ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WITH MEADE LUNAR PLANETARY IMAGER Last updated: 31 March 2004

This page documents the Meade Lunar Planetary Imager comments, tips, and photos. Contributions welcome. I have posted a review of using the Autostar Suite and LPI on the Macintosh. In order to showcase the LPI you may occasionally see images taken with other telescopes on this page.

Subject: meade LPI
Date: 3/31/04, 18:21
From: Gerald Jenny (gjenn@earthlink.net)
i just loaded all the software from Meade Auto Suite and when I go to
the LPI part I get a message that Meade LPI not found Reconnect LPI and
try again , I did this several time with no response.Meaning I get the
same message Meader LPI not found Reconnect and try again. Iooked in
Meade web site and no help also on the help menu of the LPI nothing on
trouble shooting. Do you have any Ideas on this problem 

Thanks Jerry 

PS great site as always.
 
 
Gerald Jenny

And:

Yes I'am but I did find a trouble shooting guide thru google and it says
to try and see if I have the latest ver of driect X I'll try that now
and report latter thanks for the quick response Jerry

And:

Well I tried and downloaded Dir X ver 9 .0 and now the LPI progroam
still says the same but it also says I need two files and they are 
dsnph71.ax  and usnphv71.exe. I'am now in the process of trying to
locate them. Boy What a chore.I hope ot all worth it Jerry

Subject: Jupiter - with LPI Imager
Date: 3/31/04, 06:26
From: Karl Lovelock (karl.lovelock@mac.com)
Took this last night from North London with ETX-125 and LPI Impager,
great 'seeing' for the evening:-

Regards

//Karl

Subject: Size of LPI CMOS photosites & its capability do autoguide Celestron CG-5 mount.
Date: 3/29/04, 13:54
From: "Jose A. Hernandez" (donjahernandez@msn.com)
My name is Jose Hernandez. I am planning to buy a Celestron CG-5 mount.
Please, can you tell me:
 
 If LPI will guide this mount.
 The size of the CMOS photosites
 
I am also buying a 125. Your site is incredible. Thank you for the
effort.
 
Jose

Subject: MEADE LPI Imager
Date: 3/29/04, 07:48
From: Karl Lovelock (karl.lovelock@mac.com)
I guess this may be a stupid Question (but I always work on the premise
that the 'only stupid question, is the one you never ask'). Can you use
a 2 X Barlow with the LPI Imager ?

Regards

//Karl

Subject: Attaching LPI to ETX-90?
Date: 3/24/04, 16:51
From: Carole MacDonald (elora_c@yahoo.com)
I have a really dumb question.  I recently got the LPI and I can't
figure out how to attach it to my ETX-90. When I remove the cover from
the LPI, there is a narrow barrel that is much narrower than the
eyepiece holder on the telescope.  Tightening the screw on the holder
doesn't help as it doesn't come close to the LPI barrel.  Is it supposed
to just sit loose in the holder?  Am I leaving something out to attach
it?  I assume that the cover on the LPI is supposed to be removed, but
even if I don't, then it is too wide to fit in the holder.

Thanks,
Carole

And:

Thanks!  I knew we were doing something dumb.  It turns out that the
cover was very, very stiff and wouldn't come off easily.  Therefore, we
assumed it wasn't supposed to come off and we were taking the tube off
instead.  Now I just need the clouds to go away so I can try it out
again.

Thanks again,
Carole 

Subject: First time LPI images
Date: 3/23/04, 23:47
From: KlaraColli@aol.com
I used my LPI for the first time on Saturday.  I have included four
pictures of Jupiter.  After some trial and error, I found the system fun
to use and the results very satisfying.  The overall package is
definitely crude with many things poorly or not explained at all, typos,
etc., but it offers a lot of capability for only $149.00.  Before the
LPI was available, I was not even considering this kind of
astrophotography.  The manual has left me with many questions about the
settings and filters in the LPI and Image Processing software.  In your
review you said many of these features are common with other programs. 
Is there a book or web site that explains what settings/filters do so I
can have better understand of when and how to use them? Thanks again for
your site.

Tom Collins
Chatsworth, CA

Mike here: The CD-ROM book "Photoshop for Astrophotographers" (see the Accessory Reviews - Books page) explains some of this but in the context of Photoshop. But some of that translates to the Image Processing app in the Autostar Suite.

