Updating your Camera’s Firmware
We release firmware updates to the Aluma, Aluma AC, STC, and StarChaser series cameras and guiders which can contain: bug-fixes, improvements, optimizations, and new features. We advise updating the DL Imaging suite simultaneously. You can update your FPGA firmware via the DL Config application as follows:
- Install the latest version of DL Config – this will also update your camera drivers
- Power up your camera and connect to the computer (USB recommended), but make sure it is not connected to MaxIm DL or other control software
- Download the latest firmware revision (below)
- Go to Start Menu / DL Config Utility and run the DL Config Utility
- Make sure your camera is selected
- Click the Firmware button
- Click the Browse button to locate the firmware file you downloaded
- Click Upload and confirm
- Wait until the process is completed. Do not interrupt the process or it will revert to old firmware
- When complete, power down the camera and power it up again
For details on how to update your camera’s Wireless firmware, please review this document.
NOTE: Original Equipment Manufacturers with customized camera firmware should contact us for assistance. The firmware presented here is not for OEM use and is intended for end-users of standard product.
NOTE: Users of SBIG STF, STX, and STXL series cameras should instead use the SBIG Driver Checker.
FPGA
STC Firmware Revision 7
Revision 7 - 2021/07/20
+ Added double buffer to speed up download by 33%.
+ Added two extra half steps after detecting STC-7 internal FW position to centre the filter slot properly.
Download
MD5: 63bc24ca4a58ca762ae3adf0538b3d95
FPGA
STC Firmware Revision 6
Revision 6 - 2021/03/24
+ Added GetCoolerStatus
+ Fixed wrong initial state of the STC mechanical shutter.
Download
MD5: 19593a2f3a541b60353ea7c769bdbda4
FPGA
AC2020 Firmware Revision 1
Revision 1 - 2021/06/17
+ Initial Release
Download
MD5: dcefaff79654dab792f9d67e46e88f56
FPGA
AC4040 Firmware Revision 6
Revision 6 - 2021/05/13
+ Added support for Dual-Wheel operation of AFW model filter wheels
+ Changed default partial stacking exposure from 1s to 15s
+ Improved TEC setpoint ramp down (now independed from imaging)
+ updated max cooling power and CoolerPowerPercentage formula
+ Updated auto fan setting to be more linear
+ Updated TEC LUT to 12-bit
+ Added AFW error handling
Download
MD5: b06310cc206ce26a9aed7eca18c3f4be
FPGA
AC4040 Firmware Revision 5
Revision 5 - 2021/03/18
+ Updated AC4040 firmware.
+ Fix issue with StackPro
+ Added extended cooler status reporting
Download
MD5: 2864332A82DF54F30195B85613EBE710
FPGA
STC Firmware Revision 5
Revision 5 - 2021/02/05
- This firmware fixes potential issues where the image download would hang after changing binning mode
Download
MD5: e9e53bdbfb27cd345ad7743b08148354
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 22
Revision 22 - 2021/01/21
- Lowered vertical shift time for 694 and 814 from 88us to 56us
- Added a flag for NEW ALUMA that disables the Guider and reports only a single imaging sensor
- Added up-to-date CameraCapabilities
Download
MD5: a353f8b27a06f7f61fc39e4e00bb9972
FPGA
AC4040 Firmware Revision 3
Revision 3 - 2020/11/20
+ Initial release of AC4040 firmware.
Download
MD5: d2bd57b6980752d95925d4ff233be4bd
FPGA
STC Firmware Revision 4
Revision 4 - 2020/11/14
+ Improved support for internal filter wheels by defaulting camera's "UseFWAsShutter" setting to "Off" by default.
+ Added support for changing fan controls during exposure.
+ Updated CameraCapabilities to reflect latest version of the protocol spec.
Download
MD5: f9a36d9e4f3b1a337f19332bf558f099
FPGA
StarChaser Firmware Revision 6
Revision 6 - 2020/10/23
+ Improved stability when operating at low temperature
Download
MD5: 5453e4ee49224370b0796604a7374ea9
FPGA
STC Firmware Revision 3
Revision 3 - 2020/09/09
+ correct issues with external filter wheel control.
