ASI120MM Mini and INDI on Raspberry Pi 4

jugglerkris

I am having terrible problems using an ASI120MM Mini on a Raspberry Pi 4 running Raspbian (Astroberry). Can you recommend optimal INDI settings for this camera? Is there a firmware update that would help with this? I am wanting to use it for guiding.

Here is an INDI log that shows an attempt to use this from PHD2 (version 2.6.7).

indi_asi_ccd_bad.log

When the camera is not working, I need to delete the INDI config, reboot, and setup the camera in INDI again. ... sometimes more than once... before I can get it working again.

In the log, you'll notice that it gets "ASIGetExpStatus failed" when it attempts to take an image, then PHD2 tries to revert to a video stream (which also does not work). One odd thing I notice is the temperature is listed as some astronomically high value when it is not working. In this log it shows "The CCD Temperature is 9608.000". I have no reason to believe that is the actual temperature, but it is possible that it is related to the camera not working as the acceptable range is also printed in the log as -500 to 1000 degrees. Could an invalid temperature value be the reason the ASI120MM Mini cameras are not working correctly for many users?

DEBUG 243.472435 sec : Control #10: name (Temperature), Descp (Sensor temperature(degrees Celsius)), Min (-500), Max (1000), Default Value (20), IsAutoSupported (False), isWritale (False)

DEBUG 243.472669 sec : CCD ID: 0 Width: 1280 Height: 960 Binning: 1x1 Image Type: 0

DEBUG 243.472769 sec : Supported Video Format: ASI_IMG_RAW8

DEBUG 243.472836 sec : Supported Video Format: ASI_IMG_RAW16

INFO 243.473847 sec : The CCD Temperature is 9608.000

DEBUG 243.474105 sec : setupParams ASISetROIFormat (1280x960, bin 1, type 0)

DEBUG 243.479428 sec : CCD Frame ROI x y w h

DEBUG 243.486019 sec : Setting frame buffer size to 2457600 bytes.

DEBUG 243.486271 sec : Pixel format 0 is supported by SER recorder.

DEBUG 243.486358 sec : Pixel format 0 is supported by RAW encoder.

DEBUG 303.664995 sec : Requested CCD Frame is (0,0) (1280 x 960)

DEBUG 303.665170 sec : CCD Frame ROI x y w h

DEBUG 303.671946 sec : Setting frame buffer size to 2457600 bytes.

DEBUG 303.672201 sec : StartExposure->setexp : 0.500s

DEBUG 306.567224 sec : ASIGetExpStatus failed. Restarting exposure...

DEBUG 306.667504 sec : StartExposure->setexp : 0.500s

DEBUG 308.576984 sec : ASIGetExpStatus failed. Restarting exposure...

DEBUG 308.677782 sec : StartExposure->setexp : 0.500s

ERROR 310.577939 sec : Exposure failed after 3 attempts.

INFO 319.184734 sec : Starting the video stream with target exposure 0.100000 s (Max theoritical FPS 10)

When the camera DOES work, the temperature value is listed somewhere around 20 degrees. Here is a log file from when the camera is working. When I watch the INDI control panel, the temperature fluctuates between aproximately 19.20 and 20.70.

indi_asi_ccd_good.log

I have also attached an INDI config file for this camera. Notice that I have this set in 8-bit mode based on what I have read in other posts. I have been able to make it work in 16-bit mode as well though. I also have this plugged into a USB 2 port on the Raspberry Pi, but have also tried using USB 3 ports... no difference.

ZWO CCD_config.xml

The INDI driver in use is version 1.6 of indi_asi_ccd.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. The weird temperature reading may not be related to my problem at all. I might just be doing something wrong. This camera is sold with Raspberry Pis as part of the ASIAir package... surely this must work with INDI.

robomort

I don't own this camera but I understand from the Indi forums there is indeed a revised firmware. Consensus has it the 120 breaks some USB requirements that the new firmware addresses.

jugglerkris

From what I understand, the "compatible" firmware is not for the Mini version of the ASI120MM. Am I wrong about that?

katherine.tsai

jugglerkris wrote:

From what I understand, the "compatible" firmware is not for the Mini version of the ASI120MM. Am I wrong about that?

It is not for the Mini version.

katherine.tsai

Please enable the Log of our SDK to check out what happened. In you home directory, there is a hidden directory named ".ZWO", inside it, there is a config file named "ASIConfig.xml", edit it, find the DebugPrint item of your camera, change it is value from 00 to 01, then run the software again.

and send us the output. We will check it. Is it OK for you?

jugglerkris

I assume you want the new ASI stuff that went to indiserver.log? This shows 3 EXP_FAILED before PHD2 tried to fallback to streaming.

indiserver.log

The other log file is here, but is similar to those previously attached.

indi_asi_ccd_18-02-33.log

Thanks for looking at this. I hope it is something obvious. :)

chad

Dear Sir,

Please test your camera with ASICap or SharpCap.

From the log, it looks like the image sensor did not send out the data.

So if you test it with ASICap or SharpCap, it still did not work, I think the camera is broken.

Thanks

Chad

jugglerkris

Do either of those pieces of software work on a Raspberry Pi???

The camera works sometimes, and sometimes doesn't. When it works, it works until I reboot.

jugglerkris

I have never used ASICap before, but here's the output text. Please note the temperature reading. Does this suggest it is not an INDI driver issue, but something wonky on the camera itself? Firmware?

The file created was a black image.


Auto Exp Max Exp = 30ms
Auto Exp Max Gain = 50
Auto Exp Target Brightness = 100
Bin = 1
Brightness = 0
Capture Area Size = 1280 * 960
Colour Format = RAW8
Exposure = 1000000us
Flip = None
Gain = 50
Hardware Bin = OFF
High Speed Mode = OFF
Output Format = *.PNG
OverClock = 0%
StartX = 0
StartY = 0
Temperature = 3585.5 C
Timestamp Frames = OFF
Turbo USB = 86

USB Port = 2.0

jugglerkris

I also installed SharpCap and clicked on the "Snapshot" button with the camera connected. I get a "Single frame capture failed." message at the top of the app and the bottom lists an increasing number of dropped frames.

I've never used this tool, so I plugged my QHY guide camera (my replacement for this ASI120MM Mini) into the same computer and the snapshot button works as expected. Sharpcap shows continuous frames from the working camera.

This problem is intermittent when I'm in the house, but I have not been able to make it work outside at all (colder temperatures?).

I rebooted this computer and tried the ZWO camera again from SharpCap and ASICap and was able to get it to work. Note the temperature had a believable value of 26.7. I don't expect this working state will persist. This intermittent working/not working is very hard to debug.


Pan=0
Tilt=0
Output Format=AVI files (*.avi)
Binning=1
Capture Area=1280x960
Colour Space=MONO8
Temperature=26.7
Discard Split Frames=Off
High Speed Mode=Off
Overclock=0
Turbo USB=86(Auto)
Flip=None
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Gain=0(Auto)
Exposure=0.05
Timestamp Frames=Off
Brightness=9
Auto Exp Max Gain=50
Auto Exp Max Exp M S=30
Auto Exp Target Brightness=100
Banding Threshold=35
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Subtract Dark=None
#Black Point
Display Black Point=0
#MidTone Point
Display MidTone Point=0.5
#White Point
Display White Point=1
TimeStamp=2020-03-11T19.9955212Z

SharpCapVersion=3.2.6263.0

moson

It might be the USB interface is unstable.You can send back for repair.

jugglerkris

Thanks. How do I start that process?

moson

You can send an e-amil to tech@zwoptical.com.