Astro Gadget AstroPC Pro: an ASIAIR-like PC with DC Splitter and local hotspot!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Support me on Patreon!: / cuivlazygeek
Thank you to my subscribers for suggesting this PC and for suggesting PlateSolve 3.80!
AstroPC Pro: astro-gadget.n...
ASIAIR Plus: bit.ly/43EywVm
Traditional MeLe computers: amzn.to/3LQTgTJ and amzn.to/3K6x2vy
(Considerably) more powerful computer: amzn.to/3qJOrmH
Astro Eagle Computers (the Rolls Royce of Astro PCs): bit.ly/3N4RmxF
Wifi Hotspot Software: mypublicwifi.c...
Remote Desktop app (Android): play.google.co...
Remote Desktop App (iOS): apps.apple.com...
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My equipment
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Cooled camera: s.click.aliexp...
SW Quattro 150P Budget Newt: bit.ly/3BABCxl
Backyard Universe upgrade kit: tinyurl.com/3j...
OCAL Collimator: s.click.aliexp... or s.click.aliexp...
Askar V Modular Telescope: bit.ly/3Imoq2M
or bit.ly/3GLuyR8 or tinyurl.com/2h...
ZWO AM5 Mount: bit.ly/3BAS8x5 or bit.ly/3JeVUkn
iOptron CEM70: bit.ly/431Ii2U (successor of my mount)
MiniGuideScope: bit.ly/3MyUJhn
Celestron C6: bit.ly/3ocePVs
Antlia ALP-T highspeed filter: bit.ly/42RBR2e
Hyperstar C6: starizona.com/...
Mini Computer (newer version): amzn.to/3LQTgTJ and amzn.to/3K6x2vy
Cable management: www.etsy.com/s...
IDAS GNB filter: idas.uno/space...
Flocking paper/Felt paper: amzn.to/3zASgvu or amzn.to/3m94zwa
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Affiliate Links
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NEW Agena Astro Affiliate Link: bit.ly/3Om0hNG
General High Point Scientific affiliate link: bit.ly/3lReu8R
General All-Star Telescope: bit.ly/3SCgVbV
Dwarf 2 Smart Telescope: bit.ly/3SyChXu
General Amazon Link:
amzn.to/3hTB5Ne
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My Facebook page: / cuivlazygeek
Support me on Patreon!: www.patreon.com/cuivlazygeek
Thank you to my subscribers for suggesting this PC and for suggesting PlateSolve 3.80!
AstroPC Pro: astro-gadget.net/gadgets/astrophotography/astropc-pro-new-mini-pc-windows-pro-intel-celeron-8-128-gb
ASIAIR Plus: bit.ly/43EywVm
Traditional MeLe computers: amzn.to/3LQTgTJ and amzn.to/3K6x2vy
(Considerably) more powerful computer: amzn.to/3qJOrmH
Astro Eagle Computers (the Rolls Royce of Astro PCs): bit.ly/3N4RmxF
Wifi Hotspot Software: mypublicwifi.com/myhotspot/en/wificreator.html
Remote Desktop app (Android): play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.rdc.androidx&hl=en&gl=US
Remote Desktop App (iOS): apps.apple.com/us/app/remote-desktop-mobile/id714464092
Alexander makes great gear! I have AstroGadgets Mount motors and Focuser.
I think now I'm gonna buy it since I had my eyes on it for the past years,
Because of you Cuiv, I bought Stellarmate, Asiair pro and now I am eager to buy this Astro PC since you reviewed it.
An interesting video as always. Keep up the good work.
Best regards
Ziyad
Ziyad, I hope I'm not putting you in debt! :-) this little PC does seem to be a winner and I'll definitely keep using it!
Aleksandr relocated to western Ukraine from Kharkiv. I have lots of their products
@@dankahraman354 I'm glad he was fine and able to keep running his business for sure
so cool! will order one and Wifi Creator will go onto my Quieter 3... Thank you Cuiv!!!
Enjoy!
A very attractive piece of kit, would probably have purchased that over my mini pc and pegasus power box.
That software is also a good find, I was unable to setup a hotspot with my PC so I have to use a smartphone to create a wifi hotspot so that I can access my mini pc with a second smartphone because for whatever reason it doesn't work for me any other way, plus the reliability leaves something to be desired with my gimmicky method.