Subject: Re: lpi imager
Date: 3/20/04, 03:23
From: kenneth yanni (kenbarbara@tds.net)
i recieved my booster and cat 5 cable,i hooked it all up,got a little
better image but still the image was wavy and moves around in and out of
focus,and after reading some of your postings someone had mentioned the
usb cable supplied by meade was bad i went to radio shack and picked up
a good quality cable,seemed to work out a little better,its still a bear
to focus,but i shot a picture of jupiter,a little overcast but i stll
got a fair image,looking at the live shot its still a little wavy not a
crisp picture maybe im expecting to much from this set up,would the cold
effect the camera?your web site has been a great help,keep up the good
work. ken

Subject: lpi imager
Date: 3/18/04, 13:03
From: kenneth yanni (kenbarbara@tds.net)
i tried to extend my usb to the lpi fifty feet,by buying three sixteen
foot boosterd usb cables,i got an image but is was wavy and i couldnt
focus the camera,so i sent the cables back and orderd a usb booster and
fifty feet of cat five cable,what do you think, i only have a p.c. no
lap top plus i like staying warm up here in maine. thanks ken

Subject: DS-90 LPI Images
Date: 3/14/04, 00:09
From: Anthony Metcalf (tmetcalf@sigecom.net)
I love your site. I got a DS-90 for Christmas from my wife and kids and
since then have spent nearly every clear night with it. First let me say
that if it werent for your site I'd be completly lost.

Shortly after getting my telescope I bought the Autostar Suite with the
LPI Imager. I am enclosing 2 pictures taken recently with the LPI. The
Only correction made to the pictures was the increase to 192 DPI and the
conversion to jpeg format from tif. I am extremly pleased with the
quality considering its a beginners scope. Thanks again for all of your
hard work.

             Tony Metcalf

Subject: LPI tp PC connection
Date: 3/10/04, 13:27
From: Jim Beston (james.beston@btinternet.com)
At the risk of tresspassing on your good nature.... I got a serial to
USB connector so that I could connect my Laptop to the Autostar handbox
as you said I had to in our recent communications on this subject.

I have successfuly installed the device and it is indicated in the
Laptops Device Manager as USB Serial Port (COM4)

I have set the correct numbered Comm port Autostar suite tries to
connect to it but I keep on getting a "Read timeout Communications
timeout". I realise this may be slightly outside the normal range of
subjects that you are asked for advice on but have you any idea why I'm
getting this timeout?

I'm begining to get a bit desperate!! (and broke).

Thanks for any help.

Jim

And an update:

What an Idiot I am !! Trying to get used to my Laptop's touch pad - when
selecting and highlighting the mode of communication between telescope &
Laptop I forgot to press "enter" and was just "doubleclicking" on the
touch pad controls.
Pressing "enter" - it works.
Everything now fine.

What a burke!

Jim 

Subject: Fifth Jupiter moon and ETX, not possible...
Date: 3/9/04, 05:47
From: Job Geheniau (job@Studioa.nl)
To: james.beston@btinternet.com
I am sorry, but I really doubt (!) that you've seen a fifth moon with
the ETX especially NOT with the LPI imager. If you have seen the fifth
moon it must be Amalthea, which has at opposition a magnitude of 14.1  !
It must be a star in the neighboorhood.

Job Geheniau
The Netherlands
www.samage.net/~geheniau/astronomy2.html

Subject: LPI Images & Thanks
Date: 3/7/04, 04:09
From: Jim Beston (james.beston@btinternet.com)
I've got a couple of reasonable images of Saturn and Jupiter taken with
the LPI Imager for your gallery. I've enhanced these a bit with
Paintshop pro but I can't remember what I did to the originals!! A bit
of "suck it and see" as I remember.


 



I was astonished to see a fith moon of jupiter the other day - out of
plane with the four Galleian moons. A really good view with the 40 mm
eyepiece - nice and bright.

Thanks for your advice on the use of the Autostar suite and my laptop. I
have a USB to Serial adapter (inc software) on order. From what you said
yesterday am I right in thinking that whilst the Autostar suite allows
me to slew the telescope to objects selected on the starmap, the
Autostar handbox that will still track the selected object?

Best Regards

Jim

Subject: LPI image processing question
Date: 3/6/04, 07:25
From: M Allen (cloudrider@cybrtown.com)
I stumbled upon your LPI website while searching for help with LPI image
processing.   I have called Ivar and Vincent at Meade technical support
however after two weeks and many promises, they have not provided and
answer.

My camera takes very good images, however I am unable to bring up a
completed image into the image processing window  of the LPI software to
do such things a unsharp masking and photometry.  When I click on image
processing, then select an image to work with, all I get is a small box
of black and white vertical stripes in the upper left hand corner of the
image processing window.  Ivar at Meade got the same thing on his
computer, and could not explain why.  He thought there may be problems
with the software design and said he would try to get an answer from
their techs.  He has not come through after three calls.  While imaging
I save my pictures in jpeg format, but he claims that would not make any
difference to the software.

Has anyone else had this problem with the image processing portion of
the LPI software?
 
Thank you in advance for any thoughts you can share.
 
