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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Bias frames - No data/empty?

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@knro, my focal length are written in Ekos, but maybe it's not transfered to the Bias info?
SkyWatcher ED80 Pro
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod with EQDIR cable
ZWO ASI294MC Pro imaging camera
QHY5L-II-C guide camera on 50mm guidescope
DeepSkyDad AF3 autofocuser
Raspberry Pi 4 4GB running Kstars/Ekos
4 years 2 months ago #47365

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Replied by Alfred on topic Bias frames - No data/empty?

Since light, dark and flat frames work fine, camera and connection must be OK. I've been using the same camera, same exposure time, etc. but the result is different. The only difference I can think of is software version. I'm on nightlies, what version of Indi/Kstars do you use?
4 years 2 months ago #47366

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I’m not home to check the version (but I’ve used the astropi3 script). I’ve so far used two or three different versions for my images since august. Some for Mac and some for the Raspberry Pi 4. They all (all bias frames from August till now) show the same “empty” files, but still with a 23.4 MB filesize.
SkyWatcher ED80 Pro
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod with EQDIR cable
ZWO ASI294MC Pro imaging camera
QHY5L-II-C guide camera on 50mm guidescope
DeepSkyDad AF3 autofocuser
Raspberry Pi 4 4GB running Kstars/Ekos
4 years 2 months ago #47367

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So it is highly unlikely that software version is responsible for the issue. If you take a bias frame with simulators, is it empty, too?
Last edit: 4 years 2 months ago by Alfred.
4 years 2 months ago #47368

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I'm running out of ideas. The next thing I would test is what happens with a different camera, does it produce empty bias frames, too? Do you own any another camera that you could do bias frame tests with?
4 years 2 months ago #47369

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I’ll test with the simulator when I get home. I’ll also try taking bias frames with my guide cam then.
SkyWatcher ED80 Pro
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod with EQDIR cable
ZWO ASI294MC Pro imaging camera
QHY5L-II-C guide camera on 50mm guidescope
DeepSkyDad AF3 autofocuser
Raspberry Pi 4 4GB running Kstars/Ekos
4 years 2 months ago #47370

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One thing possibly worth checking is if offset value in camera settings is too low, that might cause pixels to clip to black. At least ASI driver has that configurable. Especially Sony sensor cameras seem to be prone to that due to some overly aggressive dark current compensation.
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4 years 2 months ago #47398

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Offset is set to 8 in my case which is the default value IMO.

4 years 2 months ago #47404
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Does raising that make any difference? I don't know about your camera in particular, but on my 178MC the default value was too low and caused pixels clipping quite badly in darks especially. Though it was never fully zeros due to warm/hot pixels.
4 years 2 months ago #47417

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The histogram AFAICS does not indicate a clipping issue so I never changed the default value.

4 years 2 months ago #47423
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I don't get this!

Last night I tried turning on my RP4 with everything connected, opened KStars/Ekos and started my "calibration" profile where I only have my ZWO 294MC Pro and QHY5L-II-C cameras enabled. Then I tried a test Bias frame and that worked!? So now I have recorded 100 Bias frames (gain 120 and default gain). No errors in PixInsight anymore.

Could it have been a problem recording the Bias frames with all my gear enabled in Ekos?
SkyWatcher ED80 Pro
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod with EQDIR cable
ZWO ASI294MC Pro imaging camera
QHY5L-II-C guide camera on 50mm guidescope
DeepSkyDad AF3 autofocuser
Raspberry Pi 4 4GB running Kstars/Ekos
4 years 2 months ago #47432

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Replied by Alfred on topic Bias frames - No data/empty?

LOL, I have no idea! Something worse than that could have happened though. I won't touch your rig anymore unless the issue returns which I hope will never happen! :-) Good to hear the problem disappeared! You can add a [SOLVED] to the topic line.
Last edit: 4 years 2 months ago by Alfred.
4 years 2 months ago #47433

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