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Hi, While I'm waiting for my Asiair Pro on backorder, I'm trying to get up to speed and figure out the correct way to connect it to my HEQ5 Pro mount. My setup is the following:
From what I can gather so far, I connect the Asiair Pro to the "hand controller" port on the mount using an EQMOD cable. Do I connect the guide camera to the USB port on the Asiair Pro or do I plug it directly into the "autoguider" port on the mount? And since the D5600 is compatible with the Asiair Pro do I need to use the camera shutter release port on the Asiair (and separate cable), or should I be using a separate USB to mini-USB cable to connect the D5600 directly to the Asiair? Thanks for any help, Jim |
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I have the skywatcher adventurer and ASIAIR pro with same guide camera and scope as you. I connect the guide camera to the auto guiding port on the mount and it works great. I also definitely recommend ditching the extra shutter release and to connect your camera to the ASIAIR so you can let the asi software auto run your imaging. you also connect the guide camera separately and directly to the asi air pro using the other cable (is it usb-c? I’m traveling right now and can’t walk to my gear to double check). So, essentially your guide camera is connected to the asi air pro using the (usb c?) and also to the mount via the auto guide port. If you’re working in a backyard, you can go Inside while everything is running and control everything wireless via a computer, phone or tablet connected to a home WiFi network. im a relative newbie on here, so I welcome alternatives, but this setup I’ve mentioned above works for me. |
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My setup is similar: SkyWatcher HEQ5 Pro mod. + Canon M5 mod. + AsiAirPro + ZWO ASI120mm. - Connect the guide cam by USB (cables are included in the AAP box) to the AsiAirPro - Most people including myself buy a portal Wifi extender - If you have a Facebook account, i'd recommend to join the "ASIAIR PRO USERS GROUP". Lots of information and help |
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| Thanks everyone for the quick replies. Can't wait until my AsiAir Pro arrives! |
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Just to echo the others inputs. I have a Nikon D5300 connected via USB to the ASI Air into one of the USB 3.0 ports (it didn't work when plugged into either of the USB 2.0 ports). The thumb drive supplied with the ASI Air is plugged into the other USB 3.0 port on the ASI Air. The guide scope camera (ASI 120mm) is plugged into one of the ASI Air USB 2.0 ports. The Atlas mount has a Serial to Usb cable and is plugged into the ASI Air into the remaining USB 2.0 port. And lastly the guide camera is connected to the mount with an ST4 cable. The ASI Air is powered by a homebuilt battery box (orange thing supporting my beer). I also power the mount using one of the ASI Air's power distribution ports. When it works - it's great. But there are times when I have to restart the ASI because it locks up (usually during Focusing or Polar Alignment) - only causes a minor delay in setup. The WiFi range is very short in the 5GHZ mode, so since I usually setup near my garage, I have a WiFI extender in the garage with an ethernet port. I therefore connect an ethernet cable from the ASI Air Pro to that WiFi extender device (not in picture). This way I can manage everything from anywhere inside my house...which is nice in the winter. I recommend getting a power adaptor for the Nikon so you don't have to swap batteries during your shooting sessions. They are relatively inexpensive (aftermarket brand of course) - In addition to powering the dew heaters, I also power the camera with the battery box (it's a homemade 12-volt LiFEPO4 battery, with a 12volt to 9 volt converter to power the camera). The camera power cable does add yet another cable into the mix to manage, but worth it in my opinion not to have to worry about losing battery power... There is some chatter on the ZWO forums about Nikon D5300 compatibility problems, so I hope your D5600 doesn't suffer from the same problem. For me it took going through 4 different USB cables for the camera to be recognized by the ASi Air reliably (the stock Nikon cable was actually the worst) - that being said I also have a Nikon D500 and it worked fine on the ASI Air using the stock Nikon USB cable...go figure. Anyway, again I hope yours is trouble free. Best of luck.  |
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Marc, Thanks so much, and for sending a picture of your setup. This is really helpful. I'm already using a power adaptor for the Nikon; I have a Jackery 200W Power Pack that I use to power the mount and the Nikon. You are right, it is really nice not to have to worry about swapping batteries during an imaging session. Question on the Nikon connection. Is the USB cable from the Asi Air plugged into the shutter release port on the Nikon or into the port that you would use to download images from the camera to a computer? I'm hoping that I don't have to worry about WiFi range because I have a small backyard and my mount is pretty close to a WiFi extender I have in the house. p.s. The beer is nice. Key accessory. |