Mike Allen

Subject: lpi
Date: 3/6/04, 04:02
From: kenneth yanni (kenbarbara@tds.net)
great site,i just recieved my lpi,software loaded ok no problems yet.but
i was disapointed with the length of the cables,how long of acamera
cable can you use without losing signal quality,do you need boosters?as
far as the scope cable,its custom made,so i guess i will lenthan it my
self.maybe you canhelp me out with some info. thanks keep up the good
work. ken hartland maine

Subject: LPI with Linux
Date: 3/5/04, 20:11
From: clay (clayh@newheitz.com)
I must say, your site is very helpful for me.  I do have a question
though. Has any one that you have heard of used the LPI with Linux?  I
Trying to write my own driver, but If someone has done it why reinvent
the wheel...
Thank you.  Clay

Subject: Meade LPI -- help with optical resolution calculation?
Date: 3/5/04, 09:57
From: Dave Wallace (d_wallace@ecrm.com)
Does anybody know the pixel spacing or the sensor dimensions in mm for
the LPI imager?  Meade doesn't specify the LPI in that detail (they just
say it's comparable to a 6 mm eyepiece).  But if you are interested in
calculating the imager resolution in arc-seconds per pixel you need the
pixel spacing (or the dimensions of the sensor in mm), as well as the
number of pixels wide and high (640 x 480).

Working backward from the field of view and number of pixels wide and
high, I deduce that the sensor in the LPI has a pixel spacing of 5
microns (.005 mm). On my ETX 90, that would work out to about 0.83
arc-seconds per pixel.  As confirmation, a recent image of Saturn I
captured was 25 pixels (not counting the rings), which would translate
to 21 arc-seconds.   This is close enough to the right (19.5
arc-seconds) size to allow me to chalk up the error to crude methods
(and poor seeing / focus).  That would also imply a sensor that was 3.2
by 2.4 mm.

By comparison, my digital camera (a Canon Digital Rebel / 300D) has a
sensor that is 3072 x 2048 pixels and is 22.5 x 15 mm (which works out
to a pixel spacing of 7 microns).  Its resolution is 1.2 arc-seconds per
pixel -- about 2/3 as fine -- but it has a field of view about 4.5 times
larger than the LPI -- more like that of the 26mm eyepiece.

And:

Okay, thanks for your time.  I'll see if I can first measure these
parameters in a less destructive way (by optical means).  If I succeed,
I'll let you know what the numbers are in case other astrophotographers
ask.

Subject:	Trick with LPI Imager 
Sent:	Tuesday, March 2, 2004 13:46:17
From:	"John Kalantzis" (acent1@otenet.gr)
I got this picture of Moon with my LPI Imager customized on a 400mm
KENLOCK telephotoinstalled on the LXD55 mount ( in the place of the
telescope ) . I had a magnification of about 65X.

Best regards from Volos-Greece.
I am a daily reader of your excellent web site.
JOHN KALANTZIS

Subject: Photo for your Lunar Gallery
Date: 3/1/04, 13:29
From: Becky (rebecca.cover@ntlworld.com)
Please could you include this photo on your gallery.  It is my first
attempt using the LPI Imager with ETX 105.  No Barlow and no processing
was done.  It was taken around 22:00 on 28 Feb 04 in the UK.
 
Many Thanks
 
Becky (from Gosport, UK)

Subject: Meade's LPI Imager: First shots of Jupiter & Saturn.
Date: 3/1/04, 02:25
From: Jim Beston (james.beston@btinternet.com)
Attached are my first shots of Jupiter & Saturn using Meade's LPI
imager. You might like to include them in your Astrophotography gallery
as an encouragement to anybody who wants to try this remarkably good
imaging system which, even in the U.K. is very good value for money.
Saturn a was my first shot followed by Jupiter 11. I was astonished to
see 3 of the Jovian moons appear - I have not been able to find which
they are yet. In jupiter 12 I reduced the gain (for want of something to
try!) and you see that the detail in Jupiter was increased at the
expense of loosing the moons. All these were taken with a Meade ETX
105AT UHTC, no Barlow - I forgot about that in my excitement! Seeing not
brilliant, high wispy clouds which limited the evenings session to only
an hour before snow. To see these images build-up as the LPI did it's
work was fantistic!

Nice one of the moon as well - I must learn a bit about the crater and
mare names.

Clear Skies! (You have to say this a lot in the U.K.)

Jim Beston

Subject: LPI Not Recognised
Date: 2/29/04, 15:35
From: Colin Armstrong (armstrong@priorsb.freeserve.co.uk)
I am sure you will have seen other postings indicating that the "LPI not
recognised - reconnect and try again" message which some users refer to
can be due to the need to install DirectX on the PC.

This was the reason for the message on my PC and was fixed when DirectX
was installed (free download from the Microsoft site).
 
Colin

Subject: Jupiter
Date: 2/27/04, 11:02
From: Yoshi-K (yoshi@galaxies.jp)
It is Jupiter photoed in Yokohama Japan.

