Explore Scientific EXOS2-GT with PMC-Eight Mount Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 เม.ย. 2017
- The Explore Scientific EXOS2-GT Mount is a newcomer to the budget equatorial mount market. The mount has a sleek design and comes with the new Explore Scientific PMC-Eight Go-To technology. This new mount from Explore Scientific can carry payloads up to 28 pounds. The mount includes a 10kg counter weight which is sufficient for many different configurations. Internally, the mount is second to none. The mounts belt driven system for the right ascension and declination axes are super smooth and provide excellent tracking with minimal backlash. Also included is a polar scope for aligning the mount and an integrated bubble level.
The PMC-Eight is an 8 CPU unit with tremendous processing power for a telescope. The unit itself connects wirelessly to a computer, tablet or phone and automatically inputs GPS location and time based on your computer settings. The PMC-Eight is ASCOM compatible and can be accessed anywhere when using a connected browser, and ASCOM. The unit also has an ST-4 point for auto-guiding during long exposure astrophotographs.
The Explore Stars app by Explore Scientific is simple to use and very user friendly. The Messier object list is fun to explore thorough and has a very simple alignment process. The app is open source and any user can create their own user defined challenges, programs, or essentially do what they want with it!
This mount will be a game changer in the budget equatorial mount market, and is an excellent mount for precisely tracking the night sky.
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Many thanks to Slymin on TH-cam for his review of the Explore Scientific EXOS2-GT Equatorial Mount with the PMC-Eight GOTO System!
He makes a couple of small suggestions that we have decided to respond to right away regarding the bracket that holds the PMC-Eight Console to the tripod leg and the color of the index marks on the EXOS2-GT Mount. Going forward you will be able to permanently attach the mounting bracket on the tripod and we will have index marks on the Mount that can be easily seen with a red flashlight.
Would this be available in India (with some level of support/service)?
I've been looking at purchasing your 203mm carbon fibre reflector with the EXOS-2GT EQ mount and after this review I'm sold! Can't wait for when I'm able to order it.
That's impressive. A company that listens to what reviewers and people have to say to better their products. I am transitioning from huge Dobs so I like this channel and the reviews it does. Time to go shopping :) I also think the Open-Source Idea is fantastic, because I use Linux Mint. I haven't even started to even look at software yet.
Its currently on backorder but cant wait to get it. In my cart and checking out!
Well done Explore Scientific. Very impressive and you have a new customer. Assuming you can get the Comet Hunter back in stock to go with this mount (which I am purchasing in a couple of days),
Great review. I bought one after watching. And I have to hand it to Explore Scientific so far, at least for overall build quality. I bought a PN208CF scope also and both are just fantastic all around for the money. Only "issue" I found w/ the scope is some of the collimation screws were overtightened, while others completely loose.
Thank you so much. This is in my cart!
Great review! Thanks!
Can you compare it to a Celestron AVX?
Also, have you tried connecting it to SkySafari Pro as a workaround to getting it functional on Apple products?
I have this mount.... I have nothing but good to say, but there ARE a couple things to note. I had trouble getting it working with a USB to Serial adapter and the PMC-Eight ASCOM driver. I was unable to make it work correctly with adapters that use the Prolific chipset and an FTDI "compliant" chipset. Switching to an authentic FTDI adapter, and it works flawlessly right out of the gate. Cudos to Explpore Scientific for their ABSOLUTELY AWESOME support. It is rare to find a company that actually puts effort into supporting their customers.
I actually have both the Exos-2GT mounts... this one, and the other one with the hand controller, which also works very well. The tripod and mount head are the same unit on both (except the new motors on the PMC-Eight), and as Slymen said, they are both ROCK SOLID, with EXCELLENT tracking! I haven't done a side-by-side to verify this, but the PMC-Eight mount seems to slew significantly more quickly than the other.
I am using the PMC-Eight with Starry Night 7, with my 8" newtonian and my 6" newtonian with guide scope. My 8" is pushing capacity when I attach a DSLR, but the mount handles them both very well!
I'm absolutely pleased with these mounts.
Thanks for the great comment. Good information there, and agreed it is a nice mount indeed!
Hey Curtis,
Wondering if you could answer a question for me about your mount. How does it do with autoguiding? I am having spotty performance with my AVX and am looking at this new Explore Scientific as a possible solution. I will be well under the weight capacity with a 6" imaging newt, zwo camera and a 50mm mini guide scope.
love how quiet it is!
