QSI Software Release 4.5 - README

QSI Software Release 4.5 - README

New Features is QSI Software Release 4.5:
(note that the current MaxIm plug-in is release 4.5.2, while all other software components are 4.5.1)

1. Adds support for the QSI 540 model camera.
2. Reduces the minimum exposure time of QSI 500 Series cameras which utilize interline transfer sensors (e.g. QSI 520, 540) from 10ms (0.01 sec) down to 100µs (0.0001 sec). Exposure times can be adjusted in 100µs increments. The faster exposures require the camera to be running firmware release 4.1.5 or later. It is also included on the release disk and copied to your computer during the camera driver installation phase. Use the QSI Updater to load the firmware into the camera. The firmware is located in the “C:\Program Files\QSI\500\Firmware” directory.
3. Fixes problem with managing multiple devices on the USB bus.
4. Firmware update 3.5.15 and 4.1.7 expands the allowed input voltage range to 11V to 14V. See details in the firmware release details.

Note: Astroart users --
Earlier versions of the AstroArt plug-in depended on a specific version of the QSI API. That version of the API will be replaced with a new version when 4.5.1 is installed. The 4.5.1 release disk contains a new AstroArt plug-in in the AstroArt directory. This new plug-in does not depend on a specific QSI API version. If you install Release 4.5.1 or any release thereafter, you must also install the new AstroArt plug-In (4.5.1 or later) also.

Note: Nebulosity users --
Support for QSI cameras is built directly into Nebulosity. After installing QSI software release 4.5, you must also install Nebulosity version 2.0.5 or later. Version 2.0.5 is currently in beta test at the time this page was updated. If you'd like to download the beta version of Nebulosity you can do so from the Stark Labs Pre-Release page.

Note: Windows API users --
Release 4.5.1 Early Binding Notes
QSI API Release 4.5.1 exposes two new interfaces, ICameraEx and IFilterWheelEx, which inherit from ICamera and IFilterWheel. All QSI specific properties and methods (those not specified by the ASCOM specification) have been moved to the “Ex” version of each interface. Also, the ICamera and IFilterWheel interfaces have new GUIDs assigned and have been re-ordered to conform to the ASCOM V5 early binding specification. As a result, code that was compiled with versions earlier than 4.5.1 must be recompiled after API version 4.5.1 has been installed. Any interface pointers that reference QSI specific properties and methods must be changed to the “Ex” type (i.e. ICamera ptr; changes to ICameraEx ptr;). ICameraEx inherits from ICamera so that an interface pointer to ICameraEx has access to all of the ICamera methods also. The same relationship holds for IFilterWheelEx.

Upgrading from prior QSI API releases to release 4.5.1.
With the introduction of release 4.5.1, the typlib for the API has changed from version 2.0 to version 3.0 to accommodate the new interfaces and ASCOM dictated changes to the argument type of ImageArray and ImageArrayVariant. You must recompile any clients that were compiled for an earlier version of the API. For Microsoft Visual Studio users, a change in the typlib version requires that you re-establish the reference in your project to the new API version. To re-establish the reference, first install the QSI API and drivers. Start Visual Studio and open the client project. In the solution explorer window, References section, delete the old reference to “QSICameraLib”. Now right click on “References” and select “Add Reference…”. Select the COM tab. Scroll down to find ASCOM Camera Driver Library for QSI Version 3.0. Select it and click OK. Now recompile the client. Complete details can be found in the API Reference Manual.

Software Installation steps:

1. Download ISO CD image or the QSI USB Drivers and Software Installer
2. If you wish to install from a physical CD, burn the ISO image to a CD.
   Insert the CD to autorun the setup menu, or run “menu.exe”
   in the root directory of the release files.
3. Install QSI Camera Software. No need to uninstall old version first.
4. Install QSI MaxIm plug-in (if running MaxIm )
   No need to re-install MaxIm LE…you just need to install the new plug-in.
   If you are running MaxIm V5, you will need to navigate to the correct MaxIm directory.
   
5. Install other software plug-ins as desired. Download installers if not running from CD.

Firmware Installation Steps:

1. Download the firmware file and unzip it to a directory on your hard drive.
2. Plug in camera. Connect USB cable.
3. Launch the firmware Updater ("Programs > QSI > Updater). Refer to the QSI 500 Series User Guide for complete details on using the firmware Updater application.
4. Browse to firmware file downloaded above, QSIFirmware-03.05.15-4.1.7-RC1.hex.
   This is a universal firmware file with the latest firmware for all models.
5. Update the camera firmware.
6. When the update completes, power cycle the camera. You should now be running the latest firmware.

Linux

1. Release disk also contains an update of the Linux API in \Linux\qsiapi-4.6.1.tar.gz
2. Transfer file to a Linux machine, unzip and follow instructions to install the Linux API.