iOptron 8600 User's Manual
Contents
1. SmartStar Cube A Series Mount and Telescopes For 8600 8602 8603 and 8604 Instruction Manual Table of Content Table or COM EE ULT 2 1 SmarStar Cube A Series Overview n cnn conncor narran rra 4 1 1 SmartStar Cube A Series Features n ncnnanoncnn anni cnn nina 4 NZ ASS laps ME MA uU R 6 2 Telescope ASS CMD rep ect A en RM Demain SEU Pe M i Du dm ue uM 7 3 GoToNova 8401 Hand Controller ccccccccscscscsscsesecscsecscseecsececsesacsesecaesecsesecsesecassesaeseeeeaeen 10 S Key WC SCNOUON eed 10 32 MELCO SEEN t 11 AGEING Ua Sq masus cee oak ia miu mayat wa a ect shasha Desi ir a Busana 12 A Level ana Agn the MOUN 3 u u u uu lod del ide 12 4 1 1 Level the Molt A A 12 a5 2 Su unus aasan mu a h ua Sau wan atun aquya 12 2 2 SENNO UDINE MOUN uu ce case u G ut E a umu an Dysaayk sess 12 12 1 0et UD Local Time a a Site IO uuu s as 13 M2222 Sev MOULE TYDE caiste Ede cete rief 14 4 2 9 SELAN DICKS Maid 15 4 2 4 Using your ClCSCODG M EL m m 16 42 9 09 Ole iu uu u zum O A asas 16 4 2 6 Initial Star Alignment ua a uo L ii iustus 17 Ao TAUN ON e WOU uuu RM PTT ETT 17 5 Operate SmartStar Cube A mount in EQ Mode eeee nn 18 6 Use SmartStar Cube A Telescopes eene eene n 20 6 1 Manual Operation of a Telescope mener rennes 20 6 2 SEW TO ail O2. y 28 QGreatClster 6205 13 20 HelixNebula 7208 30 Hercules Galaxy Cluster 2051 31 HindsVariable Nebula 1555 y Hubble s Variable Nebula 2261 o 33 IntegralSign Galaxy 1 3697 34 JewelBoxCluster 47555 EE N trt C1 32 G 95 Nebula 6523 a title Gem Aa 38 LittleGemNebula 6818 39 tute Ghost Nebula 6x9 40 NorthAmericanNebula 700 41 OmegaNebula 6618 17 J 42 OrionNebula 1976 42 43 OwiNebula 3987 97 44 PelicanNebula J870 45 Phantom Streak Nebula 6741 L 46 PinwheelGalaxy 598 33 J 47 Pleiades 45 48 RingNebula 6720 57 RingTailGalaxy 4088 Rosette Nebula INCESTO IE 91 SatumNebula 7009 92 X SexansBDwaf j sa3 3 Small Magellanic Cloud 292 J 94 Sombrero Galaxy 4594 104 J 95 X SpndeGaaxy 3155 J j 96 TankTrackNebula 2024 9r TrifidNebula 6514 29 J 8 UrsaMinorDwaf j gno 9 Whirpool Galaxy 9194 YA J L5 APA RL ALA LS 33 Messier This table is licensed under the It uses material
3. Disp R A Axis Error Test Anti backslash Polaris Position PEC Play Back Record PEC Delete PEC Record Sidereal Speed Solar Speed Lunar Speed User Defined Speed Add A New Record Modify Records Delete One Record Erase All Records 31 Appendix C GoToNova Star List GoToNova Deep Sky Object List for 8401 IDNo OBJECT X NGCk Messier IC A Abell U UGC 1 Andromeda Galaxy 24 3 HE S aa on a el BeehiveCluter 26322 44 Blackeye Galaxy 4926 64 5 BlinkigPlanetary Nebula 6826 ff 6 BlueFlashNebula 6905 7 BluePlanetay 398 ff 8 BleeSnowalNebua 7662 ff 9 BoxNeua 6308 Y 10 BubbleNebula 7685 11 BipolarNebula 6302 12 ButterfiyCluster 6405 6 13 California Nebula 1499 14 CatsEyeNebula 6543 C J o 0 Yy 15 CocoonNebula 514 16 ConeNebula 2264 137 CorkNebula X 65051 76 18 CrabNebula 19592 1 y Crescent Nebula 6888 ff 20 DracoDwaf O 10822 21 DukNebla X 2359 22 DumbbellNebula 6853 27 ff 28 FEagleNebula 16 o Y 24 Eight BurstNebula 31322 y 25 EskimoNebula 12392 y s amna Sala aos 27 GhostofJupiter 3242
4. 06 0L 11 55 09 300 Min behind UT Daylight Saving Time Y The local time will be updated when the GPS picks up satellite signals If for any reason your GPS can t pick up a signal you can manually enter the time Press or gt key to move the cursor and using A or V key to change the number Press or gt key move the cursor to the line below time info to set the time zone information add or subtract 60 minutes per time zone Enter minutes ahead of or behind UT universal time e New York City is 300 minutes behind UT Los Angeles is 480 minutes behind UT Rome is 60 minutes ahead of UT Beijing is 480 minutes ahead of UT oydney is 600 minutes ahead of UT All the time zones in North America are behind UT universal time as shown in the following table So make sure it shows behind instead of ahead of UT 5 300 To adjust minutes move the cursor to each digit and use or Y key to change the number To change the behind or ahead of UT move the cursor to ahead of and using A or Y key to toggle between behind and ahead of For other parts of the world you can find out your time zone information from internet such as http www timeanddate com worldclock DO NOT COUNT DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME To set daylight saving time use the lt or key to move the cursor to the bottom of the screen use A or V button to toggle the Daylight Saving Time between N which means N
5. Check Finish bo ext the wizard When finished installation click Finish 3 Plug the USB cable in to the USB port on your PC plug the other end of the USB cable to hand controller Turn on the power on the mount 4 Install the Hardware The computer will find a new hardware and show the following screen Found New Hardware Wizard Welcome to the Found New Hardware Wizard Windows will search for curent and updated software by looking on yow computer on the hardware instalabon CD or on the Windows Update Web site vath pour permission H pr ili Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software O Yes this time only Yes now and ever time connect a device amp Ma mot this time Chick Next to continue Select No not this time and click Next 40 Found New Hardware Wizard This wead helps vou install software for CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller A l your hardware came with an installation CD lt of floppy disk insert it now what do vou want the wizard to do O Install the software automatically Recommended Ce Install rom a kst ox specific locaton Advanced Chek Next to continue Select Install from a list or specific location and click Next Browse For Folder Please choose your search and installation options Select the folder that contains drivers for your hardware 9 Search for the best diver in these locations
6. s E il bR12 F matla Use the check bowes below to linet or expand the delauli search which includes l 3 E mac paths and removable media The best diver found wall be rtalled y om M y Music Search removable meda Floppy CD ROM o Program Files 4 Include this location in the search i SiLabs Browse CO Don t search wil choose the diver bo install Choose this option to select the device driver Irom alist Windows does nol gusara the diver you choose wil be the best match for pour hardware Back Next gt L3 May CP210x oes C Software Lj Spectra a O VXIPNP To view any subfolders click a plus sign above E Select Search for the best driver in these locations and check Include this location in the search Click on Browse and select the CP210x driver from directory c SiLabs MCU CP210x Win2K_XP click OK 41 Found New Hardware Wizard Please choose pour search and installation options Search for the best diver in these locations Use he check bogas below to limit or expand the delault search which includes local paths and removable media The best diver Found vell be retalled Search removable media floppy CD ROM Include this location in the search ICASiLabsNMCUNCPZT ON Wwin2K XP Choose this option to select the device diver rom alst Windows does not guarantee that the diver vou choose wi
