Setting up a Webcam with Sharpcap
A while back I purchased a Philips SPC900NC Webcam and flashed it etc to use with Sharpcap Webcam imaging software.
I then watched the astronomyshed tutorials on youtube to learn how to setup the camera.
I downloaded the software from the link below.
http://sites.google.com/site/rwgastro/sharpcap
After messing around with the camera, all I managed to get was a flashing screen. I got frustrated and gave up and I still couldn't get the Philips camera working tonight.
Yesterday, I thought I would have another crack at it, so I decided to keep the cost down and purchased a cheap Webcam from Tesco for about £7.85.
Tonight, I removed the lens from the webcam and taped it to my cannon T-ring adapter using electrical tape and installed it on my Telescope.
After an hour of messing around with settings, I was again getting frustrated, as all I could get were light and dark screens testing with a torch and led etc.
I was about to give up again, but then I realised I had missed a crucial point.
There's no point waving the scope about at night trying to find something to focus on.
I had forgotten one crucial step in the process.......
Before messing around with Sharpcap Settings, I should have aligned the Telescope with an object using a normal eye piece, in this case, my 15mm Plossal.
One of the most annoying problems with my location is a cement factory about 1 1/2 miles north of the village with 24/7 lighting.
But tonight, this had a really big advantage.
I setup my scope to align with some of the lights on the factory roof.
In anticipation, I quickly swapped my eye piece with the webcam and attempted to focus....
Success, suddeny 2 of the lights came into foucs on my laptop screen.
I'm now ready to have a go at recording Planets ( very ambitious, I know ) with my telescope and cheap Tesco Webacm.
I'm just waiting for the clouds to clear, but I do feel a great sense of achievement, managing to get the camera and software working.
I've attached my first image with the Webcam and Telescope, I know is not an astronomical image, and I need better focus, but It's the achievement of getting the Webcam working that I'm so chuffed about.
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