Cheers for finding all these new gadgets and programs for us to use keep up the good work!
Agree - and even with your current setup the software can be a good alternative to the smartphone hotspot!
It works!
I had to configure it to start through the Task Scheduler in windows because just putting a shortcut to it in the Windows startup folder does NOT work even if you tell it to run as admin but this way it works! no more jumping through multiple smartphones and constantly restarting networks for me!
Many thanks for finding this gem! 😀
Honestly I'll take any alternative to the Primaluchelab gear at this point. They make very nice looking but incredibly overpriced hardware. I'm surprised there aren't more "all in one" windows PCs being made with astro connectors.
I can't disagree - although their latest Eagle with the sky quality meter (that can embed sky quality data in the FIT files!) Could be awesome for easy weighing frames for stacking!
I considered the Eagle in the past and what stopped me wasn't the price, but the slightly non-standard connectors that I didn't want to have to deal with!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek exactly! The base price alone is almost tolerable but all their fancy adapters for power really makes it a huge investment. I don't judge people who invest in their ecosystem but I'm hoping that more alternatives pop up.
@@CuivTheLazyGeek The new Eagle 5 Pro is interesting for remote astrophotography. It’s fully capable of running an instance of Pixinsight, allowing one to transfer the stacked image rather than all the lights and calibration frames. I guess anyone who’s running a remote observatory is used to spending $$$$
@@lwizzit that is true - even the older top of the line ones could do that, but it somehow feels so wasteful!
@hivetyrant7 you absolutely can not compare a Primalucelab Eagle with this kind of mini pc, big difference, but their prices are way up there, but also is their build quality
Wow, I have been wondering and waiting for 5 years for someone to do what ZWO did with the ASIAIR. I am a big fan of that AIR and do not mind that they only supported their cameras - it would be nice and convienient if they would support other cameras however. Basically they made a device to run their cameras and DSLRs which is understandable. I am not mad them, I am more sort of mad at all the other astrocompanies for not coming up with an alternative. Well now finally there is one from Ukraine no less. If this takes off I have a feeling that the ASIAIR will be supporting other astrocams soon.
Also, the Primaluchelab does everything yes but it since I do all my processing on desktop the next day not while it is collecting in the field, I would not be utilized one of its advantages. Since it is way out of my budget range (and many others) anyway I would not consider it. - Excellent Video again - Cheers Kurt
Hahaha I have some objections as to how ZWO achieved their solution (using open source software while giving as little back as possible, including drivers for other cameras, but actively blocking calls to those drivers in the backend), but I agree - we need a good competitor.
The upcoming Stellarmate Pro has the potential to be a true competitor with smartphone app. The Eagle is a competitors but far too expensive. And this little PC is the closest we have.
Hi Cuiv. This looks great. Can i ask why its bad practice to put power through mount to mini PC? I thought this would be an advantage?
Hi Cuiv. Another great review. Have you considered buying gear for review and then raffling it off to your subscribers afterwards?
Yes I've considered it, but the TH-cam rules for giveaway are a bit annoying so not doing it for now
You're doing a great job, Cuiv! Thank you!
I've concerns about the cooler fan. We actually don't know whether that has an impact to the images. That's my only consideration before buying.
To attach it on the tripod is no option for me. Same cable managenent using a laptop.
Greetings from Germany,
Sascha
Yep - although there's also the camera to worry about (likely far more of an impact!)
I wrote to the manufacturer. He told me, that the fan is fixed on shock absorbers. Vibrations should be completely absent.
I think I'll give it a try.
@@saschalohaus6545 Did you end up purchasing one? I am sitting here with one in my shopping cart but the fan makes me nervous. I also emailed the manufacturer and they told me the same thing. Curious about some real world experiences!
I love this... I was wondering how long it would take for someone to come up with a Windows based "Asiair"... The only thing that keeps me from getting one is the fact it comes with Win10 and not 11... Have you tried to see if it would be possible to upgrade it?
I see Windows 10 as superior to Windows 11 for now, so for me this is an advantage! Yes Windows 10 is already bugging me to update to Windows 11 at this stage, but I'm refusing :-)
The only reason I try to avoid AsiAir is because how how it locks you to ZWO products (which is fine for most people really, but I like to have options). Been using laptop and software for years, this looks like a really cool alternative. Looks affordable, easy to use and as an added bonus, supports Ukraine. I might actually go for one of these.