7. 243 L 47 Ara 12289 0 1 18 Mu Ve 222 NA lota Leo 95 22 Gamma Cen 2236008 24 Bea Mu 25209 25 HR509 JJ 20445 26 Apa Cen 25288 27 Zea Bo 101145 28 Gamma Lup 225988 A 29 Gamma CA 898 30 Xi So 159060 33 Zea Her 64 35 70 Oh 18107 _ 37 Dea Cg 4 gt 7 38 Beta De 106316 Roanev _ _ 3 Ta Gg 742 37 Appendix D Set Up USB PC Connection 1 Download USB2COM driver cp2102 zip file for 8401 from iOptron Website 2 Install CP210x usb2com driver ik co710 File Edit Wew Faworibes Tools Help Qe S zl p gt seach gt Folders Fez Name gt Packe Has Sue R Date Folder Tasks P5Icpz10x vCP WinaesE 1 714 KB No 2 46 31 9 16 2006 3 46 PM PIcP210x Yap winzk3 icat 1 737KB No 2 48 31 9 16 2006 3 47 PM File and Folder Tasks E mu CP210x WEP Wink yA 1 737KB No 2 48 31 9 18 2006 10 56 AM dy Mone this File D Copy this Pile Publish this file bo the Web Choose the appropriate driver for your OS In this case is a Windows XP operation system Double click on it and you will see Silicon Laboratories CP210x VCP Drivers for Windows 2 000fXP Install5 EJ Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Silicon Laboratories CP210x VUP Direers For Windows 2000 XP The Install
8. 45 ER of the diagonal Tighten the thumbscrews to a firm feel q only Remove the dust cover from the other end of optical tube assembly Use the focus knob to bring objects into focus You may need to turn the focus knob quite a few turns to focus your Am telescope for the first time Always start observing using a Focus knob S low power eyepiece such as a 25mm eyepiece to get a nice wide field of view Later you can change to high power if so desired Higher powered eyepieces have a much narrower field of view So it s more difficult to initially locate objects using higher powered eyepieces llFor 114mm Newtonian 8503 Attach the red dot finder scope to the telescope tube 1 Point toward open end of telescope First remove the two washers on the tube Then place the finder scope onto the two bolts and re attach the washers securely The finder scope should face towards the open end of the tube see arrow in diagram Turn on the beam using the switch on the side note you may need to remove the plastic insulation placed next to the battery underneath llFor 90mm Maksutov Cassegrain 8504 Install Diagonal by screwing it onto the back end of the scope You can adjust the position of the diagonal by loosening the free spinning threader on the diagonal Install the Finderscope by sliding the dovetail plate onto the sleeve see arrow and tightening the side screw The eyepiece can be placed on the end of the sco
9. holder Refer to the diagram on the holder to orient the batteries properly Replace the holder back into the batteries compartment and replace the cover For reference the battery pack fits in with wires on the bottom right See arrow in photo Use only fresh batteries Using mixing old or low batteries may cause error messages Optional AC Adapter and Car Charger accessories are available at www ioptron com Step 4 Attaching Telescope Attach telescope to mount using the dovetail lock knob 2 ii Picture shows 80mm refractor However all scopes will attach in the same manner Step 5 Plug in hand controller and AC adaptor Plug hand controller into either one of the two HBX ports on the mount Next plug in AC adaptor Or use batteries see step 3 Turn on power the red light should go on At this point you can begin observing manually Use the 4 Arrow keys A Y lt gt to rotate the scope Up Down Left and Right Use the SPEED key to change the slew rate from the slowest 2X to the fastest MAX Plug in AC The other HBX is reserved for accessories such as adaptor external GPS module electronic focuser or laser pointer here DO NOT plug non iOptron accessories into the unit to avoid damaging the mount or accessories Insert 452 diagonal Insert the diagonal into the eyepiece side of the telescope Tighten the thumbscrews to a firm feel only Insert the eyepiece Slide the eyepiece into the open end
10. the system will let you choose another one When you are aligned with the second star two star alignment is finished You can reject the suggested star if It is blocked by the tree or behind the house Two Star Align result will be overridden if One Star Align or Sync to Target is performed after Two Star Align 6 6 3 Three Star Align N A 6 6 4 Dis R A axis error This only works for EQ mode This displays the pointing error between the R A axis and the polar axis When the HC shows for example 7 5 lower 4 3 east 23 it means the polar axis of the mount is pointing 7 5 lower and 4 3 to the east to the North Pole Pointing error is zero when you power on the mount unless you Park Telescope before powering off 6 6 5 Test Anti backlash This command tests the backlashes in both R A and DEC The saved numbers will show in Set Anti backlash menu However if no high accuracy is needed or your equatorial mount is not a high accuracy unit e the worm gear has different clearance in different positions you can omit this procedure 6 6 6 Polaris Position Polaris is NOT at the exact point of the Polar Axis This shows the offset about 40 min between the Polaris and the actual Celestial Pole Polar Axis as well as the direction of the Polaris to the Polar Axis at the observing location 6 7 PEC Option Not supported 6 8 Set Up Tracking A user can set up tracking i
11. with tripod Refractor Telescope Optical Design Clear Aperture Focal Length Focal Ratio Resolving Power Weight Newtonian Reflector Telescope Optical Design Clear Aperture Focal Length Focal Ratio Resolving Power Finderscope Weight Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope Optical Design Clear Aperture Focal Length Focal Ratio Resolving Power Finderscope Weight DC 12Vz2V gt 1 2A 0 40 C 5 5 Ibs without OTA Achromatic Refractor 80 mm 400 mm f 5 1 4 arc sec 2 2 lbs Reflector 114 mm 1000 mm f 8 8 1 arc sec Red dot 4 lbs Maksutov Cassegrain 90 mm 1200 mm f 13 3 1 3 arc sec Red dot 4 lbs 20 Appendix B GoToNova 8401 HC MENU STRUCTURE Select and Slew Planets Sun Moon Mercu Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto 2 Moon Deep Sky Objects Named Deepsky Object Messier Catalog NGC IC Catalog UGC Catalog MCG Catalog Caldwell Catalog Abell Catalog Herschel Catalog Named Stars Double Stars Constellations GCVS Variable Stars SAO Catalog User Objects Set Anti backlash Set Up Controller PEC Option Set Up Trackinc User Objects Auto Guide To Park Position oet Up Local Time oet Up Site Set N S Hemisphere Set Display Contrast Set Eyepiece Light Set Backlight Set Anti backslash Set Key Beep Set Mount Type Reset All Upgrade Firmware Set Gear Ratio Set Language Easy One Star Align One Star Align Two Star Align Three Star Align
12. D Sr E 20 6 2 T Planets SUI MOOD asus AA 20 62 2 DOE Oky ODJEC Suyu Np HM 20 0 2 9 COMES tbi Hee eia AA id D ME UM 20 06 2 ASEOS A 21 SS PPP M MEO Mp tactu RL eT eR WA Re nee EL 21 6 2 5 ColnistellatlOliS ies uy tr dos d Cere pete andy dicate Et Pra iste sews haya Um Dei cue ustedes dead 21 6 2 7 JSE r ODE l u n E 21 eZ OENE RA DEC ES 21 0 0 VNC Tor Targeb AA rtu qucd a a qap aus e 21 oL Elec FOCUS ini is 21 A A aasma u ayau puas vie anay akhu aa saku 22 6 5 1 oer Up Local TIITIG uuu u u a ds 22 AS IM Peli PM uum nuyu sby PRI 22 0 9 9 SCL IN S Hem HNO E asn 22 0 5 4 SEL DISDIAY COn MaS cud amictus a nuk ai ad 22 6 5 5 SCL EVeDIeCe LIgblo s uode on Epor AA datan 22 656 DCL A e OOO O DUE 22 OS DCUANU DACKIAS Doa sut epa t beh utin dient e Phot ns acides Goes Bv 22 0506556 i is ciclo M Een te a na ee p ma a apas nee eee ha Baba mere ee ere Kun a 22 0 99 SEL IVIOUNE TYDE Ym aus u uyu nn pms iu ie eee 22 05 70 ReserAllu u e UU E O a mead ne cae au aint 22 6 5 11 Update SA AA Yaa uuu u dei dia 22 6 5 12 Set CAN NAO sence a en e 95 22 So hd Bo Serangga 0 gt li a 23 O A T 23 AMO A u o um 23 6 6 2 TWO SG Al iri Atanasio 23 6 6 3 Three Star Allg u uuu uuu uuu uuu u uuu Sa swsussssuspasasaasyanawsasasaspnssuyuuapupwuqqsha shua 23 6 6 4 Dis R A axis error a a a ar aa rarasasrsr a a 23 6 6 5 Test AN ti backlaS hi LULU aa
