How to distinguish two identical cameras

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sonata31
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 3:51 pm

How to distinguish two identical cameras

#1

Post by sonata31 »

Hello

I have two identical cameras ZWO ASI533
How to distinguish them, because they are displayed with the same name?
Louis
Monture : Rainbow Astro RST135E
Lunette : Takahashi FSQ106EDX4 + PegasusAstro FocusCube
Alnitak Flip-Flat
Caméra : ZWO ASI533MC + EFW
PC : PrimaLuceLab EAGLE4 PRO
Logiciels : SharpCap, ASTAP, PHD2
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admin
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Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#2

Post by admin »

Hi,

have you tried SharpCap 4.0? 4.0 will fetch the serial number from ZWO cameras and use it in addition to the device name if there are two of the same model present. The only problem with that is that ZWO were relatively late adding serial numbers to their cameras - for the first several years there were no serial numbers in the camera, so whether this works will depend on how new your ZWO cameras are and whether they have serial numbers - worth a try, anyway.

cheers,

Robin
sonata31
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 3:51 pm

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#3

Post by sonata31 »

Hello robin

These are cameras bought a few weeks ago
I am using version 4.0, it does not show a serial number, only the two identical names

Louis
Monture : Rainbow Astro RST135E
Lunette : Takahashi FSQ106EDX4 + PegasusAstro FocusCube
Alnitak Flip-Flat
Caméra : ZWO ASI533MC + EFW
PC : PrimaLuceLab EAGLE4 PRO
Logiciels : SharpCap, ASTAP, PHD2
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13173
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#4

Post by admin »

Hmm,

that could mean that your cameras don't have serial numbers, or that I have a bug :( Unfortunately none of the ZWO cameras I have are new enough to have a serial number, but I will see if I can simulate having two cameras that have serial numbers and check for a bug.

cheers,

Robin
sonata31
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 3:51 pm

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#5

Post by sonata31 »

Hello robin

OK, I'm waiting for a message from you
Thank you

Louis
Monture : Rainbow Astro RST135E
Lunette : Takahashi FSQ106EDX4 + PegasusAstro FocusCube
Alnitak Flip-Flat
Caméra : ZWO ASI533MC + EFW
PC : PrimaLuceLab EAGLE4 PRO
Logiciels : SharpCap, ASTAP, PHD2
sonata31
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 3:51 pm

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#6

Post by sonata31 »

Hello robin

I checked with ZWO ASI Studio software
Both cameras have a serial number

Louis
Monture : Rainbow Astro RST135E
Lunette : Takahashi FSQ106EDX4 + PegasusAstro FocusCube
Alnitak Flip-Flat
Caméra : ZWO ASI533MC + EFW
PC : PrimaLuceLab EAGLE4 PRO
Logiciels : SharpCap, ASTAP, PHD2
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13173
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#7

Post by admin »

Hi,

I think I see the problem now - you have to open the camera to retrieve the serial number - that's a bit scary because it needs testing in all sorts of odd situations - what if the camera is open already? what if it is open in another application, what if it is open in the ZWO ASCOM driver?

I'm concerned that I could make this work and break other, more common, uses :(

cheers,

Robin
sonata31
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 3:51 pm

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#8

Post by sonata31 »

Hello robin
I don't understand what you mean
In the ASI Studio application I selected a camera and I asked for the information about it
Among this information there is the serial number
Louis
Monture : Rainbow Astro RST135E
Lunette : Takahashi FSQ106EDX4 + PegasusAstro FocusCube
Alnitak Flip-Flat
Caméra : ZWO ASI533MC + EFW
PC : PrimaLuceLab EAGLE4 PRO
Logiciels : SharpCap, ASTAP, PHD2
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13173
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#9

Post by admin »

Hi,

yes, but internally the code of ASIStudio is opening a connection to the camera to do that serial number check. This isn't something I want to do when scanning for the list of cameras to put in the cameras menu - too many possible negative side effects. I have made some changes so that the serial number will be shown in the title bar once you have opened the camera (since by that point SharpCap has opened the connection to the camera and can check the serial number no problem).

cheers,

Robin
sonata31
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 3:51 pm

Re: How to distinguish two identical cameras

#10

Post by sonata31 »

Hello Robin

Would not it be possible to save this serial number in the instance register key
So according to the executive instance the serial number could be read without having to open the camera (except the first time, a kind of initialization)

Louis
Monture : Rainbow Astro RST135E
Lunette : Takahashi FSQ106EDX4 + PegasusAstro FocusCube
Alnitak Flip-Flat
Caméra : ZWO ASI533MC + EFW
PC : PrimaLuceLab EAGLE4 PRO
Logiciels : SharpCap, ASTAP, PHD2
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