ASI120MC Goes White During Guiding...?

[fatboy1271]

It’s all good. At least that will never happen again!

Thanks,
Jim

I wouldn't bet on that... I'm also not 100% convinced that this is the issue. I'm looking at it right now. Maybe, just maybe?, I'm not that incompetent

[fatboy1271]

So I had a horrible night guiding two nights ago. I turned down the gamma slider; however, I don't think that's the issue. I have to wonder if the camera is going out...? Before I turned down the gamma the image would be fine and then go gray or white. If I unplugged the camera it would go back to a normal image and then eventually go gray or white again.

I think I'll do a full reset on PHD2 before my next session and see if maybe I changed a setting or something that's effecting my camera. Anyway, for now, I don't know what's going on

[OhNo]

Are you running it with a USB2 or USB3 port on your computer? I have a ZWO ASI120MM and it WILL NOT run on USB3 Speed ports. I have used my ZWO as a guide camera for almost a year (practically ever day), only issue I've ever encountered was a corrupted ANSI driver.

[bladekeeper]

The ASI120MM-S (or MC equivalent) works with USB3. The older ASI120MM or MC (no -S) only works with USB2.

With my ASI120MM-S, I can plug it into a port on my ASI294MC Pro, which is in turn connected via a USB3 powered hub to the laptop. With my ASI120MM, I have to connect it directly to the USB2 port on the laptop.

Either way, I have guided successfully with either.

Fatboy, have you tried a different cable?

[JayTee]

Hi Patrick,

Hey, why don't you try to run the camera during the day attached to your guide scope looking at some terrestrial object. See if you get the same effect doing it that way. Also, this will give you the opportunity to swap out the cable if you have an extra one you can use.

Cheers,
JT

[fatboy1271]

Thanks guys! Great idea JT!!! I will do that, as that's very logical.

I also posted my PHD2 log from my last session because my guiding was awful. It was mentioned by someone looking at my log that there is an Enable diagnostic image logging, so I've turned that on too. Maybe PHD2 can see something or verify that I'm just a lunatic...

[fatboy1271]

Ok folks, I'm not a complete moron!!! Just a partial one

With the Moon so bright last night I thought I'd try to keep up with Bryan and take some stills and video. Well, it turns out there appears to be an issue with my ASI120MC!

Here is the video from SharpCap in which you will see flickering; in the live view of SharpCap the flickers were green and red:

[bladekeeper]

Ok folks, I'm not a complete moron!!! Just a partial one

With the Moon so bright last night I thought I'd try to keep up with Bryan and take some stills and video. Well, it turns out there appears to be an issue with my ASI120MC!

Here is the video from SharpCap in which you will see flickering; in the live view of SharpCap the flickers were green and red:

Well, that ain't cool.

Mine does not do that on the Moon.

Even made this pic using the 120 in the 60mm guide cam, just for grins:

But...

Here's the deal: On Saturday, I was trying to set up for deep sky imaging after my lunar captures. For some oddball reason (I think a Windows update may have hosed me) NINA was having difficulty all of a sudden plate-solving using ASTAP. No matter what, even after a reboot, no plate solving.

That was with my old reliable laptop that I'd been using all along with no issues.

Well, thought I, I've got this spanking new gamer laptop with all the software installed already. I swapped out PCs and hooked everything up to the new laptop. I fired up PHD2, connected the cam and mount, and started running off a darks library. Got that done, but, guess what? The stinking loop display was white. And I was using the same cabling I've been using all along with the older laptop. And no matter what I tried, I could not see stars, just the white.

Hmm.

So that pretty much did me in on Saturday. I packed up.

But but...

The image above was taken with the guide cam on Sunday evening using the new laptop. The only difference was that I had the 120 plugged directly into the USB 3 port on the machine, and not routed through the ASI294MC and on to a hub.

As for your video flicker, the image above is stacked from a 1000-frame 16-bit SER file off the 120. I did not see any flickering with mine. I will note that I have seen this before with my older USB 2.0 ASI120MM. It would flicker to beat all hell and was a booger to weed out the bad frames to stack the good.

I know that doesn't really help you any, Patrick, but I am, I suppose, having the same issue. I just haven't spent the time yet to ferret out what is causing the issue. I know the cam works, but it was having some trouble routing through the 294/USB/PC. Somewhere in that chain lies my issue. I am suspecting a driver needs updating somewhere.

I will let you know if I figure something out.

[bladekeeper]

Also, quick question. In SharpCap, do you have your white balance set to Auto? If so, try turning off Auto and see what you get, at least with regards to video on the Moon...

[fatboy1271]

Also, quick question. In SharpCap, do you have your white balance set to Auto? If so, try turning off Auto and see what you get, at least with regards to video on the Moon...

Not sure but I will check next time. I only ever use SharpCap if I'm going to record lunar/planetary video, which isn't often. I'll see how it fairs with PHD2 next session.

I can understand the Saturday frustration... Thanks for sharing that story!

fat

[bladekeeper]

Also, quick question. In SharpCap, do you have your white balance set to Auto? If so, try turning off Auto and see what you get, at least with regards to video on the Moon...

Not sure but I will check next time. I only ever use SharpCap if I'm going to record lunar/planetary video, which isn't often. I'll see how it fairs with PHD2 next session.

I can understand the Saturday frustration... Thanks for sharing that story!

fat

I should also note that even though my older 120 flickers a lot during lunar or planetary capture, I can guide with it in PHD2 wonderfully well. Nary a flicker one in PHD2. It works wonderfully as a guide cam.