This will be a full write up about my experience with this mount. A more concise video version can be found on my youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gkbmrzNbKs&lc=UgzQYEP6WozDslLMzOZ4AaABAg
Over the past several years, the astrophotography community has witnessed a rapid rise in harmonic drive equatorial mounts. What began as a niche category has now become one of the most competitive segments in amateur astronomy equipment. Lightweight construction, zero-backlash strain-wave gearing, and impressive payload capacities have made these mounts especially attractive to imagers seeking portability without sacrificing capability.
Naturally, the market has become dominated by familiar names. However, we've seen some success with off brands like the Juwei-17 and the SAL-33. This review concerns one such product: the FG-17, manufactured by AstroFrog, a lesser-known Chinese company with a stronger domestic presence than an international one. After purchasing and field-testing the mount myself, I believe it deserves serious consideration from those exploring alternatives to the more mainstream offerings.
The FG-17 arrived in a hard protective carrying case, immediately setting a positive tone. For users who travel to dark sites, as I often do in the desert of Kuwait, this is more than a convenience and saved me the hassle of finding or making something to put the mount in safely in my truck bed.
Inside the case were:
- The FG-17 mount head
- 12V DC power cable
- USB Type-A to Type-C control cable
- Documentation and inspection results.
The mount itself is clearly CNC-machined aluminum and gives an immediate impression of density and solidity. While compact, it feels very substantial, arguably more robust than several competing models in the same class. At approximately 6.4 kg, it remains highly portable, though slightly heavier than some ultra-light competitors around the 5.4 kg mark such as the AM5N. In my view, that additional kilogram appears to have gone into structural confidence rather than unnecessary bulk. The specifications of the mount place it directly in the highly desirable mid-tier harmonic mount category:
- Weight: 6.4 kg
- Payload (no counterweight): 13 kg
- Payload (with counterweight): 20 kg
- Control System: OnStep
- Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi built in
- Ports: ST4 guiding port, 12vDC power input port, a 12vDC output port and a USB-C control port on the saddle.
This makes it suitable for refractors, smaller SCT setups perhapse, camera lenses, and a wide range of imaging payloads. I wouldn't trust a C11 on it but that is certainly debatable for visual use.
One of the most satisfying aspects of the mount is the polar alignment mechanism. The movement felt smooth, controlled, and free of play. I would say It's comparable to the SAL-33 which is becoming famous for it's easy to polar alighn base. A bubble level on both sides is a small but thoughtful touch too, especially for visual users.
There is also this HOME button which is a dedicated home-position return button. It is a simple quality of life feature yet I found it to be genuinely useful, especially when troubleshooting, packing up, or recovering after a session is interruption. An unexpected but also quite practical feature is the built in laser that you can easily turn on or off with a touch of a button. I arrived late to a dark site during testing, and the laser proved genuinely useful for rough alignment and initial orientation in low light. It is not an essential feature, but it is the sort of thoughtful addition that improves the ownership experience. Cable management remains one of the most overlooked frustrations in astrophotography. The FG-17 supports through-mount cabling with DC output and USB routing, reducing snags and simplifying setups.
In terms of tripods, the FG-17 uses the same mounting system as the AM5N so finding a suitable tripod or adapter won't be an issue. I used mine with a Skywatcher EQ5 tripod but a ZWO TC40 would also work.
The mount uses Onstep like many of its competitors and so like them, it can be manually controlled through WIFI using any internet browser or through something like the Onstep mobile app. The manual states that the mount should be used with Onstep v3.15 for ASCOM users, It did work for me on the newest version but then I reverted to the recommended version for the rest of my testing period. The manual (Which is attached to this post) also explains a method of connecting to the ASIair via wifi though it did not try that. INDI drivers do exist so you can actually use this mount with the ASIair through a wired connection. For me, I tested it in NINA through ASCOM drivers and a mini-PC.
Of course, all of this is secondary to the one question astrophotographers care about most, how does it guide? I tested the mount under bortle 4 skies and the guiding performance remained in the range of 0.4 to 0.65 RMS, often hovering below 0.5 RMS, while producing clean ten-minute exposures with round stars and no obvious concerns. There was some wind during testing, and I suspect a counterweight would further refine consistency depending on payload. For a mount in this class and price category, these are highly respectable real-world results. I will of course include the PHD2 guide log as well as these screenshots below:
After using multiple systems in this category, my impression is that the FG-17 offers one of the most complete overall packages currently available. It may not dominate every individual metric, but it combines strong guiding, excellent build quality, useful quality-of-life features, true portability, competitive pricing, and trouble-free operation. At roughly $1400 USD, the FG-17 occupies a particularly interesting position in the market. It sits below the AM5N and above the SAL-33, while offering comparable or superior features to both. In my opinion, paying substantially more purely for brand recognition becomes harder to justify when products like this exist, it is afterall 500USD cheaper than the AM5N.
To remain balanced, prospective buyers should keep several considerations in mind. AstroFrog is still a lesser-known brand internationally and lacks the support network and large user communities of established manufacturers. Pricing can vary substantially depending on reseller markups, so careful sourcing is advisable.
My final verdict is simple, the FG-17 was a genuine surprise in the best possible sense. Too often obscure products are obscure for a reason. This one appears to be an exception. Rather than feeling like a compromise or a risky experiment, the FG-17 felt like a mature, well-thought-out product that simply lacks mainstream exposure. I certainly would recommend it. I do own an AM5N and a SAL-33, and I've owned a Juwei-17 in the past and the FG-17 so far is my favorite.
If I do run into any issues long term, I will update this post.