festoon

Thanks @WimH. This makes sense, but do you know the difference between the quoted unit of LSB and mV? The IMX385 spec for instance is a sensitivity of 2350mV (F5.6 1/30s) and the spec of the IMX is 250 LSB (F2.8 1/120s) I never know why manufactures like Sony randomly change units with little or no explanation!

There's a parallel thread to this on the same topic...I too think this is a very interesting development. Looks very interesting given that you can interchange the lens with the C/CS mount Looking at the spec of the IMX477 sensor https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products/common/pdf/IMX477-AACK_Flyer.pdf The units of sensitivity are LSB at F2.8 with 1/120s integration. For all the other IMX sensors that I've compared this is usualy expressed in mV at F5.6 and 1/30s integration. Does anyone know a conversion factor between the two? I would be very interested in this if it compared well to an IMX385 or IMX224

I saw this too this morning looks very interesting given that you can interchange the lens with the C/CS mount Looking at the spec of the IMX477 sensor https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products/common/pdf/IMX477-AACK_Flyer.pdf The units of sensitivity are LSB at F2.8 with 1/120s integration. For all the other IMX sensors that I've compared this is usualy expressed in mV at F5.6 and 1/30s integration. Does anyone know a conversion factor between the two? I would be very interested in this if it compared well to an IMX385 or IMX224

https://www.change.org/p/stop-spacex-starlink-from-spoiling-outer-space-for-humanity?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_15746395_en-GB%3Av5&recruiter=893806509&recruited_by_id=152c8920-9ef0-11e8-8d7d-9dfbc18e2b71&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=d6d003a541f54cae8229d0614a3f639f Just signed this - I'm amazed this has been allowed

No reason why this would not work. My only worry is they do not spec what the max current output at 12V is. Personally I use these https://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/tracer-12v-24ah-lifepo4-battery-pack.html They have never given me any issues after a few years of using and last forever between charges

Hi @NickK - very sorry but I'm not following this...could be its just over my head technically Is it possible to please explain what you mean? I don't think I'm using the GPU on the compute stick as I am remote desktoping to it

Just read the instructions to this and it looks a very exciting development I look forward to trying it in the future. Unfortunately for now all my cameras are OSC....so I won't have the ability to use it right now. But well done on producing innovation to this field of astronomy

The R2 was my first camera I bought for EAA and really got me hooked. I started to see so many deep sky objects that I only would have dreamed of seeing from my back garden. Its uses a very sensitive IMX811 sony CCD sensor. Can do colour or mono. Can be used with sharpcap live stacking if you use the USB video capture card. Only down size is FOV limited by 1/3 chip sensor size Here is a section of objects that I've imaged using this camera. They are not hubble..this is real time, no processing apart from stacking. It's worth noting these are taken with a C5 OTA from an urban backyard with sub 5 mins total stacking time. Crab Nebula M81 and M82 Dumbell Nebula M2 M92 Andromeda Bodes galaxy Cigar galaxy Needle Galaxy Pinwheel galaxy Orion nebula

I think the M3 processor is a big improvement on the previous stick using the Atom processor. It honestly feels as quick as my i5 laptop

Just wanted to report back, that I got my M3 compute stick a few weeks ago. The first thing I did was do the required windows updates - then I upgraded to Windows 10 Pro to allow me to use RDP. I have also inserted a 256GB microSD memory card as additional memory, and a neat USB3.0 hub to give me a few more USB ports. It happily runs synscan mobile via a serial com port from USB to the AZ GTi mount. Stellarium, Sharpcap, Stellarium Scope all installed fine. Astrotortilla installed fine also. Also I've moved my wifi router to be on the 5GHz band to avoid any interference with my USB 3.0 CMOS camera. Also followed the suggestion of @noah4x4 and disabled remoteFX compression. First and second light were very successful over the weekend. To power the device outside I used a USB type c cigarrete adaptor capable of supplying 5V, 3A - connected to a 12V lithium polymer tracer battery. I'm using the same battery to power my AZGti mount. I also bought a USB type C inline voltmeter/ammeter. Under no load this supplied 5V. When under stress (>2A) the lowest reported voltage was ~4.8V but the compute stick kept going. Comparatively, even with the as-supplied power supply plug (using the same voltmeter and >2A current) was reading 4.9V. The spec of the supplied power is 5.2V 2.2A DC. So a small difference using a 5V cigarette adaptor would be expected. The only time I saw an issue was attaching the USB hub to the compute stick caused the compute stick to freeze. However I saw no more issues after reboot. Just taking the USB of the camera in and out caused no problems, and this only occured when attaching the hub. So I guess there may be a lack of stability at the moment of connecting multiple USB devices at the same time but no problems if the setup remains unchanged. The compute stick ran for several hours, and my RDP connection indoor was fantastic (as long as I placed my router just outside my back door). Was happily running stellaium, and sharpcap acquiring raw16 bit frames. Platesolving (via sharpcap interface) only took a few seconds. Stacking in sharpcap was not an issue. In summary, very happy with the outcome. I might try a wifi usb high gain antenna with the compute stick to see if I can keep my wifi router indoors. I also may and try use a programmable buck converter to match the as supplied power supply - so convert my 12V DC to 5.2V. However I have understood from Intel forums that the compute stick is very sensitive to over voltage. So as long as I see no issues, I will continue with the cigarette adaptor setup I have now.

thank you @noah4x4 for the advice...very much appreicated. From reading what you say above the one thing I did not work out...is did you disable remotefx on the computer you have at the scope, or the computer you have indoors, or both?

