I have been running my STXL16200 camera with a standard FW8S filter wheel cover for years now, and I decided that I was going to try to get the original FW8G that came with the camera working. No luck. Using the Moon as a target (positioned at the top of the main camera images), I tried adjusted the pickoff mirror so that it is all the way in where you could see the shadow of the mirror on the main camera images, and regardless of where I adjusted guide sensor focuser or pick-off mirror position, the images from the guide sensor were just black with some noise. There was not even a hint that there was an extremely bright object in the vicinity. There do not appear to be any camera connection problems. I am running MaxIm DL Pro V6.30, and as far as I can tell, the FITS information from the black images indicates that it recognizes the correct sensor data for the guide chip. Am I doing something wrong, or do I need to send the FW8G in to have it looked at ? Mike
You need to select the EXTERNAL guide sensor. Otherwise it will try to use the non-existing internal guide sensor.
Thanks Colin That fixed my problem! I was able to get the FW8G guide chip working and guiding. As is usually the case, the solution to my problem was the simple solution. One follow-up question: Where can I find the instructions for this subtle but very important setting ? I don't see anything in the STXL Camera or in the FW8G Manuals. I am still looking through the MaxIm DL manual, but I haven't found anything yet. Mike
I forgot to ask. When the guide camera takes an image there is a clicking noise. Is there some kind of shutter mechanism for the guide chip ? I also noticed that when the main camera is Taoism image, the clicking from the guider stops. Mike
Taking an extra mage? Or wizard? Autocorrect is not your friend ;-) The self-guiding filter wheels have a small shutter that rotates in front of the sensor.
