(meteorobs) OT -Question to the UFOCaptureV2. -PAUL PUGH et.al.,

[Francisco Ocaña]

Well, I forgot to metion that UFOC needs a fast processor, at least 
2Ghz. I tried a 1Ghz one, and the software runs only with half 
resolution AVI. Not sure what HandyAvi needs, but Metrec beats them all. 
And not everybody has a fast computer to use just for fireball recording 
( I use one borrowed, hehe). Metrec option should be considered too.

Not sure why not using Scintillation Mask is the best solution for you. 
I can´t detect faint meteors without it because starlight variations 
would cause a trigger (but remember that the Scintillation Mask uses a 
lot of your processor).

I find the Detect Level Noise Tracking really useful as the conditions 
vary a lot during the night, maybe 10 or 20 "units" (far more than the 7 
I use as a threshold value). And I use 3 as Detect Size as it works when 
I was working with the settings.

The Frame Shift Diff. number I have always used '1'. I can not imagine 
what a difference other value could make. Tell us your results. For the 
planes I would recommend you to try the Slow Object Mask. The Dark 
Object Mask works also quite fine during the twilight.

Do you have already recorded any fireball? Best,

Paco

Larry escribió:
> It is getting very interesting now.
>
> My settings are probably radical and I will list them shortly after I 
> mention that the worst computer running UFO is 800mhz & 384mb memory. It is 
> still really flakey but does detect weak meteors even tho' it does not 
> produce .avi's good or long enough to see all the full flight path. Same on 
> airplanes, jerky .avi motions. Settings are the the same as on a faster 
> computer running UFO also. I plan on changing motherboards to 900mhz & 512mb 
> ram if it will fit the case on the slower one to see if that is the problem 
> with it.
>
> Meanwhile.... the bigger computer running UFO is 2392mhz with 2.048Gb ram. 
> It has been capturing short and fast meteors and tonight captured a 13 
> second aircraft and played it back perfectly as an .avi. (I am experimenting 
> on the Frame Shift Diff. number). It was at 5 when the plane was recorded 
> and I am reducing it to 3 to see if bright planes drop out too soon. Long 
> Plane flights are a good way of making sure UFO is working.
>
> Anyway to the settings.....
>
> Checking Detect level Noise & Scintillation Mask killed me. Even after 
> reducing their effects with numerical adjustments. I used MaskW (with the 
> Scintillation checked) to see how much reduction to try. It got better. As 
> it turns out, not using Scintillation Mask (at all) was best for me. Detect 
> Level Noise also is not good because it is self adjusting and can make weak 
> meteors disappear altogether by ramping up the Detect Level.
>
> One of the key adjustments is to make Detect Size....really small! I use 3 
> even with the detect level bouncing around 50. A small meteor will go easily 
> over these two adjustments and cause a trigger.
>
> Nothing else is checked except Superimpose date/time on the Input Tab.
>
> On the Operation Tab... leave everything alone on Still Image Capture box. 
> Check the start-stop box and set the hours.
>
> I do not check any other box and leave everything else I would not use there 
> alone....the way it was. Then I save my settings.
>
> So for now..... I am trying to decide on what the Frame Shift Diff. number 
> should be by observing its effect on both planes and short fast meteors. The 
> final number will be between 1 and 5 I think.....for tonight it is 3.
>
> UFOV2.22 is working (quite well at this point) on the faster 
> computer....better than HandyAvi ever did. (IMHO)
>
> YCSentinel
>
>