Photography data....
Date: 27/02/2004 23:40(JST) GMT+9
ETX-105EC, 2.5xPowerMate(Televue), Meade LPI Camera
Capture: K3CCDTools, Processing: Registax2 + Photoshop
1173 frame Composite

Regards,
---------------------------------
Yoshikatsu Kida
http://starimpact.com/
http://etx.galaxies.jp/

Subject: Autostar Suite - Bad Pixels on LPI Camera?
Date: 2/14/04, 11:53
From: Stephen Bird (stephen.bird@btconnect.com)
I think I have two areas on the LPI sensor with a group of bad pixels.
One area is constant in size, shape and density regardless of focus, and
uniformly dark. The other though similar but smaller has a white border
around it. Again any change in focus does not alter the appearance of
the marks or their position. I don't see these marks through an eyepiece
and there is nothing obvious dispite a careful examination of the
corrector plate and flip mirror. Is there any test I can do to see if
these are bad pixels or someother problem?

Thanks for any help as always.

Regards

Stephen Bird

Hi, I checked this a little more. Holding the camera up to the light,
out of the scope, the marks show up exactly the same. So it is not dust
or dirt on the scope which  agrees with the independant of focus issue.
I have carefully checked the sensor and glass cover and there is no
visible dust on it. The marks are on all images from when the LPI was
straight out of the box. so it looks like a warranty situation.

And:

Hi, the fault is a feature of the LPI, I think it must be a bad chip.

With the LPI attached to the PC, two groups of dark pixels appear on
every image on the live or composite images. Always the same pixels,
always on every image.

At first I thought it was dust on the scope, so I turned the LPI upside
down in the eyepiece, if it was dust the dark areas would have moved
accordingly, but the dark pixels were in the same place. I altered the
focus, as dust goes in and out of focus, but the dark pixels remained
the same regardless of focus.

I examined the chip with a magnifier, and there was no dust or visible
damage on the chip itself.

Finally I connected the LPI to the PC, but did not insert it in the
eyepiece, I held it up to the light to get a live image on screen
straight into the LPI, and the dark pixels were still there, absolutely
identical..

The large bad area is about 10 x 10 and the small area is about 5 x 5
pixels.

Shame, I was just getting to grips with the LPI and Autostar Suite.
Looks like another trip back to the supplier!

Regards

Stephen Bird

Subject: Great Red Spot
Date: 2/13/04, 20:39
From: Jody Miller (mlite20@yahoo.com)
ETX 90EC
Meade LPI
300 stacked pics
2-02-04

This is a pic I took of Jupiter with the GRS visible in the left part of
the picture. South is up.

=====
J.Miller

Subject: Petavius LPI
Date: 2/13/04, 15:56
From: Alan Leutloff (leutloffa@juno.com)
Here is a great shot of the moon using my LPI imager and my ETX 125. 
Took one pic and processed using the image processor provided with the
LPI (Sharpen Filter).  This shot pairs up nice with the Sky and
Telescope article on the crater Petavius in the March 2004 issue pg 121.
Really happy with the ease of the LPI Imager.

Subject: LPI Imaging with the ETX 105
Date: 2/11/04, 13:42
From: Kevin Roberts (Kevin.Roberts@NBPCD.com)
Well after too many nights of dangerously cold temps and windchills, we
now have some decent evening temps outside. Last night (Feb 10th), after
a quick review of autostar and scope alignment basics here at Mike's
incredible site, I was able to get out in the backyard with my ETX
105UHTC and "play". I desperately wanted to try my LPI imager and laptop
setup on something other than the moon, so I set my sights on Saturn. 
Leaving the program software setup on the default settings, I was able
to get the following shot of our ringed neighbour.  Thought I'd post it
so others might see what the little LPI can do.  It is only the 3rd time
I've tried using the imager/software. Jupiter is next!

No barlow was used. 65 images were automatically stacked by the program
and nothing further was done.  Seeing was quite good but my scope was
only outside around 20mins to acclimatize beforehand. Cheers and clear
skies all!

Kevin
Thunder Bay

Subject: LPI UPDATE
Date: 2/8/04, 04:11
From: "Robert J. Brich" (rbrich@cox.net)
I have continued to experiment with the LPI mode and my 125 using XP OS
since last e-mail.

I found that when I upgraded the USB cable from that supplied, my
problems with the LPI camera disappeared.

I no longer experience problems with the camera dropping off line or not
responding.  I can hit abort, close the program, open the program,
disconnect the camera and re-connect without having to reload the
driver. Prior problems would not allow any of the above.

I purchased gold tip USB cable (10') and it appears to maintain power
and data exchange to the camera via the USB port.  I am using a Toshiba
Lap Top with XP OS for my capture.

See attached as two of the first captures to show that LPI  was really
working.  Taken this 4:30AM.