13. Scroll down and select Set Mount Type Up Site N S Hemisphere Display Contrast Eyepiece Light Backlight AnL1i backlash Key Beep MO e 14 Press Enter Equatorial Mount Alt Azi Mount Select Alt Azi mount and press ENTER to go back the previous screen 4 2 3 Set Anti backlash For an Alt Azi operation both R A and DEC anti backlash should be set to 0 step scroll down and select Set anti backlash Up Local Time Up Site N S Hemisphere Display Contrast Eyepiece Light Backlight Anti backlash Key Beep Press ENTER A R A anti backlash will display S antr backlash 0000 steps steps equal to 14 DIO Se CONC To adjust steps move the cursor to each digit and use the number keys to input number directly Press ENTER DEC anti backlash will display DEC anti backlash 0000 steps One steps equal to Jo S arc Second Move the cursor to each digit and use the number keys to set the anti backlash to 0 Press ENTER to go back the previous screen Press BACK button to go back to main menu 15 4 2 4 Using your telescope Selecting an Eyepiece 1 Always begin viewing with the lowest power eyepiece Note a 25 mm focal length eyepiece has a lower power than a 10 mm one A formula can be used to determine the power of each eyepiece Telescope focal length divided by eyepiece focal length equals magnification Ex 400mm 25mm 16X magnification The rule of thumb is that th
14. Select hand controller display language in English or French 6 6 Align This function is used for align the telescope Before star alignment please make sure the mount is well leveled The system also provides One Star Align and Two Star Align Any one can be selected for telescope alignment 6 6 1 One Star Align From the main menu select Align Select One Star Align and press ENTER Three most popular objects such as Moon a planet or a bright star that are above the horizon will be provided for selection Use or Y button to select an alignment star and press ENTER Then manually slew the telescope to the object and center the object in your eyepiece using lt gt A or Y key Press SPEED button to adjust the slew speed Then press ENTER to complete the alignment Or press the BACK key to cancel the process If you have a very good initial setup one star alignment should be sufficient for good GOTO accuracy To increase the accuracy you may choose to do two star alignment 6 6 2 Two Star Alignment Two star alignment will increase the GOTO accuracy of the mount It is suggested to do two star alignment after one star alignment Two star alignment requires a wider view of the sky since the two align stars need to be far apart Select Two Star Align in the Align menu When you finish the first star the system will prompt you to choose the second star If the star you choose is too close to the first one
15. Series Features Alt Azimuth Mount The Cube with AItAzi EQ dual application The SmartStar Cube A series come with our patented Alt Azimuth AltAzi mount a k a The Cube This compact mount design is probably the most functional and flexible unit on the market It was named Hot Product 2008 by Sky and Telescope Both axis motors are built into a small single unit with optical encoders which provides accurate GOTO and tracking The mount is universally compatible with all telescopes using a dove tail connection In addition there are no dead spots so you can point your telescope to ANYWHERE above the horizon whereas other mounts block the telescope tube at certain points of rotation This mount also comes standard with AC connection An optional DC adaptor is available so you can plug your telescope mount into your car if you re camping or at any remote location With the integrated wedge and a standard counterweight the A series can also be operated as a German equatorial mount EQ for those who want to get familiar to or demonstrate a GOTO EQ mount operation 32 Channel GPS Module All A series telescopes come standard with a 32 channel GPS module for fully automated operation Simply turn on the GoToNova Hand Controller and the GPS module will automatically synchronize your telescope location and time with the GoToNova computerized control system View celestial objects without having to manually punch in the date time la
16. Sheid wizard wil install Silicon Laboratones CP 210 VCP Drivers for Windows 2000 4P an pout computer To continue click Next Click Next 38 Silicon Laboratories CP210x VCP Drivers for Windows 000 xD n License Agreement Please reed the folowing license agreement carefully END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT IMPORTANT READ CAREFULLY IBEFDRE AGREEING TO TERMS THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS CERTAIN COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND OTHER THIRD PARTY PROPRIETARY MATERIAL SBICENSED PRODUCT THE USE OF WHICH IS ISUBJECT TO THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT INDICATING TOUR AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES TOUR AND IF APPLICABLE YOUR COMPANY S ASSENT TO AND ACCEPTANCE OF THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT THE LICENSE OR AGREEMEHT IF YOU DO HOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THE TERNS YOU MUST NOT lt accept the terms of the license agreement f IL i Incas Silicon Laboratories CP710x VCP Drivers for Windows 2 000 XP Installs Choose Destination Location Select folja where Sela wil install hlez Install S con Laboratones CP 210 VCP Drivers for Windows c SiL abs MUNDA Using the default installation path c SiLabs MCU CP210x or specify your own path by click Change Click Next Then click Install 39 Silicon Laboratories CP210x VCP Drivers for Windows 7000 XP InstallShiel InstallShield Wizard Complete The InstallS hield Wizard has successfuly mstalled Silicon Laboratones CP210 YCF Diners for windows 2D00DZSP
17. Website 2 Double click and open iOptron Downloader paj TAA AL AAA A IL E iOptron Downloader 9 Help and Support Cartes du Ciel V3 0 Sah ffl Nero Start Smart 7727 Run WinRAR All Programs gt Unico Dovnloader YL Serial Port COMI 3 Help H x Home Open Data File Q Update Type Main Program C Object Catalog t Help H A Mone Update Type Main Program C Object Catalog 45 Click Open Data File and select appropriate bin file that matches your hand controller and click Open Select Main Program ONLY in Update Type Aw jOptron Doymloader V20 Help H A Home Update Type Main Program Object Catalog Please reset the GOTONOVA GOTOSTAR Waiting for connection Click Start Download iOptronDownload will display Please reset GoToNova GOTOSTAR waiting for connection On the hand controller press MENU and using Y A scroll to select Set up controller press ENTER then select Upgrade firmware press ENTER and the upgrade starts Option Downloader VZ O Help H Home A Update Type Main Program C Object Catalog Please reset the GOTONOVA GOTOSTAHR Vaiting for connection Connected Processing Please wait 46 Now the upgrade is finished Serial Port COMA Help H A Mone Open Data File O Update Type Main Program C Object Catalog CADocuments