Just bought an M3 intel compute stick....and a 128gb micro SD card...fingers crossed it is up to the job!!! First job will be to upgrade it from the default windows 10 home to windows 10 pro. No one has been able to help me with process as every company I have asked says its something you need to do online once you have set the syetem up. The start installing all the software I think I'm going to have a few weeks of being busy

thanks @noah4x4 Have emailed Scan computers, asking questions about windows pro on compute stick

Does anyone of the M3 compute stick owners know does the M3 compute stick (STK2M3W64CC) come with windows 10 home or pro? Edit ignore this question...I think I just found out from amazon page that its win 10 home...... How easy is it to upgrade from windows home to pro. (will need pro to use rdp)...is it just a licence upgrade or a full os upgrade?

Just saw this thread...if you ever do come across a 4.8lbs C6 it would be very nice!!! Can't believ the answer you were given...have you perhaps tried asking this to other vendors of the Astro fi version?

@noah4x4 that set up is awsome...I am very jealous.... hyperstar Love it!

One other thing a lot of the Intel i5 NUC's say power requirement 12V to 19V. But then others say 19V supply needed. Has anyone run one of these succesfully off a 12V LiFePO4 battery, and what is the effect?

I think you hit the nail on the head here I'm with you that M3 is the minimum needed. And based on some of the earlier disucssions here (and on a seperate thread), I have also been considering a mini PC. I've tried to summarise my current thinking in the table below looking at various options both compute stick and mini pc For the cost I've included options like window 10 pro licence. Processor benchmarks and preformance data came from passmark.com. There are probably hundreds of other mini pc's I can add here, but I hope the 3 added are representive of high end-mid range processors. Feel free to give me suggestions of ones to add, or let me know if what is here is wrong Based on this I would rule out the kingdel as it is bigger, uses more power, relatively older i5 chipset, and with the added cost and hastle of needing a windows 10 pro licence will push the cost above £400 That leaves me with the question of m3 compute stick - reasonable performance, small, medium cost, low power consumption, will require a step down voltage transformer or separate battery i5 NUC - Excellent performance, more expensive, probably will require a 19V battery supply or step up transformer from 12V battery GN41- lower cost, reasonable performance, can run off 12V power supply with no tranformer modding

thanks @noah4x4 I understand where you re coming from with the experience. If it helps current camera Atil 414Ex (1.4 megapixel USB 2.0)...probably one day will be ASI 385MC (2.1 megapixels USB 3.0) Indoor observer I have a Wifi router which extends well into the garden for my current PC, so distance to scope about 5-6m Display happy with 1080p as will be very happy rdp from laptop

thanks Louise @Thalestris24, I had never seen these kingdel before. I'm definately open to suggestions like this. So if anyone has similar ones to reccomend to me, that would be super. Look pretty nice Particularly like this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AU7T1NO/ref=psdc_428651031_t1_B01AFRL8OY?th=1 Pro's - 12V power supply - so easy to power from powerbank, looks to have a nice amount of RAM, SSD, lots of USB slots, WiFi. Size wise its about twice as long as compute stick, and more square in form factor, and x3 times heavier than compute stick. However, it doesn't cost much more than the M3 compute stick. Does anyone know what this means "The mini PC works with RAM at at lower voltage 1.35V instead of normal 1.5V"

Thanks @Dr_Ju_ju for the suggestion. Would it not be an issue when the bring the laptop inside that going from cold (even in a box) to inside that you risk the laptop dewing? Does anyone have any positive experiences with a compute stick? I'd imagine for the cost surely they were capable of being usable? Afterall they are designed for streaming video to a TV!!

Hi Louise, @Thalestris24, you do make a very good point...why not use a laptop. My reasoning was that this set up is not going to be in an observatory, but outside potentially for a long time exposed to frosty conditions. I would be particularly worried about the effects on the screen and the battery, especially when bringing it inside after a session finishes. Indeed last night I had this set up outside with my laptop. With the laptop in a rucksack. Bringing it in at around 11pm, I got a bit worried about the laptop dewing. I thought the advantages of the compute stick is it would be relatively easy to cover and insulate, and it doesn't have a screen or battery that could be effected by the conditions. I have also seen reports of lack of power, so on this basis surely the M3 version would be the more sensible choice?

I've been looking to purchase a compute stick for my EAA set up. I'm not sure to spend more on the Intel M3 or go for the less costly Atom version The stick will be running sharpcap in live stacking mode connected to an atik cooled ccd camera, Skywatcher goto mount connected using ASCOM, stellarium scope, stellarium to control mount, and platesolving in sharpcap. Which of these two sticks would be more suitable for the job STK1AW32SC (Intel Atom x5-Z8300 1.44 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC) or STK2M3W64CC (Intel Core m3-6Y30, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC) Would the M3 give much superior and stable performance for a live imaging application? Or is the Atom more than sufficient? (ps I have this before in a different topic but did not get much response, so I thought I would post directly in video astronomy section)