- Important / distinguishing features of the Atlas EQ-6 Pro
- Tripod
- 12V power
- Mechanics
- attaching & adjusting the mount during polar alignment
- about the mount
- ALT & AZ adjustments
- Polar Scope & alignment
- Balancing & Counter-weights
- Clutches
- Saddle
- Cables & connections
- Handcontroller
- Orion's Software & Drivers
- 3rd party SW -- EQMOD & EQASCOM
- MECHANICAL HAZARDS
IMPORTANT / DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
It is designed to be an EQ-mount, yet you quickly can quickly tilt the body (no extra tools or equipment needed) and use it as an Alt/Az mount -- e.g. for convenient setup & visual observation. By comparison, iOptron uses their mount head but you have to mechanically swap the EQ-base for an Alt/Az-base. That is a more laborious process, plus that extra base costs you another $150. If you want to add a 2nd saddle, iOptron charges another $190 while Orion includes it for "free" with the EQ-6 Pro.
IMO, I'd rather skip the 2nd saddle for a $190 savings, while the instant Alt/Az switch mechanic is a useful option.
The EQ-6 Pro comes with extra set of encoders -- they aren't real "absolute" encoders. This is a big upgrade and I'm evaluating that. Hopefully it lives up to the promises. It can reduce PEC and make adjustments easier (especially when you manually move the mount) and don't want to loose you previous alignment.
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THE TRIPOD
It is nothing to rave about and not much to complain about either -- a run-of-the-mill set of legs. It lacks the ability to replace the feet with a DIY, adjustable ones. Similar tripod, different foot ==> big improvement : /stargazer95050/28534127
There is considerable friction between the mount's base & the tripod. Therefore I'm adding a layer of TEFLON to smoothen the polar alignment. Maybe an even thinner layer of Teflon tape will do. I just happen to have these self-adhesive tiles (1/10" thick) and they do a good job. /stargazer95050/34772703
I DISLIKE the way, SKYWATCHER / ORION / CELESTRON lock the mount to the tripod using a center screw and combining it with the leg spreader. During polar alignment, you have to loosen the leg spreader, you have to (slightly) loosen the mount only to be able to make azimuth adjustments. In contrast, the iEQ45 uses a similar tripod & leg-spreader mechanism but the mount is attached to the tripod with three screws from the TOP instead of a single center screw from below.
FURTHERMORE : as you tighten the center screw, you likely alter the Azimuth adjustments you've just made during polar alignment. Not to mention, the feet may slip as you unlock the leg spreader.
That screw locking the mount from below the tripod's base makes it difficult to attach the ATLAS or CGEM to a pier. You always need access to that screw. It usually means extra plate to raise the tripod head. Cutting a hole into the pier might destabilize it.
The iEQ45 sits on a flat surface and has three screws to lock the mount to the base of the pier or tripod. These screws sit on top of the mount's base and fasten to the tripod -- that's opposite to the ORION / CELESTRON way.
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12V POWER
While other mounts top out at < 2A (@12V), the Atlas EQ-6 Pro demands 4A, possibly even 5A. That massive increase requires some big changes in the way I power the mount. None of my Li-Ion packs can power such a surge and even the small Lead-Acid batteries may not be strong enough to satisfy that peak current. Their capacity surely isn't enough to power a mount throughout the night.
Another obstacle is the very nice but HARD TO COME BY 12V connector. The absence of a 2nd source means, I cannot build my own DIY cable and have to use the 12V cigarette plug as an interface. Very frustrating since I just finished a cable tree to distribute the 12V.
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MOUNT MECHANICS
Compared to the CGEM, the iEQ45 was small and much lighter. The EQ-6 Pro is in the same weight class as the CGEM and this photo of the CGEM & iEQ45 will give you a good impression of the size difference. The EQ-6 Pro is slightly bigger than the CGEM : /stargazer95050/28460853
The Atlas EQ-6 Pro weighs ~35lbs -- the iEQ45, also rated to carry a 44lbs load, weighs 25lbs. The 10lbs difference is very noticeable as you carry that mount to a location.
