Hello CCD Imaging & Starting Dilemmas

[astronobob]

Been 6-7 months saving 30 here 50 there = Lowered social life ;) But worth it as have only two days in my possession, the New QHY-10 OSC & QHY-5 II OSC with Premium kit :D
Well, Time today to throw in the disc for the QHY-5 1st, I hate this puuta side of things & know its 2nd nature for a lot of ISSer's here, but shouldn't be too difficult, speacially with a cleaned up harddrive with not much on it. Ascom etc is something I have never started either, so, setting up cameras will just be for capturing at this stage & take it from there ! When I finally capture something (hopefully within a week) Ill be transfering images by stick to PS on the Main PC, Looking forward to that :computer: :P
Slowely but surely !

[astronobob]

Yep, I hate the puuta side of things, cant find the QHY-5's Exe File on the disc ? Have installed all the windows drivers & the EZYPlanetary PDF, but cant find any EXE files ? ? Any ideas, might make a phone call !

[multiweb]

Hi Bob, did you get all this from Theo. If yes drop him an email. He'll sort it out for you.

[pluto]

You should be able to get everything you need from the QHY site, in fact even if it is on the cd I would download the latest from here:
http://qhyccd.com/en/top/download/

[astronobob]

Cheers Marc, Yes all from Theo, I just phoned him but it all double dutch to me :confused2: I have accomplished getting the little QHY5 working with PHD, But not from the EZYPlanetary Capture program, Can & Have run the Planet Prog from the DVD/CD Disc running it, but if close all down, take the dvd/cd out then start the prog again, I get nothin apart from a pop-up window saying, "Insert disc" ? ?
I should be able to run it with out the DVD/CD disc ? Theo says, I need to copy the directory to the puuta somewhere, I Really Dont Understand/Know How To Do This :screwy: I have just poured a 50/50 Bourbon, , 'that' I can handle :D



Thanx Hugh, but the disc should have all I need on it, all drivers etc are updated to March 2013 ! I know with confident PC uses who can work these things, 2nd nature, and I for one appreciate your input, But, yes , But, I have a hard enough time with-out downloading other stuff ! that will just confuse me & the Lappy more and run me or the Lappy to its/my death ;) sorry mate, but as said, the CD/DVD should have all to get me running, I just dont know the 'how to's) :thanx:

[multiweb]

He probably means that you need to drag and drop the content of the CD including the drivers on your C: drive. Then when you plug the camera in the drivers will be found on your HD along with the programs needed. I use Nebulosity with the QHY cameras. It works really well with PHD as well as it's made by the same person. I've used them for 6yrs and never felt the need to change. Only got MAXIM when I had to use the AO.

[astronobob]

Oh Ok Mark, I think I can try/do that, I was trying with an individual application file. Will get onto it later, thanx !

[astronobob]

No, I cant seem to know how to do that either, BTW QHY5 is Not working with PHD either, PHD recognizes the camera but the camera wont do looping exposures, the prog just stalls ? ?
Stuffed if I know, Im giving all this a miss :mad2: InSane sh#t :bashcomp:

[multiweb]

QHY5 will work in PHD with ASCOM. So you need to choose ASCOM then QHY5 from the drop down.

[astronobob]

Thanx again Marc, Soo I'll download the ASCOM stuff and try again . then . .

[astronobob]

Nuh, PHD still freezes

[astronobob]

There needs to be some written intructions with these, , , I cant imagine when someone buys a car that they have to buy oil, filters, brakepads,airfilter, sparkplugs, fuel lines, lighbulbs, bla bla, and install all that ****, then download some sort of Dyno tune program etc and do a Dynotune (after getting their PHD {3yr course} on car ellectrics) on their newly purchased car before they can drive it out their driveway ! !
Fairdinkum
You buy a DSLR, upload the disc, 1,2,3 and away you go, Simple, why havent canon gotten into astro CCD's :P

[strongmanmike]

:lol: ah you'll look back in a day or so and say...what was I panicking about, you'll see.....and have another Bourbon :thumbsup:

Good luck and look forward to your first images :)

Mike

[PeterM]

Bob how long are the USB leads you are running to the cameras?
Anything longer than a 5m cable and you will need a powered cable/hub. The stalling sounds similar to the problem Ray just had. Have a yack to him he will guide you through it.

[2stroke]

Use google and look for tuts mate and read the instructions on the website, if you have no idea goto an astroclub and one of the guys will step you through. It looks like phd 1.14 has initial support for your camera via driver also though i would stick to ascom. Also you need the ascom platform because it can also control your qhy 10 in apps that don't at driver level which looks like alot for qhy owners :/




Anyhow keep at it and seek out some local AP'rs down at your local club :)

[rogerco]

If it makes you feel any better Bob, I have been in computers for thirty years and I am having problems getting my QHY5L-II running consistently.

