I was using my meade DSI II and testing it out natively, with a 6.3 and 3.3 focal reducers. All was going well and then suddenly I got this picture in the live mode and thats all that I can get from the camera. This is the second camera this has happen to and I dont know what is happening. I have tried re-installing the software and using an other computer. Can anyone help?
Im slowly going nuts
Don't know if I can help but I've also got a DSIproII
What image capture software are you using?
I gave up on the envisage and now use AA4.
I'm sure I've seen something like that before... maybe it was with the DSI I or the LPI..
If you can give more detail of the set-up maybe I can replicate the issue?
Are you using a USB hub? I need either to use the DSI proII directly from the USB2 on the laptop or a POWERED USB hub.
Let me know if I can help.
Thanks for the assist. Ive tried different cables, plugging into new usb ports (used only the same one before), not using a usb hub, using a usb2.0 port on the laptop.
It was all going fine and then this? Ill try a few other things and let you know. Thanks for your help
Allan.
Last edited by allan gould; 28-02-2009 at 01:41 AM.
I just tried nebulosity2 with the DSI Pro II and same image. This is driving me nuts. I should state this is the second new camera in 2 weeks Ive had with the same problem. Different computers, different usb cables. same picture after all going well and getting great pictures _ then the picture of death after about 1 hr of use.
Have you tried the Meade forums? Peter talks highly of them. You're making me nervous since I just got the DSI II Pro. With all the combinations of what you're tried, it's looking like the camera hardware to me.
Yeah, tried the forum and I was told that someone had the same problem and Meade said the camera had died and to buy a new one. Needless to say their 12mnth waranty had just expired.
For some reason it looks like it's only scanning every even line in live mode. Can you set the scan frequency and mode in the camera's software??. If so, try setting the interlace scan mode. But if you can't, then it's a send back and replace, I'm afraid. Quite frankly, this is woeful quality control on Meade's part. This sort of problem should only rarely happen, if ever. It's a sign they've gone lax both in the manufacturing of the camera and the quality control procedures they have in place.
I had that exact same thing happen with the first series of DSI Pro's. It was about 3 days old and I tried a longer usb cable which did not give the camera enough power. It worked with the short cable as supplied by meade. This occured even when I used a powered usb hub. The camera died completely shortly after and I had to send it back and get it replaced (read 3 weeks old). The replacement lasted about 12 months then stopped working all together but by that time I had bought the DSI II pro and the first camera was relegated to guide duties. I just threw it in the bin. Interesting enough I still have one of the first colour camera's which has been working for about 5 years although I don't use it since I got the QHY5. They really are a bit hit and miss in the QC department.
This is mentioned in the forums at http://autostarsuite.net/
There are a couple of fixes I think, but I've never had that with any of mine, so never really read too much about it. They may also be able to help sort it with you if it is something new.
You also need to use "Active USB" cables if you want to use an extension cable with your Meade product, and make sure ALL of your cables meet the "High Speed USB 2.0" standard. There is a difference. Check it out through Google.
Good luck.
The cable used was that in the Meade box. From what I gather, the picture in my first post is the "DSI screen of death" ie its buggered.
I must say here that Bintel have been absolutely great with my predicament.
Both Don and then Michael, without hesitation, have said send it back - there is a new one in the post to you.
No questions asked. I must say that this is customer service that just shows that if you support local dealers, rather than O/S dealers, then this is what you pay for.
My hats off to Bintel and their staff - you dont get better.
Before giving up entirely, try resetting the EPROM. Sometimes the
EPROM in the camera gets corrupted and it "forgets" what camera/chip
it's running.
You can reset the EPROM by:
In Windows, click on: Start, Run, CMD
From the Command prompt type:
cd "C:\Program Files\Meade\AutostarSuite\Envisage"
then type: envisage ICX429ALL
This will write the chip number into the camera's EPROM. ICX429ALL is
the chip in the DSI II Pro according to the Meade literature.
My DSI IIIc had a corrupted EPROM and would only output odd 640x480
images. I found this fix on another site (read this thread http://meade4m.com/forum/index.php/topic,2146.0.html) and tried it by
specifying the chip for my DSI IIIc, and it fixed everything. Not
sure this has anything to do with your problem, but it might be worth
a try.
Well bugger me I tried it and the damed DSI came back to life. This must be the Lazarus command for DSI's
Still does not change what I think about Bintel - but does confirm what I think about Meade programming.
Excellent outcome Allan - file that info away somewhere - it's bound to come in handy some day.
So glad it's ok Allan!.....
I'm a DSI II owner too and I'd be a wreck if mine died right now!
One thing worries me though. This happened to two cameras only
weeks apart. Do you think you could have somehow zapped it with
a static discharge from your body or a part of your scope/mains/computer
with something not properly grounded?
EPROMs are CMOS electronic devices and they usually die from static.
You may have been lucky that if this was the cause you were able to
recover.
How would you track that a static or grounding problem down?
Peter
Peter,
I have lots of different voltages on the scope. 12v DC, 24DC, 5V DC.
Video level voltages etc.
All of the separate power has it's own cabling and if it has an earth,
then it's connected to a common earth in the dome.
That earth is ultimately hooked up to the main earth at the switchboard.
Any shielded cable, like the DSI USB cable for example , has it's braid
or earth connected to the metal chassis of your laptop or PC and that
earth is hooked up to the mains earth via the power supply or cord.
Any metal part of the OTA or tripod , I'd suggest, should also be tied to
that earth.
If you wore a polyester coat one night and built up a decent static charge
on yourself, then touched the DSI, there's a better chance the camera
would survive if there is a good earth rather than none.
No, I dont think that its a static problem in the strict sense. I have been going over each case of the two incidents to try and understand what I did.
I have a suspicion that it may be to do with an interupt of the usb cable to the camera itself. Usually Im anal about getting permission from the PC to eject a device but on the last occasion I think ( not absolutely sure ) that the cable came loose. Not fully disconnected but may have given a quick on-off-on jolt to the camera. The only thing which is common to both incidents is the USB cable as the rest was exchanged with the camera. You'll excuse me if I dont try and replicate it though. Ill have a good look at this connection and make sure its secure. I was only running my PC and the camera with no other electronics on the first occasion and just the camera, laptop and mount on the second.
The bottom line is Im not completely surre but at least I know what to do in the future.
but on the last occasion I think ( not absolutely sure ) that the cable came loose. Not fully disconnected but may have given a quick on-off-on jolt to the camera.
It's not a very easy cord to avoid in the dark....maybe one of these
would help: B end has a 90° connector. http://www.usbfirewire.com/Parts/rr-asbr01-05.html
Might be risky not using the Meade cable though......
