Hey guys, so I was sent these powerboxes by the seller on AliExpress to review on my youtube channel and I gotta say I was quite impressed. As usual I like to include a transcript of my reviews here on CN so here it goes. I’d also like to assure you that I have full editorial control of this review and I am under no obligation to say anything other than my experience and thoughts. I'll try to keep things as brief as possible!
My video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWMKQD_IvnM
The PowerBox comes in a "GO" version and a "PRO" version and you receive either in a very similar package. You can tell which version you have from the back as shown on the picture below.
When you unbox the device you get the device itself and below it you’ll find a wedge that you can screw into the box and a sturdy looking USB3 Type B cable for PC control. With the pro version you also get a temperature/humidity sensor. You do not get any means to provide power to the device. Diving into both devices side by side let's look at the side view of both and compare them, keeping track of the differences.
Side A:
Side A contains 5x12v DC outputs on both devices and 2xUSB 2 inputs on the PRO.
Side B:
Side B contains 4xUSB3 inputs on the PRO, one extra 12v DC output, that makes a total of 6, a 3v to 12v adjustable output and a 19v output for things like miniPCs that a lot of people like to use for acquisition There is also a temperature sensor input which does come with device.
The Go here has 2xUSB3 inputs and 2xUSB2 inputs and one Always-on 12vDC output.
Side C:
Finally on side C they both have the input power and PC control inputs. So in conclusion the PRO has 2 extra USB3 inputs and an extra 12v DC output, an extra 3v-12v adjustable output and that 19v output as well as the temperature sensor and its input port into the device. The pro can also handle 15 Amps of current while the go can handle only 10.
Here is the specs of both if you want to look through them at your own pace.
Both devices come with ASCOM and INDI drivers so you can use them with PCs or things like the stellarmate, I’ve tested them on both and everything went smooth and problem free. I actually took the PRO with me to the desert, downloaded the drivers and installed them right there and then and started shooting. Usually I would test something at home before using it out on the field but I wanted to see how plug and play this can be and to my delight everything was smooth as butter.
You only need to install the serial driver and the ascom driver and then you can fully control all the USB and power switches on nina. Turning them on and off as you wish. I loved how things were labeled on the device and how the labels matched on the NINA control board.
SO in conclusion, if you had the money, which should you buy?Honestly, I’d go for the T.I PowerBox, the main advantages of the Pocket is the dew heater controls and their comprehensive UNITY software but I would rather have more power and usb and the ability to control my inputs individually. The T.I PowerBox is cheaper and objectively better. I just wish that - 1. It came with a power supply and - 2. It came with a power supply, but neither of these things are deal breakers to me and I had a very comfortable experience using it and I’m probably gonna keep using it!
Links to the device:
The T.I PowerBox Go: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007053312399.html
The T.I PowerBox Pro: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007115166070.html
Drivers Download:
https://www.terrans-industry.com/download
The page is in chinese but it is easy enough to find the right drivers!
My video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWMKQD_IvnM
The PowerBox comes in a "GO" version and a "PRO" version and you receive either in a very similar package. You can tell which version you have from the back as shown on the picture below.
When you unbox the device you get the device itself and below it you’ll find a wedge that you can screw into the box and a sturdy looking USB3 Type B cable for PC control. With the pro version you also get a temperature/humidity sensor. You do not get any means to provide power to the device. Diving into both devices side by side let's look at the side view of both and compare them, keeping track of the differences.
Side A:
Side A contains 5x12v DC outputs on both devices and 2xUSB 2 inputs on the PRO.
Side B:
Side B contains 4xUSB3 inputs on the PRO, one extra 12v DC output, that makes a total of 6, a 3v to 12v adjustable output and a 19v output for things like miniPCs that a lot of people like to use for acquisition There is also a temperature sensor input which does come with device.
The Go here has 2xUSB3 inputs and 2xUSB2 inputs and one Always-on 12vDC output.
Side C:
Finally on side C they both have the input power and PC control inputs. So in conclusion the PRO has 2 extra USB3 inputs and an extra 12v DC output, an extra 3v-12v adjustable output and that 19v output as well as the temperature sensor and its input port into the device. The pro can also handle 15 Amps of current while the go can handle only 10.
Here is the specs of both if you want to look through them at your own pace.
Both devices come with ASCOM and INDI drivers so you can use them with PCs or things like the stellarmate, I’ve tested them on both and everything went smooth and problem free. I actually took the PRO with me to the desert, downloaded the drivers and installed them right there and then and started shooting. Usually I would test something at home before using it out on the field but I wanted to see how plug and play this can be and to my delight everything was smooth as butter.
You only need to install the serial driver and the ascom driver and then you can fully control all the USB and power switches on nina. Turning them on and off as you wish. I loved how things were labeled on the device and how the labels matched on the NINA control board.
SO in conclusion, if you had the money, which should you buy?Honestly, I’d go for the T.I PowerBox, the main advantages of the Pocket is the dew heater controls and their comprehensive UNITY software but I would rather have more power and usb and the ability to control my inputs individually. The T.I PowerBox is cheaper and objectively better. I just wish that - 1. It came with a power supply and - 2. It came with a power supply, but neither of these things are deal breakers to me and I had a very comfortable experience using it and I’m probably gonna keep using it!
Links to the device:
The T.I PowerBox Go: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007053312399.html
The T.I PowerBox Pro: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007115166070.html
Drivers Download:
https://www.terrans-industry.com/download
The page is in chinese but it is easy enough to find the right drivers!
