Altair 294c - 2additional images when capturing

[Minsc Etbou]

Is the issue reproducible? YES
Are all prerequisites that are mentioned inside the manual met? : YES
Which Version are you running? NINA version 2.0 HF2 windows 10 64 bit (same on HF1)

Description
additional images are created during acquisition

Steps to Reproduce
<step 1>Create a Advanced Sequencer:
<step 2>take many exposures #:40 | time: Xs | type:dark | binning:1x1 | gain 220 | Offset:200

<step 3>check that I only have one image every X sec

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Expected behaviour
No more "useless" images.
Have a functioning identical to versions =< 2.0

Actual behaviour

When I record images (with the sequencer or even with the Snapshots), I end up with the right image (in my case, with the darks, I can see the AMP Glow) and in the same second other images appear with no signal, only noise (as if it were Offsets).

The problem does not exist under 2.0.
The HF1 has integrated a new version of ALTAIR drivers (50.19561.20210912->53.2185.20220726). At the same time the USB limit parameter has changed, before its operating range was from 0 to 1 and in HF1/HF2 it can be adjusted from 0 to 2.
I did some tests between the differents versions, here are my results:
Number of bad images/number of good images
2.0 HF1 HF2
USB limit 2 9/40 11/40
USB limit 1 0/0 5/40 14/40
USB limit 0 0/0 0/0 0/0

Is it a driver problem. If so, is there a way to get the old one back?
Or is it a NINA problem?

I have attached the logs corresponding to the tests carried out with the different USB Limit and the 3 versions
My setup:
Nina
PHD2
GS Server
PC: elitedesk 800 G3 (i5 6500T) and PC Desktop (i7 6700k)
camera: ALTAIR 294c protec
Guide: ASI385
Mount: EQ6R-PRO

I am available if it is necessary to do other tests.

Thank you for the work done.

[Stefan B]

Hi,

looking at the logs this looks like the camera driver is not working correctly. The Altair294 was known to have some weird issues in the past and it seems like this has been reintroduced with the latest sdk. Personally i’m using the altair26m and there everything is working correctly…

[Minsc Etbou]

No solution on the NINA side I guess?
While waiting for a patch from Altair, is there a way to use another driver?
Is there a way to contact Altair to escalate the problem to them?

[Minsc Etbou]

I have just found in the aboresence of NINA the drivers which work corerectly under version 2.0.
While waiting for an update from Altaïr, is there any contraindication to using these old drivers on the higher versions of NINA?

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[Stefan B]

Most likely there is no issue with using the older driver. I’m closing this issue, as this is not something we can fix in N.I.N.A. but it’s an issue of the camera driver. Hopefully a future version of the sdk has it fixed

[Minsc Etbou]

Just to point out that version 2.1 HF1 beta003 (dll Altaïr 53.21849.20221208) seems to have fixed the problem.