SBIG ST-4 help

[lesbehrens]

hi. i am having trouble connecting the computer to the laptop. whats up? can someone help?
les

[Octane]

Les,

I don't have one of those, but, you've given such a vague description of your problem, you'll be hard-pressed for anyone to give you any hints or tips or advice.

What exactly is the problem?

Regards,
Humayun

[lesbehrens]

sorry. well. i am trying to use the camera on my computer screen but the program says that it can not connect to the camera. i bought a serial to usb cable to try tis but no luck the camera does work, but i cant get anything to my computer from the st4.

[AlexN]

The SBIG ST4 unit will usually (as far as im aware anyway) only connect to a computer running Windows 98SE or earlier.. It MAY be possible to run it from Windows 2000, however from what I've seen and heard, it won't connect to windows xp or vista...

You should be able to use the setup fine without connecting it to the PC... focus can be tricky, but once you get the hang of it you should be right..

[lesbehrens]

why is that they work on the older computers and not be able to work on todays? is there anyway around it?
does anyone have an old laptop with win 98, 2000?
thanks for the help
les

[renormalised]

You could run a virtual machine of Win98 on a XP rig, or maybe Vista at a push.

Or you could go grab an old rig from an auction or the classifieds in the weekend papers and add Win98 to it (if it doesn't have it already).

[AlexN]

yea I would set up a virtual machine with win98...

The reason the ST-4 works with older versions of windows and not newer ones is that the ST-4 is actually not new technology.. The ST-4 has been around for many years... Despite its age, they are fantastic guiding systems. There isn't really any reason you should need to connect it to a computer... Everything can be controlled by the hand controller, the only real difficulty is focusing, but once you've achieved focus once in your guide scope, just mark a line on the focuser draw tube and from then on, you should be able to get it VERY close without any troubles at all..

[lesbehrens]

ok. i started to read some of the notes that the last owner had. he did say it would only work on a early computers. i was only wanting to do this to make it easer for me to get the camera going. but oh well. thanks for your help.

[Merlin66]

I'm running the ST-4, V4b under Win XP sp2 on an Acer laptop.
What problems are you experiencing??
What software and USB adaptor? I use KEYSPAN USB> serial works 100%

[lesbehrens]

i am using the st4 software. the cable i am using is a belkin usb serial adapter. the problem is the st4 will not communicate to the laptop. the cables light is on suggesting that it works but no communication between the two. i got to the camera tools, connect to camera. i then get failed to connect to the camera.
les

[marki]

I have not used an ST-4 but most programs require you to choose a com port to connect. Is the option available in the software you have?

Mark

[lesbehrens]

i dind't think of that. ill see if that works.

[Merlin66]

Les,
Sorry mate.. I may have given you wrong info!
I have my Keyspan set to COMMS 1 ( ST4 basic will only see Comms 1 or 2)
The SBiG CCD.exe doesn't work for me! ( I thought it did, but I've just ran it - doesn't communicate!!)
I can successfully talk and operate the ST-4 as an imaging camera under AstroArt4, the ST-4 plug in works well.
Sorry for the confusion.
[EDIT] I was sure there was a program I used...
http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/ImCap.htm
Imcap is a freeware program, runs under XP and controls the imaging from the ST-4; I've just re-installed it and it works 100%

[Merlin66]

Les,
How did you go with the ImCap software and the ST-4?????

[lesbehrens]

hi. ill give it ago soon and ill tell you how it went.