ASI 290 mini mono and SC problems
Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 2:05 pm
Robin
I am an experienced SC Pro user Using a Touptek 224. I have purchased a ASI 290 mini mono.i downloaded the proper ASI drivers. Verified all my laptop drivers are up to date. I have done daylight tests , using my Acer E 15, to establish all is working and obtain proper number of focusing turns and direction with a .5 GSO FR correctly spaced @ 51mm. This distance verified by Agena techs. I can come to focus in the daylight. Using 3.2 , When I observe at night I can not get any stars to appear on the screen ( with the exception of very bright stars like Vega) until i reach 8-10s exposure. My gain is set at 350. My screen is set to auto. I have checked on the USB troubleshooting ..up to date drivers , changed ports , etc .....experimented with turbo USB settings..currently 80 ..cable is less than 5m
Another example of my problem is my focusing tecnique will not work. I GoTo an object. Center a bright star in the field. Set exposure to 500ms , gain 350 and Zoom to 200 % then reduce exposure until it is just visible and then focus. Since I can’t see any stars in the field @ 500ms i can’t use this, ..I have had to use Vega to focus.
I have successfully taken images at 8-10s..of something as bright as M57. but this was by trial and error chance experimenting with back and forth exposure vs gain settings
I wonder if my sky conditions are so marginal that a sensitive camera like the 290 is having trouble with that. ..or if somehow the combination of my Laptop, SC and ASI is not compatable ...although as I said the setup comes to focus in daylight using a .5 or a .63 focal reducer.
What am I doing wrong.....approaching wits end ..
Thanks
Edgar
I am an experienced SC Pro user Using a Touptek 224. I have purchased a ASI 290 mini mono.i downloaded the proper ASI drivers. Verified all my laptop drivers are up to date. I have done daylight tests , using my Acer E 15, to establish all is working and obtain proper number of focusing turns and direction with a .5 GSO FR correctly spaced @ 51mm. This distance verified by Agena techs. I can come to focus in the daylight. Using 3.2 , When I observe at night I can not get any stars to appear on the screen ( with the exception of very bright stars like Vega) until i reach 8-10s exposure. My gain is set at 350. My screen is set to auto. I have checked on the USB troubleshooting ..up to date drivers , changed ports , etc .....experimented with turbo USB settings..currently 80 ..cable is less than 5m
Another example of my problem is my focusing tecnique will not work. I GoTo an object. Center a bright star in the field. Set exposure to 500ms , gain 350 and Zoom to 200 % then reduce exposure until it is just visible and then focus. Since I can’t see any stars in the field @ 500ms i can’t use this, ..I have had to use Vega to focus.
I have successfully taken images at 8-10s..of something as bright as M57. but this was by trial and error chance experimenting with back and forth exposure vs gain settings
I wonder if my sky conditions are so marginal that a sensitive camera like the 290 is having trouble with that. ..or if somehow the combination of my Laptop, SC and ASI is not compatable ...although as I said the setup comes to focus in daylight using a .5 or a .63 focal reducer.
What am I doing wrong.....approaching wits end ..
Thanks
Edgar