MallinCam All Sky User manual

Revision Sheet
All Sky User Manual Page i
All Sky Camera
[Version 1.0]
Michael Burns
Rock Mallin
[All Sky User Manual]
This document will introduce you to the wonders of the MallinCam All Sky Camera. It
will include instructions on how to connect the All Sky to your computer along with
explanations of the camera’s various settings. Imaging techniques with the various
hardware and software options will be covered along with how to broadcast the
output of the All Sky camera on the Internet. The standard Composite Video output
will be discussed along with hints and suggestions on how to resolve any problems
that you encounter with this camera. Enjoy the adventure with Rock Mallin’s All Sky
Video camera, which will introduce you to the amazing field of Real Time All Sky
video imaging and broadcasting.

Revision Sheet
All Sky User Manual Page ii
Revision History
Version
Date
Revision Description
1.0
10/11/2014
Template Creation and All Sky Wired

Table of Contents
Contents
Revision History ................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................................0
1. Introduction..........................................................................................................3
The Contents of the All Sky Package.....................................................................................4
MallinCam All Sky Deluxe Package .....................................................................................................4
The Camera (Just the Facts)...................................................................................................5
The Camera (its Anatomy).......................................................................................................6
2. Making Connections.............................................................................................7
The All Sky Camera (Connection Diagram)...........................................................................7
Composite Video ...................................................................................................................................7
Power.....................................................................................................................................................7
Connecting the All Sky to your Computer for Video .............................................................8
Software Requirements:.........................................................................................................................8
Hardware Requirements.........................................................................................................................8
Attaching the Video Cable to All Sky Camera ......................................................................................9
Checking out the All Sky for the First Time (Day Time) ....................................................................10
3. Operating the All Sky .........................................................................................15
Imaging Methods:....................................................................................................................15
E. SHUTTER vs SENSE UP ...................................................................................................26
Controlling the All Sky by Hand............................................................................................27
The All Sky Camera OSD Settings.........................................................................................27
4. Understanding the OSD .....................................................................................32
On Screen Display (OSD) Menu...........................................................................................32
MENU MAIN.....................................................................................................................................32
EXPOSURE MAIN............................................................................................................................32
LENS ...............................................................................................................................................33
LEN -ELC...................................................................................................................................33
E.SHUTTER........................................................................................................................................... 33
BRIGHT ................................................................................................................................................. 34
HBLC/D-WDR ...............................................................................................................................34
OFF..............................................................................................................................................34
BLC..............................................................................................................................................35
MANUAL............................................................................................................................................... 36
AUTO..................................................................................................................................................... 36
BLC WEIGHT.............................................................................................................................36
HLI...............................................................................................................................................37
HBLC ..................................................................................................................................................... 37
D-WDR........................................................................................................................................38

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All Sky User Manual Page 1
AGC.................................................................................................................................................39
3D DNR...........................................................................................................................................40
SENSE UP.......................................................................................................................................41
COLOR MAIN...................................................................................................................................42
WB MODE......................................................................................................................................42
ATW ............................................................................................................................................42
MANUAL....................................................................................................................................43
AWC>PUSH................................................................................................................................43
AWC............................................................................................................................................44
R-Y GAIN.......................................................................................................................................44
B-Y GAIN .......................................................................................................................................44
DAY&NIGHT MAIN........................................................................................................................44
D&N MODE ...................................................................................................................................45
BURST.........................................................................................................................................45
AUTO..................................................................................................................................................... 45
DAY>NIGHT ..............................................................................................................................46
NIGHT>DAY ..............................................................................................................................47
DWELL TIME.............................................................................................................................47
C_SUP .............................................................................................................................................48
A_SUP .............................................................................................................................................48
FUNCTION MAIN............................................................................................................................48
MIRROR.........................................................................................................................................49
SHARPNESS ..................................................................................................................................49
MONITOR......................................................................................................................................49
GAMMA .........................................................................................................................................50
USER...........................................................................................................................................50
LSC..................................................................................................................................................50
LSC –ON ....................................................................................................................................51
MOTION MAIN ................................................................................................................................51
PRIVACY MAIN...............................................................................................................................52
SETUP MAIN ....................................................................................................................................52
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................53
MANUAL DPC...............................................................................................................................53
AUTO DPC.....................................................................................................................................54
OLPF...............................................................................................................................................54
OSD COLOR..................................................................................................................................54
SYSTEM MAIN.................................................................................................................................55
EXIT MAIN........................................................................................................................................55
FACTORY SET..............................................................................................................................56
SAVE&EXIT..................................................................................................................................56
EXIT................................................................................................................................................56

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5. Appendix ...........................................................................................................57
Appendix A –Installing the MCV...........................................................................................57
Appendix B Connecting to Night Skies Network ......................................................60
Appendix C –First Aid for the All Sky ..................................................................................67
The Image from the All Sky is jumping all over the place ..................................................................67
When I have my Video Software connect to my Mallincam through my MCV-1 adapter I only see a
Blue screen...........................................................................................................................................67
My ALL SKY Camera is frozen, or the commands do not seem to be working correctly, the camera is
acting strangely....................................................................................................................................67
Appendix D –Setting Template.............................................................................................68
Jack Huerkamp’s recommended Settings ............................................................................................69
Appendix E –Installing All Sky Camera Outside................................................................70
Appendix F –Applications of All Sky Camera ………………………………….….……..72
Appendix G –Notes ................................................................................................................73