The Altitude adjustment of the old CGEM was frustrating as two counteracting screws often messed up the setting. The EQ-6 Pro, like the iEQ45, use a single, long thread to control altitude adjustments. That is a big improvement.
The Atlas EQ-6 Pro looses points (compared to the iEQ45) for its inefficient mechanics to tighten the Altitude axis. The two screws to tighten the axis don't prevent movements. With a slight imbalance, there may be sufficient weight & friction to avoid problems.
FURTHERMORE, the (new) Azimuth-screw creates a new COLLISION HAZARD. It can catch dangling cables and also my USB-hub collided with that screw. That hub is cheap and also can be relocated easily. Your filter wheel, SBIG or QSI cameras are also at risk, Their cases significantly extend below their optical axis and below the telescope's rail -- no other mount has an obstacle in that area !!
Encasing the electronics, motors & gears inside a big metal body / mount is a good way to protect them. At the same time, this increases weight, usually uses smaller gears and make parts less accessible to the user. You purchase shows what option you prefer.
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Adjusting the mount during polar alignment
This is related to the MECHANICS above :
-) unlock the leg spreader --> feet may slip, especially on uneven ground
-) unlock the center screw to allow the mount to move --> mount may tilt slightly
==> there you have two serious problems already
-) after adjustments are done ==> tighten the mount's center screw. That screw often will slightly rotate the mount, thereby screwing up the AZ-position.
By comparison, the iEQ45 uses very similar tripod but the mount is attached to the tripod with three screws FROM THE TOP. You can loosen & tighten them with NO IMPACT on the legs and also NO IMPACT on the mount's AZ-position.
Personally, I prefer the center leg to point NORTH -- Orion ships the tripods with the center leg pointing SOUTH. No big deal -- you can move the peg 180°.
DISLIKE : The EQ-6 Pro does little to protect the polar scope from any mechanical impacts and dirt while the competition has some screw-on hoods. During unpacking, I nearly grabbed that polarscope like a handle to pull the mount out of the box.
==> IMO that scope deserves better protection since polar alignment is important.
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SO-SO :
Especially in Alt/Az mode, you can add a 2nd saddle to your setup to shoot or observe the same patch of sky with two different lenses. Or one camera & one visual scope. The EQ-6 Pro provides that 2nd saddle -- other vendors charge extra. Occasionally, it is a nice option to have and I might use it for a lunar eclipse shoot.
If I had the choice between saving $190 or the 2nd saddle, I likely would have skipped the 2nd saddle.
Both saddles are the same and you can attach your camera using the RRS/Acratech bracket but the camera will be in PORTRAIT orientation. If you have an L-bracket, you may be able to mount the camera in landscape orientation -- but that will interfere with the remote's cable. Not Orion's fault ! -- it was a bad idea by the camera's designers, they should have placed that cable-release & USB-connector elsewhere.
SO-SO :
Size of the gears also is a factor in improving accuracy -- Celestron & Skywatcher (Orion) keep the gear inside a bulky, metal case. That is good for protection but the overall diameter of the gear is smaller. iOptron, AstroPhysics & other use the opposite approach and make the gear big and place a smallish box with motor & electronics on the outside. The latter approach reduces weight (assuming same size gear) and/or cost (lower manufacturing precision achieves same mechanical precision) and better user serviceability (just pop of the cap to make adjustments)
Encasing the gear & electronic has advantages too -- that heavy-metal case protects the mechanics from rough transportation and the elements (dew & dust). It also deters user maintenance & modifications.
LIKE :
The counterweight shaft slides in & out of the RA axis of the mount. One less item you have to pack & assemble. The slide mechanism is an elegant solution. The iEQ45 also STORES the shaft inside the mount but you have to unscrew the shaft, pull it out and screw it back into its useful position. Small advantage for the EQ-6 (but it contributes to the higher weight of the mount when you carry it)
It is a very rare problem but occasionally, the camera is TOO LIGHT to balance the mount. Even with no counterweight, the small camera cannot balance the heavier mount & CW-shaft. With the EQ-6 Pro, you can slide the CW-shaft back into the mount, thereby shifting the balance. Also, the EQ-6's saddle is not as heavy as others, reducing the risk of such a problem.
