Thinking seriously about a DMK - Page 2

[1ponders] (Paul) · #21 09-01-2007, 02:54 PM

Not at this stage, but you never know

They're not expensive anyway, $25 will get you one.

I tried to run the camera off mine, it has a seperate power adapter, but it still wasn't enough. I got the powered hub, np. Didn't even need to power the PCMCIA card. So with a bit of luck your 4 pin to a 6 pin into a powered hub will be fine.

Also there is no cable that comes with the camera, though the one that comes with the hub should do it. It's only about 2 meters long though. I went for a 5 meter cable ($25) to go to the camera from the hub. You will also need a 4-6 pin cable to go from laptop to hub.

matt · #22 09-01-2007, 03:01 PM

Cripes.

That's confusing.

By the looks of what you've just written all I'll need to buy (apart from the camera and what comes with it) is a hub and a couple of cables?

Have I boiled that down correctly?

Got a phone number for Matt Lovell?

Cheers

bird (Anthony Wesley) · #23 09-01-2007, 03:06 PM

Matt, you'll need the same gear as me:

- A powered firewire hub (cheap from a computer store or the computer markets)

- a firewire cable 4-pin to 6-pin to run from the laptop to this hub. I buy mine at the computer markets, cost about $10. make this nice and long, say 5m.

- a firewire cable 6-pin to 6-pin to run from the hub to the camera. Also buy from the computer markets. If you mount the firewire hub on the scope then this can be a short cable, < 1m.

- a 12v plugpack to run the firewire hub (if it doesn't come supplied).

Be careful when buying firewire cables, a lot of the cables on the market are heavy-duty (thick) cables and this is bad for astronomy use. I found a stall at the computer markets in canberra that sells thin black firewire cables, definitely you want to use these ones otherwise you'll tie yourself in knots if you buy the heavy duty cables.

cheers, Bird

[1ponders] (Paul) · #24 09-01-2007, 03:09 PM

That and a C thread to 1.25" adapter. (Steve at myastroshop has them.)

List
Camera (Duhh

)
Powered firewire hub (6-6pin cable that comes with it will be fine to run to the camera)
4-6pin firewire cable to run from laptop to hub
C/CS to 1.25" adapter (Myastroshop)

should just about cover it.

iceman (Mike) · #25 09-01-2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bird

- a 12v plugpack to run the firewire hub (if it doesn't come supplied).

My hub runs off 240v!

Quote:

Be careful when buying firewire cables, a lot of the cables on the market are heavy-duty (thick) cables and this is bad for astronomy use. I found a stall at the computer markets in canberra that sells thin black firewire cables, definitely you want to use these ones otherwise you'll tie yourself in knots if you buy the heavy duty cables.

Good tip, thanks!

The thick ones I have are a pain in the cold, as they tend not to flex and bend very well.

bird (Anthony Wesley) · #26 09-01-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

That and a C thread to 1.25" adapter. (Steve at myastroshop has them.)

Matt, another possibility for adapters is Steve Mogg, who lives here in Canberra (in Tuggeranong): webcaddy.com.au

cheers, Bird

matt · #27 09-01-2007, 03:14 PM

I was gonna ask about that 12v powerpack thingy too, Mike.

Will I need to buy a separate 240v power supply/cable/thing to power the hub or does it come with it?

Doesn't the camera and/or the hub draw power from the lappy?

RB (Andrew) · #28 09-01-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

My hub runs off 240v!

Mike the 240v gets converted to 12v in the plug pack.

iceman (Mike) · #29 09-01-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt

I was gonna ask about that 12v powerpack thingy too, Mike.

Will I need to buy a separate 240v power supply/cable/thing to power the hub or does it come with it?

The hub I got comes with the power cable and 240v plug.

Quote:

Doesn't the camera and/or the hub draw power from the lappy?

Not with a 4-pin plug. If you had a 6-pin plug (in your lappy) then you wouldn't need the hub.

iceman (Mike) · #30 09-01-2007, 03:22 PM

Man it gets confusing real quick.. a simple question turns into 20 posts very quickly

I think I might write a "how-to" on buying a DMK.. that is, what you need, where from, etc.

Would be a good resource for those wanting to upgrade from the ToUcam.

I could get input from Dennis, Robert, Paul, Matt etc to take into account the various laptops and other different scenarios.

matt · #31 09-01-2007, 03:22 PM

So... what good is a lappy with a 4-pin

iceman (Mike) · #32 09-01-2007, 03:23 PM

Different firewire devices would get their power from a battery or have their own power supply. This DMK camera does not.

matt · #33 09-01-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Man it gets confusing real quick.. a simple question turns into 20 posts very quickly

I think I might write a "how-to" on buying a DMK.. that is, what you need, where from, etc.

Would be a good resource for those wanting to upgrade from the ToUcam.

I could get input from Dennis, Robert, Paul, Matt etc to take into account the various laptops and other different scenarios.

That, sir ... is a cracka of an idea...

iceman (Mike) · #34 09-01-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt

That, sir ... is a cracka of an idea...

Won't be until February, though...

[1ponders] (Paul) · #35 09-01-2007, 03:30 PM

Oh and when you get the 1.25" adapter you better get a C/CS to "T" adapter as well if you decide to go for an ATiK filter wheel. It has a "T" thread to connect to.

matt · #36 09-01-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Won't be until February, though...

Is cool.

I have enough of a shopping list now to move forward on this if I want.

Thanks to everyone for your great help and advice.

Mike, that "How To" will be a great addition to the IIS resources

matt · #37 09-01-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bird

Be careful when buying firewire cables, a lot of the cables on the market are heavy-duty (thick) cables and this is bad for astronomy use. I found a stall at the computer markets in canberra that sells thin black firewire cables, definitely you want to use these ones otherwise you'll tie yourself in knots if you buy the heavy duty cables.

Bird (or Mike, or Paul etc)

Ignoring price and length (they come in various lengths) would these be the sort of firewire cables you'd recommend?

http://www.streetwise.com.au/product...oducts_id=4115

[1ponders] (Paul) · #38 09-01-2007, 08:15 PM

That's the same one that comes with the Belkin hub. Pretty thick but does the job .

matt · #39 09-01-2007, 08:19 PM

Paul. Your earlier post says a 6-6pin comes with the hub. My link is to the 4-6pin, which should be the only additional firewire cable I need to buy?

As long as it allows 400Mbps that should be fine. That's as fast as the hub can transfer the data

[1ponders] (Paul) · #40 09-01-2007, 08:31 PM

Should be Matt.