Appendix C: Troubleshooting - SBIG STF Series User Manual

Appendix C: Troubleshooting

If you experience problems with the STF camera operations, check the
following areas:
Check the power:
•
Ensure that your camera's power cabling is undamaged and securely
attached.
•
If you are using a portable power supply such as a 12V battery, check
the voltage to ensure that it is operating at a proper level.
•
Ensure that the camera is receiving power. All STF cameras employ
thermoelectric cooling and a fan to remove heat. When your camera is
powered up, you should hear the fan operating.
Check the USB interface:
Follow these recommendations to ensure good USB connectivity:
•
Use only good quality USB cables.
•
Ensure that the USB cable is undamaged and securely attached.
•
Avoid using a USB hub if possible. If you do need a hub, try to avoid
putting two cameras on the same hub.
•
If you are operating in outdoor ambient temperatures, be aware that
commercial-quality hubs often do not work well in freezing
temperatures. You should use an industrial-quality USB hub in such
conditions.
•
Avoid using front panel USB ports on desktop computers. They have
internal wiring that will degrade USB signal quality.
•
Diffraction Limited suggests tie wrapping the USB cable and power
cable together near the camera in order to minimize risk of the USB
connector coming loose or being pulling out.
Check the firmware and SBIG drivers:
Use the SBIG 64-Bit Driver Checker Utility program to ensure the camera's
firmware is up to date and that the latest drivers are installed. Refer to
Appendix B-3 Updating the camera drivers and firmware.
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