Suggest others having problems with the LPI camera try the same USB
cable solution.  Neither XP or the LPI camera are the problem.

Best/Bob Brich

Subject: First LPI Jupiter
Date: 2/5/04, 12:16
From: Alan Leutloff (leutloffa@juno.com)
Here is my first pic of Jupiter with the Meade LPI at prime focus.  Nice
think about this package is that the moon's showed up on the pic w/o
overexposing Jupiter.  The tracking software on the LPI worked nice
too...tracked well dispite clouds blowing across sky.  Feel free to post
if you like.

Alan

Subject: The LPI doesn't like being on a hub
Date: 2/5/04, 11:43
From: Howard Visser (howard.visser@cgi.com)
I read the earlier note and had a thought as to how to resolve the hub
issue. I just went through this with my Logitech Quick Cam 4000 and a
USB to Serial adapter I wanted to connect via a USB Hub to my computer
(also a Dell laptop). First the Hub has to be powered to drive the
camera, second I had to remove the hardware and software and reinstall
with the web camera attached to the Hub. My problems went away and now
use one USB connection to support both the web camera and the link to
the Autostar through the Hub. Hope this helps.

From: Dave Wallace (d_wallace@ecrm.com)
Thanks, Howard.

That seems to work for me as well, except I have to perform that step
every time I want to use the LPI, whereas when the LPI is *not*
connected via a hub the hardware and software need not be removed and
reinstalled.  Perhaps I need to connect the LPI and hub to the computer
before I boot XP.  I'll try that next.

Dave,

I haven't tried going back to the direct off the back of the computer
connection since I hooked the hub up. It's probably safe to assume that
it is going to have to be one way or the other but not both. I'll try my
setup  tonight when I get home and see if I run into similar issues.

I'm also running 2000 professional but have a hard time believing that
XP has anything to do with this and that the detection of the Hub
whether at boot or a post boot connection shouldn't matter one way or
the other but hey its Windows and stranger things have been known to
happen. I'll see if I turn something up as well when I test it out and
let you know.

Clear Skies!

Howard

Subject: The LIP doesn't like being on a hub
Date: 2/2/04, 13:17
From: Dave Wallace (d_wallace@ecrm.com)
I don't know if I just happen to have a less-than-perfect hub or if this
is a generally-known but un-acknowledged problem.  But I've found that
my Dell Inspiron 1100 running XP Home will not recognize the LPI
(camera) if I try to connect it to the laptop through a USB hub.  And it
makes no difference whether the hub is powered or unpowered.  I can run
the LPI on the far end of a 5 meter cable, but not on the far side of a
hub, no matter how short the cables.  Just thought I'd pass this
observation along.

On another subject: the 26mm eyepiece can be made parafocal with the
LPI, but you wind up with so little barrel left that the setscrew won't
engage if you try to use this eyepiece in a Barlow or Moon Filter.  The
other 4000-series Plossels have longer barrels and aren't a problem that
way.

And:

It didn't work either way.  This particular hub could be operated with
or without the "wall wart" and I tried it both ways.  XP saw the
hardware but it was non-operative.  The LPI works fine without the hub. 
Other USB devices work fine with the hub.

I don't know enough about the USB specification or how well the LPI
conforms to that to explain this issue, but it might have to do with
signal delay through the hub (and it could be specific to this
particular brand of hub).  I just wanted to report that the LPI might be
allergic to operating on the far side of a USB hub so that other users
might be wary of this configuration.

Subject: Jupiter pic
Date: 2/1/04, 20:35
From: Jody Miller (mlite20@yahoo.com)
Meade ETX 90EC polar align
2x Barlowed
Meade LPI
300 stacked pictures
1-29-04

Hey Mike here is a pic of Jupiter I took the other
night.
J.Miller

Subject: MEADE LPI IMAGING
Date: 2/1/04, 18:38
From: "Robert J. Brich" (rbrich@cox.net)
I recently purchased a Meade ETX 125 and the LPI image system.

I am having a problem with the the camera and XP software.  The camera
appears to start imaging but will freeze after a few minutes.  In order
to regain the camera, I have to remove and reload the driver for the LPI
camera

Is there an update to the software to become an XP approved driver?

R/Bob Brich

And:

Have you or any of the contributors had problems with the LPI camera
system in the XP operating system?  I looked on the site but did not
find other than photos from LPI users.

And:

Thanks for the responses to my questions.  I have continued to review
your site and find that others are having similar problems with the LPI
driver and dropping off line in particular the one listed below:
 
	Subject: Autostar Suite and LPI 
	Sent:Saturday, November 15, 2003 20:53:56
	From: Lrv64@aol.com
	 
	I am having similar issues with the software driver for the camera
	further compounded by the fact that it is not certified for use with
	XP.  I suspect that persons using LPI are having similar problems
	with the camera and its characteristics of not responding.  Can only
	hope that Meade will provide an update to the driver and resolve the
	problem.

