FLI ProLine 16803 arrives - YAY!

strongmanmike (Michael) · #1 28-03-2010, 07:24 AM

Well the big CCD and CFW finally arrived last week and I can't wait to get'em out under the stars!

So far I have only played with them on the dinning table ie installing filters, doing dark library, sussing out new quirks and differences in image callibration etc from the previous PL11002.

So far a couple of notes:

A big unit when matted with CFW-5-7

More hot pixels than the PL11002 but otherwise very smooth darks.

Lots of cosmic ray hits visible in a dark frame - will require more complex processing than the cosmic ray free PL11002 chip.

Great cooling: tested to 58C below ambient, woohoo! and it gets there fast even from +24C takes only about 5 min

Fast download: 4sec for full 16.8m frame at 8Mhz, 20sec at 1Mhz selectable download speeds.

Just like me

... the chip looks biiiig and sexy

Can't access RBI flush feature yet as I use Astroart4 and to date this feature is only available in MAXIM DL but will be available in Astroart soon

. From all reports though in most cases RBI flushing is probably not necessary in practise but we will see..?

Here are some photos, you will find more info and links under the images when you open them:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/proline16803

Now bring on the clear skies!

Mike

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #2 28-03-2010, 07:57 AM

I take it that Greg and the boys at FLI finally moved into their new premises and started shipping again Mike. I was under the impression that you'd sold your 11002?

h0ughy (David) · #3 28-03-2010, 08:21 AM

thought you have been a tad quiet lately - you must be beaming with your new toy

strongmanmike (Michael) · #4 28-03-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaroo

I take it that Greg and the boys at FLI finally moved into their new premises and started shipping again Mike. I was under the impression that you'd sold your 11002?

Howdy Chis

Not sure re any past reduction to FLI shipping ? My camera arrived roughly to scedule, it got here only 2 weeks after the promised date

Yes the PL11002 and CFW-2-7 will be going to a nice new home here in Newcastle with Guy Flemming and his awesome 12.5" home made RC and 6" astrograph, our deal had me keep the PL11002 until the new camera arrived = everybody happy

Mike

multiweb (Marc) · #5 28-03-2010, 09:30 AM

That's a huge chip. Exciting times for you I bet. Can't wait to see first light.

DavidU (Dave) · #6 28-03-2010, 09:59 AM

You are one happy chappie ! I can't wait to see the results.
The dark is awesome

jase (Jason) · #7 28-03-2010, 01:50 PM

Where's the red carpet? I sense an anti-climax...

Looking forward to the first light...

strongmanmike (Michael) · #8 28-03-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jase

Where's the red carpet? I sense an anti-climax...

Looking forward to the first light...

Gee thanks Jase

....OK, same telescope (for now

) but a fair bit bigger field of view

with a little more sensitivity

....buuut more cosmic rays though

..maybe not a massive change there

... at this stage anyway.. buuut.....

AlexN · #9 28-03-2010, 03:00 PM

Holy Begeezus!!

That CFW is epic... Heres me thinking my 2-7 is a chunky unit!

haha

Looks awesome mate..... Hows the sky looking at your neck of the woods at the moment? I bet its cloudy as all!!

Anti-Climax? ooookkkkaaayy.... 15% more QE in Ha, what? about 30% bigger FOV, better resolution.... All sounds the goods to me

Get it on the back end of that light tube of yours and show us how good that 4" field flattener really is big man!

Im elated for your Mike, you've waited so very patiently, and now it's finally here!

Rigel003 (Graeme) · #10 28-03-2010, 03:02 PM

Congratulations, Mike. Looking forward to some great photos. That filter wheel does look big!

strongmanmike (Michael) · #11 28-03-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

Holy Begeezus!!

That CFW is epic... Heres me thinking my 2-7 is a chunky unit!

haha

Looks awesome mate..... Hows the sky looking at your neck of the woods at the moment? I bet its cloudy as all!!

Anti-Climax? ooookkkkaaayy.... 15% more QE in Ha, what? about 30% bigger FOV, better resolution.... All sounds the goods to me

Get it on the back end of that light tube of yours and show us how good that 4" field flattener really is big man!

Im elated for your Mike, you've waited so very patiently, and now it's finally here!

Cheers Big A

Yes been waiting to have this chip and camera, the FLI PL11002 was just so good Jase may have a point actually...so here's hoping

None the less, as you say, it's more sesitive overall and importantly at Ha wavelengths too and has significantly larger imaging area (490mm2 more active chip area which is actually 57% more imaging area than the 11002 chip

) which, as you suggest, the Starfire and 4" FF can eat up in field correction and illumination

Here's some photos of it on the Starfire

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/proline16803

Mike

strongmanmike (Michael) · #12 28-03-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidU

You are one happy chappie ! I can't wait to see the results.
The dark is awesome

On ya Dave, neither can I

Yeh the darks look ok but they have a few more hot pixels than my 11002 chip had and the cosmic rays (not seen in the PL11002) will be a pest in processing buuuut I'll give her a go

Mike

AlexN · #13 28-03-2010, 04:51 PM

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/123087810 <--- ASTRO-PORN!!!

Man.... Thats... Just..... Arrrrgghhhh... drool... must... remember... to... breathe..

DavidTrap (David) · #14 28-03-2010, 04:55 PM

Very impressive Mike - something to aspire to...

DT

strongmanmike (Michael) · #15 28-03-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/123087810 <--- ASTRO-PORN!!!

Man.... Thats... Just..... Arrrrgghhhh... drool... must... remember... to... breathe..

She's available at $200 and hour...you recon you would last that long??...you might need to ring that number on those big yellow and red billboards you see everywhere

AP Pimp Mike

strongmanmike (Michael) · #16 28-03-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Very impressive Mike - something to aspire to...

DT

Weeeelll, it hasn't taken a picture yet...sooo better hold that thought David

AlexN · #17 28-03-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

She's available at $200 and hour...you recon you would last that long??...you might need to ring that number on those big yellow and red billboards you see everywhere

AP Pimp Mike

$200 an hour? You gotta be kidding son... She's hot, but she aint that hot!

at 200 an hour, in 5 good nights of "use" I'd have spent enough to buy an AP152...

Mind you, revise the rate and make the setup accessible via internet and I'd pay to get some data from it!

strongmanmike (Michael) · #18 28-03-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

at 200 an hour, in 5 good nights of "use" I'd have spent enough to buy an AP152...

Err?...you mean you'd "be" spent

Ah yes good'ol sexual inuendo...always surfaces when people get excited

AlexN · #19 28-03-2010, 07:04 PM

Isn't it fun though...

Yeah, strange, I'm excited, and its your bloody scope/camera... I've gone bonkers...

haha.. Excited for you mate!!

Hagar (Doug) · #20 28-03-2010, 08:10 PM

Looks like one very big expensive instrument.. Like the instrument bit? Got to call it that as the minister for finance calls them toys.

Looking forward to seeing some results soon.
Have fun. I know you will.