ASI120MM exposure time in Maxim

jolo

Hello,

I've recently purchased ASI120MM - great gear! However I also want to use it for guiding and the camera/driver seems not to catch exposure time that is set in the guiding software. In PHD2 I can access camera driver settings window and set there exposure time, but in Maxim DL when I open Camera configuration there is only one option available - gain setting, and exposure cannnot be controlled. Changing exposure time in Maxim does not have any effect on camera - it always exposes the same time - 1 second. Is there a way to adjust exposure time for ASI120MM in Maxim for guiding? I use latest camera drivers (ASCOM without ST4) and Maxim 5.23.

Cheers,

Lukasz

Sam@ZWO

Hi Lukasz

you can also connect the camera though the WDM driver in MaxIm-dl

Then you can control the exposure though the dialog.

ASCOM driver don't have such dialog. but you can control it though MDL or PHD

you can have a look here:

http://www.zwoptical.com/Eng/Cameras/ASI120/software_autoguider.asp

jolo

Hello Sam,

Thanks for clarifying - I got used to control exposure time in Maxim Guide tab. Do you plan to extend ASCOM driver so the exposure time can be controlled as well?

Lukasz

Sam@ZWO

Hi Lukasz

you should can control it though ASCOM too.

we test it well in my PC

giancarlo

I've the same problem with Maxim and ASCOM driver for ASI120MM: it's not possible to set the exposure time and if you open the Camera setting you only can change the Gain, but in this case you are not able to Start ( error message) exposition!?

If I use WDM driver the exposition time is not set trought the main window but only by Camera setting window, but in this case there is a mismatch and timing is not correct.

Sam@ZWO

you need to set the exposure time here if you connect though ASCOM driver

I attached an image

giancarlo

Thanks for the answer, but I'd like to clarify the point: I use the ASI120MM with ASCOM driver as main camera ( not for Autoguide) and in Maxim I've trouble with exposure time and more if you try to change the Gain it doesn't work anymore

Sam@ZWO

Hi please test our newest ASCOM driver which support 16bit too

http://zwoptical.com/software/ASICamera%20ASCOM%20Setup%20test.exe

giancarlo

Hi Sam, good news! I've installed the new ASCOM driver and you fix the crash problem changing the Gain and/or the USB speed (see picture)!

But the Exposure time still not working correct you set i.e. 10 sec it last max 5 sec., if you set 30 sec. it last max 20 sec randomly, and you don't have the progress time bar moving (see picture)

Listen I've tried also Astroart and even there trouble with Exposure time.

Looking forward for your effort to fix the bug, regards

Giancarlo

Sam@ZWO

Hi Giancarlo

we saw this problem.

we will try to fix it

thanks for the feedback

Sam@ZWO

Hi Giancarlo

here is a new test version fixed the progress bar problem of ASCOM driver

you can download and test

http://zwoptical.com/software/ASICamera%20ASCOM%20Setup%20test.exe

please feedback, thanks

aay

Hi,

I test your last ASCOM driver for ASI120MM with Maxim DL. It has problem with exposure.

Exposure work correctly only first time after call "Camera settings". :(

I.e. if call "Camera settings" nothing to change and close it than one time exposure work good. Next times not correctly. When call "Camera settings" again and nothing to change and close it than one time exposure work good again. But next times not correctly again.

Excuse me for my poor English.

Sam@ZWO

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aay

Sam wrote:

Hi aay

the ASCOM driver work in this way:

the camera start exposure in background when you connect ASCOM, because its video camera, so it still run in video mode.

so you will notice when you click "exposure" the data return time may not correct, because it may already start exposure in the background. but the exposure time is correct

I don't know if you has this problem?

OK. Now I see this problem in other sight: after changing exposure time first snapshot has wrong exposure. All next snapshots are good. And another bug: after changing "Frame type" from "Bias" to "Lite" "Dark" or "Flat" first snapshot has wrong exposure too. I think that it is one problem. And another question: how "exposure in background" work with filter wheel? It make background snapshot when wheel changing filters? I have not test it yet but I think that possibly here problem too.

Sam@ZWO

Yes, there is such problem

there is setting delay too such like exposure because it run in video mode in back ground

and seems there is no good way to solve it under ASCOM

giancarlo

Hi Sam

I've got only this morning there was a 2 page...poor of me, I need a new glasses!

I'm going to try the new driver and I feedback asap.

Merry Christmas to everybody

Giancarlo

giancarlo

Hi Sam

but it's the same driver you posted on Nov 18th, so no change!

Please check, may be you posted the wrong one.

regards

Giancarlo

Sam@ZWO

Hi Giancarlo

it only fixed the progress bar problem

other problem is still there because its a video camera

but our usb3.0 camera will support snap better

giancarlo

ASCOMdriver.jpgHi Sam, I got it and the progress bar works!

But the good news is that if you set Autosave ( just to make Dark, Bias etc) the exposure time is CORRECT. Thanks, I wish you a Happy New Year.

Sam@ZWO

giancarlo wrote:
ASCOMdriver.jpgHi Sam, I got it and the progress bar works!

But the good news is that if you set Autosave ( just to make Dark, Bias etc) the exposure time is CORRECT. Thanks, I wish you a Happy New Year.

yes, because there is no delay when use autosave, the camera run in video mode at background

anyway, we will try to make the snap function of our 2.0 cameras works better in our ASCOM driver