An area of my observatory that is causing trouble is USB Hubs and too many 12 volt transformers and unreliable 12 volt power supplies. I have too many cables and need to simplify it as it causing unreliability.
I have had lots of little cheapie USB hubs and they often do not work with my CCD cameras, filter wheel and guiding camera.
It seems to be an area of computer technology that is weak.
Can anyone suggest a good USB hub?
Also a neat 12 volt power solution with a power distribution board and a separate power supply?
There is the rigrunner in the USA for about $110 shipped. There's the Hitec Astro Pro hub from England. But there most likely is something I can get locally.
For power distribution from the power supply (and on my battery box in the field) to all my 12V equipment in general I'm using a West Mountain Radio RIGrunner:
Greg I have a couple of these : https://www.lindy.com.au/online/arrs...us=true&cat=l3
I have been able to run CCD , guider (Loadstar) , mount and focuser
all from 1 with no problems , so far so good theyre not cheap but
are also USB extenders as well .
For power distribution from the power supply (and on my battery box in the field) to all my 12V equipment in general I'm using a West Mountain Radio RIGrunner:
That's helpful Ernie. I have seen the rigrunners mentioned on the Software Bisque site. They look very good.
The power supply says its 13.8 volts. Is that a problem for your typical 12 volt device like cameras etc?
How do you find the Hitec Astro Pro Hub? Does everything work OK?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marke
Greg I have a couple of these : https://www.lindy.com.au/online/arrs...us=true&cat=l3
I have been able to run CCD , guider (Loadstar) , mount and focuser
all from 1 with no problems , so far so good theyre not cheap but
are also USB extenders as well .
I think that's the one he's meaning Greg. Part No 42781. I have 20 metres of their active extension cables and can sit inside with the mount in the backyard - very nice in winter! I already had a Belkin USB 4 port hub that I've had no problems with, so I just bought their fancy extension cables rather than their hub as well. Any of these hubs will need to be powered to run cameras or USB-Serial adapters, etc.
I have a 12-5V DC converter that I bought from Jaycar. It is capable of 2amps supply so running a couple of cameras is not an issue. Seems to have been fine thus far.
David I have been able to use mine without the ext power no prob.
The mount , focuser and CCD have there own power so nothing
needs to be powered thru the USB . I do have the DC coverter from
Jaycar as well if I need it but so far not
Running multiple cameras, temperature logger, USB led red light, USB focuser, anything I want to run off it. The only thing I don't run through there and like to keep on a separate USB direct to laptop is the GPUSB
Running multiple cameras, temperature logger, USB led red light, USB focuser, anything I want to run off it. The only thing I don't run through there and like to keep on a separate USB direct to laptop is the GPUSB
I have one too and the only device that doesn't like it is my QHY-12.
I think that's the one he's meaning Greg. Part No 42781. I have 20 metres of their active extension cables and can sit inside with the mount in the backyard - very nice in winter! I already had a Belkin USB 4 port hub that I've had no problems with, so I just bought their fancy extension cables rather than their hub as well. Any of these hubs will need to be powered to run cameras or USB-Serial adapters, etc.
I have a 12-5V DC converter that I bought from Jaycar. It is capable of 2amps supply so running a couple of cameras is not an issue. Seems to have been fine thus far.
DT
Some good advice here.
I'd like to find out more about the Hitec Astro Mount Hub Pro. Is it worth the expense?
Greg.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marke
David I have been able to use mine without the ext power no prob.
The mount , focuser and CCD have there own power so nothing
needs to be powered thru the USB . I do have the DC coverter from
Jaycar as well if I need it but so far not
Talk to WYSIWYG (AKA Mark) too; he has developed an automated system that is powered from one box. One cable going through the mount too. Computer on board of the mount; wireless down load. All sorts of cool gadgets.
The power supply says its 13.8 volts. Is that a problem for your typical 12 volt device like cameras etc?
Has never been a problem. Note that a 12V battery is not actually 12V. It's 12V "nominal." Put a volt meter on one and see for yourself. In most cases when someone says 12V, they actually mean 13.8V. Now I suppose there could be occasions when 12V really means exactly 12V. However, every piece of equipment I have that runs off of a nominal 12V runs just fine off of 13.8V. If they have their own internal regulators, they might even handle anywhere from 10.5V to 14V or so. I know that 10 year old or older SBIG cameras were very BAD in this regard though!
Quote:
How do you find the Hitec Astro Pro Hub? Does everything work OK?
So far I haven't had any trouble with it. It works with my 10 meter USB2 active extender cable OK.
I did replace the cigar lighter adapter with Anderson power poles and a 15A fuse.
