Return to the Cloudy Nights Telescope Reviews home pageAstronomics discounts for Cloudy Nights members
· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User
You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy
Previous thread Previous   Index   Next thread Next   Threaded Mode Threaded  

Pages: 1
jambi99
super member


Reged: 08/14/10

Loc: Québec, Canada
Mallincam pc control
      #5623314 - 01/14/13 07:56 PM
Edit post Edit   Reply to this post Reply   Reply to this post Quote Quick Reply: Quick Reply  

Hi there ,

which of the mallincam will allow pc control of the exposure ? Does the Xtrem only has this capability? I know you can fully control the mhpc(from the doc) via control cable. Could you please clarify me what each model has to offer in term of PC control ?

Thanks

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
mclewis1
Thread Killer
*****

Reged: 02/25/06

Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
Re: Mallincam pc control new [Re: jambi99]
      #5623337 - 01/14/13 08:15 PM
Edit post Edit   Reply to this post Reply   Reply to this post Quote Quick Reply: Quick Reply  

MCHP does not have complete control capability from a PC (it has hyper switches on the side of the camera which cannot be automated).

The VSS+ has full remote control from a wired remote or from a PC.

The Xtreme offers full remote control from a wired/wireless remote and from a PC.

There are two sets of functions on any Mallincam - the onscreen menu (OSD) is controlled via the physical buttons on the rear of the camera or via an RS232/485 interface back to a PC. Then there is an extension to these functions (the Hyper capability) which allows for longer exposures/integration time beyond the basics 2.1 seconds.

You can connect an MCHP to a PC to control all of the OSD functions but not the Hyper ones.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
jambi99
super member


Reged: 08/14/10

Loc: Québec, Canada
Re: Mallincam pc control new [Re: mclewis1]
      #5623398 - 01/14/13 08:45 PM
Edit post Edit   Reply to this post Reply   Reply to this post Quote Quick Reply: Quick Reply  

And what about the regular vss ? Is pc exposure control is possible? If limitation, what are they? Thanks!

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Jack Huerkamp
Vendor - Waning Moon


Reged: 10/13/05

Loc: Louisiana
Re: Mallincam pc control new [Re: jambi99]
      #5623955 - 01/15/13 08:06 AM
Edit post Edit   Reply to this post Reply   Reply to this post Quote Quick Reply: Quick Reply  

MCHP - Full Menu control from computer/ No cooler or exposure control from computer

VSS/VSS PLUS - Full Menu control from computer/ Limited exposure control from computer, that being HYPER OFF (2 second), HYPER MODE ON = exposure time set by knob on camera and HYPER X2 = twice exposure time set by knob on camera/ Cooler computer controllable

xtreme and Xtreme X2 - Full menu and exposure control from computer/ cooler computer controllable

Jack Huerkamp

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Lorence
professor emeritus


Reged: 09/15/08

Re: Mallincam pc control new [Re: jambi99]
      #5624670 - 01/15/13 03:41 PM
Edit post Edit   Reply to this post Reply   Reply to this post Quote Quick Reply: Quick Reply  

Quote:

which of the mallincam will allow pc control of the exposure



You are probably confusing several settings related to exposure. There are several exposure settings accessible by the camera's manual menu in all models of the Xtreme family of cameras. These are controllable with a PC.

The feature that makes the Mallincams true Astronomical video cameras is the Hyper or Long Integration Mode.

The Xtreme is the only Mallincam Video camera of that family that can be completely controlled by a PC. The Xtreme uses a mode called Long Integration which is best controlled by a PC.

The others use a Hyper mode. The Hyper mode can be partially PC controlled with a VSS+. I'm not sure about the other cameras. I don't own or use them and unlike some I don't like to give advise about equipment unless I have used it.

I have two Mallincam Xtremes in my observatory that are under PC control. They work flawlessly. I also have a VSS+ out there that I adapted to complete PC control. It works well enough but is a bit of a nuisance to adjust when compared with the Xtreme.

The Xtreme allows for what can be considered unlimited Long Exposure time. My VSS only allows about two minutes exposure in it's Hyper mode.

If you intend to control a Mallincam with a PC the Xtreme is the best choice.

By the way Rock Mallin, the person who builds Mallincams has his own forum.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/mallincam/

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Pages: 1

Previous thread Previous   Index   Next thread Next   Threaded Mode Threaded  

Extra information
3 registered and 9 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  Undermidnight, knuklhdastnmr 

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled


Thread views: 353

Jump to

CN Forums Home


Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics