17 replies to this topic

[view_into_space]

If you are interested in the best all-integrated Mini-Computer / Power Hub / Sky Monitor and more - then have a look at my hands-on, in-depth review of the brand new PrimaLuce Eagle 5: https://youtu.be/HGyrsEsQEpE

[Wow!]

Thanks for the video. I noticed in another hands-on that the Windows user account is PrimaLuceLab. Do they own the Windows license? Can we log in with our own account instead (like any other Windows machine?)

[Bruce K]

Where are good tutorials on adding software and configuring the Eagle to my set-up

 

Bruce

[essence3d]

Did you ever find tutorials you were looking for Mariner?

[Rasfahan]

Did you ever find tutorials you were looking for Mariner?

It is just a usual PC, the same mainboard as a NUC. There is some additional hardware (switchable USB- and powerports, GPS, sky brightness meter) that can be accessed by preinstalled ASCOM drivers. For installing more software follow the instructions of that software.

[lumos]

I have often considered buying an Eagle computer but I have never seen anyone test how the performance of the machine manifests itself with the performance of the usual astro apps. I see that Sascha chose the Eagle 5 Pro with a Core i5 but would the Ryzen based Eagle 5 XTM give a perceptibly faster experience. I would never do any processing on the Eagle, just run NINA, ASTAP, plate solving and the 10Micron apps. I chose a mini PC with a Ryzen 9, fast disc, thunderbolt 4 and  a fair chunk of RAM. This machine is screaming fast and even a blind plate solve is more or less instant. The embarrassment is that I also use my ASI Plus solely to provide power the camera and to control the dew heaters. 

 

I am building my mobile wide field system and I could use my second ASI Air plus but I really love NINA so I am considering another PC solution. I know that Primalucelabs provide a graph showing the increase in performance of all their machines but how does that really translate into real world experience.I realise that many people are using very low power PCs and seem happy so what I am looking for are those that upgraded and experienced either no change in performance or a significant change.

[Rasfahan]

I have the Eagle 4 (non S/XTM/LE/whatever). It‘s fast enough for anything I do with it. I upgraded the RAM to 16GB to be sure not to run into any bottlenecks with a dual-scope setup where I have to run two instances of NINA or Voyager. I prefer the lower power consumption compared to the Eagle 5 because I often run this setup on batteries.

 

On my permanent setup I have a NUC 13 - extremely fast, but also power hungry. It makes some UI interactions somewhat snappier and is also fast enough to have some preprocessing done before data transfer. For the normal control and maintenance of the setup the difference is negligible.

Edited by Rasfahan, 29 February 2024 - 07:06 AM.

[lumos]

I have the Eagle 4 (non S/XTM/LE/whatever). It‘s fast enough for anything I do with it. I upgraded the RAM to 16GB to be sure not to run into any bottlenecks with a dual-scope setup where I have to run two instances of NINA or Voyager. I prefer the lower power consumption compared to the Eagle 5 because I often run this setup on batteries.

 

On my permanent setup I have a NUC 13 - extremely fast, but also power hungry. It makes some UI interactions somewhat snappier and is also fast enough to have some preprocessing done before data transfer. For the normal control and maintenance of the setup the difference is negligible.

They are some interesting data points. What is the processor in the NUC13? They built some pretty powerful ones if I recall.

[Rasfahan]

They are some interesting data points. What is the processor in the NUC13? They built some pretty powerful ones if I recall.

The processor in my NUC13 is a i7-1360P, it has 32GB Ram. That is total overkill for just a mount computer. I use it to do preprocessing (i. e. WBPP) before I transfer the finished masters only because the ops PC has a rather slow data connection.

 

As even a Raspberry Pi is powerful enough to run a full-fledged imaging solution such as KStars/INDI/Ekos/PHD you really don't need to worry about any x86-based solution. I find the PLL Eagle a bit of an indulgence because of the high price - but the build quality is good.

[area51x]

I too have been debating getting the Eagle 5 Pro version but trying to figure what the real advantage is for a permanent observatory setup. I already use Voyager for my astroimaging and would not use their Play software. Does the aluminum case offer any kind of water/weather protection? The truly unique features appear to be the sky monitor, altitude detector and motion sensor. Everything else could probably be done by a much cheaper NUC. The advertising image on their website showing the alternative of a person using a laptop supported on a stand is very misleading. Most people probably aren't doing that. The real alternative is people using their own NUC with something like a Pegasus UPB for power management. The Eagle appears to combine these two gadgets (NUC and powerbox) into one convenient package. I also would not be using it for any processing. Is $1900 worth it? I'm assuming that doesn't include the cost of the power supply and their proprietary cables. If money was no object, sure why not. It looks cool and combines a bunch of separate capabilities into one box that can be mounted directly to your scope. The tinkerer in me just wonders if I could just build something like this myself.

[lumos]

I have ended up with the Eagle 5 XTM. Let me try and answer your questions. I use NINA so also do not use their Play software, in any case it probably is for the first time imager. The aluminium case does not provide any weather proofing but it is a structural element so currently the Eagle sits in the saddle on the mount and the tube rings are bolted to the top of the Eagle. 

 

Personally I am not that interested in the sky monitor as I use a cloud watcher that gives me that, the inclinometer is not that useful for me and the motion sensor would me were it to let me view the detections across the imaging session or undertake logic based on its, perhaps I have missed how to do this. 

