PHD / GSTAR capture wont recognise my gstar clr

[bartman]

HI All,
I'm trying to get PHD and Gstar capture program to recognise my cam.
For some reason they both find my logitech webcam but not the gstar.
The capture program (showbiz dvd) that came with the usb -> composite adaptor does recognise the gstar as well as virtuadub and I am able to see the video and record.

I'm using vista 64 bit, winfast usb to composite adaptor (vc100u), PHD 5.5, gstar 3 capture.

Has anyone had the same probs and know how to fix it?
I know I could give myastroshop a call etc......but I like to come here as my first port of call to solutions:D

Thanks
Bartman

[jjjnettie]

Have you joined the Gstar users group yet??
They'll get you going in no time.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/gstar-users/

[bartman]

havn't you got a quik fix for meeeee?????:sadeyes:
pleaaaaaseee......:(
I will go and join the group if i have tooooo.
thanks anyway:D
bartman

[jjjnettie]

I don't own the gstar clr, just the mono version.
So sorry, no quick fix.
Good luck.

[jjjnettie]

You might even find the fix by going through the old posts.

[bartman]

I've tried searching the old posts.... maybe not using the right search parameters.
Anyway have joined the group....awaiting confirmation from the mod now.
Jeez what a process....yahoo is like fort knox!

[33South]

I bought one of those devices quite a while back but could not get it to work with GStar capture or PHD. I concluded that the driver only works with applications that support DirextX9 DirectShow like VirtualDub. The other apps require driver support for WDM/VFW

Gave up and bought one of these, worked perfectly straight out of the box except for the annoying bright blue LED.


http://www.citysoftware.com.au/Browse/0cbbf4e7fe6a41889d32387f389198de001 ItemDetail.aspx

[Visionoz]

Try to download the "AMCAP" and use that software, I had someone try mine out (was using the provided Showbiz DVD and that didn't work) and it worked on his lappy with that software - I believe MSI Computers made those USB-Video devices and they do have the AMCAP software for some of their laptops too

HTH
Cheers
Bill

[bartman]

Hi Bill,, Thanks for the suggestion on AMCAP, but a capture program is not what I need. It's the PHD not recognising the video input of the gstar through a usb vid cap adaptor.

Hi 33south, Those vid cap devices were second on my short list of what I would have bought. Shame I have wasted money. What I might try is find a wdm/vfw driver ( maybe the Kaiser Baas software even) and see what happens!

Thanks
bartman

[bartman]

Hi 33south,
bought the Kaiser Baas today. tried it on 64 bit vista and it works with gstar capture but not phd. Tried it on vista 32 bit lappy and still no luck.......
what cam settings did you use?

on 64 bit:
wdm gave me "no capture device detected"
vfw gave me a bsod
long exp webam +lxusb bsod
long exp serial/parra also bsod

on 32 bit
as above but with the vfw and serial/par option, the lappy froze with fine horizontal lines in a zig zag pattern.
any idea?

It must be a software problem.
More than likely not PHD.
The vista 64 rig has a nvidia 8800gts and the vista 32 lappy has ati-both up to date drivers for the graphics cards.
I can only think that another program/app is upsetting the apple cart.
I've uninstalled all apps that I dont use anymore that use any video components.

anyway, I'll keep hacking away.....

Thanks for any future contribs..
Bartman

[33South]

Bart

Further to my response to your PM, there was a discussion about this back at the begining of December on the GStar forum.

It should work :) but maybe only under XP, Ill try it under W7 when time permits.

Maybe try running PHD under XP compatibility mode and you need to select "Windows WDM style camera".


Chris

[bartman]

Just an update:

I thought it was a 64 bit prob, so I installed a fresh copy of vista 32bit on a separate partition. After the usual hours of updates, installing drivers and then finally installing PHD, guidmaster et al..........I still have the same problem.
The Gstar program ( and a couple of other vid cap programs) pick up the Gstar clr no probs!

When I go to PHD or Guidemaster and choose wdm cam ( via usb to composite capture device) it says cannot load image ( something to that effect). However if I choose my logitech cam (straight usb plug) it picks it up.
If I choose other cam options in PHD or GuideMaster, I get the BSOD with ( and I just managed to see it) an error of emBDA.sys.

I have even tried it on my very old xp laptop ( which I had trouble with installing c++ from PHD/Microsoft - but after once again a few hours of frelling around , fixed it) and still get the same result as above and below!

I called Steve at Myastroshop, and as much as he was a very helpful and patient (Thanks Steve). no luck. He put me on to Dr Jack Giles and I was on the phone to him for I think about 45 min ( also thanks Jack for your time). And also no luck.

So I have googled and googled. Hacked the registry, re-downloaded apps etc.Tried hours of so called solutions.....

All I want to do is use the Gstar either as a capture device ( no probs ) or as a guide camera so I can use my DSLR for capture.

I'm going to try the gstar ex Yahoo forums ( if they have accepted me????still waiting for an acceptance email).

I'm posting this in the hope it might help others or maybe jog the memory of some who have had a similar prob....

Cheers
Bartman

P.S. anyone want to sell a dedicated guide cam ( usb of course) maybe a QHY5....or any other suggestions would be most welcome.....MORE MONEY TO SPEND!


So I went to Yahoo....no luck either. Somebody had the same prob but no solution.

[tonybarry]

Hello Bart,

I am using the GStar-EX with MacOS X.5.

Right now I use a Firewire Canopus ADVC55 to digitise the video stream. This works with iMovie but not with Nebulosity or PHD as these require a IIDC / DCAM compliant Firewire device to successfully connect to (on Mac).

The only device I have come across which does DCAM is the Imaging Source DFG/1394-1e.

This retails in Australia for about $500 (yikes!).

I am saving my pennies in the hope that it will work for me on Mac.

When I get the pennies I will visit the local supplier and see if the device does succesfully connect on MacOS. If it does, I'll let you know.

Regards,
Tony Barry