18. a 24 0606 Pos FO IQ 5 24 Ole PES ODIO caco decada 24 50 DeL UD WAN sona 24 SR MULT EOUNAL M 24 CIAO SUIS 2 CT 24 NU ME Iz uico So A o e 24 6 12 Pe En oss 24 7 Maintenance and ServiciNQ coccccccccocncccnccnnncnonoconnnnnnonanonnnnnnnnnnnnnonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnonannnnnnnnaninnninnas 25 f1 MAUA uuu 25 7 2 Storage and Transport a a eser nans 25 rs Eolo iere UNG uu u uu uuu s T 26 7 4 JODIOM Custommier SIVIC AAA 27 Appendix A Technical Specifications a nnne nnn nnns 29 Appendix B GoToNova 8401 HC MENU STRUCTURE eene 30 Appendix C GoToNova Star List mmama 32 Appendix D Set Up USB PC Connection a a a nnn nnns 38 Appendix E Firmware Upgrade nennen nenne nnns asser nasse nns 45 Appendix F Use a PC to Control an iOptron Mount 48 WARNING NEVER USE A TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SUN Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye Children should always have adult supervision while observing 2011 12 15 Ver 2 1 1 SmarStar Cube M A Series Overview 1 1 SmartStar Cube A
19. a warm day heat waves distort the image 4 The optics within the telescope need time to adjust to the outside ambient temperature to provide the sharpest image To cool down the optics set the telescope outside for 10 to 15 minutes before observing begins Error Message Warning DEC or R A driver motor over current Please check balance 1 Check if the mount or OTA is blocked by any obstructions 2 Try to operate the mount without an OTA 3 Check the power supply This is a common reason for this message and unexpected slew behavior or movement which include e Batteries Are the batteries fresh How long have they been used frequent slewing and GOTO will deplete battery power very quickly e AC or DC adapter Check the plugs to the mount and to the power outlet 26 e Extension cord Make sure the cord is in good condition Power drop along the extension cord has been known to cause this error message Also check all the plugs and connections 4 Check the hand controller cord Unplug it and re plug into the other HBX port Error Message Warning Can not communicate with DEC motor controller 1 Check the hand controller cord Unplug it and re plug into another HBX port 2 Check the power supply which include e Using the battery Is the battery fresh How long it has been used frequent slew and GOTO will deplete battery power very quickly e Using AC or DC adapter Check the plugs to the mount and to the
20. advice on compatibility issues USB Port The 8401 hand controller equipped with a USB port that tremendously expands the functionalities of the already powerful system With the USB2COM driver installed the USB port works as an RS232 serial port It supports firmware upgrades and computer control With ASCOM protocol you can control your telescope with most ASCOM compatible software This enables you to utilize the CPU large screen and disk space of your PC laptop With a wide selection of software your star gazing experience will never be the same again Package Contents 1 SmartStar Cube A Mount with built in GPS receiver Models 8600 8602 8603 and 8604 1 GoToNova Hand Controller Part No 8401 1 Controller Cable 1 USB Cable 1 Tripod with wedge 1 Tripod bolt and Tray Lock 1 Tripod Tray 1 AC adapter with cord For Model 8602 SmartStar Cube A R80 1 80mm Refractor Telescope 2 Eyepieces 10mm amp 25mm 1 3X Barlow Lens 1 45 Diagonal For Model 8603 SmartStar Cube A N114 1 114mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope 2 Eyepieces 10mm amp 25mm 1 Red Dot Finderscope For Model 8604 SmartStar Cube A MC90 1 90mm Maksutov Cassegrain Reflector Telescope 2 Eyepieces 10mm amp 25mm 1 Red Dot Finderscope 1 45 Diagonal The contents may vary from batch to batch 1 2 Assembly Terms Telescope tube Dovetail lock Hand controller Altitude lock Z
21. ager System Properties System Restore Automatic Updates Remote General Computer Name Hardware Advanced Device Manager Q The Device Manager bets al the hardware devices instaled on your computer Use the Device Manager to change the properties of any device Divers Driver Signing lets pou make sure thal installed drivers are compatible with Windows Windows Update lets you set up how Windows connects to Windows Update for drives Diiversigmina J Windows Update Hardware Profiles 2 Hardware profiles provide a way ca you to sel up and store different hardware configurations Hardware Profiles 43 Double click on Ports COM amp LPT find out the COM number and write it down in the following figure it is COM3 Device Manager File Action View Help e gt amp EP ER EB TOSHIBA H A Batteries 6 3 Biometric E X Computer Hs Disk drives E E Display adapters 44 DVD CD ROM drives 1 4 Human Interface Devices DE IDE ATA ATAPI controllers IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers 6 8 Imaging devices MA Mice and other pointing devices ts Modems i Monitors mg Network adapters fl B PCMCIA adapters eg PCMCIA and Flash memory devices 5 2 Ports COM amp LPT a Y CP210x USB to UART Bridge Controll r COM3 H Processors E E Serie intal ne eartmilleare 44 Appendix E Firmware Upgrade 1 Download and install Firmware Downloader from iOptron
22. and SettingsiChrisiDesktopiSoftwarelFirmwarei8402 Ver0801 04 Eng bin Please reset the GOTONOVA GOTOSTAHR Vaiting for connection Connected Processing Please walt Download successfully finished Typical Errors li 2 3 4 Invalid Port Number in Device Manager make sure you have the correct COM port number for CP210x Wrong bin file make sure you have the correct bin file for firmware upgrade Wrong downloader you should use iOptron Downloader instead of the Flash Downloader Use CP210x driver provided by iOptron The newest version from SiLab may not work properly for iOptron s hand controller What can l do if the firmware is not loading or the screen is blank due to any reason Turn on the mount to power on the hand controller the key pad should be lit Click on the iOptron Downloader Change the Serial Port to the right COM port in the pull down menu example COM4 Click on Open Data ile O button to select the right Firmware for your hand controller example 8401 Ver090701 bin DON T click on Start Download D button yet Turn the mount power off Turn the mount power back on Right after hearing the beep click on Start Download D button The timing is very important The downloading process will begin When the download is successfully finished turn the mount off and back on to check the hand controller Double check the settings such as time and site info moun
23. ct you would like to observe and press ENTER key The GoToNova 8401 hand controller has a database consists of over120 000 objects Use gt or button to move the cursor and Y or A button to change the number A check mark A indicates the object is above the horizon and cross mark X means it is below the horizon Only those objects above the horizon can be observed In some catalogs those stars below the horizon may not be displayed 6 2 1 Planets Sun Moon There are 9 objects in Solar system 6 2 2 Deep Sky Objects This menu includes objects outside our Solar system such as galaxies star clusters quasars nebulae e Named Deepsky Objects It consists of 60 deep sky objects with their common names A list of named deep sky objects is also attached in Appendix C e Messier Catalog It consists of all 110 objects in Messier catalog e NGC IC Catalog consists of 7 840 objects in NGC catalog and 5 386 objects in IC catalog To select an object from NGC or IC catalog move the cursor to NGC usinga or Y button to toggle between NGC and IC Then move the cursor to numerical position and use the number button to select the object e UGC Catalog consists of 12 939 objects e MCG Catalog consists of 29 004 objects They are listed numerically from MCG 15 to MCG 05 e Caldwell Catalog consists of 109 objects e Abell Catalog consists of 2 712 objects e Herschel Catalog consists of 400 objects 6 2 3 Comets T
