From: "Tim" <tjp314@pacbell.net>
Date: August 2, 2005 4:32:44 PM MDT
To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Astro IIDC 2.02.05 Beta 5 available
Milton:
Been busy last few weeks, but saw this...
I've got a Nexstar 9.25 GPS, and would love to try out the "mount control", but I get a 404
error message when clicking on the link below.
planetarily,
-Tim.
--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, "Milton Aupperle" <milton@o...> wrote:
Hi folks;
I've put up Beta 5 of Astro IIDC 2.02 on the web site at
http://www.outcastsoft.com/Astro IIDC20205B5.dmg
it's a 480 kilobyte download and it doesn't have the updated PDF
manual in it, which is being worked on. I'd like to do the release of
it in about 2 or 3 weeks, so please beat up on it. If you have
problems with it please respond to me PRIVATELY using the normal
e-mail address for bug reports and I'll take it form their. I don't
want people thinking it's a bad release until it actually is
officially released.
Here is what has changed in this release (from the Read Me First file
- sans illustration images).
- Adds support for IIDC Hardware Trigger Mode 0, which allows you to
externally control frame delivery. Under the "Video Menu" is the
"Camera Trigger Method" submenu with the three options "Off", "On" and
"On and Grab Frame". If the camera your using does not support Trigger
OR it's a PGR camera in extended exposure time mode, then only the
"Off" item will be enabled. When Trigger is on, frames of Video will
only be transmitted from the camera to the Mac after an IIDC trigger
event is received. If you choose the "On" item, you can use the "Grab
Frame" button or the "Record Movie" buttons to capture the next frame
or start recording a movie. When the next frame arrives after a IIDC
Trigger event, it will be grabbed or added to the movie. Selecting the
"On and Grab Frame" item is a special case and will automatically
display in the preview window and grab a frame of video to disk every
time a Trigger event is received.
We do not recommend using the "Auto Expos", "Color Balance" or "Spot
Color Balance" options while "Trigger" is enabled, as they iterate
through and must analyze multiple frames. So unless you triggering
often (≥ 5 fps), they simply will not operate properly.
Neither Trigger options will not be enabled with Point Grey Research
cameras if they are in extended PGR exposure time mode, as it uses the
trigger pins for the long exposure modes. So you need to uncheck the
"Allow extended PGR cameras exposure times" in the "Preferences..."
sheet and then close the camera control window before it will allow
you to select the Trigger items.
Lastly we do not offer any advice on how to do the physical wiring of
the trigger for your IIDC camera. They are all different and you
should read whatever documentation came with the camera or talk to the
company that sold you it.
- The naming of grabbed frames has been changed slightly with file
name capture time now being reported to the nearest 1/100th of a
second. A Tiff file saved with the new method looks like this
"20050716_192947.17_U.tiff", with the .17 is 17/100 th of a second.
This is to accomodate "Trigger On and Grab Frame" mode which can
generate multiple frames per second as it is triggered.
- The "Grab Frame" button will now change to "Cancel Grab" after it is
clicked. So if your doing a longer exposure you can now cancel it
before the frame arrives instead of having to wait for completion.
- Adds support for synchronizing with 50 Hz light sources to remove
image flicker with CCD exposure times that are not multiples of 10.00
ms. This only applies for IIDC cameras that support the absolute frame
rate register, such as Point Grey Research cameras. To switch from
60HZ to 50HZ, you need to check mark the "Adjust frame rates for 50 Hz
light sources to eliminate flicker." item in the "Preferences..."
window. After that, the Camera Frame Rate will change to 50hz frame
rates (i.e. 30 fps is now 25 fps. 15 fps is now 12.5 fps, etc.). This
was especially important for bright field microscopy in Europe, Japan
or other countries that utilize 50 Hz power and is also recommended if
your using DC light sources that are powered by 50 Hz power.
- Enabled Support for Celestron NexStarScope for Guiding and Control
with a Key Span USB Serial converter box. Just select which interfaces
(i.e Meade LX or Celstron NexStar) to use, as shown below. This only
works with the ASCII Celestron scopes not the earlier Binary ASCII
Celestron scopes. This has currently never been tested, even for Left
/ Right / Up / Down control so don't expect much at this point.
- Added support for ActiveWire USB IsoOptical Board, which is what we
use for guiding or controlling the Orion MAK Scope. Theoretically it
can control 4 servos or DC motors directly (i.e. like RA motor, Dec
motor, Focus motor and a Blender to make tropical drinks on hot summer
nights) , however It is currently configured to control 2 motors using
collector pins C0, C3, C4 and C5. You don't need a driver with this
board, as Astro IIDC will automatically load the USB firmware for it
and then enumerate the device for use. So Astro IIDC now directly
controls FireWire, USB and POSIX serial devices in the same package.
You currently cannot use both a Key Span or other USB Serial devices
and the ActiveWire Board at the same time (internal limitation that we
have imposed for now). People interested in using it as an isoptical
relay box should contact us for details on how pins on the board are
are currently to be connected up - as ActiveWire's documentation on
pin outs is wrong.
- Fixed problem where in Tiger, Blue Tooth or Usb modem devices would
sporadically be presented as if they were serial port device when they
clearly are not.
- Fixed a flicker problem with the Point Grey Research cameras with 60
Hz light sources with CCD exposure times that are not multiples of
8.33 ms. This was especially important for bright field microscopy
support in USA, Canda or other countries that utilize 60 Hz power.
- Changed name of "LX Scope Control" menu item to "Mount Control",
which better reflects what it does.
- Added Auto overwrite for movies and files, which is automatic and it
does not prompt you at all.
- Removed a useless delay when closing the Scope Guiding window.
- Fixed a bug where recording a movie would sometimes fail if the
movie already existed.
- Rewrote Auto Exposure to be more reliable and less prone to oscillating.
Thanks in advance..
Milton J. Aupperle
President
ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting
Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist
#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.
Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5
1-(403)-229-9456
milton@o...
www.outcastsoft.com