Ioptron GOTO anyone using one?

[PeterO]

Greetings all,

I'm thinking of ordering one of these iOptron - GoTo Conversion Kit for EQ5, GP & CG5 Mounts has anyone used one/got one that might like to comment on before I purchase?

cheers, Peter

[Ian Robinson]

Don't have one - but checked out the product , looks OK.

Is the gearing right (144:1) though ? I see no mention of gearing in the specs for the conversion kit. Their SmartStar PR GOTO EQ MT looks like a CG5 clone.

If you don't mind me asking , what was the quote to get a kit ?

I've an old CG5 that I use as camera platform that I might "upgrade" one day to goto and to do autoguiding.

[netwolf]

On the CN NEAF review pages there is a picture of a new cube that can handle 25lbs. I think jjjnete has one and so does Alan so perhaps they can provide some feedback.

New Cube "Mini Tower"
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2357236/page/3/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1
http://www.gotonova.com/Chinese/ProductShow.asp?ArticleID=161

Regards
Fahim

[wasyoungonce]

Hi Peter.

I have the Gotostar (an RS232 version) of the Gotonova USB system.

Gotostar was made and sold by njidea (China) but this company now sells it's stuff thru iOptron.

The system works a treat and the handset is a pleasure to use and it tracks targets very accurately. It doesn't provide alot of data about target objects (edit ie: info about what the object is) but it does have a list of targets that you could never get thru all of them. The only trouble the kits appear to have is that the company iOptron took ages to fix the ASCOM drivers. They now work well for the gotostar systems but there are still some issues with the gotonova systems. This system would make a good update to a vixen GP2D mount or a good EQ5 mount.

The gotostar ststem can use pulse guiding for auto guiding with ASCOM where as the gotonova is supposed to have a HBX type port for auto guiding...I don't know how that works. In any case the gotostar will accept auto guide com port commands (in it's RS232 connector)...edit...., commands like Me#, Mw#, Ms#, Mn# (move east, west...yada yada) and Qe#, Qw#, Qs# and Qn# (stop move east, west yada yada)) from guiders like the TV guider:

http://foto.astronomy.cz/TVGuider.htm

Although that said if you want accurate auto guiding then the CG5 is probably not the best mount to use!

Martin (user mill (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=1419)) also has the same gotostar kit as me...but his CG5 mount is alot better then mine. My CG5 mount is poor.

Martin purchased his kit from njidea in China directly and saved quite a bit of money. Best to ask him about that.

Here is the gotostar yahoo group:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ideaxuwen/

Here is the iOptron yahoo group:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ioptron/

If you want more info or to see the system up and running then all you need to do is...call!...I'm in Lilydale Melbourne and Mill is only a few klms from me.

[PeterO]

Hi all,

thanks for the replies, I am still wading through the tech groups to get a handle on the ascom driver problem.

Was Young Once I may well take you up on the kind offer.

Optcorp in the states have them for USD$431 plus $20 shipping, which seems to be the same as the factory direct price.

cheers peter

[Ian Robinson]

I saw that , I was wondering what the local rep's price was ?

[wasyoungonce]

Sirius Optics are the Australian reps and an iOptron CG5 mount plus gotonova system is (called the Smart star mount) $1025..ouch!

http://www.sirius-optics.com/ioptron_mount.htm

They don't seem to mention that you can buy the gotonova system without the mount:
http://www.sirius-optics.com/ioptron_access.htm

I think Martin (user mill (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=1419)) paid around $660 Aust delivered (that was about 6 months ago) and I think he (though not sure) sourced his from:

http://njnorth.en.alibaba.com/product/200018071/51938775/telescope_binoculars/Auto_Goto_Star_Kits.html

He also got a GPS with his kit.:thumbsup:

If you can source it from the iOptron site, due to exchange rate then you are looking at around $476....not bad! See if you can snag a GPS with the deal;).

If you want the RS232 gotostar, then I think the only place you can get one is from China...the Chinese link above or here:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr

If your worried about older RS232 support, the gotostar RS232 works a treat with a USB to RS232 converter cable. But if I had the choice now I'd get the gotonova USB version.