Assembly Question

Discussion in 'STX and STXL Series Cameras' started by Martin Pugh, Jun 29, 2022.

  1. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Hi Doug/Colin
    a bit confused about the assembly/connections between the following.

    STX16803 (original dual ccd)
    FW7 STX
    SC3
    AOX

    I havent powered anything up yet before I checked.
    Right now I have the FW cable plugged into the I2C out port on the AOX
    I have the long DB9 cable connected between the I2C auxiliary port on the camera and the I2C In port on the AOX.

    The SC3 documentation states I should connect the aux port on the SC3 to the I2C in port on the AOX....the only cable I have that is compatible with the aux port on the SC3 has a DC jack on it for power.

    Also...if I do that then there appears to be no connection between the actual camera and anything else.

    Please advise!
    thanks
    Martin
     
  2. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    No.
    1. Camera -> FW
    2. SC3 -> AOX
    No connections between 1 and 2. The SC3 is a fully independent camera, and controls the AO-X directly.
    The camera only controls the FW.
     
  3. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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  4. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Thanks Colin
    I dont recall that cable, but will look for it in my packaging tomorrow. I still need a USB connection from the SC3 to my PC though right?
     
  5. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Correct.
    The SC3 is a fully independent camera. It needs it's own USB to the computer, and it's own power supply. It supplies power and control signals to the AO-X.

    The STX camera needs it's own USB to the computer and it's own power supply. It supplies power and control signals to the Filter Wheel. There should only be a white pigtail cable from the filter wheel to the camera.
    No other connections to the FW.
     
  6. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Hi Colin….I found that cable so I have it all connected up but have ran into another issue.
    I have to use the SkyX as its the only way I can get the AOX to work correctly.
    So I have the camara configured as STX Cameras as there is no connection to the AOX any longer.
    With the SC3 I do not get the option to enable the AO when I use the ASCOM driver, and if I select ‘Maxim DL camera’ it obviously starts Maxim. In Maxim I have configured the SC3 to use AO and I can get that all to connected.
    But what I really need is SC3/AO control in SkyX.

    Any way to do this?
    thanks
    Martin
     
  7. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Hmmm... no way to do this that I am aware of. The issue is the X2 drivers are needed to do this, and it never got done by the third party.
     
  8. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    That is very bad news for me as this camera is supposed to be headed for a new scope in Chile. Using AOX is the reason why I get sub-arcsecond data. So what you are saying is that the SC/AOX can only be operated by Maxim DL which still does not work with an AOX.
     
  9. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Colin....so I need to get Bisque to write the drivers?
     
  10. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    We sent Bisque hardware about 3 years ago; they never did the work; a third party has the hardware now, and is trying to do X2 on Linux, Mac, and then Windows and it sits with him.
     
  11. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Hi Colin
    so when I set this up in Maxim, would you please advise what the right settings would be for Camera 1, FW7-STX, Camera 2 plus what ever the DL Imaging driver needs.

    thanks
    martin
     
  12. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Like so:
    stx_sc3_ao.png
    (I had to fix the picture).
     
  13. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    I get an error when clicking on that Colin.
     
  14. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Try again.
     
  15. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Terrific, thanks Colin.
     
  16. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Hi Colin
    just downloaded ver 2.09 of the StarChaser manual.
    At paragraph 5.13f - it states to select Sensor 2 from the AO drop down menu, which conflicts with the screenshot you sent above.

    regards
    Martin
     
  17. Doug

    Doug Staff Member

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    That is an error in the manual - thanks for spotting that. Will fix.
     

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