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Good morning, Sounds like your setup is ready for use! The Camera's USB cable is connected to the port for downloading pictures as you mentioned, it's directly above the HDMI port on the left side of the camera (left when looking at the back of it). No need for a camera release cable or to use that port. Once everything is set up and running on autopilot, beer is required to help keep clouds away. |
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Hi, I have been using the ASIAir Pro with an HEQ5 for some time. I've never had any problems at all. I use a USB EQMod cable and connect directly to the mount from the ASIAir (so just a one-wire hookup). I use the EQMod or EQMod with Skysafari option in ASIAir. This way I don't have to do any 1/2/3 Star alignments upfront. Just PA and GO. I also have the ZWO Electronic Focuser. I use a 50mm Guide Scope with the ZWO 290MM Mini and the ZWO ASI183MC for the main camera. Both cameras are connected to the ASIAir Directly by USB. Polar Alignment takes under 5 minutes. Guiding is always spot on and I've never had to recalibrate in between. I'm lazy and never level the mount and I park it in different locations in my driveway and after PA it just works. I actually just ordered a second ASIAir and a Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i that came this week so I can have a more portable rig with timelapse, pan, and Tracking with my modded Canon T3i. The Wifi does suck though. I removed the extender that is velcro'd to the ASIAir in the photo below and ran a 100' Ethernet cable from a switch box in my garage. This way I can control it via iPad, iPhone, and even my laptop running the BlueStacks Emulator from anywhere in the house. I can pull files directly from the ASIAir's SD Card from my laptops file manager just by entering \\ASIAIR in the path and it reads the card directly to copy files over. Have fun and clear skies. You'll like it. Joe..  |
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| Thanks for the words and the image. All very helpful. Looking forward to enjoying it, just waiting for the ASIAir to arrive so I can try it out. |
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| Hi there, brand new member here (and very new to telescope-based imaging). Have an ASIAir Pro on its way to me, and an ASI224MC camera, along with a Mak-Cassegrain on HEQ5 mount (to add to my current Dob) so will be following this thread to give me a leg up when it's all here. All advice welcome! |
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| Hey! I went along a similar way as a beginner some while ago. When you have and use a Sky-Watcher mount and meanwhile have ASIAIR, you DEFINITELY do not want to use the Hand Controller and an ST4 connection! The only thing you need is so-called EQdir (also EQdirect, EQmod) cable. It is a kind of converter from the hand-controller socket on the mount to USB on ASIAIR or on a computer. You connect you guiding camera (a ZWO camera is needed here) via USB directly to ASIAIR and DO NOT use the ST4 connection anymore. With this, you are ready to go! No stupid star alignment, no time setting, no location setting, less cables, less hassle, more time for astro! ;-) |
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| Thanks. I've got my EQMOD cable all set and ready to go. I'm hoping the ASIAIR arrives in the next few weeks. |
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| Has anyone had luck with a long ethernet connection cable to the ASI Air plus? Is there a secret to configuring this successfully |
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| Does anyone have a make / model / brand of WIFI extender they recommend? |
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Daryl Wilson: I run 4 ASIAir Pros and a Mini-PC. I have a bridged Router in the garage which is hardwired to the main. I then run 100' Ethernet cables from that router. Ethernet max is 320' (my understanding) but I've only gone 200' but never a problem. |
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| Thanks - which mini PC did you select? I am historically a macbook IOS guy that may be causing my issues on ethernet |
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Daryl Wilson: I had picked up a Daystar 60mm DS Solar Scout so set it up with a Mele Q3 (MeLE Fanless Mini PC Quieter3Q 11th Gen N5105 8GB 256GB Windows 11 Pro) which works great. Loaded with Ascom Platform, SharpCap, EQMod. I also recently picked up a GEEKOM IT11 with 32gb memory and 1tb SSD Drive and it is actually quite fast but twice the price. The Mele Q3 was $209usd. |
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very helpful - thanks so much Daryl |
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Daryl Wilson: Hi, I have used a tp-link extender (model TL-WR902AC) with the ASIAIR Pro. I haven't had any problems, but I didn't do any experiments to see what the maximum range was for it. It does have an ethernet port on it. Jim |
