For those considering an AWR Goto Drive system I offer the following user experience:
Note that I am just another private customer with no other commercial connection to AWR. So WYSIWYG, warts and all. There is so little written about AWR drive systems online that I thought I'd share my own thoughts. I shall add some YT videos when I have something to show.
Normally I add images to my blogs in any size I consider 'cosmetically' attractive. However, in the interests of those still connected to the 'Interweb' by a very long piece of damp string I have kept the many images smaller than usual. This makes the text layout unusually untidy. You'll just have to blame the cheapskates in power who won't give their citizens a 'proper' Internet service but can still afford "defense" spending. I have enjoyed a reliable, 57/57Mbps, optical fiber connection for some years. So tend to forget that in some backward countries, like the US, UK and Australia, there are still those much less fortunate. My sincere commiserations.
Meanwhile, back in darkest, rural Denmark: The substantial 36 x 28 x 18cm, 8kg cardboard box contained the following items: [All well packed.]
Fit and finish is all very tidy. With security zip ties on many of the plug:cable terminations. The plugs and sockets are all easy to fit. Plug removal is as simple as pressing the locking side 'bars' inwards. There is bound to be a technical term for these: Latches? The only likely confusion is reversing the cables between the RA and Dec motors. Easily fixed simply by swapping the cables over at one end. The stepper motors themselves are identical.
Note: In the image I have added a 30cm [12"] transparent rule on top of the main components for scale.
List:IH2. Intelligent [Goto] handset.
Microstep drive box.
Resistance dropper box with twin, serial fans for cooling.
12V DC 7A Edac power supply.
Two [remarkably heavy] stepper motors 210.
Umpteen cables.
Two sets of reduction pulleys and AT5 toothed belts in 5mm pitch x 10mm width.
Pulley ratios of 14:34t were supplied. 14:32 is optional for lighter loads.
Lower gears provide more power [torque] but slower slews. I shan't complain and swapping pulley sizes is easy enough if I discover ample power for faster slews with my ~35-40lb OTAs.
4 sheets of A4 paper: Invoice, Payment details, factory construction sheet with specs. Drawing of standard pulley set-up. No instructions, at all, were provided. [The AWR website simply says to assemble and test.] Anybody who can connect up a smart TV and Hifi System should have no problem.
A downloadable 'Handbook' is listed on the AWR website but the link failed to respond with a download in W10. So look for the IDS Manual link instead. Which is exactly the same thing as the 59 page Handbook but as a downloadable PDF file.
The 'Goto' Intelligent handset [IH2] provides direct GOTO telescope drive control with various drive rates and is re-programmable by the user. The IH2 can also contain various sky catalogues [as downloads] and menu filters for direct input Goto instructions in RA and Dec. Expanded object catalogues are also available for download. These all cost extra.
The central four [Slew] buttons provide the familiar direction controls. E, W, N & S for an equatorial mounting. The Mode/Menu buttons F1, F2, F3 &F4 decide the speed of motor rotation and therefore telescope movement via the slow motion, 287:1 worm and belt drives.
The IH handset is larger than I had imagined but this is arguably more 'handy' when wearing gloves at the telescope. Nor is it so easy to lose in the dark! An adjustable brightness [15 steps] illuminated screen provides position, RA & Dec and/or other information depending on the selected Mode/Menu. AWR prefers the term Menu but I like Mode better for changed sets of actions or instructions. Suit yourselves. You will anyway.
A printable IH instruction 'tree' [Menu] is available on the AWR website for all the normal button presses. The IH can even be fixed to a surface near the telescope or hooked into a bracket with 'ears' if it is not to be handheld. A docking station + power supply is available at extra cost to keep the timekeeping crystal cosy [and more accurate.] A button cell provides internal power to the crystal but not its oven.
Point and click Goto, via a PC or laptop [or tablet?] is available via popular Planetarium software. The [independent] ASCOM:AWR driver [£50] provides extra drive facilities and is recommended by AWR. You should note that if you want to control the AWR drive system with a PC then you need a 9-pin serial port on your computer. If you don't have a serial port then ask AWR to supply their recommended [FTDI] USB:Serial adapter with your AWR Intelligent drive package. The supplied serial cable plugs into the second socket at the base of the IH2 handset. The adapter goes between the PC's USB socket and the female serial plug.
And, no, you cannot fit the supplied PC [female] serial connection cable to a 9-pin VGA [female] display port. Don't ask me how I know this! <blush> I've only been playing with computers since the first ZX81 came out in the middle of the last century. Let's just call it a [another] senior moment. 😳
Click Newer Posts for the next episode[s] of my lengthy user review.
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