Subject: LPI resolution
Date: 2/1/04, 10:29
From: marcus windrich (marc_windrich@hotmail.com)
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly on the 640x480 resolution
issue. Any idea why everyone uses such small resolution? Even some of
the SBIG professional grade CCD cameras use 640x480.

Doesn't anyone ever want to print out their images!?!? The resolution on
the LPI and others is WAY to small to print even a decent 4x6.

Does anyone besides me dream of taking a great astrophoto, printing it
on a glossy 8x10, putting a frame around it, and hanging it up!?!?

Sorry about the rant, haha....................................

Subject: Images with LPI and Camera Question
Date: 1/28/04, 21:18
From: Jeff Wilhite (jeff@wilhite.com)
I purchased an ETX 105-EC for Christmas, and I have to say, your site
has been an invaluable reference tool for me.  You have saved me more
than a few times just when my frustration level was about to reach its
peek!  After a month of trial and error, I finally think I know what I'm
doing.  I purchased the LPI a couple of weeks ago and have been breaking
it in.  Compared with the images taken with 10 and 11inch scopes in your
LPI section, mine don't look that great.  But I think they are just
about as good as the ETX 105 can do. The images of Jupiter and Saturn
were taken with 2x Barlow.  The 3 moon images are just LPI.  All images
received slight adjustments w/ Photoshop.

I am a professional photographer by trade and a trying to figure out a
way to attach my Fuji S2 Pro camera to the 105.  I believe the S2 will
be too heavy for the 105's motors.  Do you have any suggestions????

Once again, I want to thank you for your awesome site!!
 
Thanks,
 
Jeff Wilhite
Rock Hill, SC

Mike here: I have no familiarity with the Fuji camera but if you think it could be too heavy, it probably is unless you counterbalance it.

Subject: Meade LPI
Date: 1/26/04, 04:18
From: marcus windrich (marc_windrich@hotmail.com)
I have been thinking about purchasing the Meade LPI and Autostar suite
for use with my ETX-90EC and my LX-50.

I love your website and I was happy to see a new section devoted to the
LPI. I do have a question that I couldn't find the answer to
though.......how big is the image the LPI takes?

I would very much like to print out 4x6 photos of images I take. Is this
possible without losing resolution? I realize that an image of Saturn
may take up a very small space on a 4x6, with lots of empty black space
around it, but I would like to try anway. So has anyone ever tried
printing your astrophotos?

Thanks!!

Marcus Windrich

Subject: LPI camera usb extension
Date: 1/21/04, 19:57
From: Sid (sidva123@earthlink.net)
Hey! Have you heard of anyone using a USB extension cable for the LPI
camera (autostar suite)? I've found quite a few but didn't know if they
would actually work with the camera. Here's the one I was looking at:
www.usbcable.com/item341.htm

Thanks!

Subject: Re:LPI- SATURN
Date: 1/20/04, 07:09
From: GMCStudio@aol.com
Love the Web-Site, nice job. Here's a pretty good Saturn image via the
Meade LPI system. I know there have been some "Bugs" in the software end
of these units but I have to admit all in all Meade has (at least in
theory) a great concept. For several years I have been using two
video-cam systems from Adirondack Video Astronomy. The "Astrovid 2000"
and the "Color Planet-Cam." I was very content to capture streams of
video and then "Pick" through the recording and stack good images. As
any one with experience with real time video information knows the
single frame character of each image of these cameras is fairly "noisy."
Also, the process of selecting "Good" frames is rather bothersome,
though with the creation of programs such as "Registax" this greatly
helped in this endeavor. Without sounding too prophetic, I actually
predicted that it wouldn't be long till someone or company would come
out with a color unit that would do it all. Sure enough, no sooner had
the words left my lips than Meade announced the LPI Image Package. It
took some time to get it, but I think we are all a bit spoiled when it
comes to ordering products via the phone or web, and once it did arrive
the disc had a problem, which Meade took care of with a replacement,
promptly. They also offered "Excellent" tech support via the 1-800
number to get it up and running on my laptop. This story has a very
happy ending in that I was really pleased with even my first efforts.
Like any new "Toy" it takes some using to really understand the levers
and buttons, but without to much agony I started "capturing some great
images. I have included one of Saturn created with the LPI Package via
my C-11 and a two power barlow. There is some tweaking done through
"Photoshop" as any image might be these days but the images accumulated
by LPI are really super to begin with. Very low noise, with nice color
sensitivity. I love watching the images stack up on the laptop getting
clearer and sharper and the read-outs as it chooses the best of the best
frames. For the remarkable some of only 149.00 (Amazing ! ) You really
can't go wrong. Meade must have read my mind, they have come up with a
system that in so many ways is a little "Quantum Leap" in the area of
backyard planetary imaging.
       Greg Mort   Ashton, Maryland

Subject: Jupiter with LPI
Date: 1/18/04, 23:57
From: Lrv64@aol.com
Attached are two pictures I just finished taking with the LPI by Meade. 
One is a monochrome and the other is color.  Both were taken about 30
minutes ago with my ETX-125 and the Meade LPI.