Yep, that was my thought process as well;
Hi Cuiv,Another great video and I hope this is going to solve my Hotspot issue. Can you please do a video on how you installed Platesolve3 for NINA. I get a crash when I start it and select Kepler folder.
This PC seems like the best affordable option since it has the necessary USB and DC ports but I’m scared of the fan. Has anyone used this PC at long focal lengths attached to their OTA?
This seems only slightly overpriced for the specs, but might be worth it just to have the barrel plug and DC splitter integrated into the unit. I suspect most of their costs came from the tooling on the enclosure, and not the actual hardware they're putting in it. The antennae for added range are a nice value-add though. I might just pick up one of these for myself.
I agree - I think the Quieter3 with the same specs is around 200-230 USD, and so you're paying for the preset hotspot and OS, as well as the proper barrel plug and DC splitter. In the end it's up to each to decide!
Can this hotspot be used by a laptop to connect to it? What is the range?
I don’t want to run my scope and mount via my iPhone
Hi Cuiv, looks great! Stupid question: how do you transfer your files from this mini-pc after a shooting session? Merci !
Not a stupid question! You can use the Robocopy plugin in NINA to automatically copy the files over the network as they are being taken during the session, or even more automated would be this: th-cam.com/video/BT27FA636SA/w-d-xo.html
@@CuivTheLazyGeek That's brilliant! Thanks for taking the time to reply 🙏
My AstroPC sporadically is losing it's HotSpot. It's just disabled then. No chance to control it again without reboot.
Does anyone have the same issues? Any ideas?
I've wrote a WatchDog for the HotSpot. When the HotSpot is down, the WatchDog just kills the WiFiCreator process and restart it. Then automatically the HotSpot starts again.
If anyone have the Lost-HotSpot issue, write me. I can give you the WatchDog program.
Hi Cuiv, another good detailed review. I currently use an Eagle LE for my main imaging set up but I am looking to upgrade my other system and this device looks good (can't afford another Eagle)
By the way, I cannot complete the subscribe to channel operation, The system keeps asking for details relating to my Old Gmail account which I no longer use (I now use outlook for emails etc.) and will not let me progress. Is there anyway I can change this?
Thank you! Aaah this is a tough one, I think in general you want to update your Google Account to the new email address you use - that would be in the Settings of your Google account, but I'm not sure about the details!
Hi, looks like the AstroPC Pro uses a Morefine M6 as its baseline host PC: Am I right ?
Looks like it but I don't know for sure!
This looks interesting, but I want to understand why to choose it over a fanless MeLe PC. The 12V ports are the main advantage, I guess. What else would push you to this device versus the mini-PC? The vibration from the fan concerns me, but then again, the cooled cameras all have fans too.
That's pretty much it! Proper 12V DC input rather than USB-C, 4x12V output, and software + hotspot is preinstalled. So really QoL advantages
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Thanks; it does look like a nice product for sure. I have a lot of ZWO equipment, so I'm somewhat invested in their system. However, I do have a nice setup of non-zwo equipment that I don't want to mothball or sell, so this device might be the ticket!
Cuiv, is your phone or tablet acting as your screen?
Yes, using my phone as the screen (via remote desktop). I actually haven't even once connected it to a physical screen (at least for now!)
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I will use my tablet..larger screen...very nice.
An android tablet or ipad will make for a better control device than mobile phone. These days you get cheap tabs with keyboard and trackpad. For the LED steal some of your wife's nail polish
Ukraine is open for business? Interesting.
If it's a fleshlight i'm outta here
No Fleshlight (well damn, I'm too innocent, I had to Google that and wish I hadn't!)
Thanks for the video Cuiv. What I cannot understand is why producers like Player One etc. doesn’t make a simple pc like this to better compete with the ZWO ecosystem. A huge missed opportunity from Player one and others in my opinion. If that kind of competition happens ZWO will have to consider to open up ASI air to meet competition. Thanks again for enlighten us Cuiv!
You're killing it Cuiv! So many videos coming our way! Thanks for the dedication and quality content.
Thank you! It's a lot of work but it's fun!
I've bought stuff from Alex at Astro Gadget and he does good work. I'm happy to support him and Ukrainians. I ordered an EQStar Pro kit from him and it arrived very quickly in spite being in the middle of a war
Great to hear! Alex does make a lot of cool gadgets!
