Customer reviews
Not good even as a toy
Review by M. G. on 17.03.2023 18:59:20( 1 / 5 )
First of all the mechanical quality is very poor. You'll get an accuracy plus minus one degree when slewing the scope. The entire head of the mount is made of metal dust. This is not a cast metal. It's very fragile and they use this material even as a friction bearing and it's getting blocked after a short use. Even the threads for the adjustment bolts are cut directly in this fragile material! The whole thing cannot be adjusted very well. The software they supply is to be downloaded from playstore and it works well only with a tablet. So if you don't own a tablet, you'll have to purchase one. The installation is awkward. If you want to use it on the computer, you have to download it from the Microsoft store!
The setup of the telescope to work with Stellarium, for example, is a rocket science. You have to purchase a special DB9-USB cable with FTDI driver. Then you have to install ascom drivers and enable net framework 3.5. Then you have to download their firmware from some forum and install it on your computer and set it up. If you are an IT specialist and manage, then it will work, but forget about the accuracy.
Just don't buy it at all.
Sanjin Kovacic
Review by S. K. on 19.10.2022 10:51:24( 1 / 5 )
Extremely unreliable mount. Sometimes impossible to connect WiFi to tablet (Android or iPad, both). Explore Stars app insecure in all three versions (Android, iPad, Windows). The serial connection breaks regularly despite the latest version of the Ascom platform and the latest version of the PMC-Eight driver. The idea for parallel connection (serial and WiFi) with 20A01.1 firmware is good, but difficult to implement due to frequent connection interruptions. In short, the mount is electronically unusable. Mechanically good for the declared load capacity. I'm thinking of changing the PMC-Eight system to the On Step solution or the standard Bresser GoTo setup for the Exos-2 with hand controller.
Headache instead of enjoying stars
Review by S. K. on 06.08.2022 13:48:56( 1 / 5 )
I have been playing with this mount for a few months and always have problems with an unstable connection (controller applications on PC) and a bad controller operating when receiving tracking pulses or exchanging the mount's info with applications. RS232 port is OK, but it seems buggy at their USB/COM inside-converter. There is no straightforward way of that connection; you have to acquire specific tweak knowledge, for example, only a specific cable-converter is suitable, or about the need to invert one of the signal lines :) Why not simply leave the native USB port or even implement Ethernet? Wifi is local and not practical unless you limit yourself to the tablet and stock software for visual spotting stars. You will not be able to access the internet if your device is connected to the controller's wifi network. It is a very old-fashion and inconvenient way of wifi connection implementation. The mount's controller wifi is a headache for astrophotographers who like to share astro data or need the internet to access the plate solvers, etc. Generally, it seems that the problem's root cause is a brand itself whose bad and buggy controller software implementation and their ASCOM driver make trouble for many customers. I have spent days reinstalling computer OS versions, drivers, and astro software, tested various cables and converters and asked many questions in forums... The mount's hardware is promising, but the software ruined everything. Remember, instead of enjoying your hobby and starry sky, you will likely dance around the setup keeping your eyes on a computer screen and tweaking everything that may help the controller to work correctly. Just read forums and their own user groups about issues on the internet. If you think of buying this mount for astrophotography or even for simple conjunction with NINA, ATP, PHD2 and similar software, think twice. I still think the purchase wasn't a mistake; it was more like an expensive tool to build an experience in fields other than astronomy and astrophotography:)
I would like to send the mount back, add some hundreds of bucks and exchange it for the known reliable mount from a well-known brand.
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