ST7 Dual Chip

[mick pinner]

l have just bought an ST7 dual chip camera which will only be used as a guide camera at the moment and maybe some imaging at a later stage, it came with CCD soft but was wondering if anyone was using any other guiding software with their ST7's and if any good, bad experiences, thanks.

[Dennis]

Hi Mick

Welcome to the SBIG club, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the use of this camera.

I think that Maxim DL (http://www.cyanogen.com/maxim_main.php)will also control the ST7.

Cheers

Dennis

[gbeal]

I'll second the Maxim vote. Used it with SBIG's, and now the QHY8.
Gary

[[1ponders]]

I believe you can also use Nebulosity 2 from Stark Labs.

[Omaroo]

I'm watching this with interest Mick, as I just bought Zanes ST-8i. I believe that it comes with the old CCDops, which is fine, but I'd like to update it with another more modern package. Only problem is the parallel interface - do the modern packages support it?

[mick pinner]

not sure Chris, mine is parallel as well, l'm doing as much research as l can trying to find out the best combo to use before l start. CCD soft seems to be a good piece of software but l'm new to auto anything so getting people's opinions.

[[1ponders]]

If you have CCDSoft Mick give it a go. It is a pretty good bit of software.

[mick pinner]

thanks Paul.

[Dennis]

I’ll second that! It might look daunting to start with, but once you’ve had a session or two everything just seems to fall into place. Plus, you will save yourself a pot full of money as Maxim DL is very expensive right now, with the Aussie dollar so low against the US.

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

Chris

Have a look at the Software Bisque website (http://www.bisque.com/help/ccdsoft%20info/CCDSoft_Information_Site.htm)– it looks like you “might” be able to purchase CCDSoft for a "mere" US $99 compared to the standard price of US $349.

Cheers

Dennis

[JohnG]

Another vote for CCDSoft, I use it constantly with the ST4000XCM, works perfectly every time, if you use in conjunction with TheSky 5 or 6 it seamlessly intergrates to give you accurate FIT's headers with the RA and Dec of the center of the shot. I do believe Maxim does that as well, not sure.

I use it because it was designed to be used with SBig's camera's, it handles my focus, target aquisition and sequencing without any dramas, takes a couple of nights to get used to but it is worth it.

On the original post, about using the SBig as a guide camera, PHD can be used although you can only use one chip at a time.

Cheers

[theodog]

I gave up on CCDops for no particular reason. I use MaximDL 3 but have been trialing the latest Maxim for last 2 weeks. So far reasonably happy with it.

Both seem to operate the ST7 with ease.

[jase]

MaximDL has my vote for camera control. A little on the costly side, but its difficult to find such a robust data acquisition tool IMO. Three other things reconfirm this perspective.

1. It's post processing tools are also very good. DDP in particular is still "the best" compared to any other tool I've used.
2. You can expand it capabilities with loads of plug-ins (most are free...here are a few)...
http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html
http://www.rc-astro.com/resources/rc_console.html
http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/images/deconv/deconv_MaximDL.html (http://www.princeton.edu/%7Ervdb/images/deconv/deconv_MaximDL.html)
3. When you're ready, integrate it with ACP (http://acp.dc3.com/index2.html) for a killer data acquisition and automation tool. This will allow you to take on mosaics, automate skyflats, improve telescope pointing, perform plate solves, color filter offsets, blah, blah, (you name it!). FYI - ACP only works with MaximDL.

I guess it depends on how "hardcore" you expect to get and what you want to get out of the tool.

PS, when it comes to driver support, MaximDL's in the bag. Very extensive support.

[Terry B]

As long as you have a valid code to install the old version you can download the update from the software bisque site. I use CCd soft for acquisition but use guidemaster with my QHY5 for guiding.