SharpCap Forums

Since SC 4 I continue to have issues with this version. It looks like it does not correctly get images from my cameras.
I am using ZWO ASI 120MC-S for guiding and polar alignment and SONY Alpha 6000 via ASCOM driver as main camera.
This setup works nicely with SC 3.2 but it repeatedly failed with SC 4
I recently did a session, in which I tried to do a platesolve with SC 4 which failed. Closing SC 4 and starting SC 3.2 I could successfully do the platesolving.
I have attached log files for details.

Cheers
Gernot

Hi Gernot,

there is a new plate solving option in SC 4.0 (in the plate solving settings) to reduce the image to 8 bit before sending it to the plate solver. I thought this would improve plate solving for most people, but it turns out that it fixes problems for some and breaks things for others

Please turn this option off (it was on by default) - that should resolve the issue. I am also going to change the next update of SharpCap to turn this option off by default.

cheers,

Robin

Hi Robin,

Thank you for this super quick reply. I will test this as soon as possible.

Cheers
Gernot

Hi Robin,

I could try yesterday the proposed fix but I had to find that it did not solve my problem.
Again SC 4 did fail to do the platesolving, it reported that it needs more stars and suggested the usual remedies to get more stars. I even tried to lower sigma and increase exposure time but to no avail.
When starting SC 3.2 it did the platesolving in a breeze.

I am attaching the log files for your inspection.

Thanks
Gernot

Hi Gernot,

could you please send me an image that will not solve, captured in RAW16 to FITS format from SharpCap 4.0? That will let me test to see if I can understand what is going on.

The image will be too large to upload to the forums, so the best idea is to use dropbox, google drive, etc and then include a shared download link here on the forums.

thanks,

Robin

Hi Robin,


update:
I found some temp files under \AppData\Local\Temp, pls see attached screen shot.
There are some png files among them, I guess these are the temp image files used for plate solving.
Pls instruct which files you need.

Thanks
Gernot

<<<<<<
sorry, pls instruct me where I can find these files.

I give some context. When I was running the polar alignment with my ZWO ASI120MC camera the plate solve did work with SC 4.
Later I switched to my main camera, which is a SONY Alpha 6000, which is controled via an ASCOM driver. I did try a plate solve and sync of the mount to adjust the position, but this did not work.
I am happy to provide the temp. file as requested but need instruction where to retrieve those.

Thanks
Gernot

Hi,

the tmpXXXX.tmp.png files look like the right ones, along with the camerasettings.txt files that go with them.

I would advise cleaning out all the existing files, plate solve once with 3.2 and grab the png/settings file. Then clean out again, plate solve once with 4.0 and grab the new png/settings files - that should give something to compare.

thanks,

Robin

Hi Robin,

update:
here is the link
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fczccf7la67u ... tU5Ua?dl=0


from the timestamp of the files I have it looks like these were the files processed when I observed the difference between SC 4 and SC 3.2.
I do not understand what difference it would make if I repeat this process. Also I should mention that I did not run a capture sequence so I do not have the corresponding image files stored.
Attached you can find the temp files you mentioned. I hope this gives you the required input.
I have uploaded the resp. files to dropbox and admin(at)sharpcap.co.uk should have received a link for access. I hope this worked, I am new to dropbox.

Cheers
Gernot

Hi Gernot

The Dropbox is accessible publicly so I downloaded the FIT file and used it with the latest SharpCap 4 to plate solve and it succeeded here:

Solution : RA=09:55:40,Dec=+69:05:51 (J2000)
Field of View : 0,90x0,60 degrees
Time : Mon, 27 Sep 2021 22:18:03 GMT
Orientation : up is 257,0 degrees E of N

Both the PNG files did also solve here.
Just in case, below a screenshot for the plate solving. It's for my set-up but maybe that helps?

Menno

Hi Menno,

thanks for explaining the basics to me

I see that in SC 4 is a parameter to define the FL for plate solving, which wasn't there in 3.2
So it seems that it was a user mistake by specifying the FL for one camera but not changing it when changing the camera and the scope.
I do use my guide scope for polar alignment, this is where the plate solving worked in SC 4. Then I change to the main scope and camera with a much larger FL but didn't adjust this is the setting, because I just missed it.

Would the option "do not use" reatain the old 3.2 behaviour?
Why is this new option required anyway?

Thanks
Gernot