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black images on new pc
Posted: 24 Jan 2026, 10:44
by ajtdebruin
Dear all,
I made a new topic because the problem is narrowed down...
My Starlight Xpress SXV-814 is giving black images on a new pc.
I have installed all the new drivers etc.
I did all thew things I could find, turned off power management on usb, allowed camera in windows defender, tried different usb ports, hubs/direct etc.
When I have a black image, then disconnect and only plug the usb in my laptop (also windows 11) and leave everything the same then the camera works fine! Vice versa the same, image on my laptop and then plug into the new pc->a black image.
Must be something in windows on the new pc but I have no idea. Hope somebody can point me to the right direction....
Cheers,
Arnold
Re: black images on new pc
Posted: 24 Jan 2026, 17:36
by Dunmunro
ajtdebruin wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 10:44
Dear all,
I made a new topic because the problem is narrowed down...
My Starlight Xpress SXV-814 is giving black images on a new pc.
I have installed all the new drivers etc.
I did all thew things I could find, turned off power management on usb, allowed camera in windows defender, tried different usb ports, hubs/direct etc.
When I have a black image, then disconnect and only plug the usb in my laptop (also windows 11) and leave everything the same then the camera works fine! Vice versa the same, image on my laptop and then plug into the new pc->a black image.
Must be something in windows on the new pc but I have no idea. Hope somebody can point me to the right direction....
Cheers,
Arnold
Are you using Astroart 9 to operate and view the cameras?
I would try and Install the latest ASCOM platform and then the starlight ASCOM drivers for your cameras.
Re: black images on new pc
Posted: 24 Jan 2026, 19:51
by ajtdebruin
I am using AA9 and all the latest drivers from Starlight Xpress and the latest Ascom platform. (I just installed a new pc;-)
If I connect to Ascom I can take 1 image and then the Camera plugin crashes and I can't take a second image!
I have a feeling that the problem is connected to the usb drivers.
If I connect the SXV-814 usb after connecting power it usually works, If I then connect my Lodestar2 I get black images from the SXV-814 and most of the times also from the Lodestar. I use two instances of AstroArt because I need a further camera (ASI) to plate solve. The others are for my spectroscope.
Tonight I managed to connect the Lodestar first and then the SXV-814 and all worked... but it is not a stable solution.
Sometimes I can image, sometimes it is all black....
Cheers,
Arnold
Re: black images on new pc
Posted: 24 Jan 2026, 20:24
by Dunmunro
ajtdebruin wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 19:51
I am using AA9 and all the latest drivers from Starlight Xpress and the latest Ascom platform. (I just installed a new pc;-)
If I connect to Ascom I can take 1 image and then the Camera plugin crashes and I can't take a second image!
I have a feeling that the problem is connected to the usb drivers.
If I connect the SXV-814 usb after connecting power it usually works, If I then connect my Lodestar2 I get black images from the SXV-814 and most of the times also from the Lodestar. I use two instances of AstroArt because I need a further camera (ASI) to plate solve. The others are for my spectroscope.
Tonight I managed to connect the Lodestar first and then the SXV-814 and all worked... but it is not a stable solution.
Sometimes I can image, sometimes it is all black....
Cheers,
Arnold
OK, and do these settings make any difference?
Re: black images on new pc
Posted: 25 Jan 2026, 08:50
by ajtdebruin
Hi Dunmunro,
I tried that to no avail...
This morning I used the same routine of powering-up with Lodestar attached and after a while connect the SXV-814 last (first power and then usb). Seemed to work.
In fact a friend tells me he has the same problem in a totally different setup with a Starlight Xpress filterwheel. He has to make sure he connects that usb cable last otherwise it won't work.....
Thanks though for your answers!
Cheers,
Arnold
Re: black images on new pc
Posted: 25 Jan 2026, 13:19
by ajtdebruin
Btw, Bret McKnee has a newer version (feb 2023) on his GitHub than the ones on the Starlight Xpress site.
But perhaps you already know this!
I have downloaded it but not yet tried myself!!
https://github.com/brets-astro/sxascom-releases
Cheers,
Arnold
