Using PDA with ccd camera.

[csb]

I will be getting a DMK ccd camera soon but I don't want to buy a laptop yet, so will be using a pc.

So I will have the DMK connected to the scope outside and the pc will be inside. The DMK sends images via firewire.

I DELETED REST OF POST (AND CHANGED TITLE) BECAUSE USING MOBILE PHONE NOT SUITABLE - CAN'T ACCESS CAMERA CONTROLS.

Next post considers using PDA.

[csb]

Just realised mobile phone wouldn't be much good as need to be able to control the camera - that is work for the pc.

Perhaps a PDA?

Will the PDA be able to capture the video & control the camera (ie load DMK drivers into PDA) then transfer image files to pc - probably I need to ask the manufacturer.

If can't have images sent direct to PDA, perhaps can still access the images from the pc via wifi/bluetooth AND use PDA to access camera controls through the pc (ie install DMK drivers onto pc and use PDA to access).

Has anyone used PDA for similar?

[iceman]

I don't think it would work, Craig.

The DMK needs to transfer a lot of data quickly (via firewire) and needs a lot of storage. I really think you're better off with a laptop, and perhaps an external harddrive to capture the data onto.

[Dennis]

I do use a PDA, an HP iPAQ hx4700 running The Sky Pocket Edition, to control my telescope, but I suspect that these devices don’t have the grunt and capability to what you are asking.

When I transfer MS Word docs, spreadsheets or e-mail betwixt desktop PC and PDA, it is a reasonably slow process for relatively small amounts of data. I recently ripped my purchased copy of “The Space Race” on DVD and then transferred the 196M file to an SD card in the PDA and it took a couple of minutes just to transfer the 196M file which had already been rendered for the PDA Windows Media Player format.

All the applications on the PDA are also quite cut down in functionality to make them run under the PDA OS with the relatively scant PDA SW and HW resources.

Cheers

Dennis

[csb]

Hmm, I see, still need fast transfer rate between pc and PDA. Yes?

Yesterday I have sent an enquiry to The Imaging Source about this. Still awaiting for reply.

So it may be a laptop anyway.

Got the PST today. It didn't take long to start seeing some solar activity.

There was one sunspot and many flares, we saw about 8. Not all at the same time. The flares lasted about 30 - 60 min. Fantastic.

Thanks

[ving]

interesting idea, but i dont thing the pda would be up toit either...

as for solar activity... we have no sun... :P

[Ingo]

I wish they made astrophotography programs for OSX. Macs are so much faster at image processing and video related stuff.

[csb]

Yeah, I wish that the mac was the standard.

It's like Beta Vs VHS. People left the better of the two on the shelf - probably VHS box design was more eyecatching.