How To Connect The Ioptron CEM40 Mount To The ASIair For GoTo Functions

If you're having problems connecting your CEM40 or CEM40EC mount to your ASIair, this video might just help!

[@schmuak]

Your method of connection worked for me. Thank you. I am not happy that ioptron did not discover or resolve this issue before releasing the mount.

[@Zealor365]

I have the Ioptron CEM40EC. On the right hand side (opposite of the power switch) there are 2 connection ports. One is labeled "IPORT" which is used for the GPS module. The "USB" port next to it is used to connect directly to the ASIAIR PRO. Also, best practices state that you should power the ASIAIR PRO independently because it requires up to 3 amps for peripheral power (Dew heaters) etc. This connection method is the best for astrophotography.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thanks for your input on this. My particular model doesn't have that USB port on either side unfortunately. Likely, one of our models in newer than the other one. I have heard on your particular model, it's not as much a problem 🤷

[@cjohnson986]

Thank you for this video. Bypassed using your method and my CEM40 and ASIAIRpro work flawlessly now. Much appreciated man.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Great, glad it worked! 👌

[@aerialdronemaster7483]

ok , are you able to do a polar aligment with is? or not supported? plate solving?

[@keystothecosmos7527]

@@aerialdronemaster7483 The mount has its own polar scope and software for polar aligning. It is a go to mount although I use the ASIair for plate solving. Much easier to use.

[@cjohnson986]

@@aerialdronemaster7483 Yes, polar alignment with the ASI works and is supported with the bypass. Usually I use the polar scope first with my laptop then pack that away and double check the alignment with with the ASI pro through my phone.

[@marvinwhisman3333]

My CEM70 is on order and plan on using it with my ASIAir Pro (plus). I had not heard of this problem. Appreciate you taking the time to pass along what was a pretty simple solution. Not sure why it fixes it, but for a few dollars and a very light little component I can live with it. Not sure if mine will have this issue but it is nice to be prepared if it does.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thank you. Yes, at least you'll know Incase you do encounter something similar. Great mount, I'm sure you'll love it 👍

[@scoobywrx05dw]

The newer Celestron mounts have the same problem because they switched over to the prolific 232 chip. Wonder if this could be the same solution to the Celestron mount problems. My question is what does the USB hub do to make it recognizable?

[@mangoldm]

Thank you for this video. My ASIAir Plus connects to my CEM40 but the mount stops responding after a while, often after polar alignment. No issues since installation of a USB hub between the ASIAir and CEM40.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@lazylazyshark]

thank you for the video! I got the ASIair PLUS, but I have not connected the CEM40 yet, so I am curious to know if they fixed the problem.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

I am too. Please let me know, thanks!

[@astroagashi2541]

Great video! As SKy-Watcher mounts are not in-stock. I am still confused to buy iOptron GEM28 cause it does not have a USB Type B port so how do I bypass it in order to work it with AsiAir Pro? I searched so much but got nothing. Please help me. I hope you will reply :)

[@lwizzit]

Thanks for this video. I just ordered a CEM40 today and began to check for any issues with the ASIAIR. If I run into the same issue, I’ll do this. My only question is, “why does this work?” USB 2.0 shouldn’t care if there’s a hub in the chain. It’s like another extension. So weird.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Congrats on the mount! I'm not exactly sure. Something to do with the software from what I understand. It may be something that's corrected with an update on the mount or ASIair. Clear skies and thanks for your support!

[@lwizzit]

@@keystothecosmos7527 According to some quick research it has more to do with how the Raspberry PI handles USB than the mount. I’ve my doubts though as other brands don’t have the same issue. Anyhow, looking forward to setting it up. Sorry, but I haven’t spent much time on your channel yet. What’s your main scope?

[@malanstecker]

How is the iOptron month powered? Is it from a power output port on the Asiair or a separate power supply?

[@keystothecosmos7527]

It's a separate source

[@tomtoka]

Hi. I really like your video, but I haves question. I have no problem using ioptron 40 cem with asiair pro. But I noticed that the mount is sometimes disconnecting from the asiair , I can reconnect it right away but it is disconnecting. Have you experience it?

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Hello, yes I have experienced that once but it seemed to me to be more on the ASIair's end.