24. e magnification should not be too much larger than the OTA aperture otherwise view and color distortion may occur 2 A 45 Erecting Diagonal Prism may be included in the R80 or MC90 telescope The Erecting Diagonal Prism is used to erect the image you will see Astronomical telescopes are designed in such a way that the image you see may be UPSIDE DOWN and REVERSED This is perfect for viewing celestial bodies However it will feel strange when observing a land object or a bird Focusing Telescope 1 After selecting the desired eyepiece aim the telescope tube at a land based target at least 200 yards away e g A telephone pole or building Fully extend focusing tube by turning the focus knob 2 While looking through selected eyepiece slowly retract focusing tube by turning focusing knob until object comes into focus Aligning Finderscope 1 Look through main telescope tube and establish a well defined target see focusing telescope section Tighten all lock knobs Declination Latitude Right Ascension Horizontal Axis so that telescope s aim is not disturbed 2 Turn on the red dot finder and look through the finder window Adjust the red dot alignment screws to center the red dot on the object 3 Now objects located with the finderscope first will be centered in field of view of the main telescope 4 2 5 Go to the Moon After performing these setups the mount is ready to GOTO and track objects One of the most comm
25. e plugs to the mount and to the power outlet e Using extension cord Make sure the cord is in good condition Power drop along the extension cord was known to cause the problem Also check all the plugs and connections 4 If the telescope does not respond to commands set the power switch to OFF and then back to ON 5 If the telescope does not slew after power is applied or if the motor quits or stalls verify that there are no physical obstructions that would impede telescope movement Cannot seem to focus No image appears in the eyepiece 1 Confirm that the dust cap has been removed from the telescope 2 Keep turning the focus knob Your telescope has a fine focusing mechanism which allows you to focus an image very precisely However this means that you may have to rotate the focus knob 20 to 40 complete turns to achieve focus particularly the first time you use your telescope After that fewer turns will be needed Images through the eyepiece appear unfocused or distorted 1 The magnification used may be too high for the seeing conditions Back off to a lower power eyepiece 2 If inside a warm house or building move outside Interior air conditions may distort terrestrial land or celestial images making it difficult if not impossible to obtain a sharp focus For optimal viewing use the telescope outside in the open air instead of observing through an open or closed window or screen 3 If viewing a land object on
26. eaning the telescope s optics A little dust on the front surface of the telescope s correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered a reason to clean the lens When absolutely necessary dust on the front lens should be removed with gentle strokes of a camel hair brush a soft glass clean cloth or blown off with an ear syringe available at any pharmacy Do not use a commercial photographic lens cleaner Organic materials e g fingerprints on the front lens may be removed with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol Use soft white facial tissues or cotton balls and make short gentle strokes Change tissues often Do not use scented colored or lotioned tissues as damage could result to the optics If your telescope is used outdoors on a humid night telescope surfaces may accumulate water condensation While such condensation does not normally cause any damage to the telescope it is recommended that wait the entire telescope be dried before being packed away Do not wipe any of the optical surfaces In addition the dust cap should not be placed back on to the optical tube until the telescope is thoroughly dry If your telescope is not to be used for an extended period perhaps for one month or more it is advisable to remove the batteries from battery holder if they are installed Batteries left installed for prolonged periods may leak causing damage to the telescope
27. ed LED reading light on the back of the controller Key For help or extra information STOP 0 Key Stop Start tracking HBX Handbox port connect the HC to MiniTower mount using a 6 wire RJ11 cable USB port connect the HC to a Computer via a USB cable 3 2 The LCD Screen The 8401 HC is designed to use for SmartStar A GOTO mount and telescopes It can also be used for iOptron s equatorial EQ mount such as the SmartStart PR GOTO German Equatorial Mount and the GoToNova Equatorial Kit as well as all other AltAzimuth A A mounts which include all SmartStar GOTO mounts and telescopes It consists of a large 8 line LCD screen which displays all the information as shown in Figure 2 The user interface is simple and easy to learn DA D D aec x Target Right Ascension GPS Status Target Declination A 10h 43m 25s Right Ascension Aa em eee Declination 10h 43m 25s H 17 4 Tracking Speed Local Star Hour 20h 30m 31s Altitude T0 36 15 Mount Type i 304 3 15 Azimuth 07 08 01 16 01 08 Figure 2 8401 HC LCD Information Screen N S Hemisphere GPS Status when the power is turned on it shows GPS ON which means a GPS receiver is connected When the GPS receiver finds the satellite and receives GPS signal it shows GPS OK The GPS OK will turn off after few minutes Slew speed It has 9 speeds 1X 2X 8X 16X 64X 128X 256X 1 sec 512X 2 sec MAX 4 sec Press SPEED key to chan
28. enith gt Mount Tripod Tripod shaft N Tray ES Tray lock 10 Azimuth lock screw 11 Wedge tilt screw 12 Tilt locks 13 Counterweight and shaft not included Polaris CO sl O gro of V N I yA gt SA N I 4 N V Jd N LA NE za A X ASA heu l 5 7 rad S PES T J Jen e N J gt Lr oF s A Ll Z f d 6647 Rs 53 F amp Figure 1 Assembly Terms 2 Telescope Assembl Step 1 Preparing the Tripod 1 Extend tripod legs to full extension 2 Slide tray on bottom of shaft 7 Then screw on round black knob 9 Step 2 Attaching the Mount 1 Raise wedge plate on the tripod by turning two tilt locks 12 Attach mount to wedge plate using supplied azimuth lock screw 10 lower wedge plate to it s lowest position by turning the upper tilt lock upward while lightly push the mount down Secure the mount by tightening the lower lock Step 3a Installing Batteries not included Note you may use 8 AA batteries Step 3 or the AC adaptor Step 5 to operate the mount Pull the batteries compartment cover shown open Gently pull the batteries holder shown next out of the compartment to avoid breaking the attached wires Step 3b Insert 8 AA batteries not included according to the diagrams on the
