ASI120MM loses frame sync

astrolad47

I'm using an ASI120MM with Maxim DL via the ASCOM driver. It will run correctly for a few seconds to a few minutes. Typical is ~30s. It then loses sync and the downloaded frame shifts by about half a frame horizontally, with what looks like a sync bar in the middle. I can't tell if it's parts of two separate frames, or one frame rotated. Once in a while it will re-sync. Usually I stop and restart.

The ZWO and ASCOM drivers are the latest. Maxim is maybe three months old.

I had a similar problem with an ATIK Titan (ATIK capture software, not Maxim). It seemed to clear up after a driver update.

As it stands, the camera is useless. Anyone know what's going on?

Sam@ZWO

how about if you connect though video(directshow)

astrolad47

Diretcshow works, It's a partially useable solution as the primary use is a video finder. However, I would sometimes like to save FITS images. Any idea why ASCOM and Maxim fail?

yang

the sync problem is real with USB2.0 camera with ASCOM driver, but don't worry about the exposure time, the exposure duration of every frame is right.

rosszfej

i also experience this problem, since i changed a my laptop which has windows 10.

this makes guiding impossible, as the asi120mm loses frame sync, the guiding is ruined..

do you have any suggestion? thanks.

rosszfej

it seems quite a few people have this problem. can we expect a fix for this?

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/572184-the-sad-state-of-the-zwo-asi120mm-and-asi120mc/

chad

rosszfej wrote:
it seems quite a few people have this problem. can we expect a fix for this?

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/572184-the-sad-state-of-the-zwo-asi120mm-and-asi120mc/

Dear rosszfej，

As you know, 120MM/MC is our earliest product. it's not perfect, not only software, but also hardware.

In ASCOM driver，the capture mode is the correct mode of recommendation.But we have to replaced the capture mode with the video mode. Because in capture mode, ascom drives are very unstable, worse than it is now. We found that early software and hardware together led to this problem.

So it's hard for us to solve the problem now。

So my suggestion is that you can use our updated camera or use 120mm/mc in other software which support video mode like DirectShow.

I am sorry～

Best Regards

chad

rosszfej

thanks for the quick reply.

i had a conversation with you about the capture/video mode, i also sent you a test application. it's nice the phd uses video mode, and seems quite stable on win7. unfortunatelly very unstable in win10.. :(

i am using the asi120mm for guiding. if i use directshow, is there any way i can use the camera built in ST4 for guiding?

i was also planning to buy one of your new camera, like asi-1600mm-c. do the new cameras also have this unstability, or do they work smooth?

chad

Hi rosszfej，

For your application, I'm not sure. but it should be disconnected from the operating system.

Sam gives a method：In MaxIm DL，In Camera Control Dialog， Setup -> Setup Camera -> Camera Model -> select "Video DS". Then you can use the asi120mm for guiding in video mode.

Asi1600MM-C is OK. It works fine. For guiding, now we have 290Mini and 174Mini, I think they would be more suitable。

Please pay attention to our official website, there will be some new products coming out recently.

Thanks

chad

rosszfej

i would like to by the asi1600mm for astophotograpy not for guiding..

at also it's much cheaper to buy an old laptop with win7 for guiding, than the 174 mini.. ;)