To ensure proper and safe installation of the interface card, follow the instructions below:

Preparation
The electronics of the CCD camera head and the PC interface card are extremely sensitive to electrostatic charge. To avoid damage to the camera components, be careful not to handle them while carrying electrostatic charge. Leave the interface card in its anti-static bag until you have the computer open. You will need a Phillips screwdriver and a pair of scissors. Have these and the interface card within reach of the computer when you are ready to install the interface card.

Step 1
Turn off your computer and open its case.

Step 2
Look for an open ISA bus slot on your computer's motherboard. Use the Phillips screwdriver to remove the back-panel dust-cover plate adjacent to the ISA slot where you will install the interface card. If you have an AP10 camera or are using the trigger port option, remove as many dust-cover plates as necessary to accommodate the extra ports.

Step 3
Touch the metal frame of the computer to dissipate any electrostatic charge you may be carrying, then use a pair of scissors to cut open the plastic bag containing the interface card. Remove the interface card from the bag, grasping it by the mounting bracket and card edges. DO NOT touch the edge-connector fingers of the card, and avoid, as much as possible, contact with any of the components.

AP10 Camera Owners: The AP10 cameras have two control cables: the large 37-pin cable that plugs into the controller card, and a smaller 15-wire cable for auxiliary data that plugs into the AUX DATA ribbon cable's DB15-plate. The 15-wire data cable uses the auxiliary data port on the controller card (see illustration). Attach the ribbon cable marked "AUX DATA" to the controller card before proceeding to Step 4. To install the AUX DATA cable:

a) Insert the 16-pin header connector on the controller port header marked "AUX DATA PORT." Make sure that the red stripe on the ribbon cable is on the side marked '1' on the controller board (as indicated in the illustration). b) After installing the controller board (see Step 4), install the DB15-plate end of the cable in an available card slot opening.

Using the optional Trigger Port:

If you are using the optional Trigger Port, install the Trigger Port ribbon cable before proceeding to Step 4. See the Trigger Port instructions for help.

Step 4
Align the edge connector fingers with the ISA slot receptors and press the interface card firmly into the ISA slot. When it is fully seated, use the screw from the dustcover plate to secure the interface card.

Step 5
Replace the computer case.

Plugging in the Camera
If you are installing the optional Remote Boost Unit, refer to the document entitled "Remote Boost Unit Instructions." Otherwise, proceed with these instructions.

With the computer turned off, plug the male end of the 37-pin cable into the connector on the interface card. Next, plug the other end of the cable into the male connector on the CCD camera head. AP10 camera owners: repeat these steps with the 15-pin data cable. Be sure to tighten down the cable connector shell screws, both at the computer end and at the camera head. The camera can be damaged if the cable(s) should become unplugged during use.

Whenever you are connecting the camera to the computer, always plug the cable(s) into the computer first, to dissipate any electrostatic charge that might otherwise damage the camera head electronics. Likewise, when disconnecting the camera from the computer, always remove the cable(s) from the camera first, and then unplug the cable(s) from the back of the computer. Never connect or disconnect the camera cable(s) while the computer is turned on!

After you have connected and secured the cable(s), the computer may be powered up. After you have determined that there are no ISA-bus conflicts, tighten down the screws on the computer case. The installation is complete.

Common ISA Bus Problems

The two most common problems that can interfere with camera installation and operation on the ISA bus are:

1. Other peripherals can interfere with the camera controller base address. The standard base address setting for the camera controller is 290h. If other cards, such as network cards, have a conflicting address, erratic camera behavior can result. This can range from complete non-operation to erratic temperature and readout operations. If you suspect a base address conflict, you can change either the suspect peripheral or the camera controller. There is a jumper block along the top edge of the controller (see illustation at right). The illustration below shows corresponding base addresses and jumper settings. If you change the base address, you will need to edit the APCCD.INI (or APx.INI) and change the 'base=' parameter. Be sure to completely exit the camera-control program before changing this INI-file setting, then re-start the program after changing the setting.

Base Address Jumper Settings for Apogee ISA-Bus Controller Cards
Jumper Pins	0	1	2
Base Address 290 (Default):
Base Address 200:
Base Address 210:
Base Address 280:
Base Address 300:
Base Address 310:
Base Address 390:

2. In some BIOS setups, there is a parameter called "16 bit I/O recovery time". The choices are usually 0,1,2,3,4. We have found that when this setting is less than 2, the camera control board will work properly. If greater than 2, problems can occur. The most common is erratic data that looks like a diagonal pattern across the image. A closer look at the data values usually reveals unusual values (i.e. -1). In severe cases the controller card simply will not function, although this has only occurred once. On some systems (such as Dell computers), this choice is not given. Instead, choose 'compatibility' mode, but keep this setting only if the problems are corrected.

One card supports all cameras

The PCAM3 ISA-bus card can be configured for any Apogee camera by changing a few jumpers and the 8-pin firmware PROM. The illustration below shows the location of the PROM and the 5 jumper blocks, which are labeled A, B, C, D and E. Jumper blocks A, D, and E pertain to cooler and shutter operation, and whether or not a remote boost unit is being used. Jumper block B is the base address setting for the ISA-bus card and need only be changed if the default setting of base address 290 conflicts with other devices in your computer. Jumper block C is for digitization. The following illustration is for reference only; the ISA card is preconfigured and need not be changed by the user. See the text below the illustration for a description of the jumper settings for each type of camera.

AP1, AP2, AP4 14-Bit Cameras
The PROM chip is labeled K14x (the current version is K14H) and the two jumpers on block C are across the pins marked 2 / KX. If a remote boost unit is not being used, the jumper on block A is across the two pins on the STD side, and there is no jumper on block D. The jumper on block E is across the two pins on the +5 side.

AP6 14-Bit Cameras
The PROM chip is labeled K14x (the current version is K14H) and the two jumpers on block C are across the pins marked 2 / KX. If a remote boost unit is not being used, the jumper on block A is across the two pins on the STD side, and there is no jumper on block D. The jumper on block E is across the two pins on the +12 side.

AP7 and AP8 Cameras
The PROM chip is labeled S16x (the current version is S16J) and the two jumpers on block C are across the pins marked 64. If you are not using a remote boost unit, the jumper on block A is across the two pins on the STD side, and there is no jumper on block D. The jumper on block E is across the two pins on the +12 side.

AP10 Cameras
The PROM chip is labeled T14x (the current version is T14F) and the two jumpers on block C are across the pins marked 64. If you are not using a remote boost unit, the jumper on block A is across the two pins on the STD side, and there is no jumper on block D. The jumper on block E is across the two pins on the +12 side.

KX Series Cameras
The PROM chip is labeled K14x (the current version is K14H) or KX85x (for KX85 cameras, the current version is KX85C). The two jumpers on block C are across the pins marked 2 / KX. If a remote boost unit is not being used, the jumper on block A is across the two pins on the STD side, and there is no jumper on block D. The jumper on block E is across the two pins on the +5 side.

SPH Series Cameras
The PROM chip is labeled H16x (the current version is H16C) and the two jumpers on block C are across the pins marked 64. If you are not using a remote boost unit, the jumper on block A is across the two pins on the STD side, and there is no jumper on block D. The jumper on block E is across the two pins on the +12 side.

All Cameras with Remote Boost Unit
The jumper on block A is moved to the two pins on the side marked REM. The jumper on block E is moved to block D.

NOTE: Read these instructions before changing the firmware PROM.