Two cameras on one PC

[Legin (Nigel)]

Hello,

I have recently set up an Orion ED80T CF, EQ 6 mount, Orion 60mm guide scope and a notebook computer. I have a few cameras that I plan to use depending on the situation. I will usually be using a ZWO 120mm as a guide scope camera and either a ZWO 174MC camera or a Nikon D800 to record images.

Ok so I have the basics pretty much figured out now however one thing puzzles me. How do I have both cameras connected to the one PC? I have multiple USB ports so I figure I can do it.

Any idea or advice would be appreciated.


Nigel

PS: I can feel the astrophotography bug getting hold of me

[Somnium (Aidan)]

there is nothing stopping you from running multiple cameras from the one PC. i have run the following fro mthe same PC at the same time

ZWO 120c
Lodestar autoguider
QHY 9m
Cannon 600D

your software shouldn't have any issue determining the cameras and allowing you to select the correct one

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

If the drivers are correctly installed for each camera, then as Somnium says the software should find them.
I use AstroArt to control all my cameras (sometimes PHD2 for guiding) and usually have the following all running at the same time:
Lodestar (guiding)
ATiK16ic (electronic finder)
ATiK 314L (spectral imaging)

[pdalek (Patrick)]

The most I have run at the same time

Orion ST80 ASI120MM ASCOM PHD HUB #1 PORT #1 on USB2 #1
HEQ6 EQMOD HUB #1 PORT #2 on USB2 #1
Logitech F310 HUB #1 PORT #3 on USB2 #1
Mouse HUB #1 PORT #4 on USB2 #1
C925 ASI174 SharpCap USB3 #1
Orion ED80T EOS1100D HUB #2 PORT #1 USB3 #2
Orion 50 Mini DMK21AU618 HUB #2 PORT #2 USB3 #2

Notes:
ASI174 needs dedicated USB3 port for speed but will run on USB2 and iffy re hubs (USB2/3).
ASI120MM needs USB2 but hubs OK
Canon Liveview used exposure/framing but EOS1100D capture to card and display off as noise <1/2 that for Liveview.
SharpCap happy with ASI174 when ASI120MM handled by ASCOM driver but not otherwise.

Too much load on user using one display but laptop didn't care.
Usually use two laptops, one for mount + finder + extras, the other for main capture (and not so many things at once).