460EX - Dark Lines To The Right of Stars.

[jcm]

I started imaging NGC891 with my 8" RC. The first image looked OK - though the something looked a bit odd at the top. 

When I looked at the other images , a number a dark lines to the right of the bright stars was present. The problem seemed to get worse as you worked through the image list.

I have sent some images to the dealer so he can have a look at them.
Did some dark frames at the same exposure length - all fine.

Will have another go first clear night to see if the problem remains.

John


PS The dark lines appear near the top of the image and then spread down down as you work through
the image list.

[Konihlav]

I guess it's not your first light with the camera nor with the telescope... guess you shut it all down and restarted (obvious "Windows"-like  process)...

it seems to me like a damaged A/D converter. I had once the same problem with other camera and had to ship it to manufacturer to replace the ADC (he did free of charge though that camera was second hand and almost 2 years (or even more) old).

simply the brighter stars cause ADC to overflow (for some strange reason) which results in the dark/black line.

just my guess, feeling sorry for you

[jcm]

Hi Konihlav,

Yep , been using it for a few months without problems.

Going to do some checking ( change power supply etc)

The dealer has already been in touch ( very nice to get a quick reply)

These things happen.

John

[jcm]

Just done some test images.
The above fault has completely gone. No lines at all.

Must have been some form of computer glitch/conflict.

Anyway , back to imaging.

John

[topboxman]

I am very glad to hear that you no longer have this issue. Every once in a while I would get a single white line streaking across the image. The image above the white line would look normal and below the white line would look lighter. It's most likely a bad download or glitch from camera to computer. I have never had multiple images to look bad during the same imaging session like yours.

I would just make sure all cables are well connected or maybe replacing USB cable with thicker and higher quality and gold plated connectors. Or reboot the camera the next time it happens.

I also have 460EX camera and I enjoy it.

BTW, very nice image of NGC891. I am sorry they got ruined.

Peter

[jcm]

Oops - spoke to soon.
Lines still there.

Going to change USB cable, power supply etc. To see if the setup is the
problem. I don't think it is as its worked fine for several months.

Looking more like a return under warranty job.(  dealer been very helpful )

John

[jcm]

OK , a bit of a mistery this problem.
Tried again last night - no lines at all, even when imaging a very brigt star.

The dealer was just about to arrange for its collection and return to Atik.

I did go round cleaning/checking all connections.

Will have to keep an eye on this but for now camera works fine 

John

[bwa]

OK , a bit of a mistery this problem.
Tried again last night - no lines at all, even when imaging a very brigt star.

The dealer was just about to arrange for its collection and return to Atik.

I did go round cleaning/checking all connections.

Will have to keep an eye on this but for now camera works fine 

John

If you owned a QHY camera, the problem would be defined as a "clamping error".  The ASCOM driver for the QHY camera has the option to turn clamping on or off.  Off for very dim objects and on for fields w/ bright stars.  One other CCD I owned had a variable resistor one could adjust to control clamping.

bwa

[jcm]

Problem seems to be getting worse - lines and horizontal bands.
Camera has gone in for a check up.
This is probably the only way to find out if it's a camera fault or a computer/cable/system fault.

John

[jcm]

The Atik people (Vince) have sorted this problem.
It took quite a bit of effort to sort out but the fault seems
to be the CCD sensor itself. Hopefully this is a one off and no
other CCD sensors have the problem.

Well done Atik!

John

[bwa]

Glad/hope it's resolved!  The 460 has been a great camera todate...

[jcm]

Final update on this problem.

The sensor was replaced and I tested the camera last night.
Result - NO LINES.

Vince ( Atik cameras) said that doing the normal test routines the sensor seemed
OK , it was only during image download that the lines appeared. He ran the camera
for 3 hrs on a scope in his obs to check the fault had been corrected.

John