We recently installed an AC-4040 with an AFW-10-50SQ and SC-3-SHORT for guiding. Intermittently, we have an issue initializing the system from MaximDL where we get the following error when trying to connect to the camera: Error Opening Filter Wheel. Filter wheel not connected. The filter wheel clearly cycles/initializes mechanically when powering on. I've also checked reseating the cable between the AC-4040 and the filter wheel. Sometimes trying to connect again will lead to success while other times MaximDL hangs. Rebooting the computer sometimes fixes things, other times it doesn't... I've also seen this on two different computers. But again, it's intermittent... And sometimes things are just fine. I'm running the current drivers (including an uninstall and reinstall) and MaximDL which is one version back from current (6.28 I believe). Any thoughts/suggestions? This feels like a driver/software issue perhaps?
Hi Jonathan, Is this an AC4040FSI (front side illuminated) or AC4040BSI (back side illuminated) camera? Let's check the versions first, so I know the exact combination that is giving the trouble. 1. Run the DL Config Utility. Let me know what it says for Driver Version. (e.g. you should have 2.1.2.0) 2. Select the AC4040. Let me know the FPGA firmware version in the camera. (e.g. Firmware Version 6 or 7). 3. Launch MaxIm DL Check the DL API version. (in my example below, see the green 3, I have 2.1.3 on this machine. Once we have those versions, we'll sort this out. If it would help, one of us could remote into the observatory computer and take a look / fix this.
Hi Colin, Details below: Camera is a AC-4040-FSI From the DL Config Utility: sbigudrv.dll = 5.1.1.0 I can't get at the firmware number from there. From inside MaxImDL: DLAPI Vesion: 2.0.3.0 Serial: AC4040M-21083001 Camera firmware: FPGA Rev 6
Ok. It looks like you've got some muddled versions. If you want me to remote in and do a fix, just say the word. I'm tied up from 2-5pm ET, and could do afterward or another time this week. Best bet to clean this up: In MaxIm, Help... Check for Updates. This will take you to a web page with 6.29 Download and install this. It will update MaxIm and the driver versions. Download FPGA Firmware version 8 for this camera, from here: https://diffractionlimited.com/aluma-fpga-firmware/?model=AC4040 Next, from the Windows Start Menu, run DL Config Utility. It should look something like this: Select the AC4040. Then in the center at the bottom is the feature to update the firmware. Choose File... and select the firmware you just downloaded. It will then take about 2-5 minutes to update the firmware. Don't interrupt the process, don't let the computer go to sleep. After it completes successfully, quit DL Config Utility. Unplug AC power to the camera. Wait 30 seconds. Power it back up. run DL Config Utility again. Select the AC4040 and it should show FPGA Firmware Rev is now version 8. Then you should be good to go. Again, am happy to do this for you.
One other important fact: The older SBIG CCD cameras use SBIG Driver Checker, and the SBIG Universal Driver. The newer SBIG CMOS cameras use DL Config Utility, and DL Imaging drivers. You need to make sure in MaxIm: Camera 1 = Setup ... Camera Model = DL Imaging. Click [Advanced...] and it will bring up a list of the cameras. Make sure to double-click on AC4040 so you see an "*" at the end of the serial number in the list. Filter Wheel 1 = Setup... Make sure you've got DL Imaging + FW. Camera 2 = Setup... Camera Model = DL Imaging. Click [Advanced...] and it will bring up a list of the cameras. Make sure to double-click on SC1300 so you see an "*" at the end of the serial number in the list.
Our license for MaximDL expired back in 2021 and so we're stopped at 6.28. Is there a way we can transfer the license provided with the camera onto our current install to be able to get the newest version? I've done the firmware upgrade on the camera successfully (now running 8). And I've confirmed everything is configured as you described with cameras etc. (it was).
Ok - great! Let me know what I need to do on that front. Yes - but they also connected successfully right before doing these updates... As I said initially, this is intermittent, so I guess we'll see if the issues re-occur. It would likely be good to do the driver/MaximDL updates first and then leave it to be tested.
I expect it will be taken care of soon - I have asked my colleague who handles licensing to take care of it. Ok. Our engineers are investigating the intermittent nature of the problem, and I'll advise if they have questions/suggestions/further updates. Can you check this, if you have not already done so: https://forum.diffractionlimited.co...rn-off-usb-selective-suspend.7848/#post-42928
We're not using FTDI - I did check about suspend etc. but it doesn't seem to be an option on our com ports. I don't believe I see a new comport anyway in device manager for the new camera filter wheel.
Ok, It's not just the COM ports. The filter wheel is not on a com port, it is controlled by the camera directly. FTDI Chip makes a USB device that we use in the cameras, so sometimes that is in the mix as well. The problem sometimes shows up on the camera's USB hub, root hub, and overall windows power management. e.g. in Device Manager, you can find the SBIG Camera for the AC4040, and the two halves SBIG Camera A and B for the StarChaser guider. Then View... Show Devices by Connection You'll see the chain of USB hubs all the way up. Check each one for power management. Some samples: StarChaser A and B halves: (I don't have your exact hardware handy to screenshot it precisely).
Got it - I've just checked and all of that has the "save power" and "selective suspend" option disabled.
Hi Jonathan, We've posted a further FPGA firmware update for all AC4040 FSI and BSI cameras. I recommend that you get it and install it. Download FPGA Firmware version 8 for this camera, from here: https://diffractionlimited.com/aluma-fpga-firmware/?model=AC4040 Next, from the Windows Start Menu, run DL Config Utility. It should look something like the attached screen shot: Select the AC4040. Then in the center at the bottom is the feature to update the firmware. (Green Arrow) Choose File... and select the firmware you just downloaded. It will then take about 2-5 minutes to update the firmware. Don't interrupt the process, don't let the computer go to sleep. After it completes successfully, quit DL Config Utility. Unplug AC power to the camera. Wait 30 seconds. Power it back up. run DL Config Utility again. Select the AC4040 and it should show FPGA Firmware Rev is now version 8. Then you should be good to go. This update addresses an issue with the camera not responding/hanging, and an issue discovered with StackPro among other things. Let us know if you have any more issues with AFW after this update.
Hi @Jonathan Crass We released an update on Friday May 19 to the DL API Drivers. This is recommended for all Aluma and STC cameras. You can read about it and download here: https://forum.diffractionlimited.com/threads/dlapi-2-7-1-0-released.9722/ This addresses a number of issues. Please install it and test it out. Let us know if you need any assistance.
