ASCOM is certainly a clunky utility to use on a telescope, but it is the hobby standard for operating a mount. Not least that its free to download and use which i suppose makes it popular with a number of amateur astronomers across the globe.
When i first got my NEQ6 (or EQ6 to the rest of us) i did try hard to make the Synscan that i had to buy separately work. but i could not reconcile it. In fact, in the end i sold it.
It became obvious the way forward for me was to use the USB to Comport cable made by HTEC (or sold by). To use this, it is necessary to install a number of things on the computer (or laptop) in my case.
Firstly, and this may vary for a number of setups, i use the prolific driver which you can download herePL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v10518.
You are also going to need the ASCOM Platform and the EQASCOM_V200k_Setup as the latter seems obscure to find and its only a few mb in size i have uploaded it here for your use.
Planetarium software
There are a variety of flavours people seem to use, i include a link to all. free ones first
Cart De Ciels
I personally use Starry Night. Like it for a number of reasons. The software updates for the latest objects like comets. Plus i can also connect easily using it.
Capture software
I mainly work with a DSLR (Digital SLR) here, a modified EOS 450D. I know many use CCD cameras like the ZWO or the QHY, i have these but i mastered using the former first, so thats what i use.
In terms of capture there are a few tools out there (for DSLR’s). There is Backyard EOS. Which i admit that despite my relationship with the other (i will mention in a minute). I did defect to, it seemed more intuitive and a sleeker interface.
However i did create the initial tutorials for Astrophotography Tool and i think Ivaylo is a diamond chap, so to this end, i went back. It was a suck it and see for a while, but now it is the only capture tool i will ever use. So why is this?
Well, notice, he calls it a “tool”, not a capture utility. Because that is exactly what it is. a “tool”.
With this you can connect the telescope, the camera, focusser, as well as a variety of other utilities you may have. Including a filter wheel i believe! For me, it just needs my DSLR and mount.
Once connected, i then setup the plans. Again Backyard EOS does this. But where APT picked up was, once you slewed to your object, if it was off, then platesolve would sort it out for you. Now to my knowledge in the earlier days, Backyard EOS never did this. So back i went. I could never master AstroTortilla et al.
APT uses i think two types of platesolving software flavours. One will blind solve. The blindsolving never seems to work for me so i use the Platesolve software instead.
Yes btw, i will create some updated tutorials for APT to bring these up to date, although there are some excellent ones already done. Well.. i did the original ones didnt i! Rude not too!
Links Backyard EOS
Note, i will apply links to all software, even if i do not use them specifically, giving you the choice.