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SA 2i USB/NINA control, longevity, serviceabilty, reliability?

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i - WiFi Fornax LighTrack II Star Tracker Portable Setup
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GTom avatar
GTom avatar
I need a travel mount for my 2.8/300+1.7x teleconverter nikkor setup that can be guided, preferably with a plain simple USB cable that can be replaced anywhere between Greenland and Antarctica. Also, I'd like to control the mount (3p polar alignment, guiding, plate solving) using nina on my windows tablet.
Can the SA2i tick all boxes, except the motorized DEC of course?
My Lightrack II seems failing (star trails even at 300m/30sec), instead of getting that repaired, I'd prefer a more computer friendly setup. (the LT II's usb port is useles).
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
Wouldn't it be the same of the LT II? I mean, the Dec axis is still fully manual and you can guide with the LT II too. Plate solving doesn't need NINA and controlling the mount isn't really required since the Dec is manual. Wouldn't it be better with a traditional but light-weight GEM?
GTom avatar
GTom avatar
Dithering amongst too many options. Yes, the SA GTI IS an option (full computerized control), but recent reports on incurable motor backlash cases have put me a bit off, also, haven't seen SA GTI replacement parts, specifically motors available if their proprietary planetary gearbox fails. The SA 2i's motor can be swapped with a new one if needed/worn. Don't want to go anything heavier, that means GEM28/CEM26 don't really play in this game even though there are affordable copies on the 2nd hand market.

Also, getting fine manual DEC adjustment on the LTII needs serious investment, actually more than an SA2I second hand costs!
Comp control could e.g. automate 3pPA (only RA movement is needed), add pulse guiding, do at least half-goto by positioning to the correct RA. Another advantage of the SA2i, that it doesn't need to be reset manually in every 90 minutes.