Asi120mm usb2.0

multiweb (Marc) · #1 01-09-2020, 12:34 PM

Hi guys, a quick query for the multitude of ASI/ZWO camera owners out there. I got a second hand small 120MM last year that I use for the occasional moonage and planetary. I haven't used it much but this week-end I did a few hours of imaging. I have a Win7 laptop and I use the latest Fire capture. I have the camera on a USB2 dedicated line straight off the lappy - no hub. On a cropped window I get 55 fps which is good enough. I've had a few drops where the camera is lost. I just unplug it, wait for it to connect again, start the Fire capture and back it goes again. This happened constantly after may be 20 to 30 minutes of use. At this stage I don't know if it's the camera/driver or memory leak in the capture program (I haven't use any other) or other. As I said I have only used it a handful of time. Any pointer in the right direction would be much appreciated. TIA.

RyanJones · #2 01-09-2020, 12:51 PM

Hi Marc,

I have a 120mm that I use as a guide camera connected to an ASIair and I never have any connection or drop out issues. One thing to maybe consider is if the camera gets to hot using it in a video mode. They are quite a small package. I know they have a temp sensor in them. Have you tried looking at what temperature it’s getting to when it drops out ? It maybe shutting itself off after half an hour to protect itself ? Just a thought.

Cheers

Ryan

multiweb (Marc) · #3 01-09-2020, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanJones

Hi Marc,

I have a 120mm that I use as a guide camera connected to an ASIair and I never have any connection or drop out issues. One thing to maybe consider is if the camera gets to hot using it in a video mode. They are quite a small package. I know they have a temp sensor in them. Have you tried looking at what temperature it’s getting to when it drops out ? It maybe shutting itself off after half an hour to protect itself ? Just a thought.

Cheers

Ryan

Good point. I think I have the temperature logged in the SER files header. I'll look it up. I remember seeing ~20c which was just above ambient at the time and not excessive.

Startrek (Martin) · #4 01-09-2020, 01:00 PM

Marc
The older ( before 2018 ) ZWOASI120MM USB2 cameras have an inherent problem with the driver and ZWO advised that a patch was being developed to resolve intermittent connection failures ( don’t know if they ever resolved it )
I used mine as a guide camera for 3 months back in 2018 but gave up due to frustration. Went and bought the ZWOASI120MM - S USB3 camera from advice and it’s been working flawlessly ever since connected either with a 5m USB2 cable or a super duper expensive Startech 5m USB3 active cable
At the time, I did see a post on CN which raised the same issue with this model camera
Hope the above helps

multiweb (Marc) · #5 01-09-2020, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Startrek

Marc
The older ( before 2018 ) ZWOASI120MM USB2 cameras have an inherent problem with the driver and ZWO advised that a patch was being developed to resolve intermittent connection failures ( don’t know if they ever resolved it )
I used mine as a guide camera for 3 months back in 2018 but gave up due to frustration. Went and bought the ZWOASI120MM - S USB3 camera from advice and it’s been working flawlessly ever since connected either with a 5m USB2 cable or a super duper expensive Startech 5m USB3 active cable
At the time, I did see a post on CN which raised the same issue with this model camera
Hope the above helps

ah ok. Thanks for the feedback. I'll look into the drivers. Not a show stopper but annoying. I did test to use it as a guider in PHD last year. I gave up after 5min.

I have two lodestars anyway. I don't know what I was thinking.

Dennis · #6 01-09-2020, 07:56 PM

Hi Marc

Check the USB Traffic/Speed settings. I have mine set to 80% which I think is the default.

Maybe reduce this incrementally to say 60% then 50% to see if this has any effect on your problem.

Cheers

Dennis

multiweb (Marc) · #7 01-09-2020, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Hi Marc

Check the USB Traffic/Speed settings. I have mine set to 80% which I think is the default.

Maybe reduce this incrementally to say 60% then 50% to see if this has any effect on your problem.

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis. Will check that out too.

h0ughy (David) · #8 01-09-2020, 08:49 PM

How long was the cable?

Any longer than 2m?

The other thing you could try is a different port

multiweb (Marc) · #9 01-09-2020, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

How long was the cable?

Any longer than 2m?

Yes a lot longer. 2x5m active extensions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

The other thing you could try is a different port

No chance. I'm sticking with Hanging Tree Wines in Pokolbin.

h0ughy (David) · #10 01-09-2020, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Yes a lot longer. 2x5m active extensions.

No chance. I'm sticking with Hanging Tree Wines in Pokolbin.

And there's your answer, your problem is those 2 cables, can you do it with one

RB (Andrew) · #11 02-09-2020, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

No chance. I'm sticking with Hanging Tree Wines in Pokolbin.

multiweb (Marc) · #12 02-09-2020, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

And there's your answer, your problem is those 2 cables, can you do it with one

Unfortunately I'm too far from the pier.

Tulloch (Andrew) · #13 03-09-2020, 09:35 AM

Yeah, you'll probably need a powered cable like this.
https://www.jaycar.com.au/20m-usb-ex...cable/p/XC4124

PeterM · #14 03-09-2020, 10:57 AM

Interesting Marc, I have had a similar issue twice now with my recently acquired older ZWO 120MM usb2 and had to unplug the USB and replug to get it to work again. The USB is a 10m active Lindy cable, so that is not the issue. After reading this thread I did some googling I found these articles. If you go down the page and follow along from Windows Mac, etc you get to FW Update and in there is an exe file noting USB2 Camera update 12/11/2019, nil instructions so I have no idea if this is the update patch? Thoughts?

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/5...-very-strange/
https://indilib.org/forum/general/21...m.html?start=0

multiweb (Marc) · #15 03-09-2020, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

Interesting Marc, I have had a similar issue twice now with my recently acquired older ZWO 120MM usb2 and had to unplug the USB and replug to get it to work again. The USB is a 10m active Lindy cable, so that is not the issue. After reading this thread I did some googling I found these articles. If you go down the page and follow along from Windows Mac, etc you get to FW Update and in there is an exe file noting USB2 Camera update 12/11/2019, nil instructions so I have no idea if this is the update patch? Thoughts?

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/5...-very-strange/
https://indilib.org/forum/general/21...m.html?start=0

I'll look into the USB cables first, then the drivers, if need be the camera firmware and also look into the OS maybe putting the USB device in "sleep" mode. Will post back if I find a solution.

OICURMT · #16 03-09-2020, 01:26 PM

I had the same problem with my 0th (zero-th) generation ASI120mm, the original one without the ST4 port. ZWO told me that a firmware update was necessary.

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com...are/FWTool.zip

Update using the file ASI120MM-compatible.iir

multiweb (Marc) · #17 03-09-2020, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OICURMT

I had the same problem with my 0th (zero-th) generation ASI120mm, the original one without the ST4 port. ZWO told me that a firmware update was necessary.

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com...are/FWTool.zip

Update using the file ASI120MM-compatible.iir

Mine has a ST4 port. I'll check with ZWO which firmware to use.