Hello,
I just purchased an IEq45 mount. I have a couple questions for owners of this mount.
1. Is your mount excessivly noisy? Slewing it sounds like a small jet plane taking off and during tracking i can hear it from 20 foot away, no kidding... I have had both an LX200 and a cgem and they were much quieter.
2. Hand controller is excessivly slugish, the dec+ button sometimes takes may hard and long presses to get working.
3. The dec motor sounds like a telephone modem most the time.
I have put an email into ioptron tech but I want to hear some owner opinions. Most of what I have read here and other places have been positive, but after my first night with it I am less than impressed.
Periodic error is not good, backlash in dec is high (setpoint of 850). Tracking while guiding is not good, due to the high PE.
I am going to give tech support and the mount time, but it may be going back.
Thanks,
Wem
IEQ 45 Question
Started by
Wembley2000
, Sep 16 2012 03:41 PM
44 replies to this topic
#1
Wembley2000
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 420
- Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Messenger
Posted 16 September 2012 - 03:41 PM
#2
dvb
-
-
- Posts: 6,801
- Joined: 18 Jun 2005
different Syndrome.
Posted 16 September 2012 - 05:32 PM
Arrrgghhh!
I just received delivery of my iEQ45, and am still in the process of setting it up.
However, I purchased it after reading a number of threads about it on CN and elsewhere that reported it was a quiet mount.
So, I hope yours can be made quiet, and that mine is quiet to start with!
A "coffee grinder" sounding mount (like the CG5?) will not be acceptable to me. I've been pleased, sound-wise, with the 4 Skywatcher mounts I've owned, and hope the iEQ45 will be at least as quiet.
I just received delivery of my iEQ45, and am still in the process of setting it up.
However, I purchased it after reading a number of threads about it on CN and elsewhere that reported it was a quiet mount.
So, I hope yours can be made quiet, and that mine is quiet to start with!
A "coffee grinder" sounding mount (like the CG5?) will not be acceptable to me. I've been pleased, sound-wise, with the 4 Skywatcher mounts I've owned, and hope the iEQ45 will be at least as quiet.
#3
mgwhittle
-
-
- Posts: 1,901
- Joined: 24 Aug 2011
Surveyor 1
Posted 16 September 2012 - 06:07 PM
What hand controller version do you have and is your firmware up to date?
You should not hear it while tracking. Slewing can be loud but not any more so than an Orion Atlas. The newest hand controller (8407) and firmware should solve all your problems.
You should not hear it while tracking. Slewing can be loud but not any more so than an Orion Atlas. The newest hand controller (8407) and firmware should solve all your problems.
#4
Midnight Dan
-
-
- Posts: 15,827
- Joined: 23 Jan 2008
James Webb Space Telescope
Posted 16 September 2012 - 06:58 PM
If you can hear it tracking from 20 feet away I think something is wrong. Tracking should be nearly silent. During slews, mine makes some noise but I'd call it average for what I've heard from mounts. Not particularly loud or quiet.
-Dan
-Dan
#5
Wembley2000
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 420
- Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Messenger
Posted 16 September 2012 - 07:03 PM
Thanks.
DVB,I hope yours is quiet. Like you I havent read to much about the noise and almost all I've heard has been good. Let us know how yours turns out.
mgwhittle, I have the 8407 controller. I checked the firmware lastnight and I think it is the newest versions, I will check them again tonight and write them down to make sure, and update if needed.
Wem
DVB,I hope yours is quiet. Like you I havent read to much about the noise and almost all I've heard has been good. Let us know how yours turns out.
mgwhittle, I have the 8407 controller. I checked the firmware lastnight and I think it is the newest versions, I will check them again tonight and write them down to make sure, and update if needed.
Wem
#6
mgwhittle
-
-
- Posts: 1,901
- Joined: 24 Aug 2011
Surveyor 1
Posted 16 September 2012 - 08:44 PM
Thanks.
DVB,I hope yours is quiet. Like you I havent read to much about the noise and almost all I've heard has been good. Let us know how yours turns out.
mgwhittle, I have the 8407 controller. I checked the firmware lastnight and I think it is the newest versions, I will check them again tonight and write them down to make sure, and update if needed.
