Central Scotland Observers Group Forum
General Category => Equipment => Computers & Software => Topic started by: G1ZmO on March 01, 2013, 09:23:29 PM
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Before I go and buy another lappy & Backyard EOS
- What would I be able to do with Windows + Backyard EOS + Camera that I couldn’t do with a webcam + Linux? This is a serious question as I'm pretty much against using MS products on principle :)
- If I go for a cheapo laptop would a Centrino CPU be adequate or a Core2duo?
- How much RAM? 2GB?
- To those with the software. Is it worth buying Backyard EOS?
- Drawbacks?
Ta :)
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I've just started using BYEOS I've got a Dell 630D dual core running win7 64bit on an SSD drive which breaths new life into the 6yearold Lappy. Everything works well. Still trying to get to grips with BYEOS though
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Hmmm... this prog looks good. It seems to do what my previous two progs did (EOS movie record & APT) but in one prog. Handy.
I tried registering for the 30 day trial download, but no email received as yet.
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Bought a lappy from work then downloaded BEOS but it says that I'll need a serial cable to use bulb mode with the 350D camera
Is this a big issue, would I NEED to use bulb mode? as there's no serial port on the laptop
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Just made a serial cable for my 400D (well almost once I change the jack), seems
to work but you can get a usb to serial converter on sale from maplin at the moment
for £10 Paul.
Kathleen
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So where does the serial cable go on the camera? I'd assume it'd have to be into the trigger socket and not the USB?
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ah I see, found this: http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/dslr/canonrelease.html
Although this design only seems to operate the shutter and not the focus but I suppose it'd be on manual focus
Kat: Even with the Serial to USB connector I'd need the Jack to serial circuit too, yes?
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Whit?! £81.95 all in for what I just ordered from Maplin for £15!
http://www.opticstar.com/Run/Astronomy/Astro-Accessories-Imagers-Shoestring.asp?p=0_10_5_0_5_20
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Hi Paul,
Sorry I'm just back in, did you get sorted ?
Yeah I got a usb to serial adaptor and then made a serial cable, it connects to the camera
via the remote connector cause thats all it really is, its just away of controlling the shutter
via the pc via RS232.
The circuit for the serial cable is pretty basic, but I guess reading you last post you've
already got it all sorted.
Kathleen
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Sorry, I should read more before I post...
Yeah the remote is really only to trigger the camera, its primarily for just controlling
the shutter time as the camera is usually set to bulb etc.
You'll probably need a usb cable attached to the laptop as well to download
or view the pictures.
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One thing I mean't to add paul, not sure if it makes any difference but I couldn't
help but notice Michael Covington has a 2.2k ohm resistor in his circuit diagram
but in the diagram in his book its a 10k resistor. I'm not sure if either is particularly wrong
but it might be something to look at if the cable doesn't work first time.
Kathleen
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Ah ok, I've still to go down to Maplin to pick up the bits. I changed the laptop too for one that has a serial port but I might just get the USB to Serial adapter anyway. I'll pick up a 10kohm res too.
What circuit did you use for your serial cable?
btw it's killing me to install XP!! Has anyone tried BYEOS under WINE?
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Well at the moment I used the one on his website with the exception of the 10k resistor
instead of the 2.2k. It worked ok although when I did up the ends of the connectors
its seemed a bit flakey so I took apart the jack to isolate the wires and managed to mess the
end of the jack so need to get another before I can try it again. It certainly appeared to
work ok as I could set the camera to take a series of shots with apt.
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Well I bolted down to Maplin after work and got there with 5 mins to spare before they closed. Grabbed the stuff I'd reserved and returned home. To find that they didn’t include the resistors! Pah!
btw, tried it with WINE, nada!
Now trying it with wine :)
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Well I can confirm it works on my new lappy (Dell D630 - T9300@2.5GHz/4GB/160GB) :)
Need to get the serial cable built now although I can't quite see why I'd be taking shots of longer than 30 secs!?
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Good news, it'll be interesting to hear how it goes.
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The resistor is just there to limit the current flowing in the transistor base or the optocoupler diode. Shouldn't matter what value is unless it is way too big or small. It forms a RC delay to the circuit with the tranny capacitance probably no more than a couple of ms delay.
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Ah, good to know, thanks :)
(cable now made)
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It's all Over My Head Sadly , :D
Enjoy the app' though.
Pete
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;)
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The resistor is just there to limit the current flowing in the transistor base or the optocoupler diode. Shouldn't matter what value is unless it is way too big or small. It forms a RC delay to the circuit with the tranny capacitance probably no more than a couple of ms delay.
Resistance is futile Mark 8)
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I had a flux capacitor but couldn't find the time to use it.
Rab.
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Unfortunately I've found that the serial connector hood stops it making connection with the sunken serial port on the laptop LOL
Probably need to use a serial extender cable anyway
Took the hood off and tested it anyway, works fine :)