I saved as JPEG rather than TIF in order to e-mail these.  The LPI
software works great, as long as you don't slew to a different object
with the camera on.  I have found out that if I shut the program down,
then slew and restart the program I am getting decent results from the
program.  First time I have been able to use the scope in about a month,
due to work and clouds.

I have been reading about your experiences with the LPI, and have
wondered if you have run across the problem of the program not
responding when you slew to a different object?  Or do you do as I do,
just shut the program down, slew then re-start?

Focusing is a bear, but one of the tricks I learned is to "bracket" my
shots slightly adjusting the focus for each set of shots, I usually set
quality at 85% and every 10 images.  Along with an occassional set of
photos using monochrome and/or hard edges.   I hope people don't think
that these are the only two pictures I have taken.   I took about 20
different sets, each about 50-60 stacked images, with quality set high,
so it took a bunch of time, but ETX-125 kept Jupiter in the pc screen
with very few slight adjustments for ALT-AZ mounting.

Looking forward to your pictures using the LPI, especially of Messier
objects.

Luis

Mike here: I only had one experience of the system going off but then I've only had limited usage due to weather and schedules not cooperating.

Subject:	LPI Imager - The first attempt
Sent:	Sunday, January 18, 2004 10:41:18
From:	"John Kalantzis" (acent1@otenet.gr)
Hello Mr Mike from Greece

With a lot of pleasure I sent you two pictures of Saturn This is my
first attempt to ccd photo with my LXD55 SC8'' scope and my new LPI
Imager. I took them under the city lights of Volos. The atmosphere
conditions were not bad and the weather was too cold ( about 4C ). I dit
no image processing.

Best regards
John Kalantzis
from Volos - Greece
( Volos is one of the five Olympic cities for the next Olympics )

Subject: Virtual PC still can't find LPI
Date: 1/17/04, 20:13
From: William Wilson (wlwesq@mac.com)
I'm sorry for being a pest, but your site is the only one around where
anyone seems to have the foggiest idea that Mac owners might try to use
the LPI via VirtualPC.

Still no luck in getting the LPI software to "find" the LPI--even though
it's connected directly to my PowerBook and the red LED is illuminated.
I've attached a PDF snapshot of the VirtualPC configuration. I've even
detached the external mouse and keyboard in case it was sucking some
power from the other USB port. And, yes, I'm plugged in and running the
PB on highest performance.

I'm stumped.

Bill Wilson
wlwesq@mac.com
...the more we are protected, the more we're trapped within...
http://homepage.mac.com/wlwesq/iblog/index.html

Mike here: When you installed the Autostar Suite software did you get the camera driver install step per the instructions?

And:

I believe so.

This morning I went to the control panels for scanners and cameras. The
LPI showed up in the control panel, and the test reported that it found
the LPI and it passed. But still the Meade software can't find it.

So, I deleted the camera from the control panel and unplugged and
plugged it back in. The wizard came up and reinstalled the drivers. The
Meade software still can't find it, even though the OS can. It's rather
odd, but at least I know it's a Meade software issue and not a Mac OS
X/VirtualPC issue.

And this came in:

From: "Wayson, Craig" (cwayson@indiana.edu)
Great page!  I just bought a new LX200 that came with the Autostar Suite
and you have saved me hours of tinkering.  One thing I found though was
that running VPC 6.1 on a 15 Powerbook 1.25Ghz with (originally 512MB
RAM) 1GB of RAM and 10.3.2 was this:

When trying to get the LPI running under VPC with XP Pro, I could not
get am image.  It wasnt until I installed 1 GB of RAM and upped the VPC
RAM to 512 MB that the LPI began to work just fine.  XP Pro emulates
faster than Win 2000, but it appears that it is more of a memory hog and
needs plenty of physical RAM devoted to it.

Thanks for maintaining a great page! 

Craig W.

From: William Wilson (wlwesq@mac.com)
Might be worth trying...I'll let you know what I find out.

Subject: LPI Focusing Issue
Date: 1/15/04, 11:39
From: "Day, Mike" (mday@amgen.com)
I've got a problem I'm hoping you can help with.  I received an LPI for
Christmas and thought that I'd get started on it right away.  I decided
to come up to speed on the software and the camera during the day, so I
targeted a mountain top about 25 miles away and tried to focus in and
get some photos.  Unfortunately, I found out two things: 1) the image
was incredibly unstable; and 2) I could not focus the image.