[@tomtoka]

@@keystothecosmos7527 thank you. I can't work with this. It is constantly disconnecting from me

[@keystothecosmos7527]

@@tomtoka Oh, sorry to hear that. It's only happened a couple times to me

[@pparkhu2768]

Where was this video when I needed it two weeks ago? I just got my CEM40 and have been kind of frustrated with it. After some research, I found plugging the mount into the camera ports work, but I have to use the hand controller first to slew to a target, THEN I can use the ASIair for the go-to. I will try the USB-hub to see if I can by-pass the hand controller. BUT, you seem more knowledgable have more astro-contacts, what I can't get to work is the meridian flip with the ASIair. I've only had two nights to use it as I have been trouble shooting other issues. So if you or anyone else has any ideas. But it appears to be set up correctly in the ASIair system/menu, but the mount does not flip itself. I'm on to research that.....

[@area51xi]

I just got the CEM40 and of course they also did not have any counterweights in stock. I scope arrived and I have the mount but no counterweights!

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Ugh, that's frustrating! Unfortunately that's the way it's been going lately 😡

[@giuseppececere9815]

Thanks for the video, I heard it works also if you connect the mount to your main camera usb hub, did you try it?

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thanks. Yes I did. It didn't work for me unfortunately 🤷

[@rajendrakumar-singh8795]

Same problem with GEM45. However, when connecting that mount, the ASIAir Pro App tells you to install a USB Hub to overcome this specific issue - apparently it is to do with some changes in the iOptron chipset.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thanks for that insight 👍

[@avt_astro206]

Great Tutorial man!! I don't Have One of These Devices, might pick one in Future!! Great Demo, Btw. Have You looked For The ASI Air Plus Version? I see many People upgrading. Clear Skies

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thanks man. Hope you do! No I haven't. I have 2 already and from what I see it's not worth upgrading just yet. Maybe down the road though 🤷

[@lwizzit]

Quick question. I received my kit and I’m doing a dry run first setup. When using the Asiair, do I bother connecting the GPS module and hand controller to the mount? Or is that entirely handled by the Air?

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thanks for your question. So I keep both connected. The GPS for sure. The hand controller I use to set the tracking rate so I keep it connected as well.

[@kamranashraf4982]

ZWO website says they recommend 12V and 5amps for ASI air. But GEM DEC Has 12V 3 amps..! How is that working? Aont it affect either the devices? And please help me with ine nore thing- what if i try to use a mini PC instead of ASI air. Can the 2 power outputs on dec power up the MINI PC like they are powering ASI AIR ?

[@KJRitch]

Is this still a problem in 2024? Did the GEM45 have this issue? Did you ever try one of the red ZWO camera USB cables? Do you still use your CEM40EC?

[@keystothecosmos7527]

I tried everything back when problem solving. No idea though if it's still a problem. Such an easy and cheap fix though

[@KJRitch]

Another channel that talks about the evolution of the CEM40 seems to indicate the problem started once the iPolar scope was integrated into the USB so it's shared with the mount. Seems they didn't implement a very good hub inside the mount. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZ3CYquwgbhlb9ksi=e96t1bPGuSTIFHj4

[@shauntgharibian1285]

The new 9.97 asiair firmware broke this again. Any solutions? I had it working fine on 9.53 by connecting the mount USB-B to my ZWO Camera built-in hub.

[@datenraffzahn6094]

The ASIair is a Raspberry Pi based devices like Stellarmate. I just use a Raspberry Pi with astroberry, and have the same issue, with my GEM45. Turns out its a problem, with the USB system of the Pi. I then used a powered USB hub, which worked around the problem. The mount works fine with any PC, so its a Raspberry Pi issue, notorious for pesky USB issues. In case the unpowered hub does not work, try a powered one.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thanks for your input on this 👍

[@lwizzit]

Thanks. The “why” of this was bugging me.

[@catherinegrimes2308]

I read that somebody discovered that it was the operating system kernel that was old and it couldn't communicate with the new chipset on the iOptron mounts. The ASIair Plus was released not long after the iOptron mounts were upgraded and I have wondered if this was done to communicate with new mounts. I also use an unpowered USB hub and it works.

[@rogergroom5735]

When I originally purchase my CEM45EC in 2023 it connected just fine directly from USB of the iOptron to USB of the ASIAir. Then my mount's hand controller developed a fault. In the process of getting it back to operational I updated the firmware on the mount and HC, and then was supplied a refurbished HC under warranty. Now my mount will only connect to the ASIAir with a USB hub as per this video. So, something either updating the firmware or switching out the HC hardware has resulted in this problem, but certainly not the hardware of the mount or ASIAir neither of which have changed.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

So strange. Thanks for sharing

[@area51xi]

If the Polaris region is completely blocked by a building, then is there any point in using iPolar or should I use 3 star alignment instead?

