Telescope Reviews: QUANTIX HELP.........

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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: zerro1]
#5319705 - 07/16/12 12:58 AM

Quote:

where I started to get somewhere was when I opened the shutter in the camera control in rsimage, then triggered the capture. I can't find a way to do that in MaximDL.

The iris shutters we are using for these mods aren't well-suited for capturing flat frames. The very short exposures typically required, combined with the need for very even illumination require a different kind of shutter (see those used by SBIG and QSI, for example). The trick with an iris shutter is to extend the exposure time so the duration of shutter motion is insignificant. You want the ADU peak to be somewhere around 1500 and you want to use the longest exposure time possible. Covering the telescope aperture with a carefully-draped towel might suffice.

Post Extras:

sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: zerro1]
#5319709 - 07/16/12 01:05 AM

Hi Robert,

First here are a couple more examples for Alex.
Alex, As you can see I get some reflection and a lil bit of bloat in the bright stars in NGC 7000. My colors are a bit funky cuz I am not that good at setting G2V yet. I am still learning too. But after a while you learn where to set the exposure time to keep bloating under control. Robert has good examples as well.

NGC7000 AND IC5070 by Sullij1, on Flickr

CHEAT SALVAGE 2 by Sullij1, on Flickr

Best,

Joe

Edited by sullij1 (07/16/12 03:56 PM)

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sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: sullij1]
#5319719 - 07/16/12 01:25 AM

Hi John and Robert,

John I think you have it. I was just going to tell Robert that is where my problems with my flats are. After several tries around 2-3 sec I was still getting funky flats that looked like I was still picking up the shutter motion. My flat box has a dimmer switch on it, so I am still experimenting with how dim I can get the light and how long I need to expose to get over the ADU hump. That is where I left off with the Q and have not gotten back to playing with it yet. I have been wrapped up in the solar stuff for a while.

John, thanks for the input, like Robert I am struggling with getting the flat frame right. I think I follow what you are saying as it seems to line up with my assumptions.

The bottom line is to keep the light dim enough to have a longer exposure to reach the ADU and keep the slow shutter out of the way of the flat exposure. Is that correct?

Post Extras:

sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: sullij1]
#5319729 - 07/16/12 01:42 AM

Robert to answer your question here:

"I'd like to pick your brains a little. gain settings most often used? are you using a lower gain setting for flat frames and so calibrating your flats separately, matching flat_darks or bias frames to that lower gain?"

Usually Gain =3

Have not experiment with gain on flat.

Use same gain on darks and run darks at 1/4 or less of the exposure time as there just doesen't seem to be a lot of dark noise in these cams. Seems to fix both dark and bias issues, has been working well.

Edited by sullij1 (07/16/12 01:44 AM)

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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: sullij1]
#5319733 - 07/16/12 01:46 AM

Quote:

The bottom line is to keep the light dim enough to have a longer exposure to reach the ADU and keep the slow shutter out of the way of the flat exposure. Is that correct?

Yup.

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kw6562
Authoritative Ignoramus

Reged: 06/25/08

Loc: MA

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#5320290 - 07/16/12 12:52 PM

Quote:

The trick with an iris shutter is to extend the exposure time so the duration of shutter motion is insignificant. You want the ADU peak to be somewhere around 1500 and you want to use the longest exposure time possible. Covering the telescope aperture with a carefully-draped towel might suffice.

Exactly what I found also. I use a folded white plastic garbage bag over the objective for flats and I point at the sky around dusk. --Keith

Post Extras:

sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#5320627 - 07/16/12 03:44 PM

Quote:

Quote:

The bottom line is to keep the light dim enough to have a longer exposure to reach the ADU and keep the slow shutter out of the way of the flat exposure. Is that correct?

Yup.

Thanks John for validating!

Keith, Hi and thanks for the input.

Robert, Ya with us?

Post Extras:

zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: sullij1]
#5320941 - 07/16/12 07:36 PM Attachment (35 downloads)

Quote:

Robert, Ya with us?

Yes...I am now. Can't quit my day job

Ever

Thank You all for the info and tips! I'll work on the flats some more. I think for the time being, I'll use Rsimage for flats though.

so this image is comprised of Quantix + Ha 7nm baader on a TRF2008 connected to an AT66ED. RGB is from a QHY8, and Luminance is from the Quantix as well.

100% crop

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sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: zerro1]
#5321296 - 07/17/12 12:39 AM

I knew that would turn out well.