Same here - purchased an astro-pc and a universal collimator.
I have all ZWO gear but I am interested in moving to open source so I might give this module a try. Also, if it supports a Ukrainian business I very much support that.
Yep, the side-advantage of supporting a Ukrainian business is also good
I was able to set up the hotspot in Microsoft Remote Desktop client application but then my WiFi for AstroPC was lost...too many problems....you are going to fast with your video instructions and I repeat Alex needs to do a much better job with his manual
Cuiv how do you manage to answer every single question on a particular subject in one video? Quite a skill, nobody does it like you.
Thank you so much!
I just want to point out that this device has an extra slot for a NVME drive that can be added for more space on the device. just unscrew the metal plate for the velcro harness, and then unscrew two screws from a center plastic plate (not the 4 outside screws), and you can pull the center plastic off with your finger nail and you'll see the 128GB OS drive and another slot to install another NVME drive. I put in 1TB and that's plenty of space for storing your images.
Hi Cuiv !! I'm thinking of buying this product as it's cheaper and cosmetically better looking than a NUC and a power box mounted on top of each other. How do you assess the product after, i assume, 1 year of use ? thx :)
With the Intel Celeron N5105 2.9GHz 4 Cores and 8GB LPDDR4w ill the AstroPC be able to efficiently handle SharpCap live stacking from an ASI2600MC?
Hi, I'm following you with great interest. Even if I don't understand the English language, your videos are always exhaustive.
I would like to ask you a question: Can the 256 GB Asiair plus power all my equipment consisting of: eq6 r pro, asi 294 mc pro, and two anti-condensation bands? Greetings from Italy.
Do you prefer asiair or a mini pc? I’m Leaning towards Zwo due to its simplicity without having to go the extra installation and rigging the hot spot to stay on.
Still trying to decide, Nina seems complicated to use.
Here in AZ, my astro friends are eagerly waiting for me to receive the ordered unit and put to use. Several have asked about the Wifi range; which is one of the AA+ flaws? Have you done any comparisons with the mele?
TIA
All the WiFi signals that I don't care about are broadcasting reliably but not AstroPC...not stable in spite of connecting to a dedicated 12V 5.1A inverter,
This company is going to wonder where all of the new orders came from.
I hope it's not going to be overwhelmed by the orders!
Thank you so much, really interesting
I might haven’t one, can I install more applications like sharpCap and photoshop to edit my photos on the spot
It looks a nice device. Can you control (on-off) the power ports?
Is the internal fan temperature controlled, living in Sweden I usually do astro in below-zero temperatures...
Hi Cuiv a great video yet again do you know if the Astro gadget Astro pro can be used for dew heaters and the Pegasus cube v3 focuser
A great little "Astro-Gadget" I have had one of these for around 4 months now and it has been flawless, upgraded it to windows 11 without any issues. Also successfully used it to control 2 rigs simultaneously using 2 instances of phd2, nina etc. I do agree the green led is VERY bright! 😂
Hi pal, I've just finished installing software onto my AstroPC. I did have hotspot and RDP issues in the begining, works great now. I was looking for an alternative to Asair as I have no zwo products.
@@ryanwilliams9235 glad you got it working, RDP can be a bit confusing when 1st setting it up.
@@winman14may Alexander from Astro Gadget offered great support. I've been reluctant to update to Windows 11 incase it causws issues. I have a feeling he'll be out of stock following Cuiv's review 👍🏼
Great video, Cuiv. Could you please check how many watts this mini pc consumes by itself when in operation? I usually use a powered (12v from the main battery) usb hub, which itself consumes less than 5W, so the idea is to replace the hub with this mini pc.
I don't have the tools to measure that at this stage, but you can see the figures for the Quieter3 here: www.cnx-software.com/2022/06/03/mele-quieter3q-review-ultra-thin-fanless-mini-pc-tested-with-windows-11-ubuntu-22-04/?amp=1 . Since the hardware is pretty much the same, I would assume very similar numbers!
Did the AstroPC come with Windows? ❤
Hello Cuiv, It’s been a year since your review, do you still like this PC or would recommend a different model?
I still like and use the PC (despite having ripped its antennas off by mistake, my bad). If you don't need the splitter, the Mele Quieter 4C is now a better option imo though!
