LPI-GC - Camera MEADE - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL LPI-GC MEADE

Meade's LPI-G Quick Start Guide

1. What's in the box.

MEADE INSTRUMENTS Software Disk Meade SkyCapture for LPI-G ST-4 cable Camera MEADE INSTRUMENTS C Nosepiece USB2.0 cable

Quick Start Summary

1. Install Meade's SkyCapture soware, camera Directshow drivers, and ASCOM Plaorm & camera drivers onto the computer using the included Meade SkyCapture CD-ROM.
2. If you will be using a special camera Iter, each the included nosepiece to the front of the camera. Then thread on the special camera Iter to the front of the nosepiece.
3. Connect the Meade LPI-G to the computer using the included USB 2.0 cable.
4. If using the camera as an autoguider, connect one end of the included ST-4 cable into the camera and the other end into the telescope guider port. See your telescope mount instrucons on how to do this.

2. Soware Installaon

Insert the CD-ROM into the computer and wait for the below screen to appear. If it doesn't appear, go to "My Computer" and double-click on the CD-ROM drive where the Meade SkyCapture was placed. Then, double click on the autorun.exe icon to bring up the below screen.

AstroCamera ASCOM Platform ASCOM Camera Driver Camera DirectShow Driver Camera Application Software Camera Quick Start Guide

✨ Installing Meade's SkyCapture

Select the "Camera Applicaon Soware" to install Meade's SkyCapture soware. The SkyCapture soware allows for both basic image capture and image processing funcons suitable for both planetary and deep-sky imaging.

SkyCapture 3.7 Setup Welcome to SkyCapture 3.7 Setup Setup will guide you through the installation of SkyCapture 3.7. It is recommended that you close all other applications before starting Setup. This will make it possible to update relevant system files without having to reboot your computer. Click Next to continue. Next > Cancel

Aer the SkyCapture soware installaon completes, double-click on the SkyCapture icon placed on the desktop to open

Meade's SkyCapture soware.

SkyCapture File Edit View Browse Setup Capture Image Format Options Window Help Camera Layers 200 Make sure - GM Capture & Production Setup Layout Units Shakes Formats Exposure to Solar Solar Balance Solar Adjustment Solar Turb Solar Stroke View Sampling Sun Flowers View Images Lock Field Carry Time Floating Transform Tools MEADE SkyCapture v1. MEADE INSTRUMENTS Camera Followers Update/Modo Histogram SkyCapture

For detailed instrucons on using the numerous SkyCapture features, go to the Help menu for more details.

SkyCapture File Edit View Browse Setup Capture Image Process Options Window Help 100% Camera Camera List No Device Capture & Resolution Snap Record Live: Snap: Format: Exposure & Gain Color Balance Color Adjustment Frame Rate Color/Gray Flip Sampling Bit Depth ROI Histogram Dark Field Correction Help Contents F1 About...

✨ Installing the DirectShow Drivers

It's recommended you install the DirectShow drivers before using the Meade LPI-G camera. DirectShow drivers allow you to use 3rd party programs that use the DirectShow interface. Additionally, the DirectShow drivers allow the camera to image at a higher frame-rate than ASCOM drivers and is ideal for taking video. The DirectShow drivers also oers additional features such as auto-exposure. However, the RAW format is not supported by DirectShow.

To install the DirectShow drivers, click on "Camera DirectShow Driver" button found on the CD-ROM startup screen. Follow the on-screen instrucons to complete the installaon.

MEADEDshow 3.0 Setup Welcome to MEADEDshow 3.0 Setup Setup will guide you through the installation of MEADEDshow 3.0. It is recommended that you close all other applications before starting Setup. This will make it possible to update relevant system files without having to reboot your computer. Click Next to continue. Next > Cancel

✨ Installing the ASCOM drivers

Many 3rd party soware uses the ASCOM plaorm to interface with cameras and telescope equipment. If auto-guiding, imaging in RAW format, or waning plug and play compatibility with 3rd party soware, it's necessary to install the ASCOM & DirectShow drivers. Third party soware such as Maxim DL, FireCapture, SharpCap, and PHD Guiding will also require the ASCOM and/or DirectShow drivers for LPI-G funconality.

To install the ASCOM drivers, rst install the "ASCOM Plaorm" by clicking on the "ASCOM Plaorm" buon found on the CD-ROM startup screen and follow the on-screen instrucons.

