RightAscensionRate on .NET simulator

[BobDenny]

With Sidereal tracking active (Tracking = True) if you set RightAscensionRate to 30, the TelescopeSimulator.NET shows RA decreasing and much too slowly. Doing the same on the original (Jon Brewster) VB6 Simulator responds as expected, changing the RA by 30 (sidereal) seconds per (sidereal) second. Both RightAscensionRate and DeclinationRate should be validated in the .NET simulator for all three AlignmentModes.

[Peter-Simpson]

Hi Bob,

Is this the issue that I worked on with Patrick Wallace's help last month? I thought that I had fixed it for all mount alignments in this updated Platform (not yet in a GitHub release): https://ascomtalk.groups.io/g/Developer/message/6145 .

Best wishes, Peter

[BobDenny]

After installing the new Simulator, sorry to report, no. The RA decreases when given a positive RightAscensionRate. I tested with simple equatorial and GEM on both sides of the meridian, so it is a simple sign reversal somewhere. I think this new simulator solution must be on a branch because I can't see the new one here. Here is a small script that will show this. to run it

> cscript RateOffsetTests.js
Start tracking
Move RA 10 sec per sidereal sec
Now watch the RA on the scope for 6 sec
RA should have increased 1 minute / 60 sec
Freeze RA to sky -> sidereal rate
Now move Dec 10 arcsec per clock sec
Now watch the Dec on the scope for 6 sec
RA should have increased 1 arc minute / 60 sec
Freeze Dec to sky, end of tests

ALSO

The new simulator enters an endless loop when launched on Windows 7. No problems on Windows 10 or 11 with just the simulator modules running on the production Platform. I used my W7 system as the guinea pig for the beta platform. Then I copied the simulator modules over to my W10 and W11 systems without updating the Platforms on those systems.

RateOffsetTests.zip

[Peter-Simpson]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for raising the issue and for the test script, it looks like this issue has been there since day 1 of the .NET simulator.

I've applied the necessary sign fixes and tested with polar, German polar and AltAz alignment modes, all four SideOfPier quadrants (for German mounts) and northern and southern hemisphere latitudes. All now seems good here.

Please can you let me know if you also think this is fixed?

https://download.ascom-standards.org/beta/AscomPlatform662beta.3672.exe
https://download.ascom-standards.org/beta/AscomDeveloper662beta.3672.exe

BTW, the changes are committed to the develop branch rather than release branch at the moment.

Many thanks, Peter

[BobDenny]

The most recent .3677 Platform fixes this and additional problems. Closing this one, thank you!