Wem
I was hoping you had the older hand controller and associated firmware. When I updated to the new hand controller (and required mainboard, RA and DEC board upgrade), my mount got quieter when slewing. Not that it was any louder than other mounts before, but I did notice a difference in motor noise. Ioptron has excellent customer service, I have no doubt they can get your mount running like it should be.
#7
dvb
-
-
- Posts: 6,801
- Joined: 18 Jun 2005
different Syndrome.
Posted 17 September 2012 - 03:05 AM
Mine is disappointingly noisy during slewing, but quiet when tracking.
I just had it mounted with an ED80, so no taxing weight.
I tried setting the slewing rate to 4 and 5, but that didn't make any difference to the sound. I stopped, because I didn't want to bother the neighbours.
I wonder if there is more adjustment I can make to the slewing rate to quiet it down?
Too bad if this noise becomes a deal breaker - there is a lot to like about this mount.
I just had it mounted with an ED80, so no taxing weight.
I tried setting the slewing rate to 4 and 5, but that didn't make any difference to the sound. I stopped, because I didn't want to bother the neighbours.
I wonder if there is more adjustment I can make to the slewing rate to quiet it down?
Too bad if this noise becomes a deal breaker - there is a lot to like about this mount.
#8
orlyandico
-
-
- Posts: 9,916
- Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Cosmos
Posted 17 September 2012 - 03:08 AM
i was surprised at how noisy the Mach1 is when slewing... (not mine, i don't have one, but a neighboring imager at a dark sky site did)
so i guess if the $$spendy$$ mount is noisy when slewing, they all would be.
so i guess if the $$spendy$$ mount is noisy when slewing, they all would be.
#9
dvb
-
-
- Posts: 6,801
- Joined: 18 Jun 2005
different Syndrome.
Posted 17 September 2012 - 05:54 AM
Tomorrow I'll drill down in the menu and try to alter the slew rate. Page 31 of the manual says:
"5.10. Set Slewing Rate
You can select the maximum GOTO speed to be 128X, 256X, 512X, or MAX. The slower the speed, the quieter the motors run."
"5.10. Set Slewing Rate
You can select the maximum GOTO speed to be 128X, 256X, 512X, or MAX. The slower the speed, the quieter the motors run."
#10
Wembley2000
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 420
- Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Messenger
Posted 17 September 2012 - 07:26 AM
I checked the firmware last night, HC needed updated, after updating there was no improvement. Hoping to hear back from tech support today. I can stand the loud slews but the loud tracking is pretty distracting.
Using Starry night pro plus for mount control via the serial port on the mount lastnight....whenever I slewed to an object via software the pointer in software would stop short of the object in software and in space. if I manually slewed to the object the pointer in software would move to the object. Also whenever I used the move buttons in software the scope would only move in one direction no matter what button I pressed. This program has worked great with my other mounts.
dvb, glad to hear (or not hear
) yours is quiet while tracking.
Wem
Using Starry night pro plus for mount control via the serial port on the mount lastnight....whenever I slewed to an object via software the pointer in software would stop short of the object in software and in space. if I manually slewed to the object the pointer in software would move to the object. Also whenever I used the move buttons in software the scope would only move in one direction no matter what button I pressed. This program has worked great with my other mounts.
dvb, glad to hear (or not hear
) yours is quiet while tracking.
Wem
#11
CounterWeight
-
-
- Posts: 11,329
- Joined: 05 Oct 2008
Star walker
Posted 17 September 2012 - 12:56 PM
I would say mine middle of the road slew wise - pretty quiet while tracking, but my mach1 isn't exactly quiet either when I slew (cant hear it tracking by comparison). Are loaded up with the gear in your sigline?
#12
dvb
-
-
- Posts: 6,801
- Joined: 18 Jun 2005
different Syndrome.
Posted 17 September 2012 - 01:40 PM
OK, changing the slew rate seems to have solved my problem with noisy slewing.
The scope had been set by default to "MAX", which was too noisy for me.
The other choices are 128x, 256x and 512x. 128x was very quiet, but too slow.
I'll settle at either 256x or 512x, both of which are acceptable, if not exactly the "Goldilocks" position of perfect compromise between noise and speed.
