Astronomy > Mountings & accessories > Mountings > Equatorial with GoTo > Explore Scientific > PMC-8 > Explore Scientific Mount iEXOS-100 PMC-8 Wi-Fi GoTo

( 4 / 5 )

Product no.: 61886

Mount iEXOS-100 PMC-8 Wi-Fi GoTo

Name: Explore Scientific Mount iEXOS-100 PMC-8 Wi-Fi GoTo
Brand: Explore Scientific
Price: 489 USD
Rating: 4 (6 reviews)

$ 489.00 incl. VAT, plus shipping costs

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Product description

These equatorial mounts have an integrated PMC-8 system, an especially powerful computerised control system which can be controlled via Wi-Fi using any smartphone or tablet. This combines exceptional PMC electronics with a graphic user interface, GPS and other smartphone or tablet features. These benefits include the essential free ExploreStars app being automatically updated. The ASCOM interface can also be used to run almost every programme which supports standard ASCOM.

Intuitive 2- or 3-star alignment during initialisation using GoTo controls can be achieved through the app - very simple for beginners and extremely fast for more experienced observers.

The iEXOS-100 has further advantages:

Effortless axial clamping for simple adjustment
Micro-stepper motors and precise worm gears in both axes
Low-noise toothed belt drive with no backlash (gear backlash)
Mini-USB interface for INDI/ASCOM wired PC connection
ST-4-compatible autoguider interface

This lightweight mount offers a lot electronically and also has something mechanical up its sleeve: Ideal as a travel mount or for mobile astrophotography. It is particularly good for apochromats with apertures between 80 to 102mm.

Explore Scientific PMC-8 GoTo controls: These controls consist of a robust controller box which creates its own Wi-Fi signal and makes the required interfaces available. All motors are connected to this unit and, of course, an ST-4 compatible autoguider interface is available. The controls also support microstep operation to ensure precise tracking, as PMC stands forPrecision Motion Controller.

A PC or tablet can be used to operate the controls via Wi-Fi (Windows 8.1, Windows 10, iOS, Android, mobile devices with 7.1” or higher screen sizes). The specially designed app, ExploreStars, offers a very user-friendly platform. Currently available stars for initialising tracking and numerous celestial objects from the database are displayed along with additional written information. All of these objects can be comfortably viewed and selected.

At the heart of the controller is a fully self-contained 2-channel processor with 8 CPUs and a Wi-Fi ethernet 10/100 adapter with IP functions which enables operation via web browser, ASCOM, APP or through a serial connection. Open GoTo provides an opportunity to write your own firmware and load this into the controller. This makes it possible to make individual adaptations to the device functions and create your own object lists, etc.

Please note: You should install the ExploreStars app on your Windows device before starting the system. Further information can be found at www.explorestars.com.

Specifications

Capacity

Max. additional load capacity (kg)

Power supply

Counterweight(s) (piece)

Mounting saddle

Vixen-Style

Motor type

Stepper motors

Weight mount head only (kg)

Drive type

Worm wheel

Special features

Level

yes

Handcontroller

Controllable via PC

yes

GoTo system

yes

Equipment

Accessory plate

yes

Motor-powered

yes

Battery included

Tripod <p>

Tripod

Battery compartment

yes

Pole finder

Tripod

Tripod material

Steel

Tripod weight (kg)

2,5

General

Series

PMC-8

Total weight (kg)

8,5

Type

Mount

Type of build

Equatorial

GoTo control

Alignment method

2 star

Autoguiding

yes

Software

PMC-8

GoTo Language

multilingual

WIFI

yes

Miscellaneous

Battery type

Baby (C, LR14)

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*All prices include VAT plus shipping costs.

ExploreStars OpenGoto APP

Screenshot

Customer reviews

iExos100

Review by Doros on 06.07.2023 11:28:14

( 5 / 5 )

I am 5 years now in astro photography. I own HEQ5-Pro, iOptrong GEM45 and i believe i have a global understanding to evaluate this little mount.

It is vital to upgrade the mount to latest firmware, otherwise mount will have guiding problems and weird behaviour. After upgrade to latest firmware the mount is a charm for not heavy gear. So far tested with SharpStar 61 with reducer and ToupTek2600 OSC, I will also test it with the 80AL Sharpstar that i believe will be the limits of this mount.

Serial port guiding values are bellow 0.6-1 on average. Some spikes to 1.2-1.4 after dither and returns to normal quickly.

It is a value for money option and a reliable Go To mount. I have use it with APT and SharpCap that i use it for polar alignment since mount has NO polar scope (you can buy it extra), but it was something i new in advance. Yes you need the AZ base, unless you can 3D print something similar.
SharpCap polar works great. I point with a laser trhough the mount hole before for rough polar estimate and then SharpCap.

Sound reminds me my GEM-45 iOptron.

Mount comes with a tripod, that if you don't extend legs in full is reliable, even though can't handle strong winds.

JUST REMEMBER TO UPGRADE FIRMWARE AND YOU WILL REMEMBER ME !

Great

Review by C. C. on 01.04.2023 07:36:20

( 5 / 5 )

Gret little mount for travel astrophotography. Works perfectlly connected to N.I.N.A. via a USB cable. I am using it with a 80mm APO / ASI 294MC PRO / OAG.

Solution

Review by Irenegiuro on 05.06.2020 19:24:44

( 5 / 5 )

I thank you for understanding the error, I am satisfied with what you have done to solve it.
Thanks.
Grazie Astroshop.

Not bad for the money

Review by T. Y. on 02.01.2024 21:51:53

( 4 / 5 )

An edit of my review, as I mange to fix software issues and now use the mount.
In order ExploresStars for Android to work proprly downloaded from ES site and install it manually. The version in the app store is not good.
The mount can carry 130pds newton but gets quite sensitive to vibrations.
There is an issue with the stepper motors micro step that are wobbeling of about 5-6 arcseconds. That cause enlonged stars of focal lenghs higher then 450mm (depends on the pixel size). Can be improved a bit if the motors power is set to their maximum of 900mA trough the firmware configutration tool.

Here is one shot with it: https://flic.kr/p/2p2Yv6x

Problems

Review by Irenegiuro on 29.05.2020 15:45:47

( 3 / 5 )

This mount not have GPS, Pec and load capacity is 4.6 KG not 7.
The seller not responde or does not want to solve the problem.

Response on this review by our expert Ulrich Zehndbauer

on 04.06.2020 15:14:23

Dear customer,
there is no problem to be solved. GPS and PEC are not included, this is clearly stated in the specifications of the mount. The payload of 7kg, too.
Best regards, team Astroshop

Good mount, bad software

Review by T. Y. on 25.05.2023 20:52:35

( 2 / 5 )

Mount looks very well build and the sound is fantastic. However the software for android is very bad. I test it on 2 tablets with version 11 and 13 and there is always issue with the catalogue. It keeps crashing when try to access it. Ony solar system part is fine. You can go on with pointing by coorinates but at some point will loose pointing precision. Sometimes it losses connection and you have to alaign again. I need it to be compact that is why I need to run it on talbet.
I will keep it as I like the chalenges :)