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1. Introduction
Welcome to the world imaging with the MallinCam All Sky Camera, a new
innovative designed camera that provides you a live video view of the entire sky.
Made by MALLINCAM, the main dome is multicoated and is UV protected
against turning yellow and provides a clear view of the sky rain or shine, 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week, 365 days of the year all from the comfort of your living
room.
The Mallincam All Sky Camera features a 5 way adjustable waterproof key
adapter to navigate through the camera’s zero confusing menu system allowing
you to make adjustments of the video camera. The All Sky Camera also allows
Extended Exposure to be set automatically from Day to Night thus proving live full
colour video without you having to adjust any settings on the camera.
Using the latest plastic CCD sensor from Sony, the Super HAD II 1/3" size sensor
has zero amp glow, and the camera is fully equipped with a built-in “no hot
pixel”removal software, offering unsurpassed image clarity day or night.
Your purchase will provide you with years of discovery and adventure as you
view, record, share, and broadcast the wonders of the entire Night or Day Sky.
The Mallincam All Sky Camera captures images that range from brighter Deep
Sky Objects to local Solar System favorites, from Meteors to Satellites, from Aurora
to Lightning this camera does it all and in near Real Time. You will discover that
this camera can be used in urban skies where light pollution normally prevents
you from viewing images the sky, to rural locations where you can pull out even
those faintest celestial wonders; this camera can do it all.
The All Sky Camera requires no software to install, you simply need only to mount
the camera, attached the video out to a monitor or your computer and then
then power-up the All Sky and enjoy the view the camera provides. If you have
video capture software, you can even record your adventure and take
snapshots or even broadcast live to the world 24 hours per every day of the year,
it’s up to you.
This manual is the work of the MallinCam All Sky users before me. I have
borrowed their ideas and even some of their documents and have placed them
in the manual so that we have everything is in one place. Special thanks to Jack
Huerkamp for all the preliminary work he has done with this camera.
So thank you for your purchase, and let the adventure begin

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The Contents of the All Sky Package
Depending upon the All Sky Model purchased, the contents may vary, but all All
Sky Deluxe cameras include the following standard equipment:
MallinCam All Sky Deluxe Package:
All Sky camera body fully enclosed in a metal jacket with a Lexan Dome
10 meter (32 feet) video/power cable
120 Volts AC to 12 Volts DC regulated power supply
BNC to RCA adapter
These attachments will provide you with the ability to connect the All Sky Video
camera to your telescope, power it using to a 120V AC power source, and
displaying your image on any device that accepts analog video via a
composite connection. The optional cables will allow you to control the All Sky
either through your computer. See the Appendix for a list of other accessories
available for the All Sky Camera.

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The Camera (Just the Facts)
The MallinCam All Sky Camera is a video camera that provides near Real Time
images of brighter Deep Sky Objects, Planetary, Lunar, and Solar. This instrument
contains the following specifications:
Model
All Sky
Image Sensor
Sony ICX638BKA HAD II plastic
CCD Pixels:
768 (H) × 494 (V) effective pixels
6.35μm (H) × 7.40μm (V) Pixel size
CCD Size:
1/3“, 5.59mm (H) × 4.68mm (V)
Video Output Format:
NTSC or PAL
Composite Video
BNC Female Connector, with RCA adapter
Gain Control:
Auto/Manual
Exposure Control:
Auto/Manual
Auto Iris:
AES (Rolling Shutter), ALC
Fix Shutter
(seconds)
1/60, 1/100FLK, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, 1/10000,
1/100000
Extended Shutter
(seconds)
1/32s, 1/16s, 1/8s, 1/4s, 1/2s, 1s, 2.1s, 4.2s, 8.4s, 17s
Gamma Selection
0.45 / 0.6 / 1.0
User Gamma
0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.65, 0.70, 0.75, 0.80, 0.85,
0.90. 0.95, 1.00
White Balance
-Automatic White Compensation Control (AWC)
-Auto Trace White Balance Control (ATW)
-Manual
Communication
Protocol
None
Operating
Temperature
-30oC to 60oC ( -22oF to 140oF)
Power Supply
12±1V DC at 1A
Dimensions
2.5 Inch tall, 3.68 inch wide (63.5 mm X 93.5 mm)
Weight
10.5 Ounces (300 grams)

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The Camera (its Anatomy)
The Mallincam All Sky camera is a circular based camera with a transparent
dome on top. It has a radius of 3.68” and is 2.5” tall. The camera weighs in at
about 11.5 ounces (300 grams).

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2. Making Connections
The All Sky Camera (Connection Diagram)
Connecting All Sky to Monitor
The MallinCam All Sky provides a BNC Video-Out
Adapter (yellow) that allow the video signal to be
distributed to Video monitors. This Video-Out
Adapter provides standard Composite video out by
the BNC connector on the back of the All Sky (1 on
the above Connection Diagram).
Composite Video
The Composite Signal is obtained by connecting the included 10m MallinCam
Video Cable from the Video-Out adapter of the All Sky to the Composite Video-
In Adapter on your monitor (since in most monitors, the Composite Video-In
connector is a RCA style, MallinCam provides a BNC to RCA adapter to
facilitated that connection).
To connect, just align the two little openings on the BNC cable (male) with the
two notches on the adapter’s BNC (female) connector, push and twist so the
notches slide into place. This locks the connector to the All Sky cable.
Power
The All Sky or All Sky Wired requires 12V 1amp power either from an AC to DC
converter or 12V DC power supply. Just connect power adapter into to Power In
port on the back of the All Sky or into the RED Power In connecter on the end of
the 10m cable on the All Sky Wired.
1
Video Out (BNC)
2
12V Power in (12V)
3
Control Adapter
①
②
③