 

You certainly can do everything with a cheaper mini-PC and a powerbox.

 

For me it has surpassed my expectations, it does a perfect job of giving solid power to each of its outputs, switch them from the app, change the voltages and name them. Similarly I really appreciate being able to cycle my USB ports and label them. I have their beefy power supply going into the Eagle and the mount, focusser, camera, dew heaters, filter wheel, OAG camera is powered from the various outputs. I also have their add on module that controls the dew heaters based on the current temperature, OTA temperature and dew point. It has probably reduced my dew heating by 95%.

 

There are tons of design features that add to its value. It has become another element of astrophotography that has disappeared into the background. It never gives me any drama and I appreciate good support from Primaluce Labs. For my other rig I use a mini-PC that uses a more powerful Ryzen chip and cost a fraction of the Eagle XTM. That does its job equally well as a PC but when it come to replacing it I would get another Eagle 5 XTM.

 

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[area51x]

Thanks that was helpful. I'm really interested in the sky quality "EYE" feature. I also have a lunatico cloudwatcher system but that's fixed. There are many times that the cloudwatcher is giving me a "clear" sky reading but i lost tracking because my guide scope is seeing transient clouds not picked up by the cloudwatcher. It would be nice to pause imaging based on the EYE readings. Does anyone have experience doing this? 

 

I guess same question with the altitude sensor. I'm imaging using this in Voyager to confirm the scope is parked before closing my shed roof.

[flamidey]

Thanks that was helpful. I'm really interested in the sky quality "EYE" feature. I also have a lunatico cloudwatcher system but that's fixed. There are many times that the cloudwatcher is giving me a "clear" sky reading but i lost tracking because my guide scope is seeing transient clouds not picked up by the cloudwatcher. It would be nice to pause imaging based on the EYE readings. Does anyone have experience doing this? 

 

I guess same question with the altitude sensor. I'm imaging using this in Voyager to confirm the scope is parked before closing my shed roof.

AFAIK, PLL does not provide an ASCOM driver for the EYE as a safety monitor.

You'd have to use a third party plugin (https://www.dehilste...fetymonitor.php). That will allow NINA to use the Environment sensor of the Eagle as a a Safety monitor.

I find it a bit annoying for such a high end solution not to provide that functionality.  
You can see how to set it up in Sascha's View into Space video : https://youtu.be/106...XLGpWULN8kazQH1

[dflipp]

I have an Eagle 4S and am quite happy with it, but I wonder if having it mounted under or over the telescope might cause issues from the heat it produces being so close to the optics.

[Bruce K]

I have an Eagle 4S and am quite happy with it, but I wonder if having it mounted under or over the telescope might cause issues from the heat it produces being so close to the optics.

I mount my Eagle 5 on top of the scope's top dove plate. I would think this would allow any heat dissipation to rise, thus not affecting the scope or optics.

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[lumos]

The Eagle 5 computers have active cooling and it ejects the heat to from the side. There is a weight limit for having the OTA mounted on top.

[MirfakMintaka]

Still fairly new to astroimaging, with an Eagle 5 PRO used on my remotely hosted SkyWatcher Esprit 120 ED rig. Based on my experience so far, I'm in complete agreement with the "lumos" comment dated 7/31/2024. I'm not a builder/tinkerer by any stretch of the imagination, so this computer was the ideal solution for me.

 

That being said, my rig has undergone some teething pains, and I recently brought it home for extensive testing. (We've enjoyed unusually clear nighttime skies on the CA Central Coast this season.) Upon startup, the Eagle's hard drive is operating, but it's not completing the boot-up procedure. I contacted PLL's customer support, which replied immediately (on a Sunday morning!) with instructions for sending the unit to the factory for evaluation and repair. I also received prompt service for a password reset last summer. From my perspective, it's three cheers for PLL's support team thus far, and it certainly adds value to the product.

 

I'll update this post when the repair has been completed.

[MirfakMintaka]

Still fairly new to astroimaging, with an Eagle 5 PRO used on my remotely hosted SkyWatcher Esprit 120 ED rig. Based on my experience so far, I'm in complete agreement with the "lumos" comment dated 7/31/2024. I'm not a builder/tinkerer by any stretch of the imagination, so this computer was the ideal solution for me.

 

That being said, my rig has undergone some teething pains, and I recently brought it home for extensive testing. (We've enjoyed unusually clear nighttime skies on the CA Central Coast this season.) Upon startup, the Eagle's hard drive is operating, but it's not completing the boot-up procedure. I contacted PLL's customer support, which replied immediately (on a Sunday morning!) with instructions for sending the unit to the factory for evaluation and repair. I also received prompt service for a password reset last summer. From my perspective, it's three cheers for PLL's support team thus far, and it certainly adds value to the product.

 

I'll update this post when the repair has been completed.

My Eagle 5 repair went very well. I took it to UPS on a Monday morning, and got it back the following Saturday. The culprit was a faulty RAM card, which was replaced and subjected to a rigorous overnight test. The device is working perfectly. Although it was a few months out of warranty, I was given a very reasonable accommodation on the price. Many thanks to Tom and Filippo on the PLL support staff for a prompt, professional repair experience. If you give customer support a substantial weighting when considering a new telescope computer, I can recommend PLL without hesitation.