29. from the 34 Modern Constellations No Constellation Abbreviation No Constellation Abbreviation 2 An Ara 7 Ar Au Boo sa 1 I 2 t r Cae Cam Cnc CVn CMa CMi 60 Orion Oi Car Cas 62 Pegasus Peg Cen Cep Cet Cha 66 Pisces Psc Circinus 68 Pupis Pup 69 Pyxx Pyx_ 32 Delphinus Del 80 Triangulum Tri 86 Vigo Vi Q O 2 6 8 o O 35 GoToNova Named Star List 097 Kaus Australis 050 Asellus Australis 098 Kaus Borealis 051 Asellus Borealis 099 Kaus Media 052 Aspidiske 053 Atik 058 Baten Kaitos 106 Maia 059 Beid 107 Marfik 062 Biham 112 Meissa 113 Mekbuda 067 Celabrai 117 Menkib 070 Chertan 120 Mesartim 073 Dabih 121 Miaplacidus 122 Mintaka 027 Alnas 075 Deneb Algedi 123 Mira 076 Deneb Kaitos 124 Mirach 125 Mirfak 078 Dubhe 128 Muphrid 129 Muscida 034 Alrescha 082 Eltanin 130 Nashira 131 Nekkar 133 Nunki 090 Gomeisa 093 Grumium 142 Porrima Cis 48 Arneb 096 Izar 144 Propus 36 GoToNova Double Star List No Objet Cost SAO Name 3 Theta Pe 328 6 Sigma Oi 13240 7 Mu O 1183389 0 8 Apa CMa 151881 Sirius 9 Dea Gem 79294 Wasat_ 11 Apa CM 115756 12 Epsilon Ha 117112 0 19 HR379 426222 14 Kapa Wa 42600 15 Psi Ve
30. ge it Tracking speed It has 4 speeds Cel celestial Sol Solar Lun Lunar Def user defined Altitude of the telescope zenith is 90 Azimuth of the telescope north is 0 east 90 south 180 and west 270 Local Date and Time display local time in a format of YYYY MM DD HH MM SS Mount Type EQ is equatorial and A A altazimuth N S Hemisphere display the observation hemisphere 4 Getting Started In order to experience the full GOTO capability of GoToNova technology it is very important to set up the mount correctly before observation 4 1 Level and Align the Mount 4 1 1 Level the Mount Leveling is critical fora good GOTO and tracking accuracy Level the mount by observing the bubble shown on the base of the mount by adjusting tripod legs The bubble should be in the center of the circle It is also recommended to use additional levelers such as a torpedo leveler to assure precise leveling Turn the mount around by pressing gt or lt button to make sure it is always leveled 4 1 2 Initial Positions Each time the mount is turned on the default position is Park Position For the A A operation mode its altitude is 90 00 00 and azimuth is 180 00 00 which means the SOUTH mark is pointing to south and the telescope is pointing straight up at the zenith To set the Park Position you can 1 Align the mount to south by turning the mount so that the South mark facing sou
31. his catalog contains 190 comets This database is customer upgradeable 20 6 2 4 Asteroids I his catalog contains up to 4 096 asteroids This database is customer upgradeable 6 2 5 Stars e Named Stars It consists of 191 stars with their common names They are listed alphabetically A list is attached in Appendix C e Double Stars It consists of 40 double stars A list is attached in Appendix C e SAO Bright Stars It consists of 26 584 SAO catalog objects e GCVS Variable Stars consists of 38 624 GCVS variable stars They are listed numerically 6 2 6 Constellations This catalog consists of 88 modern constellations with their names They are listed alphabetically A list is attached in Appendix C 6 2 7 User Objects It can consist up to 256 user predefined objects These objects need to be entered before they can be selected for slewing 6 2 8 Enter R A DEC Here you can go to a target by entering its R A and DEC numbers 6 3 Sync to Target This operation will match the telescope s current coordinates to Target Right Ascension and Declination After slew to an object press MENU then scroll to Sync to Target and press ENTER Follow the screen to do the sync Using this function will re calibrate the computer to the selected object Multiple syncs can be performed if needed Sync to Target will only work after Select and slew is performed Otherwise the system may perform incorrectly You ca
32. l be the best match for pour hardware Bak J Nee Click Next The computer will start to install the driver for the USB2COM When the installation is done click Finish Found New Hardware Wizard Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard The wizard has finished installing the software For E CP210x USB Composite Deuce Click Finish to clase the wizard Ca If the computer shows find a new hardware screen again just repeat the steps in this section again 42 Now you computer should be ready for Firmware Upgrading computer communication with the mount via ASCOM platform and planetarium software applications However you need to find assigned COM port number for the USB connection To do so right click My Computer and click Properties Optron Internet Explorer j My Documents KG Microsoft Outlook 2 My Pictures Microsoft Word 2 My Music Microsoft Excel v YA My Computer necis Firefox Open BB ioptran Downloader WJ My Network F Browse with Paint Shop Pro Studio NERIS 3 Launch LPCZ10x 15P exa 2 gt Control Penal Search es Microsoft PowerPoint der M Manage Program AC Sean with AVG Mic Viewer persa Map Network Drive tae RR ie Md Help and Suppa Disconnect Network Drive JB adobe Reader 8 Pe semi ae w Show on Desktop W Paint Shop Photo Album 5 Y Pant E Run All Programs gt Click Hardware click Device Man
33. ld be just inside your eyepiece or way off Press MENU button and scroll down the menu to Sync to Target and press ENTER Follow the instruction use gt A and Y keys to move the Moon in the center of your eyepiece and press ENTER 4 3 Turn Off the Mount When finishing observing always move the mount to Park Position If the mount is not moved no initial set up is needed when powered on the next time To do so press the MENU button scroll down to Park Telescope and press ENTER Turn the power off 17 5 Operate SmartStar Cube V A mount in EQ Mode The SmartStar can precisely track a celestial object while in the alt az position The integrated wedge of an A series telescope allows the telescope to be operated in an equatorial mode which is a great option for those who want get familiar with the EQ operation Please Note the Park Position of an EQ mode is different from that of an A A mode Follow the steps below to change the mount from A A mode to EQ mode Polaris x R A Axis S azi axle w DEC Axis alt axle north facing tripod leg 1 Make sure that the tripod is leveled while in A A mode 2 Align the north facing tripod leg to the north 3 Raise the wedge by loosen the tilt locks until its tit angle approximately equals to the observation site latitude 4 Replace the ALT lock with counterweight shaft if a counterweight is needed 18 5 Align the altitude axle with o
34. n change the slewing speed to make the centering procedure easier Simply press a number 1 through 9 to change the speed The default slew speed is 64X Sync to Target has the similar performance that One Star Align has and will greatly improve the GOTO accuracy locally It is very useful for finding a faint object near a bright star 6 4 Electric Focuser N A 21 6 5 Set Up Controller 6 5 1 Set Up Local Time Refer to 4 2 1 6 5 2 Set Up Site Refer to 4 2 1 6 5 3 Set N S Hemisphere Set northern or southern hemisphere 6 5 4 Set Display Contrast Use arrow keys to adjust LCD display contrast 6 5 5 Set Eyepiece Light If you have an illuminated reticule eyepiece or illuminated polar scope and it is supported by GoToNova hand controller use this option to adjust the light intensity 6 5 6 Set Backlight Adjust LCD and keypad backlight 6 5 7 Set Anti backlash Use Array Keys to move the cursor and Number Keys to change the number O is suggested for Alt Azi mount For an EQ mount the default setting is 150 for both DEC and R A 6 5 8 Set Key Beep Turn the key beep on off 6 5 9 Set Mount Type Set the mount as Equator Mount or Alt Azi Mount 6 5 10 Reset All Reset all settings to factory default data 6 5 11 Update Firmware Firmware updating using iOptron Downloader through USB port on hand controller Refer to Appendix E 6 5 12 Set gear ratio Not supported 27 6 5 13 Set Language