Check which USB port you are using, I have read elsewhere that there are problems running it through USB3 ports, If you are using a new machine that has them, avoid them and use the USB2 port. On the disk he gave you there is a file called Readme.first.txt do that by double clicking on it. The order you follow the instructions is important. The disk was copied in 2013 but they are version 5 Ascom not the latest.

On the QHYCCD site they have an online (only) manual, print it and try it. I have just cleaned off my laptop and will try installing it all again tomorrow I hope. When that doesn't work I will probably have a stiff drink to. :sadeyes:

Oh by the way the online manual is in Chinese English so what is there doesn't read to well.

You are right these guys really need to get their act together regarding the instructions.

[multiweb]

There is obviously a learning curve. Hang in there. When it'll work you'll forget all about the minor start up issues. These are computer issues. Everybody has them.

[astronobob]

Much thanx to all guys, really appreciate your sincere concerns :cheers:

In short, I had another 50/50 bourbon ;) very helpful ! Anyway, I have the QHY-5L II running now, most my confusion came from PC Terms, eg, Copy the directory and save on the hardrive ect, when all that ment was, drag the pointer over all files on the CD, Right click & Copy - then pointer on desktop, right click & Paste :stupid: Then installed each folder accordingly :rolleyes: Lesson learnt :innocent:

Thanx Peter M, I'll mention it to Ray yep, I remember he had similar issue. The leads Im using are just 1.5mtr, only doing bench testing at the moment :thumbsup:

Thanx Jay, yeah need to work through a few things, I might even try delleting all the files that came from the disc and start it all over as may have had some confusion early in my frustrated period :rofl:Maybe something installed out of sequance ? Definatly something not right with PHD, I have all the ascom drivers installed but when I start looping with the QHy5, phd freezes, Close it all down, plug in the Starshooter and all is A OK ?

Thanx also Roger, A stiff drink can only help so much, Two do a whole lot more though ;) I'm only 5-6yrs dabble on Computers, I can work PS reasonably well but installing progs is becoming easier after this experience. Only USB2's here, but i will go through your other advice also, just to be thorough, sounds good mate :thumbsup:

Marc, Give me a car anyday mate ;) Anyway, I have over-reacted somewhat, but there you go, and I dont mind putting it out there , It was i think understanding that 1st hurdle of uploading the progs, not knowing what to expect with these somewhat complicated cameras, Now it seem somewhat more familiar and Thats is such a relief :)

Thanx again all, very refreshing to have your input here this morning :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Keep your helmet on. There's more hair pulling stuff coming your way soon that's for sure. It is all part of the fun. When it works from one night to the other. Sometimes... :)

[RickS]

Unfortunately, telescope ownership statistics don't look anything like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_vehicles_per_c apita

If they did, then I'm sure somebody would be happy to build off-the-shelf imaging systems with a FM to read :lol:

[astronobob]

I hear ya Marc, That i should deal with better as its more trial & error with gradual improvements and just getting familiar to things, tho I shall prepare for the harder kicks :thumbsup:

Lol, Rick, , I might start a Taxi Service in Togo :P Ive had enough mechanics for one life ;)

[rogerco]

Clean install with the latest drivers from the QHYCCD site following the instruction in their online manual seems to work. I used the USB2.0 port initially but afterwards it worked with the USB 3 port as well although I seem to be getting different display results in PHD.

[astronobob]

Thanx & interesting to know Roger, Only USB2's here, but guess USB3's will be the done standard in a year or so, Good info from you for down the track for this duck. Getting a different display would be intreguing for you ?

Just came in and have soughted the issue of QHY-5L II Stalling/freezing up with PHD ? Well, apparently, and this will sound so obvious to most, wait for it, Lol, I Did Not Know that you had to 'Install' the actuall Drivers, I thought they just went in by them selves, Yep, heard me right :rolleyes: I knew to Install Programmes, but didnt know that Drivers needed installing also, I thought they were different for some unknown reason, so, im here playing 'Chock ball' yep, wet tennis ball in the back of the head, "CHOCK" :lol:

Ok, QHY-5L II needs Ascom to run in PHD, Success, I have seen the light :thumbsup:

Thanx all for posting, it was you guys who had me searching in all the right places :thanx:

Tomoro I will Plug the QHY-10 and Load and INSTALL all Progs & DRIVERS :prey2: :computer: ;)