Ioptron HEM27 owners thread.

[knobby]

Hi all, took delivery of an 'open box' Ioptron HEM 27 on Wednesday.

Very impressed by the look and feel of the workmanship and can't wait to try it.

Tested connections, Ascom, Ioptron commander etc. indoors and updated the firmware with no problems. Connects to APT but can't slew from program, performs goto's ok but no manual slew, again not a big issue as I plate solve.

Only gripe so far is when converting the saddle to Losmandy, the clamp becomes very stiff / catchy and won't release under spring pressure - seems poorly machined but I can probably resolve that with tiny shims or washers.

Ascom / Commander software - https://www.ioptron.com/v/ASCOM/iOptronCommander_ASCOM_DriverInstaller8.exe ~~~ needs ASCOM Platform 6.5 SP1 or later to run ~~~

Install info  - https://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=332

Firmware - https://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=345

Firmware install info - https://www.ioptron.com/v/firmware/HEM27_FirmwareUpgradeInstruction.pdf

If like me you're coming form a Skywatcher mount and field power (12v battery etc) you'll need to get a 5.5 x 2.1 to 5.5 x 2.5 convertor - something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174950199535 as the HEM 27 uses the 5.5 x 2.5 socket.

 

It Is only a tiny bit bigger than my AZ-Gti / wedge and just as easy to handle with my dodgy old back !

What is freaky Is watching It slew the C9.25 around with no counterweights as though It's a small can of beans 🙂

Photos, videos etc to follow...

 

[The Admiral]

Excellent news. I hope it works well for you.

Ian

[knobby]

 

 

[knobby]

New firmware released.

V20220510 HEM27 Firmware Upgrade Improvement:  Improving GOTO Accuracy Bug Fix:  Removed hand controller PEC for HEM27EC mount. 

[Adam J]

On 19/08/2022 at 10:35, knobby said:

 

 

One word of warning, irrespective of the weight handling with no counter weights. Remember that is lots of mass one one side of the tripod so take care that the COG doesn't move outside the tripod. 

[knobby]

Yes, for DSO I'll have the tripod as low as possible for rigidity but I did have to extend the legs to make sure the scope wasn't over hanging the feet. I'll probably hang the battery pack from the mount when in use.

[knobby]

So, very rushed first session between clouds and teething problems aligning the mount.

Log attached.PHD2_GuideLog_2022-08-20_213456.txt

Poor seeing and whispy cloud, lots of mistakes my end then eventually had a good 20 minute spell.

 

HEM 27 non EEC / Carbon tripod / SW 72ED / Flattener / 290m guide cam / OAG / ZWo EAF so approx 4 kg.

 

Tried calibration a few times and complained about dec backlash, but in all honesty PHD2 did this on every mount I've ever had.

 

Overall, after tweaks in RA aggression managed 0.98" which is way better than I ever got with my AVX, HEQ5 and AZ-Gti.

 

edit - forgot to add, tried polar align in Sharpcap and APT paps, both gave different results 😞

[david_taurus83]

Be interested to see results if you used PHD PPEC algorithm. I find my AZGTI improves quite a bit after 15 mins or so of guiding on target.

[knobby]

5 minutes ago, david_taurus83 said:

Be interested to see results if you used PHD PPEC algorithm. I find my AZGTI improves quite a bit after 15 mins or so of guiding on target.

Weirdly I've just set up a new profile in PHD2 using PPec for Ra ... Rushed to test the other night and just tweaked the old profile.

[Adam J]

On 19/08/2022 at 09:51, knobby said:

Hi all, took delivery of an 'open box' Ioptron HEM 27 on Wednesday.

Very impressed by the look and feel of the workmanship and can't wait to try it.

Tested connections, Ascom, Ioptron commander etc. indoors and updated the firmware with no problems. Connects to APT but can't slew from program, performs goto's ok but no manual slew, again not a big issue as I plate solve.

Only gripe so far is when converting the saddle to Losmandy, the clamp becomes very stiff / catchy and won't release under spring pressure - seems poorly machined but I can probably resolve that with tiny shims or washers.

Ascom / Commander software - https://www.ioptron.com/v/ASCOM/iOptronCommander_ASCOM_DriverInstaller8.exe ~~~ needs ASCOM Platform 6.5 SP1 or later to run ~~~

Install info  - https://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=332

Firmware - https://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=345

Firmware install info - https://www.ioptron.com/v/firmware/HEM27_FirmwareUpgradeInstruction.pdf

If like me you're coming form a Skywatcher mount and field power (12v battery etc) you'll need to get a 5.5 x 2.1 to 5.5 x 2.5 convertor - something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174950199535 as the HEM 27 uses the 5.5 x 2.5 socket.

 

It Is only a tiny bit bigger than my AZ-Gti / wedge and just as easy to handle with my dodgy old back !

