From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: December 9, 2006 11:37:40 AM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] fiR.I.P.

Hi Duane;

On 9-Dec-06, at 10:32 AM, Duane wrote:

My fire-i camera is dead.

I tried to use it last night for the first time in a very long time. It shows nothing when

looking at something like Saturn. I pointed it at the Moon and it shows one side very

brightly lit and then it smears across the screen.

Sometimes it jitters and blips black as it does this.

I took it apart and reset the small second board. The chip looks fine. Everything "looks"

normal. Examples are here: http://homepage.mac.com/deal/firip/firip.html

I had a look at the image and it's definitely dying or dead. I have a monochrome Unibrain camera that did the same thing. I think it's TSLV1501 chip that died.

I think it's time for a new camera. Have the Fire-i cameras gotten any better since this

one?

Nope - same hardware.

I would rather use a color camera (hate fussing with filters), are there any other color

cameras that are worth spending the extra money on?

I would recommend the DBK 21AF04 $350USD

http://www.theimagingsource.com/en/products/cameras/firewire_bayer/1-99-99.htm

or DFK 21AF04 $350USD

http://www.theimagingsource.com/en/products/cameras/firewire_color/1-0-0.htm

The DBK 21F04 is cheaper ($260USD) and work okay, but they don't have the exposure range that the AF series do (AF are 1/60th os a second to 30 seconds versus 1/30th to 1 second) and more importantly don't have any upgradeable firmware which will become an important feature in early 2007 (I can't say anymore than that either).

Hope That Helps..

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@outcastsoft.com