What do you think about ASIMount integrated with ASIAIR?: Page 3

What do you think about ASIMount integrated with ASIAIR?

talktogreg

jimw85044 I agree with you for larger mounts like the AM5(N), as flexibility is valuable, but for a smaller grab-n-go mount, it'd still be useful, especially as a easier 'step-up' point. If you think about the $$ difference between a S50 and AM3+OTA etc - there's a huge gap here not currently filled by ZWO.

RobPettengill

I expect a mount to have a lot longer life than the controller pc, where technology advances more quickly. Adding the ASIAIR to the mount would only make those mounts need replacement more quickly. Why give the 2k$ part the lifetime of the 0.3k$ part?

Luxo

Poor idea.

Good mounts will outlast the electronics - and I’d guarantee you will want to replace the ASIAir with a better device as soon as ZWO make one, long before the mount. It also means the mount is no more use than a doorstop when the electronics dies after warranty has run out.

Maybe ok for the little refractors, but sone of us use ASIAir with much bigger rigs and no, ZWO mounts won’t do for many larger scopes.

DvsZIO2F

ASIMount@ZWO
With all the recent bugs and control failures, like the CAA disaster, there’s not a chance I would want to integrate anything more into a single package.

R0k9pZfT

If it puts you in the same situation as the 2600MC-Air camera, then a big no. That situation is if the Air on that camera breaks down, the camera has no use. You can't use it with anything. If the Air in the mount should fail, would it be usable via cable or bluetooth by another product or another Air? This is why I ended up returning my 2600MC-Air and bough the 2600MC-duo + ASIAir.

Foobaria

Yeah i'd like to see this. Less cables and no need to put ASIAIR on scope.

mitsuhisa1646

I think everyone would be happier if all cameras were equipped with ASI Air. Some people are saying that if the asiair breaks, the camera will not be usable, which will be a problem, so I think a connection port should be provided.

R0k9pZfT

Given all of the ASIair firmware problems lately, this could be disastrous accessing the mount and turn it into a brick. Having had the 2600MC-Air and switching to the Duo, I wouldn't go back given how useless the camera could be if the ASIair code was as wonky as it has been the last few months.

JMIKEG

I would be fine with the ASIAir being incorporated into the mount, AS LONG AS it is modular, and could easily be pulled out of its bay. I don't want to have to buy a new mount because the computer failed.

Luxo

How would you feel about a $3000 mount being rendered useless by a bug in ASIAir, which ZWO fail to fix ?

Those with the ASI2600 Air camera are realizing it was a poor idea.

Aquafishmad

From somebody who wants portability and as few cables as possible. I think it would be a great idea since the mount is almost like the heart of the telescope set up. Considerations would be weight and size, all accessories would need to be wireless including CAA, camera and EFW. Maybe there can be wireless versions along side physical connection versions so customers have a choice of connection types for accesories. Battery life durations and what life expectency of the batteries - can they be easily changed? Temperature impact? Having batteries in each accessory - could the additional weight on the image train be an issue? Could there be an option to guide without a guide scope to reduce the accesories needed? - using encoders (appreciate this would increase the cost of the mount). To reduce the amount of accessories could the CAA and EFW be one unit? or a EAF combined with the CAA like another italian branded one?

P00S4zrd

Aside from the lock-in concerns, you won't "save cables" as some are saying without a cable port mounted on the dovetail plate. If you have a main camera, guide camera, filter carousel, focuser, etc., then those will need power, and it's more cables to deal with if they're going to the mount instead of a power port mounted on the dovetail.

Luxo

Fine - if ZWO had a great record with reliable software development (ASIAir).

I suggest you ponder the implications of a $3.000 mount being bricked by buggy software. Particularly if you have arrived at the major star party for the year, an outreach night, or worse, a major (rare) Astro event. Could be rather embarrassing to find it doesn’t work as it did a week ago.

Good mounts can mechanically last decades - longer than ZWO will. If I was buying a mount it has to be one that works with other controllers - ie not a ZWO mount.

29yRA5sg

It's the worst thing ever! Especially since I only use Sky Atlas (inside the ASIAIR computer) occasionally when working on a target project with my telescope and a mounted ASIAIR unit. I'm going to remove the combo Mount/ASIAIR app from my phone because I only want the ability to access mount and firmware info for the AM5N and it takes up quite a bit more storage space on my phone. I have seen the interface for the original ASI Mount app and it's much more user friendly that way as a separate app (and takes up far less storage space). I don't recommend the combo app to anyone! If ZWO brings back the separate Mount app then I'll download that.

zwolli

elpajare That ist exactly my thought!

zwolli

I think the ZWO AM5 Air would be a great idea! Even better than the cameras with built-in ASIAir. The setup will be more compact and easier to handle, if you just have to mount the scope and plug in the camera(s).

I have different scopes with different cameras, for me it would be perfect.

Btw: iOptron provides mounts with iMate already, which ist the same concept

Luxo

Be careful what you wish for.
Quite likely they will brick the mount with a buggy update.

Many ASIAir users have been left out to dry without a working version since the 2.4 update in May, and its now October.

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