Home > Accessories > Polar Scopes > iOptron iPolar
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Model: iop_ipolar_3339-025Part Number: 3339-025
Includes adapter for iOptron ZEQ/CEM25/CEM26 Mounts.
The new iOptron iPolar electronic polarscope is a quick, easy way to accurately polar align your mount, even when you cannot see the pole star!
Accurate polar alignment has never been so simple, just put the 'X' on the 'Spot'! Well the 'X' does look more like a '+' and the 'Spot' isn't there but instead a representation of the celestial pole's location. Using the iPolar's graphical interface, the two overlaid symbols represent a precise polar alignment ensuring peak performance from your equatorial mount.
The iPolar utilises an electronic camera aligned with both the axes of your telescope mount. The software processes the camera images calculating the true pole's location, then guides you through adjustments needed to align your mount to the celestial pole. Gone will be the days of crouching behind a 'through the mount' polar scope, the iPolar facilitates making altitude and azimuth adjustments by just glancing at your laptops monitor. This system needs as few as four stars to locate the pole, and can do so even when the pole location itself is blocked by clouds, tree branches or other obstructions.
iPolar electronic polarscopes are available for most iOptron and other brand equatorial mounts.
Manual:
iPolar Operation Manual Installation-CEM25 (#3339-025) Installation-CEM60 Internal (#3339A-060) Installation-SkyGuider Pro (#3339R-SGP) Software and Driver:
iPolar Software
For someone like me it is almost an essential tool. I live at 65°north, and the CEM25 goes only up to 60°. So, in order to reach Polaris I have to lower one on the tripod legs. with Polaris being so high in my skies, using a polarscope is flimsy and time consuming, difficult to find my latitude and, besides, laying on the frozen ground trying to find Polaris is not the best thing in the world. This camera makes polar alignment a breeze and the software is clear and very easy to use. The only strange thing is, you have to be careful when mount it. There is a small allen bolt that keeps the polar scope fixed. You have to release the bolt, extract the polarscope, insert the ipolar camera and fasten it with that same allen bolt. HOWEVER, be careful to not tight it too much. For some reason, the camera is not quite long enough to entirely reach the bolt position, so when you tight it, only half of the bolt touch the very top/side of the camera's body. That is enough to keep it in place, but don't overtight it. A slight pressure is more than enough, otherwise it might slip away and file some of the metal of the camera's body. I think they should have made the camera 5mm extra-long, knowing where the allen bolt is positioned, but whatever, it works. Def recommended!
I am very happy with the iPolar itself and the software is so easy to use.However, the supplied cable is of a very bad quality and I have 2 issues with that:1. The cable is too short, so I have to stand next to the mount holdingmy laptop while at the same time adjusting the mount. This makes it very difficult for me2. Also the cable USB end is very loose (I tried several different USB ports and the cable tilts up and down in the USB port). This means that everytime during polar alignment, if I move a tiny little bit or if I bump the cable in the dark, then the iPolar is disconnected.I don't know if this is a defected cable or if the cable is meant to be this way, but I have contacted FLO about this and I will update my review later if it is a defect in the cable.Otherwise, I would suggest to buy a high speed replacement cable if you buy this product.