For MSB Astroart 2.0/3.0 under Windows^TM XP, Me, 98, 2000.
Copyright 1998-2004 MSB Software. All rights reserved.

Version 2.50 for modifed web cams.

This driver is copyrighted freeware. This means that this driver can be freely copied, but not sold or used as a separate product. This driver should be used only with Astroart software, by the owner of the Astroart license.
This driver, its documentation and the gwiopm.sys driver (created by Graham Wideman) 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.

This driver commands modified web cams, using the protocol developed by Steve Chambers, where the electronic shutter is controlled by an extra cable connected to the parallel/serial port which allows true long exposures just like astronomic CCD cameras. http://home.clara.net/smunch/wguide.htm
To test the system, place your web cam in a quite dark room (not total darkness). Using the bundled software try to take some pictures and verify that the images are faint and noisy due the insufficient light. It is recommended to disable any automatic correction of the white level of the camera.
Now, using this driver try to take some pictures with an exposure time of 1-2 seconds and verify that the images now contain more data. If some pictures are black modify the "delay" parameter, as described below.
It is also recommended to download the software "Desire" by Steve Chambers which will help you to verify that the whole system is working properly.

To install this plug-in copy the files d_modcam.dll and gwiopm.sys into the Astroart directory. Under Windows XP and 2000 this driver must be used with Administrator privilege.
Remember to install also a User Interface, available at our web site.

Start Astroart and click CCD Camera from the menu Tools / Plug-ins.
Click the button "Check CCD", then click "Connect" to open the video device.

• Bit Codes. Write here the bits required to command the electronic shutter and the amplifier of the modified web cam: 1) Idle status with amplifier on. 2) Exposing status with amplifier off. 3) Exposing status with amplifier on. For the classic modified web cams these codes are: 7 - 0 - 4.
• Video source. Selects the source of the video signal, if your hardware supports it.
• X-Y format. The resolution of the video device, usually it's possible to choose many different modes.
• Display options. Other video options, some devices have do not support them.
• Color download. The image will be downloaded into Astroart as three frames (red, green and blue) but the flat field and the dark frame won't be corrected.
• Frame Delay [ms]. This value must be set at approx: 1000/fps where fps are the Frames Per Second of the web cam. Fps can be changed in the setup window of the web cam, and the lowest value (5, usually) is recommended for good quality. (This means a delay of 200 Ms).
• Parallel Port. The address of parallel port of your PC, this is usually 378H, sometimes 3BCH or 278H.

Inside the GUI it is possible to select the binning factor of images acquired from the web cam:

• Binning (1x1). This is the standard mode, which provides high resolution images.
• Binning (2x2). Four pixels are summed into one, and the dynamic of every frame increases to 10 bit.

2002/02/04: 1.00, The first release.
2002/02/07: 2.00, Long exposures for Focus/Guide and Windows 2000/XP support.
2004/12/13: 2.50, Serial port interface.

2000-2004 MSB Software. All rights reserved.
1999 JLCVideo, Juan Luis Ceada Ramos. All rights reserved.
1998 Graham Wideman. All rights reserved.

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