StarAid Revolution Standalone Autoguiding

[Hans Tucker]

Move over Polemaster?? ..


https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/staraid-revolution-standalone-autoguiding.html?fbclid=IwAR3fBC-Pv4ZESJEOhP6ohSYshUObUzr3E3gmemcc5M UulzMFeCovYfDV7c0&___from_store=de

[jahnpahwa]

yeeouch, that seems like a lot.

Am I right in saying that its a guide camera with a processor on board that is running something akin to phd2 and sharpcap polar align?

For that same price you could get yourself a normal guide cam (smaller and lighter) and an asi air pro and have a couple of hundreds dollars left over for a worlds best cigar cutter. With that set up, while also platesolving and polar aligning, you can run your image routine, control an astro camera, store images, run and power dew control and autofocussing and just about anything else... this seems to fit in a very specific niche where you're using a dslr and intervalometer in a super stripped back rig, and therefore dont need a pc... but also have 1600AUD to spend on a guider with no plans to upgrade to an astro camera. I'm probably missing something.

It certainly looks neat, though, and I bet for some people it will be perfect. And perhaps it does much more than I am understanding! Oh, and I should mention that I am sort of becoming a fanboy of baader planetarium... i really love a lot of their stuff.

[Peter Ward]

Very impressive.

$A Price is a little eye watering.

[LewisM]

I believe one of our members in WA already has one...

[Hans Tucker]

Well it seems StarAid Revolution has gone from Revision A to Revision B ... and the price has dropped.

https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/staraid-revolution-standalone-autoguiding-revision-b.html

By Revision E it should be affordable.

[JimsShed]

Price aside, it sounds like a great product for those using DSLR's, or visual astronomers who get sick of trying to do polar alignment in a paddock. Especially so when you're in the southern hemisphere.

[gregbradley]

Amazing the gear that is available these days. Price aside, its an impressive technical feat.

Greg.

[TrevorW]

Must think all us amateurs have deep pockets :)

[AdamJL]

wait, this thing does polar aligning and autoguiding?

SIGN ME UP!!!!

I'm going to do some research on this little thing. Anything that automates this (unnecessarily) complex hobby is a great thing.

[AdamJL]

Not many reviews about, none of the bigger YouTube channels have got it yet. Would love to see this thing in action, it sounds great.

[yoda776]

Has anyone looked into this further? The device sounds vreat and teleskop express does quote

"*All mounts with an ST-4 compatible guide port and adjustable screws or knobs are supported (even single-axis tracking platforms)"

Sounds like it does autoguiding enough with any ST4 guide port and also DSLR. Keen to keep looking for more information. I was originally looking at the MGen 3 when i saw this device.

[leon]

Wow indeed, now that would be handy little device to have.

Leon

[John K]

Didn't SBIG try something similar many years ago?

http://www.atscope.com.au/sbig/smart_autoguider.htm

[RugbyRene]

I'm not sure what problem it's trying to solve. If you have the proper hardware/software you can polar align in a few mins. The claimed 30sec PA seems a little exaggerated. You still have to adjust the Alt/Az bolts to adjust your mount and that takes longer than 30sec.

[Zuts]

Its solving multistar automatic guiding without a laptop or other required software. It is the eqivalent camera to an asi290mm. It will dither if you are using a dslr for imaging.

As a bonus it will also help you to polar align.

It is controlled from your phone.

Cheers
Paul

[RugbyRene]

Yeah I'm not convinced it's any better than a traditional set-up. And we don't know what sport of sensor it is. And boy it's expensive.

[Zuts]

It looks around the same as an ASI178MM which is AUD 800 (but smaller pixels), but of course you get no WIFI with that and no software for guiding, plate solving, polar alignment and it needs a laptop to run, not just a recent phone.

Star Aid

SENSOR
Sensor

Sony IMX290LL monochrome STARVIS CMOS
Resolution

1920 x 1080 @ 12bit
QE (peak)

75%
Read noise

0.72e-
Pixel Size

2.9µm
Size

1/2.8”

ASI178MM (mono)

Sensor: 1/1.2″ CMOS IMX174LLJ / IMX174LQJ
Resolution: 2.3Mega Pixels 1936×1216
Pixel Size: 5.86µm
Exposure Range: 32µs-300s
ROI: Supported
Non-volatile memory/On camera storage: Build-in total 192K byte user-accessible space(image size up to 480X320)
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0
Bit rate: 12bit output(12bit ADC)
Adaptor: 1.25″ / M28.5X0.6
Dimension: φ36mm X 61mm
Weight: 140g
Working Temperature: -5°C—45°C
Storage Temperature: -20°C—60°C
Working Relative Humidity: 20%—80%
Storage Relative Humidity: 20%—95%
12bit

[TrevorW]

Maybe the SBig concept and possibly this device did and will not sell well due to the price. Honestly $1100 AUD before shipping you can buy two laptops for that price when even one would have more raw computer power and components than this device, by setting a price relevant to a niche market they forget that we may have disposable income in abundance but we are not easily swayed towards a product when adequate alternatives exist that are far cheaper. convince me that the benefits of this device for three times the price outweigh that of my guide camera, PHD, and a laptop I already need in the field, then I may be more keen to buy one.

[yoda776]

I woild not say we all have an abundance of disposable income but i do agree the price is somewhat prohibitive. When you can buy a good small scope for the price it seems a big ask. The standalone nature of this isthe attraction... be nice to see more features though. It is worth keeping an eye for developments.