35. n the main menu by selecting Set up tracking Then the user can select Sidereal speed Solar speed Lunar speed and User defined speed For User defined speed this can be adjusted from 91 to 109 of sidereal speed by pressing the Aor Y buttons 6 9 User Object List Besides various star lists available in the hand controller users can add edit or delete defined objects All data you enter is supposedly J2000 0 epoch 6 10 Auto Guide This function is not supported in Alt Azi mode 6 11 Park Scope This procedure only needs to be done if you do not move your telescope mount after you power off the GoToNova Celestial pole pointing error will be stored to flash memory and recalled when you power on again 6 12 To Park Position This moves your telescope to park position When power is turned on the mount assumes the physical position is the park position This is its reference point for all other objects 24 7 Maintenance and Servicing 7 1 Maintenance The SmartStar Cube A mount or telescope is a precision instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding applications Given the care and respect due any precision instrument your telescope will rarely require factory servicing or maintenance Maintenance guidelines include 1 2 Using wet cloth to clean the mount and hand controller Do not use the solvent Leave the dust cap on while not operating the telescope Avoid cl
36. o and Y which means Yes Press BACK to go to previous screen Select Set Up Site and press ENTER to check your site info Set up site info Longitude W071d27m47s Latitude N42d15m40s The longitude and latitude coordinates will be updated when the GPS picks up satellite signals W E means west east hemisphere N S means north south hemisphere d means 6 II degree m means minute and s means second If for any reason your GPS can t pick up a signal you can manually enter the GPS coordinates Press lt or gt key to move the cursor and using A or Y key to toggle between W and E N and S or to change the numbers It is always a good idea to do your home work to get the GPS coordinates before traveling to a new observation site The site coordinates information can be found from internet such as GPSVisualizer http www gpsvisualizer com geocode by entering the city name or address In case you only find the site information in decimal format you can convert them into d m s format by multiplying the decimal numbers by 60 For example N47 53 can be changed to N47931 48 47 53 47 0 53 0 53 0 53x60 31 8 0 8 0 8x60 48 Therefore 47 53 47 31 48 or 47d31m48s Same as N47 31 8 31 8 231 0 8 0 8 0 8x60 48 4 2 2 Set Mount Type The SmartStar A series can be operated in both A A and EQ mode for the A A operation the mount type needs to be set correctly
37. on objects is the Moon Press MENU button select Select and Slew by press ENTER button Select Planets Sun Moon and using A or Y button to select Moon Press ENTER The telescope will automatically slew to the Moon and lock on It will automatically begin to track once it locks on to it Use the arrow keys to center the Moon in your eyepiece if it is not centered Press BACK key to stop GOTO during the slew Press ENTER key to stop the tracking 16 4 2 6 Initial Star Alignment A simple alignment synchronization can be performed to improve the GOTO and tracking accuracy To do so press MENU button scroll down to Align select One Star Align and press ENTER A list of three bright objects such as Moon Venus and other stars will be displayed for you to select from Select an object using A or Y key Then press ENTER Use gt A or V key to center the object in your eyepiece Press SPEED button to change the slew speed if needed Then press ENTER to complete the alignment Or press the BACK key to cancel the process You may need to use SPEED key to change the slewing speed to make the centering procedure easier An alternate way is performing Sync to Target To do so press MENU button select Select and Slew and press ENTER Then select a known sky object such as Moon from Planets Sun Moon menu and press ENTER The mount will slew to the Moon When the mount stopped slewing the Moon cou
38. pe or on the side see next step Secure the eyepiece using the side screw Use the focus knob to adjust the focus Flip switch This picture shows the eyepiece on the side Remove the protective cap to insert the eyepiece The diagonal is not used for side viewing Use the flip switch to flip the internal mirror to view from the side or the end of the scope 3 GoToNova 8401 Hand Controller Menu Left Enter AAA Light LCD Display Back Up Right Down E E HBX USB Numbers Port Port Help PEU is Stop 0 Figure 1 GoToNova 8401 Hand Controller GoToNova 8401 hand controller HC is the standard controller for a SmartStar Cube A series mount and telescope as shown in Figure 1 The earlier version equipped with a 8402 hand controller Contact iOptron for instruction 3 1 Description MENU Press MENU to enter the Main Menu BACK Move back to the previous screen or end cancel current operation such as slewing ENTER Confirm an input go to the next menu select a choice or slew the telescope to a selected object Arrow A V p lt Press A V buttons to move a telescope along the DEC direction gt lt to move a telescope along the RA direction Brows the menu or move the cursor in operating menu Number Keys Input numerical values Also used to adjust speeds 1 1X 2 2X 3 8X 4 16X 5 64X 6 128X 7 256X 8 512X 9 MAX 10 Light Key xt Turns on off the r
39. power outlet e Using extension cord Make sure the cord is in good condition Power drop along the extension cord was known to cause the problem Also check all the plugs and connections The object is jumping up and down in the eyepiece or over slewed and other unexpected slew behavior or movement 1 Use most updated firmware 2 Set backlash to 0 in both DEC and RA 3 Check the power supply which include e Using the battery Is the battery fresh How long it has been used frequent slew and GOTO will deplete battery power very quickly e Using AC or DC adapter Check the plugs to the mount and to the power outlet e Using extension cord Make sure the cord is in good condition Power drop along the extension cord was known to cause the problem Also check all the plugs and connections 4 System balancing The telescope does not GOTO the right object or the alignment is always wrong 1 Leveling very important 2 Site information minutes ahead of or behind UT DST System balancing Use most updated firmware Select right mount type A A or EQ Starting form backlash of 0 in both DEC and RA Check the power supply which include e Using the battery Is the battery fresh How long it has been used frequent slew and GOTO will deplete battery power very quickly e Using AC or DC adapter Check the plugs to the mount and to the power outlet e Using extension cord Make sure the cord is in good condition Po
