Not Connecting to D5500

[ifubiok]

I purchased a Win 11 Mini PC to control my astro setup. I'm able to run PHD2 and ZWO ASICap with no issues through a USB 3.0 hub but BYN will not connect to my D5500. I can view files on the camera so I know the connection, battery, etc is working. I tried removing the SD card and plugging the D5500 directly into the the Mini PC without success. I also tried uninstalling V2.1.3 and installing 2.1.2 with the same result. No issues running BYN on my laptop or desktop that are running WIN10. Any other suggestions?

===================================
21:26:57  Attempting to connect camera...
21:26:57  Nikon/D5500 drivers initialized.
21:27:05  Camera Not Found!  Make sure it's connected to the PC and turned ON
===================================

Device name    DESKTOP-T19PG15
Processor    Intel(R) Celeron(R) N4000 CPU @ 1.10GHz   1.10 GHz
Installed RAM    4.00 GB (3.83 GB usable)

System type    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch    No pen or touch input is available for this display

Windows 11 Pro Version    21H2
Installed on    ‎7/‎10/‎2022
OS build    22000.1574
Experience    Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.1574.0

Manufacturer    MeLE Technologies
Model PCG02
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1DFVBNQ

[admin]

Being able to browse the images on the SD card may be a clue. Windows should see the camera as an imaging device, but looks like it sees it as a storage device. 

When you connect your camera to your W10 computer, it comes out as what in W10 Device Manager?

What about on your W11 computer, does come out differently in W11 Device Manager as it does in W10?

[ifubiok]

Win11 Mini

[astroman133]

The problem is that Windows sees it as a portable storage device. This is incorrect. It needs to be listed as an Imaging Device rather than a Portable device in order for the Nikon SDK to see it.

Reboot the PC without the camera connected. Then plug the camera into the PC and power the camera on. When Windows asks how you want to use the camera you need to select "Take No Action" instead of any of the other options. Then it should be listed as an Imaging device and BYN should connect.

[ifubiok]

Win 10 Laptop while connected to camera and taking pictures. Looks the same.

[ifubiok]

Also tried uninstalling and reinstalling driver and Run as Administrator with no luck.

[admin]

Is the camera connected directly into the W11 usb port? USB cable length? Are you using a hub? 

EDIT: Never mind the above, I see you already did that in your original post.

[ifubiok]

Likely an issue with the Mini PC. Installed Nikon Camera Control Pro and it can't find the camera either. I use an extension cable since Nikon cable is only 24" but removing it didn't help.
Any other ideas? I'm pretty technical and don't mind digging into the registry if necessary although this is my 1st (last???) experience with Win11. I'll try a friend's Win11 tonight just to eliminate that although I assume you've already tested it.
If there are any system logs that would help let me know, although I went through most and didn't see anything notable.
I'm under the gun on timing as I only have until Tuesday to return it. Only $145 but that buys a lot of beer!

Appreciate the assistance on a Saturday. Not sure I have that kind of dedication!

[astroman133]

The suggestions in the included link may be useful.

https://www.justanswer.com/video-camera-repair/l3m65-d5500-used-recognized-windows-11-pc.html

[ifubiok]

I thought the chat was great until they asked for $1 to join & $46/month.

[ifubiok]

I also tried turning off AV protection and contacting the manufacturer. Website says "Server not responding". Looks like it's going back to Amazon.

[astroman133]

Yeah,

They make money from providing expertise, but there were several things to try before getting an actual person to assist.

 

[astroman133]

One thing that I might try is to shut the PC down; connect the camera and power it on; boot the PC and login with an administrator account. If the Device Manager still does not recognize the camera, Look in the Event Log Viewer to see if anything junps out at you. If it still does not work I would try removing the driver, via the Device Manager and forcing Windows to look for a newer driver or to re-inatall the existing driver.

[ifubiok]

Frustrating that 40 years after the 1st IBM PC (I owned one...4.77 MHz, 640K RAM, 10MB HD! DUAL 3.5" floppies) there are still incompatibility issues.

