SharpCap Forums

I hope to use SharpCap for asteroidal occultation recording with precision timing. Usually size of event's SER file is about 1 GB, but in some special cases it may become bigger. That's why I have been warried by info on memory limit 2 GB in free version. Does it mean limit on total video file size?

Hello,

The 2 GB limit is the limit of the RAM used for the buffering of the frames before saving it on the disc.

I guess that you have still a limit with the 32bit version on old windows system at 4 GB (sometimes only 3 GB) per file.
But today with 64bit windows you have no limit on the file size (except the disc maximum capacity itself )

If you have a look at my scripts (UCAC4 catalogues and Occultation) then you can think about to pay the Pro version.
With the Pro you can set more RAM for the buffering of the frames.
With my scripts you can show the UCAC4 stars for better field recognition and with the Occultation scripts you can automatize the capture of the events. Note that I will soon upload my updated scripts on the forum.

Jean-Francois

Thank you, Jean-Francois! I'm glad to hear your explanation about RAM.

I use now notebook with Win 10-64 and 8 GB RAM, so I hope to record large SER files without size limitations, if nessesary. My main limitation is modest aperture: 6-inch Mak does not give posibility to use speed faster than 10-20 fps, so 2 GB RAM buffer will be enough for ASI432MM, I suppose. All my previous occultations were catched with smartphone, so laptop with SharpCap have to work better

I guess, your scripts are useful for goto mounts, but I have just old black HEQ-5 without encoders, so I do not think about SC Pro version yet. However, if I'll get good results with Live Stacking application for variable stars photometry - Pro version may help with images calibration.

So thank you again and clear sky!

Mikhail

(BTW, my first attempt to use SC for timing was unsuccessful: I have lost excellent occultation due to notebook battery lost power during event recording!)

Hello,

The power management is critical. It is necessary to be ready not too early ... mean too much time before the event.
It is important to have a look at all the not necessary programs and then to stop or delete these software.

Yes. my Occultation script works the best with a GOTO mount and a QHY-GPS camera.
But, you can use it without a GOTO mount or a GPS camera.

Jean-Francois