Hello Cuiv and thank you for the great videos ! I just received my AstroPC Pro from Astro Gadget but the CPU is the Intel(R) Pentium(R) Silver N6000 @ 1.10GHz . It is not the Intel Celeron N5105 2.9GHz as advertised on the website or in the manual I received. I understand the Pentium is a bit underpowered(disadvantage) but it's power consumption should be lower (advantage for a mobile setup). I haven't tried it on the field yet. What are your thoughts on this situation. I bought this miniPC after your great video review but got a different CPU than yours and from what it is advertised. Is the CPU I got worth the 300$ I spent for this miniPC performance-wise or should I return it ?
Also informing you that the unit now comes with a very dim red led and inside the house the WIFI signal it creates is weak
If you didn't receive what you paid for you should get an exchange. Check with the seller....
Excellent and competition should keep the price's sensible as well
Exactly!
I plan to add SharpCap Pro instead of NINA. Should be OK? YES? And how do you download captured images?
Should be OK - I typically transfer files over network (I have a video about doing that automatically somewhere)
This is tempting to get! I saw it on cloudynights but was skeptical, glad to see it works! I’m desperate for cable management solutions and was about to purchase a Pegasus astro power box advanced & some 3d printed adapters to hook it up to my mele quieter pc, but just buying this would cost significantly less. Only benefit i see to Mele & power box adv is 8 USB ports. Thanks for the review!
My pleasure! In the end only you can choose what is the right solution for you :-)
I bought this pc for my portable setup. It came without a product key. I need to pay $200 for a genuine copy of windows. I am not happy.
That's unacceptable. The seller should replace it or provide the product key (which is normally embedded in the UEFI). Do not buy your own key.
Have an Asi but have bought a Mele 3 (not set up yet) This is another I think I'll be buying. Not being very technical I'll need to figure out how to control them from another location via my home network.
(I'm likely to get very annoyed as anyone who knows will tell you that I have no patience with 'technology' 🤬
In any case good luck! Remote desktop sometimes fails the first time, so if that happens just try reconnecting!
Hey Cuiv!
That is exactly what I was looking for, (next step being a mobile version of Nina optimized for mobile device controlling the mini pc, a NINAir quoi... ) .
Primaluce Eagle is way overpriced. When you look at the specs, you have to spend a lot to get the specs of a Mele Q3. And the added value of a Sqm is somewhat relative..
I use these mini pcs for my set ups and they work flawlessly. I just had to add a power hub, like Pegasus Ppba, and now this thing does it all!
Just a small fear about fan vibration.. But maybe it's something that can be software controlled
Thanks for the great content Cuiv!
Continue comme ça, c'est du super boulot !
Thanks so much! And yeah a mobile optimized version of NINA would be amazing for sure!
I just realized how colorful this rig is. All you need is something purple and yellow to get representation on the whole visible light spectrum XD
Hahaha that is so true, I hadn't realized at all!!! So for purple I can get something from Altair Astro, I wonder about yellow, mmmmh. I can 3D print something lol
Yeah I was staring at the blue camera right next to the green dovetail plate on the red mount near the start of the video. hahah.
great timing.. my (chinese) mini-pc just crashed and won't power up anymore, so I am currently in the market for something like this..
This is a good alternative, although a MeLe Quieter 3Q with the same specs is cheaper!
A lot of people got into various hobbies during the pandemic. With that behind us it does not surprise me that views are down. Perhaps soon prices will follow? Maybe more equipment on the resale market?
The drop is actually quite sudden between May and June - so what the cause is is anyone's guess! :-) we'll see what the future holds!
Thanks Cuiv. I have heard that commenting in a video is equivalent to 10 likes.
I don't know whether that's true, but it definitely helps, thank you!
Thank you Cuiv for this review. I have ZWO cameras but had NO desire to be locked into the ZWO brand with the ASI Air. This however does what I would want to be done while still be open source. I'll be getting this unit in the next few months.
Always good for the end user as well to have the choice - remaining in the ZWO ecosystem is also a perfectly valid option, but it's good to have such cool alternatives!
Thanks for sharing!
This looks like a great 3-in-1 solution for a remote setup.
In order to deal with connectivity issues with my Mele Q2 I use a tiny mini router from GL.iNet - with antennas of course!