The Mount Hub Pro has reduced the cable clutter and device clutter on my mount. It replaced an on mount RIGrunner, a Kendrick dew heater controller and three through the mount USB cables. The only cables I now have through the mount are one 14AWG power cable and one USB extension cable.
The only thing that does annoy me about it is that it only registers with windows when it powers up. So if I unplug the USB cable and plug it back in for whatever reason, it has to be re-powered. Or if I reboot the PC for whatever reason, it also has to be re-powered. Well, it actually only has to be re-powered if I want to be able to talk to it with it's control program, remote switch devices on and off, remote adjust the dew heaters, etc. It still functions as a hub just fine without needing to be re-powered.
Talk to WYSIWYG (AKA Mark) too; he has developed an automated system that is powered from one box. One cable going through the mount too. Computer on board of the mount; wireless down load. All sorts of cool gadgets.
Thanks for the heads up Paul. I'll send him a PM.
Quote:
Originally Posted by frolinmod
Has never been a problem. Note that a 12V battery is not actually 12V. It's 12V "nominal." Put a volt meter on one and see for yourself. In most cases when someone says 12V, they actually mean 13.8V. Now I suppose there could be occasions when 12V really means exactly 12V. However, every piece of equipment I have that runs off of a nominal 12V runs just fine off of 13.8V. If they have their own internal regulators, they might even handle anywhere from 10.5V to 14V or so. I know that 10 year old or older SBIG cameras were very BAD in this regard though!
So far I haven't had any trouble with it. It works with my 10 meter USB2 active extender cable OK.
I did replace the cigar lighter adapter with Anderson power poles and a 15A fuse.
The Mount Hub Pro has reduced the cable clutter and device clutter on my mount. It replaced an on mount RIGrunner, a Kendrick dew heater controller and three through the mount USB cables. The only cables I now have through the mount are one 14AWG power cable and one USB extension cable.
The only thing that does annoy me about it is that it only registers with windows when it powers up. So if I unplug the USB cable and plug it back in for whatever reason, it has to be re-powered. Or if I reboot the PC for whatever reason, it also has to be re-powered. Well, it actually only has to be re-powered if I want to be able to talk to it with it's control program, remote switch devices on and off, remote adjust the dew heaters, etc. It still functions as a hub just fine without needing to be re-powered.
Thanks Ernie. Yes I thought car batteries are called 12 volt but are really 13.8 volts.
I remember hearing that before about the Hub needing to be rebooted if anything changed. Is that the latest 1.5 version or would that be no different?
Hi Greg, I just purchased a mount hub pro from Star Optics in QLD. I have just put it all together on the mount and it seems great. It controls everything from my Robofocus to dew heaters. The USB Hub is the only hub I have been able to run qhy9,qhy10 and qhy5 from all at the same time.
Not cheap but for what it does it is reasonable.
Hi Greg, I just purchased a mount hub pro from Star Optics in QLD. I have just put it all together on the mount and it seems great. It controls everything from my Robofocus to dew heaters. The USB Hub is the only hub I have been able to run qhy9,qhy10 and qhy5 from all at the same time.
Not cheap but for what it does it is reasonable.
That's good to hear.
How much did it cost? I sent Star Optics an email today but their posted hours show they are closed on Mondays.
I had a really good play with my Mount Hub Pro on weekend.
I run 3 dew heaters, I power the QHY10 Camera, RC10 colling fans, the Robofocus stepper motors, my autoguider and QHy10 USB
The PMX has a built in USB HUB and already has through the mount power cabling, so all you do is hook up mount hub to the Power on versa plate and connect mount hub to the USB port on the versa plate.
Seems to all work well. I left guider and camera both exposing for 20 minutes without any glitches plus had 3 dew heaters on. Seems very possible and real reduced cable clutter becuase basicaly I have none. 1 USB cable that is alrady through the mount and 1 power cable already through the mount.
Had my mount hub pro for about 6 months now and its a beauty, dont know what I did before I got it. Small package, totally reliable and controlled via the PC/laptop. I run my camera's, Mount, FW, Focuser etc through the USB ports with no drama's at all. It also has loads of power ports 8 of which you can set the voltage plus 4 outlets for dew straps which can be controlled manually as well as via the PC/laptop. Mine also has the inbuilt GPS. All that leaves the mount out are 2 wires, one for usb and the other for power. I run my power lead to a scientific lab power source which is very clean and that is plugged into my Honda Genset (also very clean). In short I love my mount hub pro and the great job it does getting rid of all the wires whilst working faultlessly with all the software programs etc. I plug in something new and it is detected and works straight away, no nonsence with drivers etc. Well worth the bucks.
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