60+ second Downloads ASI1600-PRO

Sequence Generator Equipment Compatibility
1

I’m having exceptionally long times between image captures using SGP on a Asus VIVOstick PC. According to the log files, it takes approximately 60 seconds for files to save. This seems pretty excessively long to me, and much longer than other reported slow download times.

Frame and focus manages a download in around 3~5 seconds. Any ideas on what is going on? I am saving to a USB drive. StickPC->Startech USB3 Hub->USB drive. Does not seem to make much difference if I put the USB on the USB2 port on the computer itself and bypass the hub.

Using the ASCOM ASI drivers, latest version to Dec 1st.

Based on the log, the longest time period appears to be during “Traversing and persisting bitmap Data”.

Here is a typical log capture during a save:

10/14/18 20:13:52.264][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SGM_CAMERA_CAPTURE complete…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.603][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] EventMarker 17 - t:Target 1 (0); e:0; f:27; o:
[10/14/18 20:13:52.603][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Image reported as complete. Continuing…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.603][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Collecting FITs headers…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.611][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] ASCOM Camera: Could not get last exposure start time. Reported as (unknown)
[10/14/18 20:13:52.611][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] DATE-LOC time provided by SGPro (failed to retrieve valid entry from camera)…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.612][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Clearing timed monitoring events…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.635][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Created full file name (file does not exist): d:\Flat\Target 1_10sec_1x1_HA_FLAT_frame28.fit
[10/14/18 20:13:52.635][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Start…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.635][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Checking image data…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.635][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Create normal preview bitmap…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.666][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Locking preview bits…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.667][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Validating file name…
[10/14/18 20:13:52.667][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Starting byte traversal…
[10/14/18 20:13:54.328][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Unlocking preview bits…
[10/14/18 20:13:54.328][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Saving preview bitmap to disk…
[10/14/18 20:13:54.328][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Locking bitmap for disk write…
[10/14/18 20:13:54.329][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Opening file stream…
[10/14/18 20:13:54.340][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Writing FITS headers…
[10/14/18 20:13:54.344][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Traversing and persisting bitmap data…
[10/14/18 20:14:45.819][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileBmp16: FITS block fill…
[10/14/18 20:14:45.822][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Unlocking bitmap…
[10/14/18 20:14:45.822][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Closing file stream
[10/14/18 20:14:52.014][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Displaying image preview in UI…
[10/14/18 20:14:52.015][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Internal Interface: Set Preview…
[10/14/18 20:14:52.015][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Display image preview using asynch task…
[10/14/18 20:14:55.084][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] SaveFileAscom: Done
[10/14/18 20:14:55.084][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] =========== Save file took 62469 ms

2

Hi,

I suspect the bottleneck is the slow write speed of the flash memory of the PC. If it’s really like this SGP cannot do much about it I’m afraid,

Clear Skies,
Janos

3

Its unlikely that, as that USB drive can be written to <1 second for similar size files by other applications.

4

I’m going to agree with the previous post…I have a ASI1600mc-Pro and a Dell w/7th gen processor. It takes only 10 seconds to write a full resolution 5 minute sub. With my Little MINIX computer at the scope it takes about 18 seconds…a bit longer, but no where near 60 seconds. Are you certain you are using USB 3.0 and not USB 2?

John

5

Another thing to consider,how cold is the computer. My MINIX slows down huge and starts acting weird below 35 degrees. Manufactuer says the operating temp is 0 degrees C.(32F.) I put the MINIX in an insulated lunch bag and throw a disposable hand warmer in. Haven’t had trouble since, and can maintain 18 second downloads all night.
John

6

I once used an IBM stick computer and I had full image download times of 20 to 30 seconds. Fed up of losing most of the imaging time to downloading the image, I switched to an old i7 Toshiba laptop and got 4 second downloads on USB2 I ! The difference is that the laptop is comparatively well cooled and therefore the processor runs at full speed when processing the data coming from the USB port. Stick computers have very little cooling and have to very quickly slow the processor clock when crunching through lots of data. On the stick, the calculations needed to work out the image quality took about 20 seconds, on the old laptop it takes between 1 and 2 seconds. Many posts show that SGP doesn’t need a powerful computer. That is true, but computing power is much more than the processor and its maximum clock speed and more to do with the clock speed it can support on a sustained basis. An old low speed computer can easily out perform a modern stick that appears to have terrific specs, but has to slow down to avoid over heating.