I connect it to the Mele using a LAN cable and use the MELE wifi to connect to the mount. But now I'm thinking about cooling my camera (following the advice of some geek youtuber that recently compare cooled vs uncooled pictures) and I need an extra 12v socket...
My pleasure! And I wonder who that mystery geek TH-camr could be :p
Cool little PC. It looks like a great alternative to a single-vendor-tied device. I used to mount my Raspberry Pi's on the scope, but found I was too close to the max load limit on both mounts, so I went back to mounting them on the piers. Alas, no harmonic drives here. The few pounds saved made a difference.
I started running my cables in "Nylon Braided PET Expandable Cable Wire Sheath Mesh Loom." It is light-weight and slippery. It doesn't catch on things and you can generally bundle all your wires in one cable loom.
Good tips for cable management, seems a lot of people are using those sleeves these days!
what ver windows is installed in the Astropc pro , watch all your videos , keep up the good work Cuiv !
Win 10 Pro
Looks like a modded 160$ m6 mini pc, still worth it if you have to have an integrated 12v splitter
Good find! And yes I agree - seems the M6 also came with USB-C power input, so they're also changing that. I assume they do it all manually, I wonder how long each PC takes them!
Thank you Cuiv for the link to Remote Desktop. Surely I could drive my mini pc Mele with this and the good tandem with Pegasus Astro.
Yep, this should work well on Mele PC as well!
Anybody know if its running 64bit or 32bit windows 10?
64 bit
Another great video Cuiv. Thanks for that. I’m using a Mele2 with Nina in combination with RD client for quite a while now and pretty happy about it but this seems a very good alternative indeed.
In your video you were mentioning that you don’t have a rotator in order to use the slew, center and rotate functionality. Well in fact you can setup a ‘manual rotator’ and you’ll get to know by how many degrees you need to rotate your camera to get a perfect rotated image. I really love this and it is always giving me exactly the field of view I’ve selected in the framing screen.
Have fun trying it and wishing you clear skies.
Greetz from Belgium
Bert
Yep, I'm aware of that feature, but I don't want to be next to my scope when the sequence start, because my balcony doesn't let me (makes everything wobble). So I just let it be :)
Nice to have options. Thanks Cuiv.
I'm liking that Cuiv I'm liking it a lot, I have the quieter 3 that I will be setting up as per your video that I'm really not looking forward to lol so it's great seeing a company building these at a more affordable price, I look forward to seeing how it performs but I do agree about it having a red LED rather than green.
The software in the description will help out a lot for sure!
As you mentioned these lights on these mini-PCs can be annoying. Mine was a blue light that came through the air vents (to be fair it did look pretty cool). Easy to fix - pulled it apart and removed the connector to it.
Yep, easy to fix so not a big deal, but something to note anyway!
Hey Cuiv, I'm thinking of buying this (instead of buying a Mele Quieter + power distribution box + wifi router); have you had the chance to test the Wifi range? The one thing I hate the most about the ASIAir line is its dismal wifi range & performance.
This looks really nice. Are there any EU resellers for these PCs? (importing this to Greece myself may be quite involved and pricey, I fear)
I don't think there are any resellers anywhere - it's only from Astro Gadget direct, afaik
Rother Valley Optics in England sell them. Waitwd a month for mine 👍🏼
You are a big supported of open source software. Do you have opinions about the findings from a ASIAir owner who examined the ASIAir software and found out that ZWO violated the software licenses of multiple open source astronomy libraries? I think using open source software without following the license is a form of stealing other people's work.
It's a tough one. I'm not even sure if they're currently in violation of any licenses - and in a very real way it's irrelevant, as only the code owners have standing to contact ZWO to do something about it.
ZWO is being very similar to Apple: taking as much as possible while giving back as little as possible (within what is allowed by the licenses), all the while building a closed ecosystem.
At the same time they've made a huge impact in the hobby in getting so many more beginners in, so it could be a matter of "the end justifies the means".
But that being said I want NINA and Stellarmate to increase their market share because competition is good :-)
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Bill Nash posted on the INDIlib form that he found evidence that ASIAir use Siril for star removal, Stellarium web engine for the planetarium, and astronomy net for plate solving. All three use GPL license, which require any modifications to be publicly released. As EAA and astrophotography become more popular, I'm concerned other Chinese astro companies will follow ZWO's example and "steal" from open source project. This will put astro companies from countries with stronger software license protection at a major disadvantage.
