": true, "ErrorNumber": 0, ... }

12

Pre-Session Checklist

Step	Action	Where
☐	Start ASCOM Remote Server	System tray / Start menu
☐	Connect camera in ASCOM Remote	ASCOM Remote UI
☐	Connect mount in ASCOM Remote	ASCOM Remote UI
☐	Connect focuser in ASCOM Remote (if applicable)	ASCOM Remote UI
☐	Start PHD2 and enable server (Tools → Enable Server)	PHD2
☐	Launch AstroMax	Desktop shortcut
☐	Set Alpaca URL in Settings	AstroMax → Settings
☐	Connect all devices in AstroMax	Mount / Camera / Focus panels
☐	Set Gain, Offset, Temperature target	Camera panel
☐	Set site location (Lat/Lon)	Mount panel → Location
☐	Run Polar Alignment	PA panel
☐	Run Auto-Focus	Focus panel
☐	Start PHD2 guiding	AstroMax → Guide panel
☐	Start Plan or manual capture	Plan / Camera panel