flash0168

i got it direct of the philips support site SPC900NC/00 Philips Webcam SPC900NC VGA CCD with Pixel Plus - Philips Support it does not say what it is only describes it as software below the drivers hope this helps

As a complete novice I was impressed with some of the photos of the moon and the planets I have seen on the web, so decided to look at the possibility of taking my own. Due to limited funds and a bit of research the Philips SPC880 web cam flashed to an SPC900 looked the best option. The webcam and a 1.25 adapter cost me £24. I would also recommend buying an IR/UV filter as the adapter does not have a lens or cover which leaves the ccd unit exposed, something I have now done (all part of the learning process). There were 2 options with regards to flashing the cam, 1) do it myself 2) have it done by the supplier for £3. I chose to do it myself to keep the cost minimal and I like the challenge of learning new skills. The first thing to do was to flash the cam and after searching the net and finding various methods I decided to use some software called WcRmac which I downloaded. I then downloaded the binary file for the SPC900. I also had to download the drivers, the SPC880 uses the drivers for the toucam 750. You will also need the drivers for the SPC900 after it has been flashed and also webcam aquiring software such as philips vlounge. Now I had everything in place I loaded the drivers for the toucam 750 and connected the cam for which I had to use a pc running windows xp. I then started the cam using vlounge and launched WcRmac (read through the instructions carefully right through and then start the process). I followed the instructions saving the existing binary and then inserting the SPC900 binary and loading it to the cam. I then connected the cam to my laptop with windows vista andloaded the SPC900 driver and away I went with what is now an SPC900 webcam. Please note that this is a rough explanation of what I had to do and not a step by step guide I then removed the lens from the webcam using a screw driver to prise the cover off and then unscrewed the lens, finally screwing in the adapter fitted with a IR/UV filter to protect the ccd.

Flashed the spc880 which arrived today and it is now a spc900 so now all i need is clear skies

After reading loads of reviews and a limited budget i have just bought a Skywatcher Skymax 127 with the intention of spending some quality time with my son watching and photographing the night sky. We are currently trying to learn our stars to be able to get the GOTO aligned and tracking. We have found the Stellarium software useful for this as a) it was free and b) we can take the laptop into the conservatory and line it up with the night sky and start trying to find the corresponding stars. Whilst doing this we are going to try and mod a philips spc800nc web cam for astrophotography