LIKE :
After tightening the clutches of the EQ-6 Pro, there is no slack in the movement of the axis. With both the CGEM & iEQ45, I could very slightly move the RA-axis. Furthermore, there's no interference while tightening the clutch. Other mechanisms cause small movements on the axis as you tighten it. Both, Celestron & iEQ45 have that issue, most visible on their DEC axis.
LIKE :
The Altitude adjustment of the old CGEM was frustrating as two counteracting screws often messed up the setting. The EQ-6, like the iEQ45, use a single, long thread to control altitude adjustments.
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Polar Scope & alignment
To be honest, I am not really a fan of using a polar scope for several reasons. inconvenient access and limited visibility of the stars are two reasons. More : /stargazer95050/28462461 . Even after altering the tripod's orientation, the EQ-6 Pro suffers from many of the same drawbacks as the CGEM. I rate the iEQ45 higher for its illuminated double-crosshair and the nice visual display of Polaris & crosshair on the handcontroller display. A graphic display compared to 2 line text display
The EQ-6 Pro (Alt/Az) can make up for some lost ground when compared to the CGEM. For one, the polar-scope is standard, not a add-on and it is well aligned with the mount. And when it comes to COLLIMATING the mount & polar scope, The EQ-6 Pro's ability to adjust to (nearly) any angle from 0°...90° is very useful. Other EQ-mounts have limits or require more mechanical alterations ==> if you have a EQ mount and want to use a TERRESTRIAL OBJECT, it isn't easy : /stargazer95050/34556653 With the Alt/Az mount, pointing the RA-axis to a target close to the horizon is an easy feat ==> adjusting the polarscope during daylight becomes a whole lot easier.
As I mentioned before -- since I'm not a fan of using a polarscope, this advantage is less important to me -- you may find it more useful than I.
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BALANCING THE SCOPE & COUNTER-WEIGHTS
After hypertuning my CGEM, both telescope axis were nearly frictionless and you could easily detect small imbalances. And you could intentionally choose small imbalance to reduce backlash and keep consistent (small) pressure on the gear.
The iEQ45 added a new twist -- tilting both axis into a supposedly horizontal position. Not only was this an opportunity to measure the imbalance but also it was a (hidden) option to improve leveling & pre-dawn polar alignment.
Even when fully open, the clutches of the iEQ45 generated a lot of friction and therefore balancing the iEQ45 wasn't as easy as the (hypertuned) CGEM
The EQ-6 Pro has many similarities with the CGEM. Like the untuned CGEM, the EQ-6's axis don't turn as freely. And the EQ-6 lacks the neat feature to slew both axis into horizontal position.
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CLUTCHES
This is one detail, the EQ-6 Pro clearly outperforms both competitors. The CGEM as well as the iEQ45 use levers and as they fasten the clutch, there NEARLY ALWAYS is a movement ==> that ruins any previous, careful adjustments.
The clutches of the EQ-6 Pro are different. To lock or unlock, you have to turn an element which sits on the same axis. Tightening these clutches doesn't generate any force which makes those axis turn ==> a big improvement.
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SADDLE
There's a lot to like about the (smallish) EQ-6 Pro saddle -- and the only reason I am a bit concerned about it is the small size and the possibly large 44lbs loads that saddle is rated to carry. Other mounts use a much wider grip to secure such heavy loads ==> maybe I am just overly cautious.
BENEFITS of the EQ-6 Pro saddle : You can attach Losmandy & Vixen rails. IN ADDITION you also can use that saddle to attach RRS & ACRATECH rails : /stargazer95050/34576091 -- if you have a SLR, that can save you time, weight & money. Furthermore, the saddle's surface isn't flat as others. Instead some areas are lowered and that allows users to attach rails with protruding (center) screws.
The iEQ45 saddle has a nice detail -- there's an Allen-socket at the center of the screw. If you want to tighten it, that's the way to do it. The knobs on the EQ-6 saddle are quite small.
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CABLES & CONNECTIONS
The CGEM (again) is the negative example with a connector that may have been designed to fit a standard but the tolerances were out-of-bounds. Not everyone is willing to solder a new cable to fix that problem : /stargazer95050/34038339
The iEQ45 simplified the design because the DC-power plug wouldn't move. And that plug was a accurate standard size -- no trouble finding new, matching connectors.
