SBIG CFW8 problem.

[pmrid]

The FW is connected to a STF8300 with the I2C interface to the FW. When you apply power, the CCD gives the camera shutter a bit of a rattle and the FW gives the carousel a full spin and locates it correctly on position 1. So far so good.

But after that, it's all downhill with the FW.

I am using the latest SBIG universal drivers and the latest MaximDL.

When I connect the camera under Maxim, it does not report any issues. But when you try to image, the FW does not move. The carousel does not spin.

There is no internal obstruction and no apparent physical reason for this.
It has power because it does the initial spin and index thing when you apply power. So power is not the issue.

I'm stumped.

Anyone got any ideas, suggestions?
Peter

[RickS]

Hi Peter,

I'd check the config in Maxim and just make sure everything looks configured correctly (sorry if you've done this three times already!) You should be able to make the carousel turn just by selecting a different filter in Maxim - you don't need to take an image. I have USB problems with my FW sometimes and this is an easy way to test it.

Might also be worth cranking up a different capture software package if you have one. The simpler the better (IIRC, there's a small SBIG utility?) If it can drive the FW then that points to a Maxim issue. If it doesn't that points to a HW issue.

Cheers,
Rick.

[LewisM]

As Rick suggests, try it in SBIG's CCDOps (can send a Dropbox copy if you need it). Failing that, try in Nebulosity or similar.

I can also upload SBIG's Universal CCD Plugin for MaxIM if you need it (sometimes those .dll's get screwy) - I had to use the MaxIM 6 version in MaxIM 5 to get it to even see my STF-8300. I have since upgraded (OUCH!) to MaxIM 6 anyway and all seems fine there.

[pmrid]

Thank you Rick and Lewis.

I have become rather accustomed to getting egg on my face. The older I get, the more egg I seem to attract. Is there some kind of rule there?

I had checked and rechecked the settings in Maxim. But what I had missed was that I had identified the FW by the wrong name. It is the predecessor to the CFW8 - amazingly called the FW8. Who would have guessed. And the interface in Maxim should have been "standard" instead of CFW8. Duh!!

I am now going to try to get on with some imaging - if only I can get this darned egg off my kisser.

Peter

[multiweb]

The trick is too catch them in flight and keep them for Sunday's breakie. :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Hi Peter,

Get a big enough scope and you should be able see the eggs when they're still far enough away to duck :lol:

Glad you got it sorted.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Atmos]

I thought that bigger scopes just attract bigger eggs hehe

[RickS]

You could be right Colin, but we have to try these things ;)