calling iOptron mount users

I believe all the iOptron mounts connect via the hand Controller to the Pi or SBC.

I use this cable www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076PLCTXZ/ . any FTDI chipset enabled cable should work.

Looking forward to CEM40 reviews , that looks an EQ5 replacement

You don't need the hand controller. For the CEM60 you have a RS232 input. I guess it exists also on CEM25. To connect PC or RPi or any computer having a USB port I use this kind of cable: www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B06VWWCPQQ/ref=...05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Interesting . I haven't seen any other serial port apart from the one in HandController. I'll check again.

I have an iEQ45 Pro. Bought it in October, still learning it - been cloudy 98% of the time . So far I like it very much, it holds my C8-N (8” Newtonian) very stable. Tracking is excellent, set up it easy. I connect my PIs (I run two distributed- one for guide cam & mount, one for main cam) to the RJ-12 RS232 port on the mount. VERY happy I bought this mount. Whether I use ASCOM or INDI the connection and control from my PC is simply rock solid. Build quality is solid, fit and finish good too. FWIW: Buy the tri-pier - a truly solid - and mobile foundation.

For controlling the CEM25P I use this bluetooth device
Its mounted on my mini pier and It plugs into the serial cable coming from the handset and talks to the sbc mounted on top of the telescope. Makes for one less cable going to the sbc.

Just continiuning the topic; Does any one has the CEM40 yet? How this one works on INDI? I'm looking forward to upgrade my AVX mount to CEM 40. Ioptron just can't deliver them into EU enough...

patdut wrote: The CEM60 is a best value for the price. I use it in semi nomad way. I mean I get it from house to backyard each time I need or on the field. The weight of the mount (12kg) instead of the 17kg of my previous one is a plus and make it easy to handle. As I said I use it with the triptych Kstars/Ekos/INDI running indifferently on a PC or a Tinkerboard.
As fmozza I rarely use the handset.
The polar finder is enough accurate to set a polar alignment close to few arcs minute. I complete the manual polar align with the Ekos polar align function.
Guiding is really accurate from 0,15 arcsec to 0,5 arcsec RMS depending of the position of the telescope and the turbulence conditions.
The only thing that is a bit disturbing at the beginning is the clutch system (not really clutch) which is a engage/disengage system. But after a while it is a really good thing. It allows to do precise balance of the setup as it is free of friction when disengaged. Maybe the design of the mount helps a lot too.
A great plus too is the inboard USB hub that allows to minimize the number of wires from PC to mount.
As I am in a relatively protected zone from light pollution I have In my project to build a fixed observatory. And I think I will put a CEM120 inside it.

My CEM60 is No.12, the early version. I don't mind of to be the laboratory rat of ioptron. But saying the truth, CEM60 is not a well designed mount.
1. 4 ports on both side are blocked by the two knobs, around latitude 40. This will cause some problems of the plug.
2. DEC is not on the correct axis. This leads to a rotary torque.
3. USB Hub is not powered. This will cause some problem on small ARM box like RPi and others who does not have very stable USD power output.
4. DEC wire is outside.
5. Polar scope is not well collimated in the factory.
6. You are forced to return to latitude 0 in order to put the mount back into the case.
7. Casting quality.

So I'm considering to 'upgrade' to CEM40 which has fixed all these issues.