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WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 3:06 pm
by wcblack7
I'm wondering if it is possible to connect my ZWO cameras to SharpCap via a wifi connection... like through the ASIAir device.
I was thinking about getting an ASIAir, but only if I can use it with SharpCap.
Bill

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 7:11 pm
by admin
Hi Bill,
As far as I know this won't work comma since the ASI air is a Raspberry Pi type device and can't run sharpcap, and I'm not aware of sharp cap on another PC being able to contact the ASI air.
Sorry about that, Robin

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 6:42 pm
by galljj
While the ASIAir won't work, there are plenty of wifi options. See https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/5639 ... =%20heaven It is somewhat long and old, but will give you an idea of how to proceed.

john

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 7:48 pm
by wcblack7
Hi John,
Thanks!... I believe that would do the trick.
I never heard of the "Compute Stick" before now, but very cool!
Bill

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:27 pm
by BlackWikkett
Hi,

A word of warning!

The compute stick will work since it's just a PC running Windows o/s. You can run SharpCap, PHD2 and several other applications on these devices. Then connect to your WiFi network and remote to them. These computers are very under powered and are not ideal for things like processing images. You can use them to capture frames and guide but that's about it. If you plan to use advanced resource intensive process like SharpCap's Live Stacking feature you will be very disappointed in the compute stick and similar devices. I've tried using them and they work fine to capture to SD card and simple guiding.

I've built a small form factor (SFF) PC using an ITX mainboard and AMD A10 CPU/GPU combo chip with 16 GB of ram and 2 SSD. I connect this to my rig and remote in using Windows Remote Desktop feature. This works great and I'm not limited on processing power.

Good luck finding a solution
-Wikkett

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 2:42 pm
by oopfan
Shouldn't it be possible to have two Compute Sticks, one running SharpCap and PHD2 for image capture and guiding, and the other for LiveStacking? They should interoperate, shouldn't they?

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 2:48 pm
by BlackWikkett
Hi,

There are a few ways I could imagine this working but IMHO it would be a waste of time due to low processing power of compute sticks.

-Wikkett

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 3:00 pm
by turfpit
In my experience of supporting a variety operating systems on diverse hardware over some 30 years, running a fully featured SharpCap (think Live Stack + the image processing facilities) as it is today on the compute stick is, putting it politely, optimistic. Now Sharpcap Lite which would just do capture (and DSO's at that) would probably be ok on a compute stick. ;)

Wickett's SFF is a realistic hardware specification.

Brian - maybe a compute stick cluster might hack it? :lol:
Dave

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 3:28 pm
by oopfan
I agree, Dave. The principles of Cloud-computing can be extended to SharpCap. Personally, I have two desktops, two laptops, three Arduinos, and two Raspberry Pi's. Shouldn't I be able to distribute SharpCap components across multiple compute units? Instead I am asked to purchase an expensive, high-end laptop that makes me sad to leave outside in sub-zero temperatures or high humidity.

Brian

Re: WiFi Camera Connection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 3:45 pm
by turfpit
Brian
purchase an expensive, high-end laptop that makes me sad to leave outside in sub-zero temperatures or high humidity
Don't forget dropped and stood on.

I agree with you, that is why my capture laptops are always ex-corporates off eBay, usually costing ~£150. Welcome to bottom of the garden astro-imaging using the chilly-scope. 8-)

Dave