Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

Discussion of features and issues relating to Altair Astro Cameras
Gordon
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Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#1

Post by Gordon »

Hi all,

The highest fps I can achieve with this camera with the laptop I've got is 35 fps . This is with the exposure and ROI set at its lowest, I've attached what I hope are all the relevant files that give all the information you more informed folk than me need! Really appreciate guidance on if I can achieve a higher fps with the kit I've got or what I need to get the most from the camera. Let me know if you need more information, hopefully files attached explain the settings for SharpCap, my Laptop RAM and the USBtree.

Cheers

Gordon
Attachments
USBViewAll AA183.txt
(56 KiB) Downloaded 104 times
Memory.PNG
Memory.PNG (43.86 KiB) Viewed 2849 times
SharpCap Capture.PNG
SharpCap Capture.PNG (188.72 KiB) Viewed 2849 times
SharpCap Memory Capture.PNG
SharpCap Memory Capture.PNG (105.17 KiB) Viewed 2849 times
SharpCap Log.docx
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Last edited by Gordon on Sun Apr 11, 2021 4:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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admin
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#2

Post by admin »

Hi,

how is the camera physically connected to the computer (what sort of cable, how long, any extensions?) I just tested the mono version of the same camera and can get ~150fps on USB3 and ~20fps on USB2 at 320x240 ROI, so something is not quite right.

The most likely problems would be

1) long USB cables (or hubs/dodgy cables) leading to reduced frame rates
2) CPU being stuck at 100% (check in task manager - I would only expect this on a very old/slow CPU for this ROI).

cheers,

Robin
Gordon
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#3

Post by Gordon »

Hi Robin,

Cable is 1.5m and I'll re-check with as supplied cable, from memory it's the same and what drove me to buy another cable in the first place. I did an experiment in SharpCap where I started at 1000ms exposure and kept halving it to see it doubled the fps. It did until 15ms where it hit 35fps and any further exposure reduction didn't yield and increase in FPS. I've been checking and shutting down programs in task manager to ensure RAM is above 8 which the snap shot attached is showing.
Cheers
Gordon
Gordon
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#4

Post by Gordon »

Hi Robin,

quick update. With the shorter original supplied USB3 cable there is no difference to the fps, still 35 fps at same settings. I've added the USBtree view to my first post and a snap of task manager with SharpCap running with the short cable on this post. CPU was around 30%.

I also tried my GPCAM130M and included a screen shot of that, it ran at 103fps in the USB3 socket.

Cheers

Gordon
Attachments
GPCAM130M.PNG
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Task Manager.docx
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turfpit
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#5

Post by turfpit »

Gordon/Robin

Altair 183C (was a V1 but firmware upgraded to V2). i3 CPU, 8Gb RAM, 1.5m USB3 cable plugged into USB3 port (no other USB connections or hubs), Win 10 Pro latest.

RAW8, 320x240, exposure 10.1ms, USB speed slider = 2.

At 10ms I can get 35fps and this figure is up to 1920x1080 capture area. I have never obtained better than 35fps with this camera (that is through SC versions 3.1, 3.2, 4.0).

Altair183C-fps.JPG
Altair183C-fps.JPG (55.09 KiB) Viewed 2828 times

Dave
Gordon
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#6

Post by Gordon »

Hi Dave,

Relief to hear that it sounds like I'm probably getting the best FPS I can? Would you say that even with a higher spec laptop the fps would remain the same and the camera is the limiting factor?

I've been thinking about the new camera Altair are selling with reported FPS of 500 + (the baby shark). Didn't want to buy that only to find my laptop isn't up to it.

Cheers

Gordon
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turfpit
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#7

Post by turfpit »

Gordon
I also tried my GPCAM130M and included a screen shot of that, it ran at 103fps in the USB3 socket.
This proves your hardware is capable of delivering a high fps. Which only leaves the cable and the camera.

Using my i3/8Gb laptop, on the same port I can run a Skyris 618M USB3 camera at 640x480, MONO16 and achieve 120fps with no dropped frames. Again this leaves the only question mark being the cable/camera (camera manufacture was circa 2017).

I see nothing untoward in either your task manager or USBtreeView info.

Dave
Gordon
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#8

Post by Gordon »

Hi Dave,

Thanks for taking the time to look at this, I'll probably try another cable as it's cheaper than another camera! If I do buy another camera I'm going to connect it to my laptop before I buy it in the shop!

Cheers

Gordon
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#9

Post by turfpit »

Gordon

No problem, I didn't spend much time on this as I have been through it all myself.

Dave
ctoulson1
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Re: Low Frame Rate with Altair 183C v2

#10

Post by ctoulson1 »

Altair capture software seems to support a limitless fps but sharpcap seems to be capped at 35fps.
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