Hi, I've been using a SBIG STXL 6303e + FW8S STXL filter wheel for the last two years. Now it suddenly can't connect to the acquisition software. Usually, when powered up, the cooling fan turns on and the filter wheel moves to the default position. However, the fan starts for a short time and then goes silent (but still rotating). The filter wheel does not move at all. Any software we try (CCDsoft or TheSky6) can't connect to the camera, giving an ascom communication error. The camera is detected by windows (we hear the usual usb plug-in sound and it is also visible in the device manager). We tried the following things: Unpowering and powering the camera Restarting the acquisition pc Trying with a different pc with up to date drivers Trying with disconnected filter wheel (of course disconnecting the i2c cable while the camera is not connected to power as clearly stated on the sticker) After plugging it to a different pc, the fan started with the usual speed but still no signs of life from the filter wheel. However, since the camera can't connect even without filter wheel, we imagine that it is not the issue. On the side, there's a red on the top row (telescope connection up) and a green led on the bottom row, both at the right end. It is the first time we can't connect the camera. Can you help us? Thanks in advance!
What changed? Did you update the computer, software, rearrange anything? I'm going to assume the camera is attached to the PC by USB, not Ethernet. Try a different USB cable, keep it short (2m or less) between the camera and a USB port on the back of the computer, no hubs or extenders. Let's start with the simplest test: See if SBIG Driver Checker 4.05 will connect to the camera. If you have an old version, get the latest here: https://diffractionlimited.com/downloads/SetupDriverChecker64.exe Launch the driver checker. Go to the Firmware tab. Click [Get Firmware Version From Camera]. This will try to connect to the camera and will retrieve the firmware information. If this works, then you have a software issue. If it fails, then you have a hardware problem. Contact @Bill for repair ( bill (at) sbig (dot) com ). Check with CCDOps See if it will connect with CCDOps. You can get it here: https://diffractionlimited.com/downloads/InstOps.exe In CCDOps, Camera... Camera Info. This will connect to the camera and report it's status. If this fails, then contact @Bill for repair. The STXL is NOT an ASCOM camera. So any attempt to talk to it via ASCOM will fail. It uses the SBIG Universal Drivers. The SBIG Driver Checker will show you SBIGUdrv.dll (version should be 4.99 build 7 or 5.1.1.0). You need to configure the camera correctly as an SBIG STXL in TheSky X. The green +12V power LED = power good. The red status LED should flicker during power up of the camera, and then stay on. It will blink when the computer asks it to do an exposure. It sounds like the power supply is ok. Let us know what you learn, and contact @Bill for repair.