[ifubiok]

25 minutes ago, astroman133 said:

One thing that I might try is to shut the PC down; connect the camera and power it on; boot the PC and login with an administrator account. If the Device Manager still does not recognize the camera, Look in the Event Log Viewer to see if anything junps out at you. If it still does not work I would try removing the driver, via the Device Manager and forcing Windows to look for a newer driver or to re-inatall the existing driver.

Tried all that (delete driver, event logs, etc.) No joy. Thought I posted about the event logs but don't see it. Working on 2 computers so maybe forgot to hit send on the other one.

 

[admin]

2 hours ago, ifubiok said:

Frustrating that 40 years after the 1st IBM PC (I owned one...4.77 MHz, 640K RAM, 10MB HD! DUAL 3.5" floppies) there are still incompatibility issues.

Oh boy, had one as well   It had a TURBO button to boost the MHz a little bit.

[admin]

What about a factory reset on the camera? Worth a try.

Do you have more than one USB port on the W11 computer? Try all of them.

[s3igell]

It seems that Win11 has additional In-System Camera Features - possibly "commandeering" control of your DSLR.

Try the instructions provided here:  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/manage-cameras-with-camera-settings-in-windows-11-97997ed5-bb98-47b6-a13d-964106997757

Specifically try the "Disable Camera" instructions.

If Win11 is busy controlling the Camera, that would block BYN from access to that same Camera.

[astroman133]

If these suggestions solve the issue, it should be expanded upon in the How To forum.

[admin]

For what it is worth, all my development environments are W11 and I have not had to change any camera or Windows settings.

[ifubiok]

Sorry about not responding sooner to the suggestions. I installed Nikon Camera Control Pro and it doesn't work either so it's not a BYN issue. Manufacturer is looking into but since support is in Asia (China?) there's a 12 hr lag between messages. Will update if they come up with a fix.

 

[admin]

3 hours ago, ifubiok said:

Sorry about not responding sooner to the suggestions. I installed Nikon Camera Control Pro and it doesn't work either so it's not a BYN issue. Manufacturer is looking into but since support is in Asia (China?) there's a 12 hr lag between messages. Will update if they come up with a fix.

 

That was a good test. BYN uses the same Nikon SDK library to communicate with the camera.

[ifubiok]

Mini PC manufacturer says " PCG02 USB interface can read the SD card in the camera. It is only the the camera commands (setting, exposure, take picture, etc.) that do not function. ----- It is possible that the corresponding driver was not installed, resulting in invalid functionality. This driver should be provided by Nikon cameras. We do not have this type of driver, so we suggest you find a driver for Nikon cameras."
Can you point me to the driver(s) that BYN requires so I can verify it is loaded and let them know that it is not the driver.

[astroman133]

Not sure what you can do. I had thought that the driver for control of Nikon cameras is included with Windows.

Pehaps Nikon can provide whatever driver is required by their camera control app. That same driver should work with BYN.

 

[admin]

Mini PC manufacture is probably the wrong place to look. You should go directly to Nikon given the Nikon Camera Control Pro software itself is not working. Get them to invest some time in getting their camera to work with their software. I would think that once this is working, BYN will.

[Kevinwalsh]

This sounds like the issue I was having with my D5100. Win10 'saw' the camera and a Windows folder popped up saying 'D5100'. But BYN could not find my D5100 -- until I replaced the Type II memory card with a older Type I card.  Then it found my camera right away. So... you might check that.

I posted a separate query about this.

[admin]

On 3/25/2023 at 5:27 PM, ifubiok said:

Frustrating that 40 years after the 1st IBM PC (I owned one...4.77 MHz, 640K RAM, 10MB HD! DUAL 3.5" floppies) there are still incompatibility issues.

Ah ha! I had one too... I even paid extra to get the 'Turbo' button, which boosted the MHz from 4.77 to 8.0. Boy, that is where the rubber met the road back then.

[admin]

8 hours ago, Kevinwalsh said:

This sounds like the issue I was having with my D5100. Win10 'saw' the camera and a Windows folder popped up saying 'D5100'. But BYN could not find my D5100 -- until I replaced the Type II memory card with a older Type I card.  Then it found my camera right away. So... you might check that.

I posted a separate query about this.

That is an interesting find, actually. Thanks for posting.