ZWO ASI120MM camera???

[Mitch Hill]

Great news about PHD2Beta1 release...  I downlioaded and installed it this afternoon and attempted to set it up for guiding tests this evening...  However, setting up for the ZWO ASI120MM camera I use ran into problems as compared to using the ASI120MM in classic PHD.  In classic, I get the "Camera Dialog" box that lets me control the ZWO ASI120MM gain and exposure. 

In PHD2Beta1, The camera connects OK, is ecognized, I get as far as selecting the resolution and then PHD2Beta1 acts as if its rady to operate but there is no Camera Dialog , the button is grayed out and no means to set the camera gain or exposure...

Anyone else with a ZWO ASI120MM/MC series camera with a solution?  As it stands, PHD2beta1 is unusable to me...

Thanks,
Mitch - K1FH

[Bret McKee]

It should have created a log file in your Documents folder.  If you could send that along, we (hopefully) can figure out what is the problem.

Bret -- N0MTA

[Mitch Hill]

Brent,
I'm new here, need some guidance...

Where to send logs or how to post them? 
Three files about 1 Meg in size total...

Thanks,
Mitch

[Peter B]

Hi Mitch.

 

I've got the ASI120MM working with PHD2 (just this morning).  If you connect as WDM webcam you only have control of the exposure (not gain) it seems.  If you connect as ASCOM camera you have control of the camera gain when you first connect in the ascom properties dialogue box.  You then have control of the exposure with the dropdown on the main phd screen.

 

Peter

[Mitch Hill]

This may end up being a duplicate post as I sent a reply by e-mail and it has not shown up.

As I'm sitting here with the imaging system running and waiting, I am replying on lineL


Hi Peter,

Thanks for the reply...

I tried the "ASCOM camera but only choice I get is one of two camera simulators.  Is this whwt you mean? Choose one of them to set the gain?

This approach confuses me, You will gave to explain in more detail if you don't mind...

Thanks,
Mitch...

[Peter B]

Have you installed the ASCOM driver for the AS120MM?

 

http://www.zwoptical.com/Eng/Software/index.asp

 

You need to install the ASI SDK first then ASI Camera ASCOM Driver.

 

This will let you select the ASI120MM as either a WDM device or select ASCOM camera in PHD.  When you select ASCOM camera you will get a dialogue box popup "ASCOM Camera Chooser".  Select ASI Cameras ASCOM driver and the properties button will become available.  Click the properties button and you'll get a gain slider.

 

Click OK and OK again and you'll be connected to the camera as an ASCOM camera.  At this point you still won't have access to the cam dialogue button (greyed out) however you can still change the exposure with the main PHD dropdown next to the stop button.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Peter

[Mitch Hill]

Ok, this is beginning to make sense to me...  No, I did not have the ASCOM driver as it is not for the camera I have.
However I did download it and try it, I can now set gain and exposure...  Unfortunately it has clouded over here in the interim so noit seeing much to test it on at the moment...  

However, I doubt this is going to work as the ASCOM driver is apparently only for the the ASI camera with the ST-4 port and the ZWO ASI120MM camera that I have does not have the ST-4 port  and I do not see a way to select ASCOM pulse mode... ..

Does this exist in PHD2beta1?

Thanks,
Mitch...      

[Peter B]

Mitch,

 

I also have the original ASI120MM (without the guide port) and this driver works fine for the camera functionality.  I use a GPUSB for ST4 port rather than pulse guiding since I switched from an EQ6 with EQMOD to Losmandy G11 with Gemini.net.  I think you just need to select ASCOM as your mount when connecting and then choose the correct mount ascom driver.  In the mount driver (EQMOD or Gemini.net) you select pulse guiding.  What mount are you pulse guiding with?

 

Peter

[Mitch Hill]

Hi Peter,

Well, great minds think alike or something like that... 

Mount I'm using is a 2008 G11 with Gemini-2 control system that I spent about half of last year upgrading from the original Gemini-1 controller and putting the new heavy duty motors and gear boxes Losmandy is now using on it...

And as I've been using PHD Classic with this ZWO ASI120MM and have Gemini.net already configured accordingly, it sounds like this should work OK when I get a clear sky so I can test it further...  

Thanks for your help...

Mitch... 

[Peter B]

Mitch,

 

I gave up on the Gemini.net pulse guiding (Ive got Gemini V1) because the serial comms seemed too unreliable and the pulse guiding was adding more comms traffic.  I did use pulse guiding with EQMOD for my EQ6 through.  I already had the GPUSB so it wasn't a big deal and this has worked fine.  The bigest frustration I have is the DEC backlash - I've got new 1 piece worms in both RA and DEC however there is end play in the one piece worm and no means of adjustment without modifying the blocks.  The extra visual feedback in PHD2 is a real plus for me - can't wait to give it a try.

 

Peter

[Mitch Hill]

Peter,
A combination of old style gear boxes, and discovering the Gemini-2 has both a USB port, and a 10/100 Ethernet port for mount control link was what convinced me to upgrade.  As it has turned out, the Ethernet port is head and shoulders the best method of talking to the mount. 

