From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@mac.com>

Date: July 8, 2008 1:21:28 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] A couple of questions...

Hi Milton, What`s the method for the "bulb" setting on TIS cameras You`re speaking about? Would the GPIO device on Flea cameras work through a serial to usb device? Is this what you`re speaking about when you say "emulate a serial port"? Mark.

On 09/07/2008, at 4:57 AM, Milton Aupperle wrote:

Hi Mark;

On 8-Jul-08, at 12:24 PM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

P.S. It was probably Tim explaining he uses different computers for  

each of his Flea cameras which cast some doubts in my mind.

He doesn't necessarily need to do that and I run two cameras here at the same time off a single core G4 laptop with no problems.

How  

essential is the GPIO device on the Fleas? My understanding was that  

the software for it was PC based. I guess that`s why you`re talking  

about hotwiring it? It`s an external triggering device isn`t it?Mark.

Yes the GPIO is for external control and signaling of the cameras. You can also emulate a serial port using it for most of the PGR cameras using the GPIO (i.e. eliminate the need for a USB single serial port device).

Many IIDC cameras support longer exposures via a Bulb mode, so that Astro IIDC can "lock" the shutter open. The TIS cameras allow me to set the exposure using another method which is more direct and less work for me to set up by doing the bulb method. However the bulb method means I can set any exposure time I want to use too.

HTH..

Milton J. Aupperle