secondary mounted video camera

[bomberbaz]

Hello all. I currently have a PD1 and a flextube driven dob (see sig) whch I am using for video astro but even with a 0.5 focal reducer on the PD1, the FOV is difficult to work with when remotely driven. (I have just started to use stellarium to drive the dob).

So I was thinking of piggy backing a small, cheapish frac onto the dob and using a modded xbox webcam into this for a dual view to help in zeroing the PD1. 

The remote control is via a 10M repeater cable and I was going to try a 1-2 USB adaptor to achieve the webcam view.

So can anyone see any issues running a PD1 camera (std video cable) at the same time as a USB webcam.

TIA

Steve

[stash_old]

I suspect you might have USB capacity issues if the two were on the same USB controller  I presume you are using a frame grabber for the PD1 -  Plus possible CPU usage/frame rate problems - but  have never tried two  camera's at the same time. 

[bomberbaz]

Sorry the pd1 is capturing using sharpcap via a std video cable, the usb is currently controlling the az mount for the dob. Is that what you mean?

[stash_old]

How is the "std video cable" connected - I use EZCAP grabber which connects the Video cable to the PC via a USB port.

 I was trying to suggest that graphically data from the camera's might overload/slow down the USB part of the PC as they tend to create a lot of data. 

But as I said never tried two camera's at the same time so its a "finger in the air" plus I don't know your PC/Laptop spec etc. 

That said many people use a guiding camera at the same time as using another video camera.

Go for it - have the fun is the "trying"

The alternative is to use a DVR and two "Video" feeds(One PD1 and another with a std 50/25mm camera len's plus bits - always extra bits) but that is more expensive - so I would say try it 

[shirva]

The mount wont be a problem and I dont think the caneras will be a bother as well as long as its different capture programmes..sharpcap gets in a muddle at times.

[Pan Euro]

Sorry to butt in but can you not use 2 versions of sharcap at the same time?

Ed

[stash_old]

Sorry to butt in but can you not use 2 versions of sharcap at the same time?

Ed

As Shirva says (and I have also found) Sharcap2 does get into a muddle sometimes. Alternatively to use Debut Video Capture (or Ispy) s/w( both free) not as good as Sharpcap2 for astro work IMHO but are better "behaved" windows programs and will run along side Sharpcap2 and could therefore do the "view to help in zeroing the PD1"

[bomberbaz]

I will try runnin power direcxtor and sharpcap together from sperate usb ports at the pc. Its high poewered so hopefully should be good. wqatch this space

[Carl Reade]

Easiest way to do it without using any additional PC resources. Pickup a cheap second cam ln300 or Samsung 2000 or anything with senseup capability. Buy a two way video switch very cheap on eBay etc then both cams can be fed to frame grabber by flicking between them instantly to PC. Use cam 1 to locate then flick switch to main cam

[shirva]

Hi carl..I have similar set up four cams to my cctv dvr output to monitor is split and an av feed is sent to usb video grabber on laptop

[bomberbaz]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VK9PRIU?psc=1

I am thinking this might work then for the switching and its powered.

[Carl Reade]

Yes Davy a DVR would do it and bonus of split screen.

Bomberbaz I was thinking more this. The two video camera outputs plug in to it then it plugs into the video grabber and just flick between them. It won't work with a webcam however as its USB. This would just use one PC USB port and one piece of software for both cams.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AV-Multi-Input-Output-3-Way-RCA-Audio-Video-Selector-Switcher-Switch-Box-/131352315563?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e953546ab

[Dragon Man]

I will attempt to guess what BomberBaz wants to do. If I'm wrong it won't matter because It might be able to give someone else some ideas 

I run two Analogue cameras. I do this 2 different ways and they both work:

1. I plug them both into their own Video Grabbers, then plug those Video Grabbers into a USB hub. I can then switch between the 2 cameras in the software.

2. I plug both cameras into an AV (Composite) switcher (a simple cheap device), then plug the switcher into a single Video Grabber. To switch cameras I press which camera I want on the switcher.

But if you want 2 Analogue cameras on the screen at the same time, I haven't tried that yet. I haven't had the need.

It would be interesting I suppose if I wanted to have PIP (Picture in picture) for some objects. But I don't know how to do it.

I must try it out at some stage 

BUT, if you wants to run an Analogue camera AND a USB camera, that's easy. 

If you don't have a spare USB slot for the USB cam, run the Video Grabber from the Analaogue camera AND the USB camera into a USB Hub. Then open up a program for each one.

I used to run a capture software for the Main Imaging camera and run Guidemaster for the USB camera. But other USB capture softwares will work.

If I have guessed wrong about what it is you want to do, I apologise for confusing the issue even further 

[bomberbaz]

Actually Ken (Dragon man), you are pretty close. I use both sharpcap and cyberlink power director.  Next I have the PD1 which is a analogue camera which connects to the PC via a USB adaptor and a modified xbox camera http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/131246-xbox-livecam-mod-cliff/as per this thread which is USB.

I want to be able to run both together via 2 seperate programmes above. The USB will be attached to my "spotting scope" and the PD1 will be attached to my remotely controlled flextube 300p. 

My main concern was trying to connect both by one repeater cable but after consideration, I will use two. My seond concern was would both running together be achievable.

It seems no-one has tried this and so I will soon be giving it a go. I think I will leave getting a USB switch hub and try without, I can always add one later.

I have another question but I will start it in another thread.

Thanks all

steve aka bomberbaz

[Dragon Man]

. . .  I think I will leave getting a USB switch hub and try without, I can always add one later.

steve aka bomberbaz

Steve, not a Switchable USB hub (I don't even think they make such a thing), it's an AV (composite) switching box. There's hundreds of varieties to choose from 

I use one of these (a 2 channel switcher): https://www.firefold.com/Assets/HomeTheater/Switches_Splitters/Composite_Swtiches_Splitters/COMP-2SWITCH/COMP-2SWITCH_extra2.jpg

and I also have 2 of these (a 3 channel switcher): http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/626599054/Black-Universal-3-Video-Devices-to-1-TV-Set-Switch-Box-with-1-Composite-AV-RCA.jpg

[bomberbaz]

Steve, not a Switchable USB hub (I don't even think they make such a thing), it's an AV (composite) switching box. There's hundreds of varieties to choose from 

I use one of these (a 2 channel switcher): https://www.firefold.com/Assets/HomeTheater/Switches_Splitters/Composite_Swtiches_Splitters/COMP-2SWITCH/COMP-2SWITCH_extra2.jpg

and I also have 2 of these (a 3 channel switcher): http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/626599054/Black-Universal-3-Video-Devices-to-1-TV-Set-Switch-Box-with-1-Composite-AV-RCA.jpg

Yeah I realise that Ken but only one of my intended devices is AV (with USB adaptor),  the other is USB so I was going to use one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VK9PRIU?psc=1  although I may not need it. AND they do exist 

[Dragon Man]

Yeah I realise that Ken but only one of my intended devices is AV (with USB adaptor),  the other is USB so I was going to use one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VK9PRIU?psc=1  although I may not need it. AND they do exist 

Cool Steve, I might have to look into one, thanks 

[bomberbaz]

Ok so my pc can run both the USB camera and the PD1 at the same time. Just playing around for now but its working and that the main thing. Now i need to get them both optimised, thats where the funs going to start.