No dew controller?
The only concern I have is the specs, I run SGP and Celestron CPWI and those seem to just eat up ram but it looks to be a better alternative the ASIAir which I was also considering but did not like being forced into all ZWO products - I have a Mele but then I have to run a pocket power box and a USB-C to USB hub in order to get it all to work and now I have 3 little boxes... this looks like it could be extremely nice if it has the "ooomph" to run everything.
Run NINA! Although I would be surprised to see SGP + CPWI eat up 8GB or RAM. This PC could simplify your setup, but then if you already have something that works...
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I have been looking at NINA but already own SGP which is also a really nice product also so it's hard to put the time in and potentially blow a night I could image trying something new out but eventually I will. I think I am going to try one of these over the ASIAir mainly because I don't want to part with my Moonlite focuser on my refractor and I also have a flip-flat and automated flats and darks have possibly made me perhaps more lazy than even Cuiv, the Lazy Geek!
I saw this mini pc yesterday, as i was searching for something i could buy in a few months just to break away from ASIAir and Zwo ecosystem in hope to get camera(s) from other brands for cheaper than ZWO cameras. I never used a laptop or PC for astrophotography only the ASIAir, so it feels a little overwhelming or scary to learn so many new things and software to use.
There will definitely be a learning curve - whether it is worth it to break away from the ZWO ecosystem is up to each!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek By the way, do you know what is the operation temperature? Would it survive -10Celsius at winter time?
You mention powering everything through the mount isn't ideal. Why?
I do the exact same thing - power the mount, power ASIAIR from the mount, power cameras and dew heaters from the ASIAIR. It works perfectly, and sounds like the Mini PC is designed to do the same.
Not enough USB ports, needs 6 minimum. Price is amazing though.
Yep I guess we can't have everything haha! I'm using one of the ports on my camera USB hub for the focuser, which does help!
USB port extenders can be used, find one with 12v PS if you need them powered. USB ports can handle dozens of devices under Windows framework.
Thanks for the video Cuiv!💻
Thanks as always Dave!!
Great video and very timely since I am getting ready to put together a new travel rig. Perfect!
Glad it was helpful!
Really interesting alternative to the laptop I currently use for my setup. Do you transfer the images from the mini pc via Wi-Fi or do you use usb storage?
I use Wifi! You can either sync in real time (I have a video on that), use the Robocopy plugin in NINA, or just copy over wifi. The antennas make the file copy very snappy!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek that’s brilliant. Will check your other video. Thanks.
Cuiv will you also review the new stellarmate x equipment?
I've been in contact with Stellarmate 's Jasem! I hope to be able to test Stellarmate X and Stellarmate Pro in the future (the Pro version in particular sounds amazing)
Thanks Cuiv for another belter. What's your opinion on the amount of RAM needed for a typical set up, such as one imaging cmos camera and a guide camera for Deep Sky imaging being run from NINA, 8 or 16GB?
Interesting video Cuiv as I’m a v1 AsiAir user considering whether to upgrade to a plus or go down the mini pc route. To an AsiAir user, which do you reckon is a better route, the AstroPC pro or Mele Quieter? My rig is an EQ6r/ZWO533mc/ZWO224/Pegasus pocket power box
nice!
Im also using a stellarmate-x device which is also a re-branded mele3q, but doesnt have the power ports.
the usb PD port on the 3q is silly, and i hate having to use a wall wart to power it off a portable power bank
just ordered one, will be nice to have a windows based mini pc so i can play around with nina, if not this might just turn into another stellarmate box
Oh right if you already have a Stellarmate x86 license, this can be a Stellarmate PC! How do you like the current Stellarmate version, and how is the current smartphone app?
@@CuivTheLazyGeek yeah the x86 license is cheap and can be used on any mini pc
smartphone app has improved quite a bit but not as polished as asiair app. I normally do everything from inside my house from VNC using Kstars except for the polar align routine where i can use my android tablet while i make adjustments
Otherwise i am really liking the x86 stellarmate. It is much more stable and responsive than the pi4 version. Also because it is intel based i can install some of my other apps like Pixinsight and Astro Pixel Processor so that i can do rough stacking when im in the field
Was your version of Windows activated? Mine was not and no key. Another user I know was the same.
Definitely activated for me. Have you reached out to the seller?
