Best Software for Connecting to a Remote Observatory

Hi Bob,
While I certainly appreciate that it isn't the least-expensive software out there, I have had nothing but luck with the SkyX software suite from Software Bisque. I've actually used it and it's predecessor for some 25 years. It has performed flawlessly in all regards, from control of the mount, camera, focusers, filter wheels, etc. Image acquisition and control is easy, as well. While it offers guiding, and I've used it from time to time, I prefer PHD2 for it's ease of set up and use, and it guides effortlessly.

I have a Paramount ME, and my friend uses a Losmandy II mount, which TheSky operates, as well with no issues.

Hope this helps a bit. I know there are many choices.
- - Steve

I use ZeroTier + Windows remote desktop as my primary and Splashtop Personal. Both have been amazing.

If your aren't family with ZeroTier it's free and extremely easy to use. It basically creates encrypted P2P connections so that you can access remote devices securely and with little overheard. It is never advised to open RDP to the internet but with ZT you don't have to. I also use it to access my web power switch. My rig is 700 miles away yet I reach it as if it was still in my backyard.

Thanks, Steve and Terry. I should clarify: I’m running TheSkyX for navigation, MaxIm for camera control and guiding, FocusMax5 for what it does, APCC for its pointing model for my AP 900 mount, PinPoint 7 for plate solving and CCDAutoPilot for overall automation of all this.

My question goes to how best to communicate between home and the observatory computer to run all this (chiefly CCDAP) from a distance.

Best, Bob

I use both Anydesk and Remote PC.  I generally prefer Remote PC but both are fine.

Chrome remote. Stable, free, consistent. And most importantly of all you don't have to mess around with "elevated user permissions" problems you may get with stuff like anydesk

RealVNC is the most secure that I can think off. It's the one that we use at work for access to sensitive data at our servers, but at home I've started to use it, but a few months after I feel easy to use the teamviewer. I know, that teamviewer uses a backdoor in their software and all, but I'm not using it to work with sensitive data, It's just for access to my mount's computer to work with. He's really straight foward and intuitive to use.

Sven,

That’s useful to know about TeamViewer.  The one feature of Chrome Remote Desktop I wondered about is a 30 minute limit to sessions before a revalidation is required.  That wouldn’t seem to be a drawback if all one is doing is launching an automated imaging session, but what about longer puttering with one’s system from a distance?

I suppose one could terminate and re-start a link to the observatory to start the clock running again,  no?

Bob

Sven,

That’s useful to know about TeamViewer.  The one feature of Chrome Remote Desktop I wondered about is a 30 minute limit to sessions before a revalidation is required.  That wouldn’t seem to be a drawback if all one is doing is launching an automated imaging session, but what about longer puttering with one’s system from a distance?

I suppose one could terminate and re-start a link to the observatory to start the clock running again,  no?

Bob

I've never run into a time limit.  Sometimes the connection might go "wonky" but I've run it all night long.  Even if the connection gets flaky, it's trivial to reconnect.  The guys at Obstech in Chile kept telling me to use TightVNC but after I showed them how well CRD works, they were impressed.  I tried TightVNC once but it had display problems and so much latency that I tossed it out.  TeamViewer also works really well, however the company is a PIA.  I used it for a while, up until they started yanking my service because they declared that I was using their free service for commercial purposes, which was never true.  That's when I fired up CRD and never looked back.

CRD does have one minor quirk that's a little bug-like.  The mouse cursor first shows up a dot and doesn't turn into a more easy to see arrow until you click on either a resize handle or on the screen sharing message that shows for about 10 seconds on the remote machine.  The mouse "dot" is usable but it can be hard to find.  It is easily changed but I've often wondered why the CRD team doesn't fix this.  Regardless, I still give CRD 4.99 stars.

John

Thanks, Kevin.  Yes, I’ve been using this suite of programs for a long time, manually.  I’d prefer to stick with MaxIm, which NINA appears not to allow. I’ve looked at Voyager, but it seems more complex than CCDAP which answers my needs for now. 

Also looked at RemotePC, and appreciate your endorsement.

CS, Bob

I use TeamViewer and it occasionally complains to me to use it only for personal use, which is all I am doing, but has not charged me for anything so far.
It is sporadic and not stable so I might switch to Chrome. I am only using it to connect from my backyard observatory to my home which is 200 or so ft away.

For my observatory I use VNC, it is free, secure, and can be used on different devices, PC, MAC, Linux, Android, IOS.

I can't complain,  never had issue…

CS