Download
MD5: e8a900679536df77c5978270404941cf
FPGA
StarChaser Firmware Revision 5
Revision 5 - 2020/09/03
+ corrected endianness of exposure time for FITS header and fixed AO connectivity issues.
Download
MD5: b74e9bf6f9bc5cfb983edeee185ee3f3
FPGA
StarChaser Firmware Revision 4
Revision 4 - 2020/08/20
+ Fixed bug with endianness of exposure duration in image metadata.
Download
MD5: 2504e224dd2fff6dc148faad7725014d
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 21
Revision 21 - 2020/08/19
+ Maintenance release containing support for new camera models
Download
MD5: bca949f1bbf7e069b1ac64310eb574c7
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 20
Revision 20 - 2019/10/29
+ Status LED now defaults to "ON" in Aluma firmware, pursuant to changes in revision 18.
Download
MD5: 12dde15932343a07d67348096ea344dd
WiFi
Aluma Firmware Revision 4
Revision 4 - 2019/10/29
+ Updating WiFi software to include extensions to the DLAPI communication (consistent with DLAPI version 1.3.5.0)
Download
MD5: fc145bad4ba122b278123606d697bfcb
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 19
Revision 19 - 2019/10/24
+ Fixed a bug where filter wheel status was not being reported correctly (specifically, reporting idle while the filter wheel was still in transit)
Download
MD5: 22b7d2dbfe4cd49416090cd314733908
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 18
Revision 18 - 2019/08/16
+ Added support for Camera Capabilities DLAPI functionality
+ Added support for controlling Status LED in Sensor Settings
+ Improved telescope guiding: Previously, guiding was done from the main line causing guide pulse durations longer than requested, usually by 15ms, sometimes even 16ms. It is now done in the interrupts, making sure that guiding duration is always precise
Download
MD5: 712a80ce063455f020e0bb72c3484aa9
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 17
Revision 17 - 2019/06/27
+ Improved auto-fan feature
+ Fixed issue with camera occasionally generating a blank image
+ Filter wheel requests when no filter wheel is present now generates a DeviceError
+ Filter wheel requests that specify an out-of-bounds slot now generates an InvalidParameter error
Download
MD5: 3164b1a8def119e3b74c0a7ff927b8b2
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 16
Revision 16 - 2019/03/14
+ Fixed a bug when taking images with the main and external sensors simultaneously (at different binnings) resulting in the external sensor overriding the binning settings for the main sensor
+ various optimizations
Download
MD5: 5593a4cafcceb72023298abc259ee089
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 15
Revision 15 - 2019/03/07
+ Fixed a bug with the filter wheel involving timing of I2C messages, and hangs
+ Fixed a bug where camera could request an exposure before the filter wheel stopped moving
Download
MD5: cae2cedf49d93c501bbdb944d826d642
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 14
Revision 14 - 2019/02/06
+ Fixed a bug with shutter initialization on connect
+ various optimizations & safety checks
Download
MD5: cdba2844747b505ea375f5e91c85dcb3
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 13
Revision 13 - 2018/12/27
+ Added new auto-fan feature
+ Added support for new high-resolution shutters
+ Added support for new temperature sensors
+ Set thresholds to prevent camera from overheating: heat sink at 50C -> set fan to high heat sink at 65C -> turn off the cooler
+ Fixed bug where the CCD amplifier would stay low when an exposure was aborted, now when abort is requested, the amplifier goes back up
+ various optimizations
Download
MD5: efa5120b6adfc12da5385e0cc00ee37d
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 12
Revision 12 - 2018/10/23
+ Added support for AO peripherals
+ Fixed issue when Pulse Guiding correcting pulse durations and status reporting to the camera
Download
MD5: cb99719cd82dcc5d194c8bd204a56971
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 10
Revision 10 - 2018/06/28
+ Added support for KAF-3200
+ Various optimizations
Download
MD5: 96ed39b736bfcc8ec6f08cc774d86475
FPGA
Aluma Firmware Revision 9
Revision 9 - 2018/05/04
+ Initial release of Aluma FPGA firmware
Download
MD5: 861465028d9079f24339392976d8cb65