When I was installing and making the first start up of the Gemini-2, I used the USB port.  That lasted about 24 hours and I plugged it into my in house router/switch with a 50 ft. cable run out to the mount and that's been my method of controlling it since about 1 Dec. 2012...  I run it with Stellarium, Stellariumscope, AstroTortilla, and PHD for guiding from a desktop indoors... 

The Ethernet link is robust, fast, and 100% reliable... And I can use my laptop as well as my desktop for control and imaging data collection with a USBgear-4NET USB2.0 over IP hub on a second Ethernet link...  

Its a very satisfactory setup and so far I like the looks of PHD2...  Just need some clear nights now to do do some serious testing...

Thanks again for your help...

Mitch...
 

[Bret McKee]

Excuse me for appearing dense, but is there still a PHD2 issue to be investigated here?  My sense is that there is, and that you are working around it by using ASCOM, but I wanted to check...

:-)

Bret

[Peter B]

Bret,

 

The only issue is when you connect to the ASI120MM as a WDM webcam the camera control button is greyed out in PHD2 so you can't adjust the camera parameters including the gain.  In PHD1 this button is not greyed out.  If you connect via ASCOM camera yo do have access to the gain control when you first connect.

 

Peter

[Bret McKee]

Thanks for clearing that up.  Could you try connecting to it as a OpenCV camera and see what happens?  I think that OpenCV is an improved replacement for WDM, but I'd be interested to hear if it works for you.

Bret

[Peter B]

Just tried Open CV but still no access to the camera control button.

[Mitch Hill]

Bret,
I went down the list of camera types and all generated a "Camera connection failed" failed except for the ASCOM camera and the WDM Webcam types.

In PHD1, with the ZWO ASI120MM or MC camera, one selects the WDM Webcam type, the camera is connected, and then a small chart of the ASI120MM/MC resolutions and bit levels comes up and one selects 640 x 420, 8bit typically... Once resolution is selected, the box goes away and one continues in PHD ot set up the scope rtc.  On the lower right corner to the right of the Brain symbol and Take Dark pushbutton is Cam Dialog push button.  This is also in PHD2 however is disabled

In PHD1, with the ZWO camera, at any time, one can push "Cam Dialog" which opens a camera control window dor the ZWO camera where one sets gain, Gama, and exposure duration.

This Cam Dialog is not functional in PHD2...   It is needed to adjust camera settings once PHD2 is in capture mode. 

If it will help, I can supply screen capture snapshots however will need a day to do it as I'm in the North East US and am about to head to bed for tonight...

Thanks for your effort and care...

Mitch... .   

[Phil Leigh]

Hi, 

Like Mitch I would very much like the ASI cameras to work with PHD2 with a working Cam Dialog so that exposure can be fully controlled via the WDM driver (as in PHD1). The ASI120 MM and MC are selling like hot cakes in the UK...

I'm happy to help with any testing.

thanks

Phil

[Andy Galasso]

Phil,

The problem with the Cam Dialog (Issue 124) was fixed right after Beta 1, and the fix is available in the development snapshots if you want to try it.

Andy Galasso

[Mitch Hill]

Andy,

I have tested the CAM Dialog fix in the snapshot.  It works as expected when guiding is stopped but is not available when guiding is active as it is in PHD 1.14.2...

One of the real benefits to this feature is that the camera can be adjusted while guiding is active but not presently in PHD2...

Mitch

[Andy Galasso]

Mitch,

I just had a chance to make the change to stop disabling the Cam Dialog button when looping exposures. You can download the latest snapshot build (http://adgsoftware.com/phd2/) and give it a try if you want.

Andy Galasso

[Mitch Hill]

Andy,
Thanks...   I will download that ASAP...  Unfortunately we are in the 
midst of a spell of violent thunderstorms at the moment so won't be able 
to test it tonight...  I will respond as soon asa I have results...

Mitch...

[Mitch Hill]

Downloaded and installed the latest snapshot, plugged in the ASI120MM camera, "Cam Dialog" works in PHD capture mode.  (No scope hooked up so no test with guiding).

However when I finished a quick test using capture mode, clicked the "Stop" buton and then tries to exit PHD2.

Response was the error/warning message about exiting while capture is active.  I cancelled, went back and clicked the stop button and results were the same.  Had to confirm exit in the warning box even though capture was not active...

A minor bug but thought I'd best report it now rather than later...

Mitch...
  

[Andy Galasso]

Hi Mitch,

I tried but was not able to reproduce the problem with the Stop button. Do you happen to have your debug log file from the time you saw the issue? Also, does the problem happen for you every time, or did it just happen once?

Thanks,

Andy Galasso

[Mitch Hill]

Andy,

I am lost!  I've looked on my system for a debug file but can not find it any such thing...   My guess is I simply don't know where to look for it, or what it is named...  If you can advise, I'll be glad to either post it or e-mail it to you. Just tell me what to do...

Thanks,
Mitch.....  

[Mitch Hill]

Disregard...    File found, e-mail sent...

[Mitch Hill]

Andy,

Cam Dialog now works as expected...  It is now functionally the same as in the original PHD...

Night of 04 Sept. I was able to use PHD2 with Snapshot r480 installed and it worked as expected...
 
Thanks to all for your splendid efforts...

Mitch... 

[Phil Leigh]

I am pleased to confirm Mitch's findings - PHD2 works fine with the ASO120MM camera now.

thanks

Phil