Yeah, it is VERY quiet!
Whoa. The runout on the motor pulley shaft seemed pretty significant
awesome review!
There is a Thingiverse 3D print file available for the PMC-8 to mount on the tripod. And paint the index marks with glow in the dark paint. Takes about 5 minutes.
that PMC box is quite big, with today's tech i think they could of done a smaller pmc box . i like that is a very quiet mount
At his price, one doesn't expect engineering perfection but the stepper motor cog shows an obvious wobble. This may be "smoothed out" by the toothed belt and worm drive pulley. What other compromises exist within the mount?
I would like to know what material the worm pair is made of. If the worm is steel and the gear is bronze, then that would be cool, but I doubt it.
So the only difference to the standard EXOS-2 is gears and belts instead of worm to gear for axis movement ? Because everything else looks exactly like my stock EXOS-2 ...
Will a dovetail plate be needed to mount a telephoto lens to this mount?
How stable is the Comet Hunter is on this mount? 28 Loads capacity is pushing the limits for large scope like a newt. Should I be looking for something with a larger weight capacity. Currently have mine on a iOptron ZEQ25 which is a little shaky for any imaging, but works OK for visual.
If you're strictly doing visual, then it works fine. For AP you would want something heavier more than likely.
Do the bright led’s ruin your night vision??
What about the mount with a hand controller instead of pmc-8? Is it as good as yours, but just don't has Wifi? Thank you.
Hey Slymin, greetings from Australia! Just dipping my toe into some astrophotography along with my regular photography, rekindling my love for astronomy. Might be a silly question, but would this mount work to just mount a DSLR to take some super-stable milky way shots? I've been using a conventional tripod and stacking software thus far, and that's fine, but if I got a telescope and mount like this, it would be great if I could tack my camera on it somehow. I'm thinking this combo along with the Comet Hunter Mak-Newt would be an excellent beginner-intermediate combo.
Yeah it would be great. There are some companies that sell a Vixen shoe with a quarter inch bolt to attach a DSLR. Or, you could get a Comet Hunter and mount the DSLR on the top. Either way would work!
And what about the scope? Is it any good?
That motor pulley is rotating like a wobbly pot on a potters wheel. Wonder if belt drive was chosen to even out such imperfections.
Where can we find the source code of the "open source" opengoto firmware that runs on the PMC-Eight?
Thanks I already had a look at that page after I watched your video. I hoped to find an open source firmware, but this solution is not better than any other established GOTO software. I hope that explore scientific will let us edit the source code of the firmware in the future.
thx for the review! I need to buy a mount. Would you still consider this mount or is there a better alternative for the price range 2022?
I’m trying to figure this out myself lol. It’s hard to find much info about this mount beyond the initial review. I’ve been trying to find a mount and this one caught my eye, however I’ve been trying to find follow up reviews that go beyond a year and it doesn’t seem like anything exists. Did you end up getting this mount? If so, how do you like it?
@@jonservo I didn't get a mount yet. I'm now trying to find reviews for the Meade LX85.
@@lavers_1 It’s been dawning on me that I may have to settle for shelling out more for a mount since the more expensive ones are all that seem available. In the long run that my be for the best since I won’t have to upgrade later if I get a better mount now, still it’s been frustrating not having options. Though I saw Orion may be getting the Sirius and Atlas back in stock soon, I’m starting to lean towards the Eq6-R pro from skywatcher now
Im realy thinking of buying one, But i see this is an EQ-5. But skywatcher has an EQ-5, Bresser has, and Explore scientific has. What is the difference?
Anyone ? ……..
Bueller ?
I wanted to know how many objects in the night sky I stored in the computer.
And I would have wanted to know how to use the app at least a little bit.
i noticed the exo2 looks alot like this one so i was wondering couldn't you, just buy the pmc 8 and add it to the exo2 base model?
This model also has belt driven stepper motors, completely different, better and more precise than exo2
Is it possible for me to get this mount, but without the goto system?
Nice video!
I don't think Explore Scientific sells the mount without the PMC-Eight (currently). However, if you bought the mount, you could just leave the PMC-Eight in the box and not use it. I think it would actually be a pretty good mount to use for un-guided star hopping as the clutches are really smooth.