The EQ-6 Pro has eliminated the problems caused by the CGEM-size AC-connector. Instead it has 2 distinct contacts and also a reliable screw mechanism. THE ONLY COMPLAINT is the lack of availability of a supplier for that type of connector -- so far no DIY cables.
The EQ-6 Pro has an extra output to connect to a (Canon) camera -- that is only a simple shutter release. Nowadays a USB connection is more useful.
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HANDCONTROLLER
It has a simple 2 line text-only display -- just like the other Orion & Celestron mounts and the arrangement of keys is nearly identical with other controllers. iOptrons controllers have a more informative display -- up to 8 x 20 char + graphic.
One serious disappointment in the EQ-6 Pro is THE LACK OF A BATTERY-BUFFERED CLOCK. No mount GOTO I have seen, lacks that feature. Now I have to manually enter date & time every time I switch on the mount. For a $2000, skimping on a $2 buffer battery is very disappointing.
The mount does not come with GPS -- you may add one for $150, but I suggest you don't.
If you want to connect the PC to your mount, you can use the provided RS232 adapter cable and plug it into the handcontroller and plug the handcontroller into the mount. That arrangement means you have to be careful not to trip over the RS232 cable whenever you use the handcontroller -- in comparison, iOptron places the RS232 connector on the mount itself. A solution I prefer. The cables don't move as the mount moves or you move around with the controller in hand.
With the EQ-6 Pro, you have the option to eliminate the handcontroller and directly connect the PC to the mount using a so called EQDIRECT adapter (plus matching EQMOD software -- see below)
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Orion's SOFTWARE DRIVERS
ORION provides their customers with a version of STARRY NIGHT -- and I find this a useful tool. The version I received did not include any "activation code" to grant me access to newly release satellite & meteor data -- older CDs included that key.
To make things worse -- STARRY NIGHT has good support for CELESTRON CGE(M). But it doesn't list the EQ-6 mount as available mounts. Therefore I decided to use CGEM settings even for the EQ-6 mount (the HW & SW come from the same source)
Ultimately, the best choice may be the EQMOD route -- the first attempts to switch the handcontroller into BYPASS mode seemed okay and I can use EQMOD as a ASCOM interface and use STARRY NIGHT plus the ASCM/EQMOD driver combo
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3rd party software -- EQMOD & EQASCOM
The original approach of EQMOD was to FULLY REPLACE the handcontroller and use the PC + RS232 to send commands directly to the mount. This approach was so successful, the new handcontrollers have an option to go into (seemingly) bypass mode and let EQASCOM send commands as if there was no handcontroller.
I have used that setup for a few nights and it works -- there may be some issues but I have to do more testing to pin-point those. It is possible the EQMOD and handcontroller commands may collide.
Abandoning the handcontroller is a tempting idea if you are convinced the EQMOD & EQASCOM is the better solution. The adapter cables cost ~$50 and you may want to add some extra money for a (wireless) controller to send slew command to the laptop while you look through the eye-piece (remember, EQDIRECT eliminated the handcontroller).
EQMOD also supports a combination of tools to reduce periodic errors: PERECORDER & PECPREP. The EQ-6 Pro has additional encoders on each of the mount's axis to better track their movements and reduce errors such as PEC. It remains to be seen how good that works and if EQMOD and the new encoders cooperate.
Older mounts likely will benefit from those free tools -- in fact there are several tools charging ~$150 or more to do the same job.
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MECHANICAL HAZARDS
The design of the mount brings a new hazard other mounts don't have -- the altitude adjustment screw sticks out like nothing else I've seen before on a mount. In that position it can catch any dangling (USB or power) cable. To make matters worse, I had rigged my refractor with a USB hub attached to the bottom of the rail -- now on a collision course with the altitude screw : /stargazer95050/33621317
Another new found hazard in the EQ-6 Pro GT involves the handcontroller cable. A big ferrite to improve EMI can get caught between the mount's base and the moving head. Especially when you operate the mount from a distance and keep the handcontroller in place, you have a good chance to experience that kind of "collision"
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