Cheers,

Joe

Post Extras:

shurik
super member

Reged: 10/07/07

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: sullij1]
#5322845 - 07/17/12 11:16 PM Attachment (45 downloads)

This is a crop of NGC7000 with Quantix and Astronomik Ha (12nm) made with Tak 180ED f/2.8; 1 min exposure only, these are not the brightest stars in the region and already huge artifacts…imagine what happens with larger stars, so from my readings I figured couple of factors: 1. Astronomik filters were notoriously bad for halos, so bad they offered free exchange for the new ant-glare versions; 2. Fast imaging scopes are prone to reflection artifacts, I iam gona try it on the refractors that I have with slower F ratio or will try to get another filter brand…not sure what results to expect..

thanks, Alex

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zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: shurik]
#5324011 - 07/18/12 07:02 PM

it reminds me a lot of reflections on my SCT. They were much worse when I had a FR/FF in the mix. could be filters catching a picture of the Optics

Post Extras:

sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: zerro1]
#5324342 - 07/19/12 12:23 AM

No doubt those are reflections between the mirrors and the filter. You can see the spyder vanes on the stars. You are probably right about the filter brand being not anti reflection. Post that image in the main CCD forum and ask for help from newt guys specifically. I have seen that from them before and seen it resolved.

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shurik
super member

Reged: 10/07/07

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: sullij1]
#5326411 - 07/20/12 07:20 AM

Could not find the thread on Newtonians + halos...if someone sees it , would appreciate the link. Thanks! Alex

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AITech
Vendor

Reged: 07/01/11

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: shurik]
#5338339 - 07/27/12 11:57 AM

Hello all,
Is there a controller / card out there that can be used with these Quantix cameras other than what they come with? I have a customer that had a board go out after a year and I don't have any extras. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
David

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sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: AITech]
#5340732 - 07/28/12 09:48 PM

Will keep an eye out David. Thanks for the Awesome Product!

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macona
super member

Reged: 05/18/11

Loc: Beaverton, OR

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: AITech]
#5348261 - 08/02/12 07:29 AM

The cards are not anything too special. I believe it is a standard AIA interface, so a card like this from EDT should work, you will need an adapter cable to go from 80 to 64 pins:

http://www.edt.com/pcidva.html

There are usually one or two on ebay at any given time as well:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roper-Scientific-Tucson-PCI-interface-Board-01-376-004-PM-AIA-/221073539598?pt=BI_Control_Systems_PLCs&hash=item337902820e#ht_1292wt_1361

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AITech
Vendor

Reged: 07/01/11

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: macona]
#5358571 - 08/08/12 06:22 PM

wow nice! Thanks Macona.

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zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: AITech]
#5361784 - 08/10/12 01:56 PM

Has anyone configured a "field power source" and used it for any length of time? I'm trying to put something together to use at a dark site. a little overkill wouldn't bother me but, I'd be happy with 4 to 5 hours of imaging.

I currently have a 1000watt(2000peak) modified sine wave inverter. will 2 X 120amp/hour deep cycle get me there? beyond?

Post Extras:

gnabgib
sage

Reged: 06/05/05

Loc: Fall River MIlls Ca.

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: zerro1]
#5361947 - 08/10/12 03:18 PM

Quote:

Has anyone configured a "field power source" and used it for any length of time? I'm trying to put something together to use at a dark site. a little overkill wouldn't bother me but, I'd be happy with 4 to 5 hours of imaging.

I currently have a 1000watt(2000peak) modified sine wave inverter. will 2 X 120amp/hour deep cycle get me there? beyond?

Zerro1;
Stop looking at the 12v deep cycle batteries and start looking at the 6v golf cart batteries. They are the same price BUT have 400 amp/hr ratings! A friend and myself use two of these along with a power inverter and can get 3 solid nights observing with both of our cameras, telescopes and computers running. A Napa store worker turned me on to the golf cart batteries when I went in and asked for two 12v deep cycle batts and he asked me what I was using them for. I explained my intended use when he pulled out their "special batteries" book and compared ratings for several batteries. The golf cart batteries are just plain awesome!!!

Kevin

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sullij1
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/08/08

Re: QUANTIX HELP.........Filters wheel new

[Re: gnabgib]
#5362482 - 08/10/12 09:19 PM

Hi Kevin,

Valuable contributions as always. Thanks for the idea and popping in to see us!

Cheers,

Joe

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