iOptron HEM15 Hybrid Strainwave Equatorial Mount

[@40Sec]

Love this mount. I haven't had any issues with the polar alignment on my sample, but I could see how that might vary. I wouldn't personally dock any points for the hand controller, but I would put it in the "would be nice" category as I also never actually control the mount with it. Tracking is reliably good within the normal ranges for a harmonic drive mount, and I also like how low noise and low power it is. I don't drive, so I pack all my gear in a hiking backpack, and this let's me have a full setup with dew heaters and a cooled camera with Celestron's 158Wh power tank.

[@astromatt75]

Thanks for the review, Shawn. Having to plug my mini PC into the hand controller puts me right off.

[@NckBrktt]

My iOptron AZ-Mount Pro has similar setup. you can setup the wifi as a station and a hotspot simultaneously (2 wifi networks) ie if you are in the field with no internet you can use the hotspot address, if you are withing range of your home wifi you can use the station address. This allows you to connect the mount via wireless - you don't need a hand controller - works with kstars,Asiair,NINA. I would think this does exactly the same.

[@xs4allan]

Thank you for this review. Bought this mount and tested it. Can recommend, especially for small short focal lenght premium build astrophotography rigs.

[@keithhanssen7413]

I don’t see why manufacturers don’t make accurate polar alignment adjustment capability. It’s a no-brainer, yet we still have mounts that don’t accommodate precise PA. Not sure what gives there.

[@chrzanik666]

And cost 3k 😂 when do

[@ritacastil]

Check again the hand controler, as there seems to be no way around it, wifi hotspot or no hotspot!

[@Astro-George]

Thanks for the review. If you need to connect to your laptop outside you could add a usb wifi device to allow you to connect to two different wifi networks.

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Thanks for the tip! I'll try it.

[@BennyColyn]

@@VisibledarkAstro or run ethernet from your LAN to the mini PC/laptop. There's also ethernet bridges (that connect to your home WiFi and then offer ethernet to a device, the opposite of a WiFi access point) - many so-called "range extenders" have such a bridge mode.

[@Birko64]

@@VisibledarkAstro Search How to Setup iOptron Wireless Adapter in Station Mode. It tells you how to set AP+STA mode STA= our local wifi, 2 ip addresses.

[@adamjensen7105]

It would be nice to see a PHD guide graph in a mount review.

[@VisibledarkAstro]

I was getting 0.22 RMS with the HEM15. With only "good" polar alignment according to Sharpcap. May have been better even if I tried for excellent PA.

[@SpecializedPhotos]

Read the instructions, the wifi hotspot can be configured as an access point on your laptop , so you can still connect to your regular network for internet.

[@crm114.]

Excellent review. Hand controller issue would be a deal breaker for me.

[@charliewalsh9247]

very cool Shawn

[@nikaxstrophotography]

The hand controller and the price are deal killers for me I'd never use the hand controller for starters

[@actudoran]

cool stuff! 😊

[@markanderson4142]

🤩 Promo'SM

[@SpecializedPhotos]

For the people that don’t like hand controllers, you forget the many other people that actually like to look thru their telescopes and not just take cute pictures of the night sky.

[@xs4allan]

It is not about the handcontroller, everybody can appreciate it being included. The problem is that it is mandatory to connect it. I have this mount and for astrophotography it is just another 2 cables and another big thing for cables to get stuck on. Shawn also says it is great to have it. Just annoying that you cannot use the mount without it.