EQStar EQ5 is a drive upgrade kit for mounts EQ5/CG-5/MEADE LXD/Vixen FR, GP (-DX), GPD2, ORION SkyView and Bresser EQ4 / EQ5.

This kit designed to automate the control of the equatorial mount, and can be used in stand-alone mode and in a control mode using a computer or mobile device (phone, tablet, etc.). It can be installed on the mount – EQ5 / CG-5 / MEADE LXD / Vixen FR, GP (-DX), GPD2, ORION SkyView and Bresser EQ4 / EQ5.

On a PC, controller EQStar works with any astronomical programs that support the ASCOM platform. For example, with planetarium Stellarium, Cartes de Ciel, StarCalc and others. Among the programs for astrophotography and guiding, controller EQStar supports MaximDL, Guidemaster, PHDGuiding and others. When you work with a PC, the controller EQStar can automatically find sky objects and track them automatically (guiding) during the astro photography with long exposure. Also, when working with a PC, you must install EQMOD ASCOM-application. EQStar also supports working with the INDI astronomical platform and ZWO ASIAIR Pro.

Controlling the telescope with mobile devices allows you to automatically find sky objects. In the planetarium program at the mobile device Celestron or SynScan should be chosen as a control of the telescope, as well as a mount – German equatorial mount. The following programs for mobile devices works with controller EQStar: SkySafari, Orion StarSeek, DSOPlaner and others.

Сontroller EQStar communicate with PC via cable from the standard kit and with the mobile device via Wi-Fi.

Variety of platforms, drivers and applications on which EQStar controller is able to work with gives an opportunity to create a particularly comfortable conditions, depending on the tasks.

For example, an astro photographer generally uses a laptop or PC to search, targeting and guiding the object during a long exposure. Such opportunities are mostly programs running under Windows. But for an amateur visual astronomy much more convenient to control the mount with a compact mobile device, smartphone or tablet, rather than using a PC or laptop.

The controller EQStar is supplied with a universal joystick for a manual control. It allows you to manage mount autonomously without a computer, smartphone or tablet.

Characteristics:

• Mount type: equatorial
• Type of stepper motor: bipolar
• Power supply: 12V, 3A, 5.5mm 2.1mm plug
• The center pin of the power connector is positive
• Smooth acceleration and braking of the stepper motor.

The kit consists of:

• EQStar equatorial mount control unit
• Joystick for a stand-alone mount control
• USB cable for connection of EQStar to PC
• Set of cables for the motors connection
• Stepper motor unit for RA axis
• Stepper motor unit for DEC axis
• Bolts for mounting blocks with motors – 2 pcs
• Large pulleys – 2 pcs
• Small pulleys – 2 pcs
• Drive timing belts – 2 pcs
• Hexagon wrench – 3 pcs

In order to improve the quality of the product, the manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the design and equipment without notifying users.