40. r without counterweight that is pointing straight down in line with the north facing tripod leg This can be done by either loosen the azimuth lock 10 or turn the mount using left or right arrow key The altitude axle will served as the DEC axis of the EQ mode 6 Mount the OTA onto the mount and align its optical axis parallel to the azimuth axle of the mount This can be done by either loosen the altitude lock 4 or turn the mount using up or down arrow key The azimuth axle will served as the R A axis of the EQ mode 7 Adjust the tilt Find Polaris in your finder scope and or your telescope eyepiece Center it Lock the tilt into position 8 In the main menu of your hand controller select Set Up Controller then select Set Mount Type and select Equatorial mode 9 Turn off the mount power Now your SmartStar A mount is set at the park position of an EQ mode and is ready to observe 19 6 Use SmartStar Cube A Telescopes 6 1 Manual Operation of a Telescope You may observe land and astronomical objects using GoToNova s arrow keys After the telescope was assembled referring to Section 2 Telescope Assembly flip the I O switch on the telescope mount to turn on the mount Use Y or A buttons to point the telescope to desired object You may need using SPEED key to change the slewing speed 6 2 Slew to an Object Press MENU button from the main menu select Select and Slew Select an obje
41. s electronic circuitry Do not leave your telescope outdoors on a warm day or inside a sealed car for an extended period of time Excessive ambient temperatures can damage the telescope s internal lubrication and electronic circuitry 7 2 Storage and Transport When not in use store the telescope in a cool dry place Do not expose the instrument to excessive heat or moisture It is best to store the telescope in its original box with the altitude lock knob unlocked If shipping the telescope use the original box and packing material to protect the telescope during shipment When transporting the telescope take care not to bump or drop the instrument this type of abuse can damage the optics or affect the GOTO tracking accuracy 25 7 3 Troubleshooting The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the SmartStar Cube A mount or telescope The power indicator light on the mount does not come on or there is no response when pressing hand controller s arrow keys 1 Verify that the power switch on the mount is in the ON position 2 Verify that the hand controller cord is firmly connected to the HBX port on the mount or switch the cord to the other HBX port 3 Check the power source which include e Using the battery Are the batteries installed correctly Are the batteries fresh How long have they been used frequent slew and GOTO will deplete battery power very quickly e Using AC or DC adapter Check th
42. t type anti backlash to see if they are changed You may need to practice a few times to get the procedure work correctly 47 Appendix F Use a PC to Control an iOptron Mount In general you need the followings to use a PC to control a SmartStar A mount 1 Download USB2COM driver CP210x zip file for 8401 http www ioptron com support aspx catalog 28 2 Install USB2COM and establish the connection between the mount and the PC see instruction ASCOM platform download from http ascom standards org Optron ASCOM drive download it from Optron website and Planetarium software em Some company has integrated iOptron s products into their planetarium software such as Voyage and The Sky X Pro Therefore an ASCOM plug in will not be needed Most planetarium software can be used to control iOptron s product via ASCOM Some other ASCOM drivers such as LX200 Generic ASCOM driver and AstroPhysics GTO driver are also compatible to SmartStar mount 45
43. th An additional compass is needed Unlock the altitude lock 4 and rotate the telescope to point straight up at the Zenith A torpedo level may help Make sure the mount is leveled Retighten the altitude lock Then turn the mount power on t lock 4 or 2 Turn the mount power on Press the SPEED button to select a slew speed MAX for fast slew and 1X for fine tuning Turn the SOUTH mark pointing to south using gt or lt button An additional compass may be needed Rotate the telescope point to the zenith using A or Y button A torpedo level may help Then turn the mount power off and turn it on 4 2 Setting Up the Mount A SmartStar Cube A is equipped with a GPS receiver which will receive the local time longitude and latitude information from a satellite after the link is established However manual input is still needed for time zone and Daylight Saving setting A clear sky outside is needed for GPS to communicate well with the satellites 12 4 2 1 Set Up Local Time and Site Info Press MENU button from the main menu scroll down and select Set up controller Select and Slew PO CO Target ELegtroncc Pocuser Set Up Controller Align Set Up Tracking User Objects Auto Guide Press ENTER Select Set Up Local Time Up Local Time Up Site N S Hemisphere Displegwvontfdast Eyepiece Light Backlight Snti backlash Key Beep Press ENTER The Set Local Time screen will show Set Local Time ZOMO
44. titude or longitude GoToNova Computerized Control System The revolutionary GoToNova computerized control system is by far the most technologically advanced automated tracking system available on the market today With a database of 130 000 celestial objects including all of the most famous galaxies nebulae star clusters not to mention the planets you ll be able to enjoy star gazing with the simple push of a button The easy to understand controller on the market The GoToNova hand controller is much easier to use than other similar products The hand controller is more intuitive with menu categories better organized It also has a larger LCD screen with more lines of content compared with the competition Using the easy to use hand controller and its large LCD screen you can easily set up your telescope and select where you want to go More precise speed control for viewing objects The 8401 hand controller comes with the A series allows you to slew the telescope at 9 different drive speeds keeping the object within the telescope s viewfinder for as long as you wish Compatible with many OTAs Most light weight lt 7lbs Optical Tube Assembles OTAs with dovetail connection should be compatible with the SmartStar Cube M A GOTO AltAzi mount If you do not have a dovetail connection attach your OTA using mounting rings and dovetail available at your local telescope store or the OTA manufacturer Contact iOptron for expert s
45. wer drop along the extension cord was known to cause the problem Also check all the plugs and connections w w w Wa WA CN 3 4 5 6 7 7 4 iOptron Customer Service If you have a question concerning your telescope contact the iOptron Customer Service Department Customer Service hours are 9 00 AM to 5 00 PM Easter Time Monday through Friday In the unlikely event that the telescope requires factory servicing or repairs write or call the iOptron Customer Service Department first before returning the telescope to the factory giving full particulars as to the nature of the problem as well as your name address and 21 daytime telephone number The great majority of servicing issues can be resolved by telephone avoiding return of the telescope to the factory It is also strongly suggested that to send your technical questions to support ioptron com 28 Appendix A Technical Specifications SmartStar Cube A GOTO Mount Mount AltAzimuth Equatorial Dual Mount Body Materials Die cast Aluminum Motor Dual Axis DC Servo motor with encoders Gear Acetal worm wheel Nylon 6 worm gear Bearing 4 steel ball bearings Slew Speed Dual Axis 9 Gear Electronic 1X 2X 8X 16X 64X 128X 256X 512X MAX GOTO System GoToNova 8401 Processor 32bit ARM Object in Database 120 000 GOTO accuracy 1 Arc Min Typical Tracking Automatic Payload 7 lbs Battery AA x 8 Not Included Power Requirement Operating Temperature Weight
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