Since that day, I've spent more than a few hours trying to get an image
focused on my computer screen of both terrestrial and astronomical
targets with little success.  I bought a new, longer cable for the
camera, but that didn't help either.  I inspected the camera and noticed
something that seems odd, but since I have no other camera to campare it
with, I'm not sure if its ok or not.  What I found is that there is no
lense above the CMOS chip, even though it looks like something should
screw into the barrel of the camera.  So my question for you and the
other LPI owners is, "Is there supposed to be a lense in the LPI?"

I have an ETX-125EC and I'm using the LPI in the normal eyepiece
location. I did try using it through an erecting prism, but that didn't
help either. I don't have any trouble focusing a 9mm eyepiece, either,
so I don't think its an issue with the scope.  I wouldn't rule out
operator error, however.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael Day
Littleton, CO

Subject: Meade LPI and autotracking
Date: 1/14/04, 19:14
From: mlewis@bus.olemiss.edu
I enjoy your informative website and wanted to share this picture of
Saturn taken with an LX-90 and Meade LPI (9 Jan in Oxford, MS).  I used
a 2x Barlow and the Align & Combine feature at 50% quality and about 50
images.  I did this 4 times, then combined the images and sharpened with
Registax.

I would like to know if anyone else is having problems with the LPI
software, specifically the auto-tracking feature.  I have the latest
download (v3.1e) for the #497 controller, have retrained and
recalibrated the drives, and fiddled with the backlash settings.
However, the autotracking works for about 15 seconds, then seems to be
"chasing itself" as the star it is tracking shifts off the screen.
Autotracking was an important feature for me, but so far is
disappointing.  Also, there is no documentation for what the Corr Gain
spin button does -- I have seen no effect from changing it.

thanks for the great web site!

Subject: LPI question ...
Date: 1/12/04, 13:40
From: mconsidine (mconsidine@netreach.net)
I was looking through your webpage on Meade's LPI/Autostar offerings and
had a couple of questions I hoped you could answer:

1) Is the imaging software that is on the LPI CD different than what is
available as part of the Autostar Suite?

2) Will the imaging software recognize other cameras, or is there some
driver/code/firmware that is needed that is Meade-specific (e.g. could a
Phillips camera be used, as long as it handled things according to the
MSFT video-for-windows rules...)

Thanks in advance.  And thanks for maintaining your site!

Regards,
Matt Considine
Doylestown, PA

Subject: Meade Autostar Suite
Date: 1/10/04, 11:48
From: Bill Corbin (corbin@rtpenv.com)
Hello, great site...

Bought an Autostar Suite for ETX-90AT and have two questions I haven't
seen listed...

(1) The LPI doesn't seem to fit all the way into the regular eyepiece
holder (finderscope thumbscrews get in the way) pointing straight
forward and

(2) The LPI doesn't seem to fit in any way into the hole on the back of
the ETX-90AT (too small or too long with or without the plastic tube).
Is there something else I need to get?

Okay - three questions...

(3) You mention in your book using a star diagonal in order to use two
eyepieces concurrently with the flip mirror.  What do you suggest?  The
Meade 918A isn't listed as an accessory for the ETX. Will it work?  Will
it interfere with the telescope movement when looking at the zenith?

Keep up the great work.

William E. Corbin
Saylorsburg, PA

Subject: Meade LPI Tech Specs
Date: 1/10/04, 08:45
From: Andres Valencia (avalencia_arval@hotmail.com)
Happy New Year!

I have not been able to find any Meade LPI Technical Specifications.

Do you know anything about this alleged CMOS chip? I would like to know
is size, number of pixels and more. Anything on the Web?

Andrs Valencia
Observatorio ARVAL
Caracas, Venezuela
http://www.oarval.org

And:

Thanks, I've read all the postings in
http://www.weasner.com/etx/astrophotography/lpi.html in search for the
size of this "small" chip.  I've looked everywhere else too  ;-(

In http://www.meade.com/autostar/lpi.html Meade says the LPI is
equivalent to a 6 mm eyepiece. I have a Supercircuits PC23C TV camera
with a 1/3" B/W CCD chip: Picture Elements: 510 (H) x 492 (V), 250,920
pixels (~ 3x4mm, 5mm diagonal). This frame almost fits inside the field
of the Meade 6.4mm Super Plsl eyepiece that I use for precisely
pointing my 8" SCT LXD55 telescope. So, I'm inclining to believe the LPI
also has a 1/3" chip.

Isn't it incredible that Meade sells such an accessory without Tech
Specs? I have the feeling its all about the software with this LPI
camera.

I am very impressed with the Nov. 21 '03 images by lrv64@aol.com, the
Nov. 24 '03 LPI Faint Objects by Steve Gauss and the Dec. 22 '03 Saturn
by Craig Schriever, the best I've seen!

Thanks for your excellent Web sites!

Best regards,
Andrs Valencia

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