Alignment and target acquisition seem quite good, but more testing is needed.
So, this is with the 80ED. Next up will be the 8" f/4 CF Newt, and then the real test, the 10" f/4.5 Newt (48" long, and about 30 lb.).
Wem, it does sound like you may have some QC problems with your sample. I hope iOptron can sort them out.
The scope had been set by default to "MAX", which was too noisy for me.
The other choices are 128x, 256x and 512x. 128x was very quiet, but too slow.
I'll settle at either 256x or 512x, both of which are acceptable, if not exactly the "Goldilocks" position of perfect compromise between noise and speed.
Alignment and target acquisition seem quite good, but more testing is needed.
So, this is with the 80ED. Next up will be the 8" f/4 CF Newt, and then the real test, the 10" f/4.5 Newt (48" long, and about 30 lb.).
Wem, it does sound like you may have some QC problems with your sample. I hope iOptron can sort them out.
#13
Wembley2000
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 420
- Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Messenger
Posted 17 September 2012 - 01:49 PM
I would say mine middle of the road slew wise - pretty quiet while tracking, but my mach1 isn't exactly quiet either when I slew (cant hear it tracking by comparison). Are loaded up with the gear in your sigline?
No I only have at most 10lbs on the mount, at65edq and mini guidescope.
Dvb, glad to hear you have found a happy place.
Wem
#14
orlyandico
-
-
- Posts: 9,916
- Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Cosmos
Posted 17 September 2012 - 02:01 PM
512x is pretty good. the atlas slews at a maximum of 800x.
and the luckless folks with Takahashi Temma2 Jr. slew at... 120x.
and the luckless folks with Takahashi Temma2 Jr. slew at... 120x.
#15
Renae Gage
-
-
- Posts: 1,424
- Joined: 13 Dec 2005
Apollo
Posted 17 September 2012 - 11:21 PM
512x is pretty good. the atlas slews at a maximum of 800x.
and the luckless folks with Takahashi Temma2 Jr. slew at... 120x.
Of all the things I've felt while watching my Tak slew, luckless is not one of them.
#16
orlyandico
-
-
- Posts: 9,916
- Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Cosmos
Posted 18 September 2012 - 12:11 AM
hahahahaha good one Eric.
actually my AP600 GoTo conversion slews at 160X which is quite close to the luckless Temma2 Jr.
my point simply was there are folks out there even with high-end stuff like Tak who live with low slew speeds. But you have a Temma2, so you don't need to watch it slew at 120X.
actually my AP600 GoTo conversion slews at 160X which is quite close to the luckless Temma2 Jr.
my point simply was there are folks out there even with high-end stuff like Tak who live with low slew speeds. But you have a Temma2, so you don't need to watch it slew at 120X.
#17
melinda fry
-
-
- Posts: 146
- Joined: 28 Apr 2010
Vostok 1
Posted 18 September 2012 - 02:56 AM
Hi all
My mount is fine when tracking, But very noisy when going to the object. So bad that it's sets next door dog of barking and the dog at the bottom of our garden.
I sold mine and just got the skywatcher NEQ6 mount now it's nice and quiet.
My mount is fine when tracking, But very noisy when going to the object. So bad that it's sets next door dog of barking and the dog at the bottom of our garden.
I sold mine and just got the skywatcher NEQ6 mount now it's nice and quiet.
#18
orlyandico
-
-
- Posts: 9,916
- Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Cosmos
Posted 18 September 2012 - 04:37 AM
that's funny. i can imagine a comedy show when the mount starts slewing and then all the neighborhood dogs start howling and barking.
but really, is it that bad? seems a bit unbelievable.
well the Tak mounts and NEQ6 are stepper mounts (same as my AP600 conversion) and yes they're quiet.
As an added bonus, stepper motors are pretty much indestructible. My AP600's stock motors were made in 1981. And still worked.
Servo motors if they are stalled / jammed and the motor control circuit is not properly done, you can burn out either the motor or the circuit (a known problem on CGEM's).
but really, is it that bad? seems a bit unbelievable.
well the Tak mounts and NEQ6 are stepper mounts (same as my AP600 conversion) and yes they're quiet.