Slymin how has the mount treated you after this time. Have you auto guided with it? What type of PE error have you encounterd?
I see this in my future
when will the exos2 GT with the pmc8 work with apple and androi platform any release date on that?
I am not sure of a release date for that. Maybe send Explore Scientific an email to see if you can find out more?
It will work with Android systems: www.explorescientific.com/pmc-eight/Android.html
Hi
Love your channel and longtime subscriber...
Can you (or anyone else here) please tell me if you have used ASI AIR Pro/Plus with EXOS-2GT mount with PMC-8?
Appreciate your help... Thank you
Yes, I have, it runs it well.
Is it without a hand controller ?
That is correct, there is no hand controller for the PMC-Eight.
I need to make a decision between this mount and the sky watcher eqm 35, help!!!
Hi Glen, did you find an answer for this? I'm also struggling for eqm 35 and this.
@@cocolate8931 I actually went with a SkyWatcher AZEQ5 and couldn't he happier, I did spend more than I wanted but it tracks great!
Glen Alexander thanks, I guess I might do the same!
Hi there, do you know if this mount works well in low latitudes (0 latitude :V) .... in the webpage of Explore Scientific doesnt specify that.
Hi David, did you manage to find the answer to this low latitude supported question. Thanks.
@@KrishnaKumar-wj6jt yeah ! i get an AVX mount, and adapted ir with a pier and small counterweight.
@@KrishnaKumar-wj6jt You can't send me a message to My Instagram of want to know more about the adaptations @david.rosado.o
How does this compare to the iEXOS-100 PMC-8?
A couple of minor “upgrades” in the exos2 in terms of features, but the biggest difference is going to be in weight capacities.
Somewhat to optimistic 4 years ago. They still dont provide SW for Apple computers ;(
Set up a virtual windows machine.
@@MikeHammer1 No! I bought another mount instead which provides Mac Software ;)
wish i could get this mount :')
It's on sale now at Explore Scientific for $799 I just ordered One
just got this mount yesterday and the ra motor is grinding itself to death not good so returning it for refund pile of crap sadly
All good except the payload capability. Only 28 lbs. I agree with the poor velcro mounting of the "hub" PMC.
Yeah, in this price range I think the 25-30 lb payload is pretty standard.
There should have been two small machine screws that allows you to screw the silver plate on the controller to the Black adjustment sleeve on the legs and the velcro strap will just add additional support and now it won't move up and down and it will be stable. Works Great!
Looks like a Meade LXD75 mount to me except for the color . All the castings are identical to it .
Sadly , the simplicity of having a hand box is gone just adding to more needed costs and bulk .
Meade blew it big by discontinuing the LXD75 mount .
Externally, yes, nearly identical. The internals are much better than an LXD-75 though.
I’ve got two LXD75 scopes that I purchased back in 2007 . One with the AR5 tube and the other with the SN8 tube . Never got into astrophotography but with a decent polar alignment and a three star setup , my go to’s were spot on from one side of the sky to the other putting objects in the field of view at 122x consistently all night and with a good polar alignment , I could track an object across the sky and in over two hours come back to the scope with the object still dead center without any correction . On speed ten , the thing was noisy but backed off to speed nine for slewing was no louder than what is in this video . Speed nine was faster than what’s shown in this video also .
Question ; Have you ever used an LXD75 ?
Plus , the LXD75 has a hand box with no need or hassle for anything else to operate it .
Oh yes, I’ve used the LXD-75 mount. It’s a good mount and serves a good platform for the Exos2. That said, I control my EXOS2 with the ASI Air pro and plate solving. I love the mount as it’s light but still has a good astrophotography carrying capacity. I don’t use my EXOS2 for visual use, really anymore. I would hope most modern mounts can put an object in the center of the field, or near center of the field all night long. For me the backlash and guiding accuracy in addition to weigh, balancing, payload capacity, internals, etc. determine the mount quality.
So it is the same thing then really . I mean without the belt drive upgrade . Back in the day there were belt drive kits for the LXD75 . I never bothered with it or doing the hyper tune because mine worked great for what I was using it for . Beyond expectations really . Some of Meade’s personnel went and started Explore Scientific . Look like they had the sense to keep the castings for this mount . It’s disappointing that there is no option to just retain the simplicity of an included handbox . Most everybody else that supplies mounts in that price range have kept the trusty ol’ handbox
Biased