From: jjkastro@mac.com

Date: May 1, 2012 1:11:46 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Grasshopper Express

Hi Milton,

Will the update recognize installed, licensed versions of the software, or do we have to input the registration keys again (I have two licensed copies).

Best,

John

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Milton Aupperle <milton@...> wrote:

Hi John;

On 1-May-12, at 6:05 AM, jjkastro@... wrote:

Hi Milton,

Does AstroIIDC handle all the capture modes of the PGR Grasshopper  

Express?

Yes. But for full usage you need to us Astro IIDC 4.08.00 which is in  

beta 1.

Also, what frame rates are supported at 14-bit A/D conversion?

The camera will up converts or down convert the original 14 bit to 8,  

12 or 16 bit before sending it to us. So you never get 14 bit video  

out directly.

At full size 2736x2192 pixels the camera delivers a maximum of 11 fps  

in 8 bit, 8 fps in 12 bit (you need Astro IIDC 4.08.00 to support 12  

bit) and 6 fps in 16 bit. It delivers around 80 to 83 megabyte per  

second over FireWire - which is pretty well maxed out.

And those of you who are buying Thunderbolt device to use FireWire, be  

aware that the Sonnet Express card adapter (the only one out there)   

is completely under voltage for FireWire. You may be able to power a  

FireWire camera externally, but your never going to get enough juice  

from the Express card to even get a PGR camera to light up. And there  

are no shipping Thunderbolt to FireWire or Thunderbolt to USB 3  

adapters either.  That pretty well makes Thunderbolt a very expensive  

albatross - but Apple could care less as they make royalty on each  

peripheral sold and their $50 "tax" for each 1 meter Thunderbolt cable.

HTH..

Milton Aupperle