Now That's What I Call Customer Service!

Hi All:  One of the features I had to add to my observatory video setup was the ability to control the multitude of camera settings directly from the computer.  The alternative is using five tiny pushbuttons on the back of the camera to navigate thru menus of all these settings (and not all of them are intuitive!)  A much better way is to use the free MControl software to set everything from the computer.  MControl comes with a few "presets" or collections of settings that you simply click on to match what you're obvserving: Deep-space, Planetary, Lunar, Solar, or User-assinged.  Since switching from one type of viewing to another (or even from one deep space object to another) may involve changing a half dozen or more camera parameters, the MControl route is THE way to go.

My Mallincam MHCP is a recent vintage "Green LED" version.  (If you really want to learn a lot about the Mallincam, go to the Yahoo Mallincam Users Group - http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/mallincam/.  There you will find just about everything you could possibly want to know about this great little astro video camera.)  Accordingly, to get my computer to talk to the camera, in addition to dwnloading the free MControl software from the group, I had to buy or build a special camera interface cable.  I also had to convert the computer's RS-232 serial port (supplied by a USB to serial dongle) to RS-485.  After doing some research in the group and on the net, I found a web based company - ZEngineering - that sold the cable and an RS-232 to RS485 adapter package at a very reasonable price.  (You can find them at http://zengine.ho8.com/Mallincam%20Control%20Cables.htm.)

I ordered one, and tried setting things up.  After some communications difficulties, I suspected I may have a bad cable or adapter.  Since they were so reasonable, I ordered a second set to try swapping out the first one.  While waiting for the second package to arrive, I solved the problem and got it all working. (Turned out, for some unknown reason, that the camera and RS-232 to RS-485 adapter preferred to talk to a USB to Serial Port adapter, rather than my native serial port on the motherboard. Fine, no problem; I'll use the dongle.) So the second package arrived and I just set it asside to use with my portable GEM mount when I go to star parties and such.

Well today I just recieved another package in the mail from ZEngineering.  Inside was a new RS-232 to RS-485 adapter with a note saying that in the previous batch of adapters recently shipped, there was a possibility of some of the adapters being defective.  So rather than waiting for me to try it out and possible come up with no communications, this fellow sends out a new adapter to everyone who recently ordered the package. Now that is what I call customer service.  Two thumbs up to a fine and reputable internet supplier!  (And if you have a Mallincam, get the computer controlled setup - so much nicer!)

Video is Really Ready to Roll Now!

Hi All - Well the other day in the POD when I was setting up the video, I was under the impression that my video distribution amp (one in, four out, S-video and composite) would take one S-video OR one composite video input and then distribute the signal to both composite and S-video outputs. Turns out it doesn't work that way. S-video in only goes to S-video out and composite in only goes to the composite outputs. Not a big problem, but I had to do some rewiring of the system today, so I could make use of the ADC video processor (which only has composite in and out.) At top right is a picture of the rack shelf pulled out and all the rewiring completed. (It looks like quite a maze, but it is quite simple - just had to figure it out on paper first!) At front right is a one of four video input selector.

At left front of the rack shelf is the Mallincam DVE (Digital Video Enhancer); this is a nice little box by itself and whatever you feed it (at the S-video input or at the composite input) you will get outputs at BOTH the S-video and composite outputs.   If you want a very simple Mallincam setup and still have some extra video enhancement capabilities, the DVE by itself is quite effective.  Directly behind the DVE is little box that allows me to insert date/time text info on top of the camera's video.  At right rear (behind the one-of-four selector) is a four channel video distribution amp. This allows me to send the single camera signal to multiple devices (monitor, video grabber, video processors, etc.)  Underneath it all, is an ADC video processor.  With everything wired up and installed back into the equipment rack, it looks much better (see picture at lower right - the "video bay".)

Finally, I was able to make some tweaks to the sound. I had a simple passive desktop Logitech microphone, plugged into the sound card "Mic In" jack.  While it worked, the output level was quite low and generally poor sound quality.  I decided to try out a USB based "Yeti" microphone made by Blue Mic, which is more like a (lower end) studio mic with built in preamp and USB output.  Once I was able to resolve an issue with the device driver, it worked great!  Much better sound quality (using it in the directional / cardioid pattern mode.)  It picks up my voice well, no matter where I'm at in the POD.  As well, I can have some background music playing and it will pick it up too.  So everything is ready to go for some real video  broadcasting of observations -- just one minor detail: lots of clouds, heat and humidity for the foreseeable future!  --  Oh well - patience, patience ;-)