Aer the ASCOM plaorm is installed, install the ASCOM Camera Drivers by clicking on the "ASCOM Camera Driver" button found on the CD-ROM startup screen. Follow the on-screen instrucons to complete the installaon

ASCOM Platform 6.1 - InstallAware Wizard Welcome to ASCOM Platform 6.1 Setup Collecting information Preparing installation Installing Finalizing installation Welcome to the ASCOM Platform 6.1 Setup. You are about to install ASCOM Platform 6.1 on this computer. Please click Install to continue or Cancel to leave the installer.. Read Me Install Cancel

Setup - ASCOM Meadecam Camera Driver Welcome to the ASCOM Meadecam Camera Driver Setup Wizard This will install ASCOM Meadecam Camera Driver 1.0 on your computer. It is recommended that you close all other applications before continuing. Click Next to continue, or Cancel to exit Setup. Next > Cancel

Autoguiding with the LPI-G

The Meade SkyCapture soware does not contain autoguiding soware. If you want to autoguide with the LPI-G, it's recommended you download 3rd party guiding soware such as PHD Guiding to control your autoguider. PHD Guiding soware is freeware and can be downloaded from the Stark-Labs website. In addition, the LPI-G ASCOM drivers need to be installed for proper communicaon with the LPI-G.

3. Using 3rd Party Soware with the LPI-G

✨ Using the ASCOM driver in PHD Guiding

Run PHD Guiding soware rst and click the camera buon on the le boom of the applicaon

PHD2 Guiding 2.3.1 - Meade (log active) File Tools View Darks Bookmarks Help Server started STOP 1.0 s Cam Dialog No cam No scope No cal

Select the "ASCOM Camera Chooser" in the Camera selecon drop list box and then click the "Connect" button.

Connect Equipment Equipment profile Meade Manage Profiles Select your equipment below and click Connect All to connect, or click Disconnect All to disconnect. You can also connect or disconnect individual equipment items by clicking the button next to the item. Camera ASCOM Camera Chooser Connect Mount On-camera Connect Aux Mount None Connect AO None Connect Connect All Disconnect All

Select "ASCOM Meadecam Driver" in the drop list box and click "Properes".

ASCOM Camera Chooser Trace Select the type of camera you have, then be sure to click the Properties... button to configure the driver for your camera. ASCOM Meadecam Driver Properties Click the logo to learn more about ASCOM, a set of standards for inter- operation of astronomy so OK Cancel

Change the seeing in the following dialog and then click the "OK" button

Setup Camera: Meade-LFI-GM Resolution: 1280 * 960 Bit Depth ● 8 Bits ○ 12 Bits Sampling ○ Skip ○ Bin Format ○ Raw ● RGB Low High Frame Rate: 0 Analog Gain: OK Cancel

Select the "On-Camera" in the Mount drop list box and click "Connect"

Connect Equipment Equipment profile Meade Manage Profiles Select your equipment below and click Connect All to connect, or click Disconnect All to disconnect. You can also connect or disconnect individual equipment items by clicking the button next to the item. Camera ASCOM Camera Chooser Disconnect Mount On-camera Connect Aux Mount None Connect A0 None Connect Connect All Disconnect All

Close the Connect Equipment dialog to go back to PHD Guiding main interface. Then click the loop buon to start the exposure.

PHD2 Guiding 2.3.1 - Meade (log active) File Tools View Darks Bookmarks Help Scope connected Camera Scope No cal

✨ Using the DirectShow driver in PHD Guiding

Select "Windows WDM-style webcam camera" in the camera selecon drop list box and click "Connect" buon.

Connect Equipment Equipment profile Meade Manage Profiles Select your equipment below and click Connect All to connect, or click Disconnect All to disconnect. You can also connect or disconnect individual equipment items by clicking the button next to the item. Camera Windows WDM-style webcam camera Mount On-camera Aux Mount None AO None Connect Connect Connect Connect All Disconnect All

Choose "MeadeCam" in the pop up Camera choice box.

Camera choice Select WDM camera 0: MeadeCam 1: Integrated Camera OK Cancel

Choose the resoluon in the Camera mode box.

Camera mode Select camera mode 640x480 (RGB24) 1280x960 (RGB24) OK Cancel

Go back to the main interface and click the loop buon to start the exposure as the following.

PHD2 Guiding 2.3.1 - Meade (log active) File Tools View Darks Bookmarks Help Stopped Guiding Camera No scope No cell

✨ Using the ASCOM driver in Maxim DL

Click the camera buon in the tool bar.

Macrom DLP Pro 5 File Edit View Analyze Process Filter Color Plugin Window Help

Click the "Setup Camera" buon in the pop up Camera Control dialog box.