As an added bonus, stepper motors are pretty much indestructible. My AP600's stock motors were made in 1981. And still worked.
Servo motors if they are stalled / jammed and the motor control circuit is not properly done, you can burn out either the motor or the circuit (a known problem on CGEM's).
#19
dvb
-
-
- Posts: 6,801
- Joined: 18 Jun 2005
different Syndrome.
Posted 18 September 2012 - 10:16 AM
It could be that bad if the slewing speed is left at the default setting of Max.
I also have a Skywatcher NEQ6, which is quieter, and a real stalwart - but, also a lot heavier, and lacks some of the tricks of the iEQ45, like an adjustable brightness polar scope reticle.
I also have a Skywatcher NEQ6, which is quieter, and a real stalwart - but, also a lot heavier, and lacks some of the tricks of the iEQ45, like an adjustable brightness polar scope reticle.
#20
rmollise
-
-
- Posts: 24,234
- Joined: 06 Jul 2007
ISS
Posted 18 September 2012 - 10:54 AM
The most recent EQ-6es do have an adjustment for the reticle illuminator.
#21
Wembley2000
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 420
- Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Messenger
Posted 18 September 2012 - 11:22 AM
Well tech support got back with me and said some are loud and some are quiet.......maybe after usage it will quiet down.
No quite what I was expecting, looks like I got a loud one.
Wem
No quite what I was expecting, looks like I got a loud one.
Wem
#22
dvb
-
-
- Posts: 6,801
- Joined: 18 Jun 2005
different Syndrome.
Posted 18 September 2012 - 11:27 AM
The most recent EQ-6es do have an adjustment for the reticle illuminator.
Glad to hear. I do think Skywatcher has some catching up to do with some of the innovations of iOptron. I hope to do a comparison between the NEQ-6 and iEQ45 at some point.
I still haven't decided whether to hang on to the NEQ6 - it will depend on whether the iEQ45 really can carry my 10" f/4.5 Newt (at 48" and 30 lb.) with the same aplomb as the NEQ6.
Also, I'm unsure of the cold weather performance of the iEQ45 - the specs say it's good to -20ยบ C, and the hand controller seems to have a built-in warming function.
#23
simpleisbetter
-
-
- Posts: 1,848
- Joined: 18 Apr 2011
Surveyor 1
Posted 18 September 2012 - 11:27 AM
Hmm, not encouraging. I've been watching this mount and considering as an Atlas alternative if I ever need to upgrade. But based on that comment, I think I'd stay with an Atlas, or perhaps a GM8.
#24
Wembley2000
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 420
- Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Messenger
Posted 18 September 2012 - 12:07 PM
When I get home tonight I will just let it run around each axis a few times unloaded at max speed to see if I can loosen it up a bit, maybe it is just tight.
Wem
Wem
#25
dvb
-
-
- Posts: 6,801
- Joined: 18 Jun 2005
different Syndrome.
Posted 18 September 2012 - 04:11 PM
Mine was more quiet last night, tracking with the 8" f/4 Newt, than it was on the first night, with the 80mm refractor. Tracking was essentially silent. Not sure if that was just because it had run in a bit, or because of the greater weight of the 200mm Newt over the 80 mm refractor.
CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.
Recent Topics
-
Northern Lights Livonia Michigan 5-10-24EclipsingBinary - Today, 10:30 AM
DSLR, Mirrorless & General-Purpose Digital Camera DSO Imaging
-
Solar Eclipse Photo
EclipsingBinary - Today, 10:19 AM
DSLR, Mirrorless & General-Purpose Digital Camera DSO Imaging
-
-
44parts Sun mosaic (H-alpha) + AR3664 on May 11th, 2024
AstroTafelberg - Today, 10:13 AM
Solar Observing and Imaging
-
2 notable features at the terminator at 16% crescent: Rheita E and BurckhardtCHnuschti - Today, 10:02 AM
Lunar Observing and Imaging
-
-
-
Staying with the old or getting something new.
FCervini - Today, 09:33 AM
Beginners Forum (No Astrophotography)
-
Canon T8i shutter failureEricTheCat - Today, 09:28 AM
DSLR, Mirrorless & General-Purpose Digital Camera DSO Imaging
-
