14 replies to this topic

[dipping grizzly]

I've been searching for a decent used EQ GOTO mount for about one year now...with no success.  It's clear now that unless I search the used classifieds on a 24/7 basis everyday then it's almost impossible to Land any decent mount. I'm always a day late or a dollar short. Therefore, I decided to just go for a brand new mount which is only a little more than a used one anyway.

 

I have a strict budget of $800 and the timeless advice of, "Just be patient and save up more for a better mount" does not apply in my case, for now.

 

My plans for a payload includes a lightweight 80mm short tube refractor with a guidescope, a guide camera, and DSLR, as well as, a heavier setup which includes a 4.5"  f/4 newt astrograph with the same guidescope and cameras attached. This larger and heavier setup tips the scales at around 9 lbs.

Will probably be using the heavier setup the vast majority of the time for both EAA and AP.

 

My initial thoughts for mounts are the Explore Scientific IEXOS-100 or the Celestron AVX.  Does anyone have experience with these mounts for the payloads I'm considering?  Will I be overbearing the IEXOS mount with this setup since it only comes with 4.5 lb counterweights and i would have add additional counterweight to the system?

 

Are there any other mounts within my budget that I should consider?

Edited by dipping grizzly, 28 March 2023 - 01:30 PM.

[James Peirce]

The AVX is in your budget? Only downside I can think of for it in this scenario is that it doesn’t have a great track record on reliability (based on general reports and what I’ve heard form folks I know who have had one).

If you push toward the MSRP of the AVX it seems like some passable options open up for you. But at $800 new, it doesn’t sound, to me, like a great arrangement for imaging using the equipment you listed. GoTo mounts in this price range are lite capacity.

Rather than watch the classifieds for a listing, why not post a wanted ad instead? Have someone come to you instead of sorting whether you want to buy a listing when someone may contact to buy it quickly. A used, good mount (always a bit of risk buying used mounts, in my opinion, but in ways that is true of budget mounts as well) likely puts something more capable into your price range vs buying new.

[Devonshire]

Grizzly,

 

The iExos-100 is inexpensive compared to what many here recommend, so there aren't a lot of iExos-100 owners here.  Most, I think, are over at the PMC8 support forum, so if you want to do due dilingence, you could check it out: 

 

https://espmc-eight.groups.io/g/MAIN

 

If you want a bit more carrying capacity within your budget, you could also look for a used Exos2 PMC8. 

 

Some of the iExos owner posts I see on the forum, will upgrade from the light (ST1, I think) tripod to an ST2 or St3, or a pier for carrying Maks and larger payloads.  Apart from the light tripod, it's basically "the little engine that could".  I wonder if your Newt would be a bit of an edge case, but do ask an owner.  I have the iExos's older cousin (EXOS2 PMC8), and FWIW, it's fine with my Newt.  

 

These mounts can perform very well for both visual and guided AP use cases, but do not be surprised if they need some mechanical TLC from time to time, and a bit of thought on your control software options.

 

Hope this helps...

[JoanneC]

I had an iExos-100, which I used with my AT60ED, guide scope, ASIAir and ASI533MC Pro. 

The mount itself handled that payload with no issues at all, but the included tripod is definitely the weak link.

I mounted mine on an Innorel RT90C tripod, which worked very well.

Also, I purchased an additional counterweight on AliExpress, which brought the total used to 3 weights.

 

I used this combination for EAA and it did very well, goto's using the ASIAir and plate solving were always spot on.

Tracking was always good for my needs.

 

I did not mount any larger scopes on it, but I can't see where it would have any issues with the 4.25 f/4 OTA.

 

I definitely suggest that you check out the PMC8 support forum as suggested above.

Lots of good information there.

 

Clear skies

[Lizardman]

Az- Gti

[dipping grizzly]

Sounds like I'm probably "spitting in the wind" going with any mount lesser than HEQ5 with a small newt.  I'm hoping not to spend the next two years with my kiddy toy mount and sub twenty second exposures with no way to guide

I'll have to try a lesser mount and use the lighter weight 80mm setup. But, like James said above, the AVX may be problematic. Not sure if most software will even work with it. Celestron has really dropped the ball over the years with it's quality.

 

I would like to try the IEXOS-100, but really disappointed with explore scientific for not including a Azimuth adjustment or polar scope. And the ones they do supply are sub-standard...the polar scope would seem difficult to align correctly being off axis.

But, I suppose we have to sacrifice something for paying a low price for these.

 

 

As for tripods, I have a couple of homemade wooden tripods, that are rock steady, to retrofit instead of the flimsy stock ones.

Edited by dipping grizzly, 29 March 2023 - 12:53 AM.

[dnrmilspec]

Sounds like I'm probably "spitting in the wind" going with any mount lesser than HEQ5 with a small newt.  I'm hoping not to spend the next two years with my kiddy toy mount and sub twenty second exposures with no way to guide

I'll have to try a lesser mount and use the lighter weight 80mm setup. But, like James said above, the AVX may be problematic. Not sure if most software will even work with it. Celestron has really dropped the ball over the years with it's quality.

