Hi there!
I’m decided to pair my Sky-Watcher Wave 150i with my C8 EdgeHD for Galaxy Season. For this I ditched the AVX mount head, got a ZWO Pier Extension which fits the AVX Tripod and voila: one sturdy, big and not so mobile setup (new guide scope and cam incoming…and the ususal bad weather).
I' now have a nice, light Sky-Watcher Carbon Tripod sitting here without a mount. Can’t have that, so I researched some smallish harmonic drive mounts that might fit. Enter the UMi-17X. I am really interested in the direct drive servo motors, but in terms of cable management, it does not compare to the Wave 150i with it’s two power ports and the USB3 on the saddle. So, how would you guys control that mount?
MiniPC? It’s what I use up to now, running NINA and all other necessary stuff, powered from my power tank, routing power and USB for the scope (and rotator, guide cam, eaf and main camera) through the Wave 150i internally. But with the UMi-17X only power could be routed that way, USB seems to lead to the mount head only (“both USB ports [i.e. the one on saddel and the one on the mount itself] are for controlling the mount“). Or did I get that wrong? For power distribution in the saddle I could use a splitter or a power box (Wanderer or PegasusAstro).
I don’t especially like the idea of putting a Minix on top of my scope, but it could be done.
Or StellarMate/StellaVita? Putting one of those on top of my scope would kill two birds with one stone: power distribution would be easy over the built in dc-switches and controlling the mount trough the saddles USB port. But, then again, I really like NINA and not to fond of the idea of using a one-in-all app.
ASIAIR? I don’t like the idea, eventhough the setup would consist of mostly ZWO equipment (besides the mount and the flat panel - both confirmed compatible with the ASIAIR)…
I appreciate any inputs, suggestions and/or warnings!
Clear skies!