Stuart1971

The noise levels in the images are way too high, the banding is one thing which can be dealt with, but the noise is just too much and drowning the image, you need to lower the gain, or in your case the ISO if it’s a DSLR, also much more data is needed to sort the noise, much of the banding issue comes from walking noise…which could be sorted by dithering while imaging…

Hmmmm, it’s not, it is exactly that, a shortcut to a webpage, or a browser shortcut which can be done on any device or computer…but I am sure many people did not realise, and so your post was very useful to those people, so no need to apologise…👍🏻

None of this is anything new, on Apple you can do it for most websites, just like you can on a desktop computer….and it’s probably the same on android, but never owned anything other than Apple….it’s certainly not an app…

If that is tilt, then it’s extremely bad, worse than I have ever seen…I would say that is collimation, .check out the thread of correcting tilt in the daytime with a simple laser jig… https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/382323-chip-tilt-test-jig/

Yes I had that issue and sanded it flat, then I 3D printed a holder for my imaging train, it does need to be flat, doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect parallel to the base, close is good enough, but it’s needs to be flat, as you have found out the camera can wobble…

Another super image Adam…👏🏻👏🏻

Tried that and does not work….☹️

yes I have the flashing tool and the firmware file but not the XP machine…so 2 out of 3 ain't bad…. But as you say the driver is also needed but I assumed he already had that so did not list it, so really it’s 4 things…..👍🏻

Sorry, the third item on my list above was the firmware file, not the driver…you just quoted me wrong that’s all, and that’s what I was referring too…all good….👍🏻 You said…”SPC900 driver attached, which is the third item on Stuarts list... “ but I said…. “‘A PC with windows XP on it, the Flashing software tool, and the SPC900nc firmware file”

I think that’s the driver you have attached, to flash it you need the actual SPC900nc firmware file, not the driver…👍🏻

Hmmm, again that’s a 5mw laser… But you would think that as it’s in an Astro related item it should be ok….🤔🤔

It’s easy to do, but you need 3 things A PC with windows XP on it, the Flashing software tool, and the SPC900nc firmware file, it’s a really simple process if you have all three, I have the flashing software tool and the firmware file, and have flashed loads of them…

Hmm, I know it works on windows 10, but personally not tried on Win 11…shame..☹️

That’s a great first image, well done, I like the colours too, maybe cut back a little on the sharpening, but overall really superb….👏🏻👏🏻

The driver is available on the Philips website, but it needs to be the SPC900nc camera for it to work, if it’s the SPC880nc which looks identical then it will need the firmware flashing to SPC900nc, which can only be done with an old version of windows XP, and you also need the flashing tool and the firmware file, if it’s the older toucam pro II which was silver in colour then this will also work but only after it’s flashed with the same newer SPC900nc firmware then it works as that camera… hope that helps. 👍🏻

Yes, that’s exactly what I got, and if it’s a 1mw as advertised then all good, I have also used a laser taken from a laser collimator, that worked well too, and made for the job…👍🏻

Yes ideally, I ordered 2 and when both came they were 5mw, and advertised as 1mw, but I did not dare try them, just returned and looked elsewhere on Amazon, but I can’t find my order to send you a link, it must have been on my sons account a year or 2 ago….

I got my laser pen from Amazon, but 1mw lasers seem harder to get now, and not sure I would trust a 5mw one…as it may damage the sensor…

That is a cracking image Adam, and beautifully processed, the colours are perfect IMHO…👏🏻👏🏻 ‘

I didn’t want to say anything, but I also thought the stars looked odd in places…but then what do I know…..🤔

You need someone to answer who has the exact same Altair Astro model IMX571 camera as you, because all the different ones out there, from different manufactures, use different settings, and different number systems for gain and offset, so what one person uses for a QHY268, for example, as I have, will not work for a ZWO 2600, and vice versa…so don’t use setting's from other makes of IMX571 as you will have bigger issues….👍🏻

Hi Adam, if I were you I would stick with NINA, and you will be fine, Any issues get on there Discord group and problems will be sorted pretty quickly by the group…i have used all the imaging platforms out there and NINA beats them all, and it’s free….It will do all you need it to, and more…👍🏻

Then it probably depends on the “side of pier” setting in EQMOD

Ah, ok I thought as he was using an EQ mount so wrongly assumed…👍🏻

Because the earth is tilted on its axis, north or 90 degrees is not straight up see this image and look at the equator line at zero degrees…