Camera Control Expose | Guide | Setup | Camera 1 Setup Camera ASCOM Options Setup Filter No Filters Camera 2 Setup Camera No Camera Setup Filter No Filters Connect Disconnect Coolers On Off Warm Up 3D(1) Camera 1 Information No Camera Guider Information No Camera

Select "ASCOM" and click the "Advanced..." button.

Setup ASCOM ASCOM Plug-in Version 5.22 Copyright ? 2009-2012 Diffraction Limited Support: www.cyanogen.com Camera Model ASCOM ASCOM Audins Canon Eos 1 Canon Eos II Celestron Ehemaude Meade DSI Meade LPI Nikon DSLR Olympus DSLR Optronics Opus I Orion Parsec Orion SSDSI SBIG Universal SBIG w/ AO Simulator D(1) Advanced... OK Cancel Screen S

Select "ASCOM Meadecam Driver" in the drop list box and click the "Properes" button.

ASCOM Camera Chooser Trace Select the type of camera you have, then be sure to click the Properties... button to configure the driver for your camera. ASCOM Meadecam Driver Properties Click the logo to learn more about ASCOM, a set of standards for inter- operation of astronomy so OK Cancel

Adjust the camera sengs as appropriate, or use the default sengs, then click "OK"

Setup Camera: Mouse-LFL-CM Bit Depth 8 Bits 12 Bits Sampling Skip Dot Format Row RGB Low High Frame Rate: Analog Gain: 0 OK Cancel

Click the "Connect" buon to accomplish the conneccon.

Camera Control Expose | Guide | Setup | Camera 1 Setup Camera ASCOM Options Setup Filter No Filters Camera 2 Setup Camera No Camera Setup Filter No Filters Connect Disconnect Coolers On Off Warr Up Less << Camera 1 Information No Camera Guidler Information No Camera 3D[1]

✨ Using the DirectShow driver in Maxim DL.

Click the camera buon in the tool bar.

Macsim DL Pro 5 File Edit View Analyze Process Filter Color Plug-in Window Help Screen Stretch Minimum Maximum Low Update For Help, press F1

Click the "Setup Camera" buon as the following.

Camera Control Expose | Guide | Setup | Camera 1 Setup Camera Cooler Video DS Options Dual Chip Mode Setup Filter No Filters Camera 2 Setup Camera Cooler No Camera Options Setup Filter No Filters Connect Disconnect Coolers On Off Warm Up Less << Camera 1 Information No Camera Guider Information No Camera 3D(1)

Select the "Video DS" in the pop up dialog and click "OK".

Setup Video DS DirectShow Video Capture Driver Version 5.20 Copyright (C) 2003-2012 Diffraction Limited Support: www.cyanogen.com Camera Model Video DS Celestron Etherenaude Meade DSI Meade LPI Nikon DSLR Olympus DSLR Optronice Opus I Orion Parsec Orion SSDSI SBIG Universal SBIG w/ AO Simulator SS AutoGuider Starfish SX Universal Video DS Long Exp Control LPT1 (378) Advanced...

Click "Connect" to start the video.

Camera Control Expose | Guide | Setup | Camera 1 Setup Camera Coder Video DS Options Dual Chip Mode Setup Filter No Filters Camera 2 Setup Camera Coder No Camera Options Setup Filter No Filters Connect Disconnect Coolers Dr Off Warm Up Less << Camera 1 Information No Camera Guider Information No Camera 3D(1)

✨ Using the ASCOM driver in SharpCap

Select "ASCOM Meadecam" item in the ASCOM cameras section of the Cameras menu.

File Cameras Options Capture Scripting Help Start Rescan for Cameras Test Cameras Test Camera 1 DirectShow Cameras Integrated Camera MeadeCam ASCOM Cameras ASCOM Meadecam Driver Camera V2 simulator Simulator

Change sengs (or not) and click "OK" to start the video.

Setup Camera: Meade-LPI-GM Bit Depth ● 8 Bits ○ 12 Bits Sampling ○ Skip ○ Bin Format ○ Raw ● RGB Frame Rate: Low High 0 Analog Gain: OK Cancel

✨ Using the DirectShow driver in SharpCap

Select "MeadeCam" item in the DirectShow cameras section of the Cameras menu to start the video.

File Start Cameras Options Capture Scripting Help Rescan for Cameras Test Cameras Test Camera 1 DirectShow Cameras Integrated Camera MeadeCam ASCOM Cameras ASCOM Meadecam Driver Camera V2 simulator Simulator

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