What is freaky Is watching It slew the C9.25 around with no counterweights as though It's a small can of beans 🙂

Photos, videos etc to follow...

 

when you got this on Offer from FLO did they include the tripod or was that extra. I have a Ioptron tripod but cant work out if its compatable with this mount.

 

Adam

[knobby]

9 hours ago, Adam J said:

when you got this on Offer from FLO did they include the tripod or was that extra. I have a Ioptron tripod but cant work out if its compatable with this mount.

 

Adam

Yes, came with the carbon tripod ... I've never used Ioptron products before but It appears to be the same fitting.

 

 

It does show both types of tripod in the manual.

[Adam J]

13 hours ago, knobby said:

Yes, came with the carbon tripod ... I've never used Ioptron products before but It appears to be the same fitting.

 

 

It does show both types of tripod in the manual.

I think it looks the same but its that centre post that i dont have. Did that come boxed with the mount or the tripod?

Adam

[knobby]

Ah, the centre post is part of the tripod, it screws into the top.

I'll be changing the saddle to losmandy later, I'll take pictures.

[Adam J]

4 hours ago, knobby said:

Ah, the centre post is part of the tripod, it screws into the top.

I'll be changing the saddle to losmandy later, I'll take pictures.

interesting, so it screws onto the 3/8inch thread that pokes through from below?

Assume that is a 3/8ths, or do you mean it screws directly onto the top plate itself?

Adam

[knobby]

It's a bit weird to explain and mine had no manual ... but the peg is a screw in stud that locates the middle of the mount but just positions it centrally unlike a Skywatcher that screws down.

 

The 'tripod spreader' screws in the same hole from below.

[knobby]

@AdamJ the stud appears to be about 11mm and the two screws that hold the mount on appear to be 82.5mm apart ...

Edited August 23, 2022 by knobby

[knobby]

Rough idea of size comparison to AZ-Gti in eq mode ...

[knobby]

Quick update, nothing exciting managed a bit of planetary between the clouds last night.

Extended legs about 1/2 way which was enough to feel pretty stable, I'll make something to hang the battery pack from for extra security eventually.

When focusing it took about 10 seconds to dampen down vibrations ( was about 5 on the heq5 )

Also caught Io bottom left corner.

 

Edited September 4, 2022 by knobby
Added Io note.

[knobby]

If anyone is feeling brave, new firmware ...

https://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=345

 

[eshy76]

Hey @knobby I've got a HEM27EC, but haven't used it for a couple of months due to weather.

Initial impressions were positive but I just wanted to ask whether meridian flips work consistently for you? On mine, the flip happens but the guiding goes nuts afterwards...I must have the wrong PHD2 setting selected or something.

I'm sure the meridian flip would behave similarly for EC and non-EC versions which is why I ask.

Looks like three clear nights coming up for me, but with a full moon stomping all over the Pleaides/Orion part of the sky, not sure which narrowband targets to shoot!

 

 

[knobby]

Hi Eshy,  I've not run mine long enough to do a flip honestly.

Mainly been using it for planets (when it actually clears)

It's not the 'reverse dec output after meridian flip' is it ?

 

 

[Shimrod]

On 04/09/2022 at 13:18, knobby said:

Quick update, nothing exciting managed a bit of planetary between the clouds last night.

Extended legs about 1/2 way which was enough to feel pretty stable, I'll make something to hang the battery pack from for extra security eventually.

When focusing it took about 10 seconds to dampen down vibrations ( was about 5 on the heq5 )

Also caught Io bottom left corner.

 

That photograph looks so wrong...I really must put a strain wave mount on my Christmas list for next year. You must find it so much quicker to set up and tear down than a conventional EQ mount.

[Deadlake]

Does the HEM27 support two star alignment at all?

For instance the AM5 will only store one alignment star, each time Sky Safari sends an alignment star it will over write the last alignment star sent.

Thanks

[knobby]

Ioptron seems to use a very different approach to alignment than the Skywatcher or Celestron mounts I'd used before !

https://www.ioptron.com/v/Manuals/HEM27_Manual.pdf

Page 22 onwards talks about alignment but basically you polar align, set date / time / location (which It remembers as has a battery in hand controller) and that's It 🙂

You can synch to a target to improve gotos.

[newbie alert]

On 21/08/2022 at 16:43, knobby said:

Tried calibration a few times and complained about dec backlash, but in all honesty PHD2 did this on every mount I've ever had.

Strange as it's described on both axis as backlash free belt driven worm system... What did the calibration graph look like?  On my ioptron( cem 60) it says backlash is too small to measure 

Are the axis really fluid with these? As with other ioptron mounts they highlight the third axis imbalance.. how do you balance Ra if there's no counterweight?

Edited December 9, 2022 by newbie alert
Added info