I disagree that Celestron has dropped its quality.  I have had excellent CGEM and CGEMII mounts.  The AVX is pretty good for the price. 

 

There is a CGEM and  a couple of AVX's in your price range. 

 

What part of the world are you in?

 

[JamesTX]

I generally recommend against the AVX and advocate for saving/spending more.. but if the budget is indeed that fixed.. and AVX can get it done if your image scale is around 2 arc seconds.

 

I picked up my AVX in 2017 and imaged with it for a couple years before switching to an EQ6.  A couple of months ago I started using the AVX again with a small refractor.. and its actually running better than I remember.  Maybe having a few more years worth of experience has helped. 

That said.. I do believe a new AVX is over your stated budget of $800.

[Devonshire]

I would like to try the IEXOS-100, but really disappointed with explore scientific for not including a Azimuth adjustment or polar scope. 

Grizzly,

 

Agreed, ES should now be bundling the AZ adjuster but in fairness it did come later, in response to market demand and support forum discussions.  It was quite literally an upgrade to the original offering, because the original ST1 tripod lacked the fin or peg for an AZ adjuster to push against and that was a prerequisite that needed to be resolved. 

 

As to the polar scope, I suppose there must be some demand for that, but IMO it's a legacy feature anyway and not needed.  If you're doing visual, "the tunnel" is probably good enough, and if you're doing AP, you'll soon want to do your PA with your guidescope and one of the polar-alignment-via-plate-solving software tools.  

Edited by Devonshire, 29 March 2023 - 08:35 AM.

[lcaldero]

Perhaps the Skywatch Star-Adventure GTI - you can get it without a tripod which would allow for accessories such as upgrading the saddle. Skywatcher is also having a sale — the SW EQ-M35i is priced at $750 during the sale - https://www.highpoin...unt-wifi-s30505. Has higher payload than the SA.

 

Both of these are back ordered. But might be worth waiting for.

 

good luck,

Laura

Edited by lcaldero, 29 March 2023 - 11:19 AM.

[Voyager_sr2]

I was using SW AZ-GTi with 10 lb payload and it was providing good results (100% consistent 120 sec guided frames, but not that consistent for longer exposures). I am not sure if my sample was better than average. If you can get EQM-35 below $800 - it will be a better choice though.

[Mojave Red]

I bought the iExos-100-2 because it was cheap and I didn't want to break the bank that also has to support numerous other toys.  It has worked well for EAA.  The standard tripod is definitely the weak link.  I mitigated its flexibility by retracting the lower leg sections to less than half of their fully extended length.  This steadies things up nicely.  Since I'm not doing visual, I don't need the scope to be at eye-height.

 

Wes McDonald recently added the capability to make a serial connection to the mount via Bluetooth, eliminating the need for a control cable to connect the mount to the mini-PC.  The less cabling the better.

 

My setup required 4 of the standard counterweights.  So, it's pushing the max capacity of the mount.  But, it seems to run very smoothly and track well.  Now, if I could just get ASTAP to plate solve consistently all would be right with the world.

[SilverLitz]

Do not forget about the larger EXOS2-PMC8 mount.  It comes with a better tripod and the mount is also more capable, it should be able to handle most 100mm APOs for AP.  I feel it will be worth the modest cost increase over the iEXOS-100.  The mount head is similar to the AVX, but it corrects the AVX's big deficiency, the EXOS2-PMC8 has real bearings on the DEC axis.  It also adds a smoother belt drive, which is an after market add-on for an AVX.

[hcf]

A budget option is to buy a EXOS 2 manual mount and add ONSTEP yourself for tracking/guiding.

 

https://www.aliexpre...4665550278.html

 

About $540 (cheaper when there is a deal) for the manual mount. Building your own ONSTEP will be around $100-$150 for motors and electronics.

 

If you are not comfortable building your own electronics there are also the new ONSTEP kits, but they are very new, and the jury is still out on how good they are for AP.

 

https://www.aliexpre...4551025009.html

Edited by hcf, 31 March 2023 - 02:12 PM.

[jml79]

The EQM-35 should be able to handle those loads and fit your budget. It's one of the few options with 20+ pounds capacity and under $1000. Like many others, I would recommend saving a bit more but if you are willing to take it apart, clean it and spend the time setting it up, it does well. Mine can guide down to 0.7 arcseconds but usually hovers between 1-1.2. It's a bit hard to balance because like many mount in this price range it doesn't have bearings. The tripod is sturdy, it comes with 2x7.5lb weights and after tuning is a decent mount. USB connection on the handset that works plus it is compatible with the ton of cheap FTDI cables available for Sky-Watcher mounts (these eliminate the handset when using a computer). Works with EQMOD and Green Swamp Server.

 

It's really the baby in the range. It works just like any of the larger mounts and uses the same goto system etc. It's not perfect, but it can be adequate and once sorted is a lot of mount for your money.