I just ordered a new orion imaging camera/guide camera. It has not arrived but I was wondering if there is a chance it will work with PEMPro.

It has the aptina mt9v032 chip in it. I assume it will have standard windows video drivers for it.

Any thoughts on this, or any experience with other orion drivers with PEMPro?

Thanks for any input, I'd love to use PEMPro. I have ImagesPlus and a canon 40D but it looks as if I don't make the minimum requirements for use.

If the aptina's video driver has a directx interface or are Windows WDM compatible then they will work natively with PEMPro. In order to use the 40D you would need MaximDL or AstroArt as the camera control programs.

-Ray

Thanks for your reply, when it arrives I will post the results.

Are there any plans on using the ImagesPlus Camera control with PEMPro?

Is there a way for external programs to control ImagesPlus?

-Ray

Ray,
I really don't know. I'll send Mike an email to see if there is.

Thanks,
Dave Cox

Ray,
I just talked to Mike the writer of ImagesPlus.
He said there was no automation or external control.

I'll hope for directX or windows WDM control for the new orion product when it arrives.

Thanks,
Dave Cox

I just got off the phone with Orion Tech Support. They have informed me that the camera uses ASCOM for communication with the camera.

I'm unsure if he was refering to the autoguiding port or to the imaging use of the camera.

I asked him if windows saw the camera as an imaging device and he said "not without the drivers".

I'll have to wait and see, but it does not sound like it will work.

Dave,

What is the exact model?

Another possibility is a cheap webcam like a phillips toucam.

BTW, which mount are you using?

-Ray

It's the Orion starshoot planetary imager and autoguider Item #52079.

Im using a CGE mount.

I'm just hoping to get double use from the Orion unit...

Thanks,
Dave

Dave,

It seems like it might be a high-sensitivity video camera. Do you have one yet? The web site shows it as backordered.

-Ray

Ray,

Not yet, it's actually a new product launch. That's the date it's supposed to ship. I pre-ordered because it looked interesting, and I didn't have either a guide camera or a webcam.

Dave

I just got an email from the author of PHD guiding. They are supplying the guiding software for the Orion camera. He informed me that it uses proprietary drivers, not windows system drivers.

It looks like a dead end, thanks for your help

Dave Cox

Dave,

It's not necessarily a dead end. The Orion camera lineup is pretty popular and I've had requests for them before so I've been considering implementing direct support for at least some of their cameras. I'll try giving Orion support a call and see what they say.

-Ray

Ray,

That would be great for me, and should be a source of new users.

Thanks for your help.

Dave Cox

Dave,

I sent an email off to Orion tech support and I received an email back saying my request has been forwarded to their management. I'll let you know when I hear anything else.

-Ray