[@shaunt0000]

The PA function in the new ASIAIr firmware works like a charm.

[@manriquevargas7730]

Really appreciate the video. It works !!!

[@keystothecosmos7527]

That's great! 👍

[@vinnywhiteman]

Thank you for your video!! Had the same problem with the Gem28 and bought a dongle and it works fine.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thanks! Good to know! 👌

[@hgillung]

Hi Vincent, I have a GEM28, there is no USB Port on the mount. What type of cable did you use? Thanks! Harry

[@vinnywhiteman]

@@hgillung hey Harry, so the guide camera usb goes into the dongle, which is connected to the asi air, then a usb cable from the air goes into the your hand controller usb socket which is at the base. It should then all be connected up. You should have received a usb with the Mount which fits the hand controller. The Mount is still slightly out of sync for some reason so you have to plate solve for it to know it’s position. Let me know if you have any issues and I can send a video of my setup.

[@mattestabrook]

Thanks--I have a similar problem connecting ASIAir to my mount, and will give this a shot.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

No problem, hope it works! 🤞

[@mattestabrook]

@@keystothecosmos7527 Would you mind posting the link to the USB hub?

[@keystothecosmos7527]

@@mattestabrook Sabrent 4 Port Portable It's called the USB 2.0 Hub (9.5" Cable) for Ultra Book, MacBook Air, Windows 8 Tablet PC (HB-MCRM)

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Sorry, the "it's called the" was supposed to be at the beginning of that reply

[@mattestabrook]

@@keystothecosmos7527 Ha! No worries. Thanks very much, I will pick one up. Any idea why this tip works?

[@Ambress]

Funny....although I jumped through hoops trying to figure out how to get the CEM40 to be recognized by the ASIAir Pro and basically came to the same solution as you did, yet yours is simpler! That is, I'd been using a hub/splitter to host both the USB2 cable to the CEM40 and ALSO a USB FDTI to serial RJ9 cable for the controller, thinking all I had read had let me to believing the latter connection was also required. But, in seeing this video of yours today, I decided to go disconnect the USB FTDI/RJ9 cable and see what would happen....as you would expect, all worked fine! So, that's one less cable to concern myself with, even though I've already had to replace it once after a wire to the modular RJ9 connection broke. The date on your video here was probably within a few days of when I'd already found my initial solution but again, this one is better! Regarding dew heaters, perhaps the ones you have are OK for being powered off a USB2 port, which can only source up to a maximum of 500mA. What I found when I initially connected my dew heaters to the dovetail saddle's USB ports was that my CEM40 lost its connection or shut down...I don't recall which. But, I quickly remembered that at least one of my dew heaters with a temperature controller is a 7W device, pulling 1.4A, well beyond USB2 capability. My other dew heater has no temperature controller but still is a 4W device, pulling 800 mA, so still really more than can be reliably provided from a USB2 port. Consequently, I moved both dew heater connections to a power strip with a pair of USB ports on it, problem solved....albeit at the expense of a longer run of cables.

[@scoobywrx05dw]

Thank you for the information. Very good to know.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

Thank you!

[@scoobywrx05dw]

You're welcome. Sometimes it's hard to find answers to problems that happen with compatibility. Greatly appreciate the video and have subscribed. Keep them coming.

[@keystothecosmos7527]

@@scoobywrx05dw 🙏

[@v8gtr]

Camera USB2A to USB2B port next to the CEM40 power switch will recognise the mount.

[@rosegaming9926]

I like the background

[@hermannschuenemann3231]

First time user here... the way I connect ASIAIR and CEM26 (the cable/usb hub dont work): - Asiair Plus in Station Mode connected to HandBox Wifi - SmartPhone connected to Asiair Plus Wifi - SmartPhone Mobile Data Turned Off (I don´t know If it is necessary... just documenting... will test later) - On the Asiair Plus Smartphone APP - Mount Menu Option - Select iOptron CEM26, and enter the IP and Port that is show on Handbox Wifi Info

[@nonnaseasyitalianfood8737]

Thanks!

[@olly7248]

I think you just needed to change your original USB cable👍🏻

[@miketiller6046]

priceless