ZWO AM3 for visual astronomy?

[cloudyweather]

Hi

I'm looking to explore my future upgrade path from a Starfield 102mm and manual Sightron Alt-Azimuth Mount on a CF tripod to the next step.

I'm thinking ZWO AM3 with goto but unguided and no additional 'boxes'.

And then onto Auto-Guiding and ASiair mini etc.

It's all about cost.

My main question is, Can the ZWO AM3 be used for Visual Goto (without ASiair and auto-guiding)?

How would you polar align? 3 star alignment? Happy to use phone and the pictured hand controller. Obviously the Starfield and a RDF too,

Thanks,

Sean

[Elp]

It works quite well.

Both the am3 and 5 have dual modes where you can use them in equatorial or alt az mode, simply by holding down a button and powering on, after a few seconds it'll switch mode and when you send to home you'll see the different orientation of the declination axis. You do have to physically adjust the altitude range (it has two ranges like an ioptron mount, in the UK it'll be fine to set it on the higher range as you won't have to switch them physically (simple process of loosening two cap head screws either side of the mount, sliding the mount head to the next fixing hole and retightening)). Then to use it in alt az mode you change from your altitude angle for EQ to full 90 degrees, then switch on, goto home and you'll be set. 

You use the ZWO stargazing app to control it in its simplest form, app connected to the mounts hand controller (a joystick which contains the WiFi chip), and it has an in built stellarium. It's very simple compared to Stellarium or Sky Safari but once on you can search for a target then press goto and it'll slew away. If off target slightly you can manually reposition with the joystick then sync to mount to set it. I actually find it better to use than ioptrons handset.

In alt az you don't polar align, set it roughly pointing north then go, helps if your tripod is also level. It takes your location into account and as it's using a stellarium you can visually see how off it may be when it gotos unlike traditional manual hand controllers. Haven't used it manually in EQ mode, it's even easier when using it with an Asiair, cameras and with plate solving. Then you can fairly accurately polar align it.

[cloudyweather]

2 hours ago, Elp said:

It works quite well.

Both the am3 and 5 have dual modes where you can use them in equatorial or alt az mode, simply by holding down a button and powering on, after a few seconds it'll switch mode and when you send to home you'll see the different orientation of the declination axis. You do have to physically adjust the altitude range (it has two ranges like an ioptron mount, in the UK it'll be fine to set it on the higher range as you won't have to switch them physically (simple process of loosening two cap head screws either side of the mount, sliding the mount head to the next fixing hole and retightening)). Then to use it in alt az mode you change from your altitude angle for EQ to full 90 degrees, then switch on, goto home and you'll be set. 

You use the ZWO stargazing app to control it in its simplest form, app connected to the mounts hand controller (a joystick which contains the WiFi chip), and it has an in built stellarium. It's very simple compared to Stellarium or Sky Safari but once on you can search for a target then press goto and it'll slew away. If off target slightly you can manually reposition with the joystick then sync to mount to set it. I actually find it better to use than ioptrons handset.

In alt az you don't polar align, set it roughly pointing north then go, helps if your tripod is also level. It takes your location into account and as it's using a stellarium you can visually see how off it may be when it gotos unlike traditional manual hand controllers. Haven't used it manually in EQ mode, it's even easier when using it with an Asiair, cameras and with plate solving. Then you can fairly accurately polar align it.

So in Alt-Az, just levelling and pointing North (with compass) allows you to goto (and correct if necessary) and TRACK once there.  Just not to the accuracy of EQ, autoguiding and asiair.

Sounds a perfect halfway. Many thanks.