The iOptron SmartStar CubePro 8200 Go2Nova 8408 w AA/EQ dual mode

[Dark Raven]

iOptron Cube Pro Go-To Mount with GPS in EQ configuration, 8408 Go2Nova HC and double saddle. Not often seen in the wild.

 

    

 

Official iOptron video:

 

Mount head weighs only 1.4 kg. Mount, internal batteries, HC and tripod weigh 6.2 kg and fit nicely in single backpack together with collapsible SW Heritage 150P OTA. Taking it to the dark site with E-Scooter during the holidays last summer was a blast.

       

 

Unfortunately it is left (?) mounted so the focuser of the 150P is facing downwards. This could be solved by reorienting the expandable rods of the OTA, but I opted for original secondary dovetail kit. I did not find any reference to the possibility of changing mounting orientation in the HC configuration or firmware. I've heard some mounts allow for that. That would have been nice feature.

  

In dual visual ( SW Heritage 150P ) / light AP ( Canon DSLR, EF 75-300 ) use. It is amazing that it can carry SW Heritage 150P with Celestron NexYZ Smartphone Adapter and smartphone on Baader Hyperion Eyepiece, if properly balanced. As to visual performance of the mount, it tracks well in AA mode if properly aligned. Turning the south indication on the opposite side from the bubble level southwards and doing two star alignment is usually good enough to place the planet in 25 mm eyepiece. Using compass and three star alignment will usually put it in the center of 13 mm eyepiece on SW Heritage 150P and track it for over half an hour. Probably even more but never stayed on one target for visual longer than that.
 

  

 

Single smartphone shoot of the Moon through an eyepiece looks decent. 

 

Full AP setup, WO RedCat 51, ZWO EAF, ASIAIR Plus, homemade 12V / 4.9 Ah battery (1.2V in 10S2P configuration) as part of counterweight. Off topic, why are counterweight batteries not a thing? This totally made sense to me, so I made myself one. I plan to expand the capacity in near future. 

       

 

Imaging sessions in the wild can be fun with curious visitors.

 

 

As to the pulse auto guiding in general it is not supported in newer models with 8408 HC. Older Cube Pro models with 8401 HC had higher load capacity and with ( discontinued ) ST4 adapter were capable of pulse guiding.

Instruction Manual for CubePro with 8401 HC has auto guide paragraph that is not in Manual for 8408 HC. 

 

This post ( https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/574608-my-ioptron-cube-based-portable-wide-field-imaging-rig/ ) thrilled me and it was a reason I went for Cube Pro in the first place. I do understand the differentiation of products and manufacturers push towards the higher end products, nevertheless it is somewhat frustrating when the new version of the product has less features (no pulse guiding) and can carry less load than the old one (3.6 kg vs 5 kg). 

Unfortunately, #8401 HC is not compatible.

 

Windows PHD2 with ASCOM driver straight forward declares mount not capable of pulse guiding and PHD2 does not even connect or start calibration.
ASIAIR Plus will start calibration and fail.
StellarMate EKOS with INDI driver tries to calibrate and sometimes succeeds, well sort of and only sometimes...

In one case it will just track the guide star with mount not reacting to guide pulses and than readjust the position of the green guide square while letting the mount drift as seen below:

 

In other cases if you play with drivers it will appear to actually guide:

 

And produce somewhat decent photos stacked in DSS and stretched in PS. 

• 195 Lights X 30 sec at ISO 800
• 30 Darks
• 30 Bias
• 30 Flats

 

Advantages over SW AZ-GTi:

• Native AZ and EQ modes
• Comes with HC
• GPS
• Native dual saddle
• Comes with counterweight

Disadvantages over SW AZ GTi

• Lower load capacity of only 3.6 kg ( AZ-GTi has 5 kg )
• No native guiding, only tracking (Celestial, Solar, Lunar, King and User defined)
• No RA Clutch (makes balancing cumbersome in EQ mode due to friction between the loaded mount and the tripod)
• No native WiFi ( optional StarFi adapter ) and no mobile app

Somewhat capable and extremely portable little mount for Grab ‘N Go action, has it's moods, but as long as not overloaded ( 3.6 kg max ) it performs reasonably well within it's (entry GoTo) price category. The mount shows its age but in persistent hands it is more than usable, for visual and AP. 

Edited July 8, 2022 by Dark Raven

[Geoff Lister]

Thanks for the review.

I had similar upside-down problems with several of my OTAs, including my Heritage 130P. My solution is detailed in my equipment review "iOptron SmartStar CubePro AZ Mount ".

Geoff

 

[Dark Raven]

Hi Geoff,

I've seen your post ( iOptron SmartStar CubePro AZ Mount ) prior to purchase, and you exposing metal gears in your review gave me the confidence to proceed with Cube Pro. Thank you for your effort. Much appreciated.

 DR