NeutronOptics - Optional High Resolution CCD

Computer and Software Requirements

All our cameras are supplied with free software that will run on even the smallest Windows, MacIntosh or Linux PCs, but a larger choice is available for Windows. You can buy a Windows-11 Pro mini-PC from as little as $200 that is more than adequate. This is a good solution even if you want to connect with WiFi (on the same network) or Ethernet rather than the usual USB-3, for which 10-20m amplified extension cables are available. The ToupTek StellaVita linux controller can also be used.

You can eventually control the camera's mini-PC by Remote Desktop from another Windows, Linux or Mac computer or even from an Android or Apple WiFi tablet. You will need a wireless keyboard and mouse, and initiually a local screen to set up your camera's mini-PC. For ease of use, use a local Windows account without a password. Open Settings > Accounts > Your info and click Sign in with a local account instead of a Microsoft account, leaving the password fields empty.

On the camera's Windows-11 Pro (not Home) remote mini-PC, enable Remote Desktop by going to Settings > System > Remote Desktop and toggling it On. Find your remote PC name or IPv4 address by opening the Command Prompt and typing ipconfig, then use one of the following local devices to control it.

Remember to set the screen resolution of your camera's mini-PC to be the same as the screen resolution of your control device, even though you will no longer need a physical screen on your remote mini-PC. You can use a dummy plug display emulator together with Remote Desktop instead of a physical screen.

Remote Desktop Control Devices

Windows local PC: Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe). Then enter the name or IP address of the remote PC.
Mac or iPad local device: Download and install the Windows App from the Mac App Store, open it, click the + (add) button, and select Add PC. Then enter the name or IP address of the remote PC.
Linux local device: Download a linux RDP client like Remmina, open it and select RDP. Then enter the name or IP address of the remote PC.
Android local device: Download the Microsoft Windows App from the Google Play Store, open it and tap the + icon to add a PC. Then enter the name or IP address of the remote PC.

If you can run Google Chrome on both devices, a simple Remote Desktop can be run as a plug-in, even with a Windows Home mini-PC. This is probably the simplest solution for tablets. It allows you to simply press the power button to boot the camera's mini-PC and then connect with Chrome Remote Desktop, all without any dialogue or mini-PC screen.

On your camera's mini-PC, open Google Chrome, enter "remotedesktop.google.com/access" in your search window, set up remote access, name your computer, and create a security PIN.
On your Android device, download the Chrome Remote Desktop app from the Google Play Store, sign in with the same Google account, select your computer, and enter your PIN. Select "Save your Pin" so that next time you connect automatically.

Third-Party Software: You can also use popular remote desktop or screen-sharing tools like Splashtop, TeamViewer, or Remio, which work on Windows Home editions of a mini-PC, without requiring Windows Pro.