For MSB Astroart 3/4/5 under Windows^TM XP, Me, 98, 2000.
Copyright 1998-2013 MSB Software. All rights reserved.

Version 1.50 for the Starlight Xpress^TM MX916/716/7C USB cameras.

This driver is copyrighted freeware. This means that the driver can be freely used with Astroart software, but it cannot be sold or used as a separate product. This driver should be used only with Astroart, by the owner of the software license.
This driver and its documentation are provided "AS IS". It's not guaranteed that they will work properly on all PCs and all CCD cameras and related hardware. This driver and its documentation are provided without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including the fitness for every purpose. In no event shall MSB software be liable to you for any special, consequential, indirect, or similar damages, including any lost profits or lost data arising out of the use or inability to use this product even if MSB software has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation may not apply to you. In no case shall the MSB software liability exceed the purchase price for the product. MSB Software will help to solve the most common problems related to the setup of this driver and the host PC, but it's not guaranteed that this driver is able to work on all systems.
If you don't accept these terms don't install the driver in the system.

Welcome to the CCD plug-ins for the Starlight MX cameras.
This plug-in contains many advanced features like selfguide, subframes, fast focus, binning which let you command at the best your CCD camera.
Please note that this document uses some words like "venetian blind", "progressive", "interlaced", "fast", etc, which are specific to Starlight Xpress MX cameras. For more information we recommend to consult the handbook of your CCD camera.

To install this plug-in copy the file d_mx9usb.dll into the Astroart directory. Remember to install also a CCD User Interface, available at the Astroart web site. Then follow this procedure:

• If you didn't do it yet, install the Starlight-Xpress USB software (MX9USB.EXE). This will install all the required DLLs into Windows. Check your CCD camera with this software.
• Overwrite the file 05472131.hex located in the directory: Windows\System32\Drivers\ with the one included in this zip archive. (This file is not compatible with old versions of MX9USB.EXE).
• Restart Windows. If it doesn't work at the first try, turn off and on the PC and the camera.

Start Astroart and click CCD Camera from the menu Tools / Plug-ins, then click "Setup CCD".
Click OK. If the camera and the USB driver is correctly installed the dialog window will close, if not, an error will be shown. To reset completely the camera follow this procedure: turn off the camera, turn off the PC, turn on the camera, then turn on the PC.

• High precision timer: Enabled by default. Useful for Windows 98/Me to provide a precise exposure time for short exposures.
  
• Full CCD Flush: Enabled by default. If disabled this option provide faster exposure startup, this can be useful for fast sequences or very short exposures (1-10 ms)
  
• 2x2 Analogic: Enables the analogic binning for mode 2x2. If disabled the images will be downloaded in 752x290 then digital binned to 376x290 to avoid saturation and improve the dynamic, this can be useful for planet and moon images.
• Download bits: Select here if you want to download the image at 16, 14 or 12 bits. 16 bit is always recommended.
• Autoguide: Select "selfguide" to guide and take images at the same time using the CCD of the camera. Select "autoguide" to use the camera as an autoguider for an another instrument.
  
• VBE correction: Select the correction for the "venetian blind" effect (stripes caused by the interlaced download). The best way is to find the time offset which is exact for your PC, usually between +0.5 and -0.5 seconds.
  
• Two USB cameras: This option can be changed to support two Starlight-Xpress USB camera on the same PC. In the case of two MX cameras it is necessary to select the option "secondary camera" in only one of the instances of Astroart and select "no support" in the other. The "hex file" must be always the one of the MX7-9, also in the case that a MX5 is used. The driver must be MX916-716 USB in both instances, even if a MX5 USB is used. It is not guaranteed that two USB MX cameras can work on all PCs.

These options control the download of images from the CCD camera.

• Binning 376x290 (2x2 B/W): this is the standard mode, which provides pixels 17 microns wide; the image size is 376 x 290 pixels, gray tones.
• Binning 188x145 (4x4 B/W): many pixels are grouped into one, and the download of images is faster. The image size is 188 x 145: this mode is very useful to find or center an image.
• Binning 752x290 (High-res. fast): this is the highest resolution without interlacing. The pixels are rectangular (8.5 x 17 microns). At the end of all processing the image should be resized by 200% on the Y-axis to obtain a correct aspect ratio.
• Binning High-res: 752 x 580 pixels using interlacing, this means that the even rows are read out before the odd rows; this is not a problem for deep-sky shots, but moving objects may cause artifacts. The progressive high resolution should be used for long exposures (longer than 10 seconds), while the interlaced high resolution (which is a double exposure) for short exposures. Since the 580-rows modes perform a double readout they cannot be used with good results on planets, instead it is recommeded to use "Hi-res fast" or binning 2x2 and a Barlow lens. For very short exposures (1..10 ms) it is possible to disable the option "Full CCD flush".
• Binning High-res Selfguide: This is the recommended mode for selfguided exposures. The even rows of the CCD camera are exposed in the first half of the exposure time (while the odd rows are used for guiding) then they are switched, and the odd rows are used for imaging (and the even ones for guiding). Be careful that during the switch the telescope won't be guided for a few seconds. To prevent the "venetian blind effect" the two semi-exposures will be timed accurately, so the effective elapsed time may be different (a few seconds) from what the blue progress bar shows.
  The minimum exposure time for this binning mode is 20 seconds.
• Binning Low-res Selfguide: This mode is not necessary for selfguided exposures. Binning 1x1 provides almost the same results without switching the rows in the middle of the exposure.
• Binning 376x290 (2x2 Color): A special mode for the MX7C to download images in 376 x 290 with color grid. This mode is not recommended, the MX7C should be used in High Res.

This function allows the simultaneous guide and imaging, thanks to the interlaced structure of the MX CCDs.

• Select binning mode "Hires selfguide" or "Lowres selfguide".
• Select the exposure time for the guide (0.5 - 1.5 seconds), select a rectangle around a star (10 - 20 pixels wide), select Binning Selfguide and click "Guide".
• Click "Mark guide star". The green cross will mark the original position, the red cross the current position. Enlarge the window if needed.
• Start a common long exposure. During the exposure take a look at the guide window and keep the guide star in the original position using the keypad of the telescope.

• Select binning mode "Hires selfguide" or "Lowres selfguide".
• Be sure that the telescope settings are correct and the telescope control is enabled. To set these parameters click "Telescope Setup" button.
• Select the exposure time for the guide (0.5 - 2 seconds), select a rectangle around a star (10 - 20 pixels wide), select Binning Selfguide and click "Guide". (These are the same steps required also for focus)
• Click "Mark guide star". The green cross will mark the original position, the red cross the current position. Enlarge the window if needed.
• Start a common long exposure. The first time check the guide precision watching the dx and dy parameters.
• The dark frame should be taken while the guide window is active, to compensate the amplifier glow.

2001/08/03: 1.00 The first release.
2003/03/20: 1.10 Improved focus, fast binning 4x4.
2004/04/23: 1.20 Option for CCD Flush and precise timing for W98/Me. Precise "VBE Time offset" for Hires Progressive mode.
2004/04/29: 1.30 Option for two Starlight USB cameras.
2004/04/29: 1.40 MX7C supported. Option for 2x2 color and analogic binning.
2013/10/09: 1.50 Improved compatibility as secondary camera in Astroart 5.

Copyright 1998-2013 MSB Software. All rights reserved.
www.msb-astroart.com