sbig dual chip camera software connection issue

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

I have just acquired a SBIG ST8XE from the IIS classifieds which I am in the process of testing (on the "bench") with SGP. This is a self guiding dual chip camera, with the latest drivers installed on my imaging pc (running win 7 pro 64bit).

I can connect to the camera just fine, control the cooling and filter wheel, trigger exposures, download images etc - all that works just fine. What I am struggling with is connecting to the guide chip with PHD whilst SGP is also connected to the camera. If SGP is connected then PHD tells me that "Link to camera failed: Code 32". However if I disconnect SGP from the camera then I can "see" both the main chip and the guide chip with PHD and it can connect to either one. However once PHD has connected to the camera (to either chip) I am no longer able to connect to the camera with SGP (i get an error saying no devices found). So at the moment it is either one or the other; SGP or PHD, but not both.

What do I need to do to allow SGP to connect to the main chip and PHD to connect to the guide chip *at the same time*.

Thanks, Richard

[Dennis]

My understanding is that SBIG dual chip cameras transmit the Imaging Chip and Guide Chip signals along the same (single) USB Cable and PHD cannot untangle these signals, so PHD can only make use of one of the chips at a time and not both simultaneously, whereas CCDSoft can decode both imaging and guide chip signals.

Cheers

Dennis