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Re: (meteorobs) Automated Meteor Observing--S&T May 2001
Here's my source on the 164C. It's from David Dunham who does occultation work.
=================
I thought that Supercircuits would have put information
about this camera on their web site by now, but several have sent
me messages saying that they haven't been able to find anything there.
In late November, they mailed a postcard advertisement to several
of their customers who had bought PC-23C's advertising the
PC-164C. I have placed scanned images of that advertisement
in the PC-164C item (the 5th major topic) of my Web page at
http://iota.jhuapldot edu
The link to the postcard image is http://iota.jhuapldot edu/pc164c.jpg
You can telephone Supercircuits at +1-800-335-9777 to request
it. Their first shipment sold out very quickly, as did their
second shipment early this month. So they might not plan to
put it on their Web site until they've satisfied the strong
demand from their previous customers and have built up an
inventory of them. When you call, you might mention that
you plan to use the camera for astronomical purposes; they
seem to appreciate our interest, and even have a link to
one of our Web sites about camera tests.
The PC-164C camera measures 2 1/2 by 1 1/8 by 1 1/8
inches, about twice the size of the Watec 902H camera.
"Exview" apparently refers to the Sony CCD chip used in
the camera.
The other cameras on the Supercircuits Web site that
some of you have mentioned are NOT the PC-164C, which is
a black-and-white camera. On the back, it has a red
horizontal switch labelled "ALC" on the left and "E/S"
on the right; I didn't notice any difference during
last night's graze when I moved that switch. The bright
side of the 52% sunlit Moon remained overexposed so that
features could not be recognized on it, but dark-side
features (Earthlit) could be seen faintly. There is
also an "Auto Iris" which I think most of us won't need.
And ther is a small recessed "DC Level" screw that I
have not tried to turn.
One of you asked about color cameras, and for that,
I would recommend the Supercircuits PC-33C, but
of course it is a little less sensitive than the PC-23C.
I plan to use a PC-33C for the lunar occultation of
Saturn on Dec. 28, weather permitting.
The postcard advertising the PC-164C also mentions
a portable, battery-powered VCR for $170, which I bought,
too. But I think I will return it; it is a VHS-tape
machine, as large as many standard AC VCR's, and you
need a separate small TV to use with it. So I recommend
instead one of the battery-powered VCR-TV combination
units, popular with those who camp out with trailers and
available at stores like Walmart. Although they
generally cost more than $170, they
give you both functions in one unit. Camcorders give
you both functions in a much more compact, more easily
transportable form, but the ones with VCR input capability
that I know about are more than twice the cost of the
VCR-TV combination units. But camcorders can be used
for many other purposes, so many already have them.
Happy holidays, and good luck with your
observations!
David Dunham, IOTA
=================
Charlie Speegle wrote:
> I ran SuperCircuit through dogpile
> and got these 2 links
> www.scx.com I couldn't find the PC-164C, but they sell the PC-23C for $90.
>
> http://www.eaglequest.com/~pgoelz/pc23c_mod.html
> Describes necessary modifications to make to the PC-23C.
>
> I then found
> http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/canterbury/222/astrovid.htm
> and joined 2 more email lists.
> ccd-astro-imaging-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> videoastro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> http://www.astrovid.com/astrovid__stellacam.htm
> This system is around $600.
> http://www.astrovid.com/ASTROVID.HTM
> so is this one.
>
> From: Wayne Watson <mtnviews@earthlinkdot net>
>
> > The articled sited in my subject line described an impressive effort for
> detecting and analyzing
> > meteors. I just came across it again recently. Did the author produce a
> web site with more info
> > since then? I don't know much about the optical h/w he describes but the
> price tag looks a little
> > formidable: inage intensifier, video camera, and lens, I think. He
> estimates price anywhere from
> > $300 to $1000. Has anyone found a set of components that include any of
> the inexpensive SuperCircuit
> > camera for this sort of work? The PC-23C, in the past, and now the PC-164C
> seem to have caught the
> > attention of some meteor and occultation observers.
>
> The archive and Web site for our list is at http://www.meteorobs.org
> If you are interested in complete links on the 2001 LEONIDS, see:
> http://www.meteorobs.org/storms.html
> To stop getting email from the 'meteorobs' list, use the Web form at:
> http://www.meteorobs.org/subscribe.html
--
Wayne T. Watson (121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N, 2,701 feet), Nevada City, CA
"The Driver Carries No Spoons." -- Seen on an ice cream truck
Web Page: http://home.earthlinkdot net/~mtnviews
Imaginarium Museum: http://home.earthlinkdot net/~mtnviews/imaginarium.html
The archive and Web site for our list is at http://www.meteorobs.org
If you are interested in complete links on the 2001 LEONIDS, see:
http://www.meteorobs.org/storms.html
To stop getting email from the 'meteorobs' list, use the Web form at:
http://www.meteorobs.org/subscribe.html
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