Follow the steps below to configure TheSky Professional to control an SBIG model camera.
1. Install the SBIG camera drivers for your operating system. If necessary, use SBIG’s free CCOPS software for your OS to make sure the driver is properly installed, and you can take photos with the camera.
2. Make sure your camera is plugged in, turned on and connected to a USB port on your computer. Before attempting to connect to the camera, allow about 30 seconds or so for the SBIG camera to initialize.
3. From TheSky, select the Telescope Setup command from the Telescope menu.
4. Select the Camera text in the Imaging System list.
5. Click the Choose command on the Camera Setup pop-up menu to display the Choose Camera window. If you have not purchased the Cameras+ Module, click the Run Trial button to use begin the 90-day trial period.
Figure 278: Figure 158: The Choose Camera window.
5. Expand SBIG, then select your camera model and click OK. The name of the selected camera will appear at the top of the Camera window (Figure 280).
6. Select the Connect command from the Camera Setup pop-up menu or click the Connect button on the Camera window. If the SBIG drivers are installed properly, after about fifteen seconds, the green Ready status text appears on the Imaging System Setup window and on the Camera window.
Figure 279: The SBIG Camera Settings window.
Use the SBIG ST… Settings window to set the communications interface, binning options and the roles of the camera’s imaging and autoguiding sensors.
SBIG cameras can be connected to a computer using one of the following communication interfaces.
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Interface Name |
Description |
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Ethernet |
SBIG offers an optional Ethernet communications box that uses TCP/IP network protocol to communicate with the camera.
After selecting the Ethernet option, enter the IP Address assigned to the camera and click OK.
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USB |
The USB option applies to all “modern” SBIG cameras.
Selecting the USB interface allows the SBIG camera driver to automatically locate the camera plugged into the USB port.
If you own two SBIG cameras and want to assign a specific USB port to a specific camera, choose the USB1, USB2, USB3 or USB4 option and click OK. |
The Cameras+ Module does not support legacy SBIG parallel port cameras.
Turn this checkbox on to have the SBIG camera driver perform binning rather than the SBIG camera hardware.
Enter the bin value (1-255) used when performing spectroscopy with the SBIG camera.
Turn this checkbox on to use the camera’s main sensor as the guiding sensor and the guiding sensor for the imaging sensor.
SBIG offers a separate Remote Guide Head (RGH) for the STT, STXL and STX Series cameras. The RGH allows autoguiding using a separate guide scope, off-axis autoguider or camera lens. When plugged into the camera’s Remote Head port, the RGH effectively replaces the functionality of the camera’s built-in autoguider.
1. Click the Telescope Setup command from the Telescope menu.
2. Double-click Camera under Imaging System on the left side of the window.
3. Expand SBIG, then choose SBIG <Your Model Imager Name> and click OK.
4. Double-click Camera under Autoguider and choose Imager's Built-in Autoguider.
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The SBIG RGH is considered a "built-in" autoguider and the SBIG driver will recognize this device only after connection to the Imager is established.
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