(meteorobs) Watec WAT902HS

[Swift, Wesley R. (MSFC-NNM05AB50C)[RAYTHEON]]

The 902HS is, for many, the preferred camera for meteor and lunar flash
work.  It has a 1/2" chip with larger pixels and hence more sensitivity
and field of view than the more common 1/3" chips.  It does not have a
DSP to mess with the pixels.  It doesn't have time exposure or
integrated (SENS UP) modes either.

The version I am familiar with has a pot to adjust the gain which goes
from dim to absurd. Set it to a compromise between the number of stars
in the image and the noise. The dip switches set exposure, which should
be left at max (1/30 NTSC or 1/25 PAL).  Leave the controls not
accessible from the outside alone.  Put a lens on it, get an image in a
dim room, and flip switches till it makes sense.  Brighter is better but
if the image washes out, stop the lens down for the test.  For best
results in "normal" meteor work something like a 25mm f/0.95 lens should
be used.  A 2.5 to 6mm fast fish eye makes it an all sky camera.

Wes


-----Original Message-----
From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
[mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Mike & Marjie Otte
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 8:07 AM
To: meteorobs at meteorobs.org
Subject: (meteorobs) Watec WAT902HS

I am new to video meteoring.

I bought a Watec WAT902HS off of ebay after reading some about video
meteor
capturing.  Later, I see that  some suggest this isn't the best camera
but I
am stuck with trying to make it work.

Has anyone used this camera for  video meteor capture?  What is the
setup
parameters?

My equipment is poor but I intend to improve it.

Watec 902hs
METEOR/PPB capture board
old compaq 400mhz pent 96 meg running win 98
Metrec software

I was using a FC-62C camera and getting a few meteors each nite.  I
could
only see 1 or 2 bright stars so I never could calibrate it but it does
run.
With the watec I only captured  2 meteors in 2 nites.


Yesterday I took the Watec apart and found:
3 switches on the right board  - two labeled s1 and s2, the other sw -
no
label
gang of 8 dip switches on left board- all in off position

On the Watec website I signed up and can't find the 902HS   I downloaded
manuals from some of the other 902s but none have this switch
arrangement.

Any help would be welcome!

Thank You in advance!

Mike Otte


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