• A new ASCOM Driver (6.4, dated 2024-01-04) was installed on the Observatory Computer today (2024-01-05)
  along with latest Pulsar Software Package (1.0.59) with new Firmware Version 1.52.
  
  Installation files (Pulsar Observatories ASCOM Driver 6-4.exe & Pulsar_Observatories_Package 1.0.59.0.exe) were supplied by Matthew Player (2024-01-04) after the reporting of Pulsar Software issues associated with Slewing  Dome and Open/Closing Shutter in previous installed software in emails to Pulsar Observatories on 2023-12-22, 2023-11-16 & 2023-11-14.
  
  [ The previously installed versions were "Pulsar Observatories Dome Drive Version: 6.3.10"  and Pulsar 1.0.53 (2021-03-03) with Firmware 1.51
  (see Pulsar Dome - Software Update (Firmware 1.51 & ASCOM Driver 6.3.10), 2023-11-15 ) ]
   
  
• Pulsar Client Update
  A screenshort of previous Pulsar Settings (1.0.38) was first captured for comparison and check against the Pulsar settings after update
  
  Upon installing new Pulsar Client Software (Pulsar_Client_Setup 1.0.59.0.msi), an  'Updating Devices' window was shown which seemed to successfully complete (100%).
  
  Opening the Settings window showed that previous Dome Settings (Home and Park Angles), Relay Settings (NO polarity, 30s delay)  and Shutter Settings (5 min timeout) had been preserved.during the update.  Firmware version shown in the Unit Information was now showing as 1.52 ~ B (vs 1.51 ~ B previously)
  
  
  The Pulsar Client program was then closed as operation of the dome is normally performed via ASCOM Client Programs.
   
• ASCOM Driver Update
  
  The new ASCOm driver (Pulsar Observatories ASCOM Driver 6-4.exe) was successfully installed.
  
  Checking ASCOM Profile Explorer showed that settings had been changed to COM Port: COM1 / Trace Level :False.
  These were changed to the values normally used COM Port: COM3 / Trace Level :True.
  
  
   
• Opening DeviceHub and making connection to dome connected to Pulsar Dome showed expected information from Dome.
   
  
• Opening the ASCOM Log showed Driver Version as 6.4
   

  DriverInfo Get        Pulsar Observatories Dome Drive Version: 6.4
  DriverVersion Get     6.4

• ASCOM Log shows RX/TX messages as were seen with 6.3.10 (but not with earlier 6.3 version) and confirm that the Dome is on firmware version 1.52

  CommandString TX      VER
  CommandString RX      1.52 

• Daytime Testing - Slewing Property  (2024-01-05)
  
  Running some preliminary tests involving the slewing of dome to a new azimuth confirm that the ASCOM driver is now correctly returning Slewing=True immediately after making a SlewToAzimuth() request.  This makes the Pulsar System ASCOM compliant or at least behaviour in the manner expected by an ASCOM Dome Client.
  
  DeviceHub connected directly to Pulsar Observatories Dome (without the intervening DomeLink driver). Device Hub activity log confirms that Slewing=True is now being returned immediately after calling SlewToAzimuth(110.0) and continues returned Slewing=True until the destination Az is reached after which point Slewing=False is returned.
  

 19:13:16.659: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 90
 19:13:16.659: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False
 19:13:19.184: Dome - Commands: SlewToAzimuth (110.00000°): (slew started)
 19:13:19.184: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 90
 19:13:19.184: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
 19:13:19.185: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 90
 19:13:19.185: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
 19:13:19.185: Dome - Commands: Started fast polling every 1000 ms.
 19:13:19.185: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 90
 19:13:19.185: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
 19:13:20.185: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 91.1
 19:13:20.185: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
 19:13:21.192: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 93.8
 19:13:21.192: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
  ...
 19:13:32.206: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 110
 19:13:32.206: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False

• Whilst the ASCOM driver now functions correctly (it sends Slewing=True or Slewing=False when expected),  the Pulsar Log continues to produce the log message "Slewing Get  True" when the dome is not slewing and produce the message "Slewing Get  False" when the dome is slewing. Whilst this initially interferes with examining/diagnosing any slewing issues or anomalies this logging bug is a cosmetic one and doesn't affect client-dome operations. 
   
• Daytime Testing - Shutter Operations  (2024-01-05)
  
  Running some tests involving 5 or 6 open/close shutter sequences indicate that Dome Unit is now returning the result of an open or close operation in a correct/timely manner.  The delays of up to 135s (typically 20-100s delay) that were being seen with the previous 1.51 firmware version are no longer experienced.
  

Open Dome                               2024-01-05 19:25  (Local, GMT)
  Open Dome...                Ok        Dome is opening   (Clarity: 27.2, Stars: 8, Rain: -1.1, Wind: 2.6)
> Observatory Shutter         Info      Shutter is opening            (19:25:07, close time 1.2 hour)
> Observatory Shutter         Info      Shutter is open               (19:25:47, opening time 40s)
  Open Dome...                Ok        Dome is open      (Opening time 43s, Zigbee 40s)

Close Dome                              2024-01-05 19:26  (Local, GMT)
  Close Dome...               Ok        Dome is closing   (Clarity: 28.4, Stars: 7, Rain: -1.1, Wind: 2.6)
> Observatory Shutter         Info      Shutter is closing            (19:26:43, open time 56s)
> Observatory Shutter         Info      Shutter has closed            (19:27:26, closing time 43s)
  Close Dome...               Ok        Dome is closed    (Closing time 47s, Zigbee 43s)

• Live Test (2023-01-06)
  Dome operations using new Pulsar software (Firmware 1.52 & ASCOM driver 6.4) proceeded ok with any issues and confirm that the prior issue with delayed results from Shutter Open/Close operations using Firmware 1.51 has been successfully fixed with the new software.
  
• Conform Tests (Date TBA)
  Conform Tests will be run sometime in the next few days.  With the above issues now fixed it is anticipated that the Pulsar Dome System will successfully pass all Tests