SharpCap Forums

Seems I can only attach 3 files at a time?

Here's the other 2

Ok, thanks for all those log files - unfortunately it's still not making sense to me - I will make a special build with extra logging around ZWO cameras dropping frames and send it to you in the next day or two. Hope that's OK.

Robin

No problem. I'm retired so can usually do the tests very quickly.

thanks for your patience and perseverance.

Neil

Hi Neil,

give this version a go - it should put info in the log about why the frames are being dropped (at least enough to give me a hint about where in the code to start digging).

https://d.sharpcap.co.uk/download.html? ... 3.1.5031.0

It will log after a total of 2 dropped frames, then after a total of 4, 8, 16, 32 , etc. There are various places where frames can be lost and they all end up in the dropped frames count in the end - this will let me tell which ones are the cause.

cheers,

Robin

A nice quite Sunday morning so I could get the test done with v5031.

Testing scenarios as before:- (and fortunately - results as before )

Default settings on SC startup
SC version 3.1.5031
show tips - checked
automatically connect to camera - not checked
automatically restore camera setting - NOT checked

preferred video format - SER
preferred still format - FITS

Organise captured files into subfolders:-
first by - Date then by - Target name

Use sortable date format - checked


 
Test 1:-
start SC, select camera
colour space - MONO8
Capture Area - 4656 x 3520
Binning - 1
output format - Auto (SER file)

Exposure - 50ms on startup
Frame rate - maximum, turbo USB - Auto (100), high speed mode - off
Gain 139, brightness 10

Change exposure to 2 sec - using quickpick list
Output format changes to FITs
no frames being dropped in preview
Capture 5 frames - OK

Change to MONO16
Output Format stays at FITS
preview - initially dropped 1 frames then stabilised to previewing all frames OK
Capture 5 frames - All OK

Close SC - to ensure clean log file, renamed log file Test 1.....




 
Test2
start SC, select camera
colour space - MONO8
Capture Area - 4656 x 3520
Binning - 1
output format - Auto (SER file)

Exposure - 50ms on startup
Frame rate - maximum, turbo USB - Auto (100), high speed mode - off
Gain 139, brightness 10

Change exposure to 4 sec - using quickpick list
Output format changes to FITs
no frames being dropped in preview
Capture 5 frames - OK


Change to MONO16
Output Format stays at FITS
preview - all frames being dropped
Capture 5 frames - All frames being dropped
capture aborted

Closed SC, renamed log file to Test2.......



 
Test3
start SC, select camera
colour space - MONO8
Capture Area - 4656 x 3520
Binning - 1
output format - Auto (SER file)

Exposure - 50ms on startup
Frame rate - maximum, turbo USB - Auto (100), high speed mode - off
Gain 139, brightness 10

Change output format - switch off auto, select png
Change exposure to 2 sec - using quickpick list
no frames being dropped in preview
Capture 5 frames - OK


Change to MONO16
Output Format stays at png
preview - 1 frame dropped initially, otherwise preview OK
Capture 5 frames - OK

Closed SC, renamed log file to Test3.......



 
Test4
start SC, select camera
colour space - MONO8
Capture Area - 4656 x 3520
Binning - 1
output format - Auto (SER file)

Exposure - 50ms on startup
Frame rate - maximum, turbo USB - Auto (100), high speed mode - off
Gain 139, brightness 10

Change output format - switch off auto, select png
Change exposure to 4 sec - using quickpick list
no frames being dropped in preview
Capture 5 frames - OK


Change to MONO16
Output Format stays at png
preview all frames being dropped
Capture 5 frames - aborted - no frames being captured

Closed SC, renamed log file to Test4.......


 
Test5
start SC, select camera
colour space - MONO8
Capture Area - 4656 x 3520
Binning - 1
output format - Auto (SER file)

Exposure - 50ms on startup
Frame rate - maximum, turbo USB - Auto (100), high speed mode - off
Gain 139, brightness 10

Change output format - switch off auto, select SER
Change exposure to 4 sec - using quickpick list
no frames being dropped in preview
Capture 5 frames - OK


Change to MONO16
Output Format stays at SER
preview all frames being dropped
Capture 5 frames - aborted - no frames being captured

Closed SC, renamed log file to Test5.......




First 3 test logs attached here other 2 to follow in next post

Regards
Neil

Other 2 log files

Thanks Neil,

it looks like the capture from the camera is either timing out or failing - I need to add more logging to determine the difference, but what happens if you turn down the Turbo USB value? The maximum value of 100 is only really needed for high speed imaging and maybe it will all be more stable with a lower value.

cheers,

Robin

I'll try a number of Turbo USB settings and let you know.

Neil

OK, tested at:-
In order of testing:-
TURBO USB = 100 (but Auto off) - fails as expected

TURBO USB = 50 - works fine
TURBO USB = 75 - works fine
TURBO USB = 90 - works fine
TURBO USB = 100 - retested in case some setting was carried over from previous working test - failed as expected
TURBO USB = 99 - fails
TURBO USB = 97 - fails
TURBO USB = 96 - works fine.

If you need the log files - let me know

Ok, so I think this is basically sorted then - looks like the combination of 100 Turbo USB somehow doesn't like it when you go to 16 bit mode having previously been in 8 bit mode but lower values work. Sorry it took so long to work that out! I should have followed my own troubleshooting advice - viewtopic.php?f=18&t=349&p=1556#p1556!

cheers,

Robin