@@CuivTheLazyGeek yup... He said they do not include activation that the machine will function as intended without or that I can activate myself if needed.
I picked up this PC, and I thought I'd share my experience with it so far. The good news is that it works great, and using it at 1300mm with it piggybacked on the telescope did not show any blurring from the fan running. I used velcro to stick it on, which provides a bit of vibration damping. I did notice the hotspot flaking out, and I could not re-establish the connection without restarting. I emailed AstroGadget about it, and they sent me a handy link with settings to be changed that will reduce or stop it. One problem I am having is in cold weather. The computer works best if you bring it from a warm environment first, and then the electronics will keep it warm enough to function. However, I have mine in a home observatory, so it's quite cold and doesn't function. I might put a dew heater on it to deal with that issue. Other than that, it's great!
The only thing that is missing is a dew heater control.
Agree - although Astro Gadget does sell DC12V dew heaters with an integrated controller, so it looks like it could be a good match!
Just bought one to go on my baby scope and ioptron HEM15 setup 👍🏻
How do you like your HEM15?
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I have only just got it , hoping to try it out when the nights start to draw out , we don’t get much darkness here in the U.K. , this time of year ☹️
Looking great Quiv !
Is it also possible to put in an M2 ssd, I have a 2 Tb one in the Mele Q3 ?
I opened it up very briefly and the main drive seemed to be an M2 SSD, but I'd need to open it up again to be sure!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Thanks Quiv, I wonder if you could order it with a bigger hard drive than
could be a great substittue to a mele quieter + DC and USB hub combo, for about the same price of just the mele
Exactly! I'll need to see next whether a 12V dew heater could work through the splitter because that would kind of be the ultimate test!
that was my question, could this support dew heaters? Either way, might be better to use an automated dew heater controller, especially if your running on battery.
@@MrRogers505 yes definitely! Seems astro gadget sells 12V dew heaters with an integrated controller that could work together with the PC!
This actually looks pretty good, same price as the Mele but with the software preinstalled and the hotspot working propperly. Problem for me would besupport in Europe, webpage says they have global shipping but if something goes wrong I fear having no support.
Yep, I think that's a legitimate worry - but then even with something like Mele, I'd sti have that worry :-)
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I ordered Dec and RA motors and a controller from Astro Gadget just days before Russia invaded Ukraine. Astrogadget was located in Karkiv which was heavily bombarded. They subsequently moved to another safer location, but through all of this I received good support and I received my order in about a month. Considering what they were going through Alexander continued to communicate with me and keep me updated on the progress of my order. Kudos to Astro-Gadget!
@@terrymaurice6285 Oh, since the prices appeared to me in dollars I asumed they were american. It seem pretty worth then considering the prices of the melee on amazon are the same and it comes with the 4 dc ports.
Seems great value compared to just buying a MeLe. Also I like that it has a fan. I have the newer Quieter 3C and it gets really hot - up to 60 degrees C - when busy so can't be attached to an OTA. I queried this with the manufacturer and they said its normal. Its otherwise great so the addition of a fan would be a real advantage.
Would be interesting to see a comparison between the Astro-Gadget, ASAIR, and Eagle 4.
For sure! Actually Nico Carver did a very similar analysis I would recommend checking it out!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I saw the one he did between the ASI-Laptop-Eagle.
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I'll have to check that out!
Great alternative! I would have gone for it if I hadn't bought the Q3 last winter 😐
So if i understand correctly, you don't need a router?
Correct
@@CuivTheLazyGeekHow far away from the gear can it reach?
bookmarked and saved for later purchase
It's a good alternative to Mele PCs, so when you do need it ;)
@@CuivTheLazyGeek likely this fall
HEM 27 with rasa 8
SGP goto with something els
me at camp enjoying the fire gazing around
Hi Cuiv, I have a black belt diploma that looks the same as the diploma in your background, I'm a first Dan in Shito Ryu Karate Do
That's super cool! My "diploma" there is actually my marriage certificate :D
Wonderful review Cuiv
Any idea on how much this weighs?
The specifications and manual give dimensions but not weight.
Thanks!
I'll check when I can!
This is the first time in my life, I’ve ever heard of anything being manufactured in Ukraine, ever.
The base PC itself is Chinese made, but from my understanding the mods are done manually in Ukraine!
A very popular paraglider equipment maker was based in and made their stuff in Ukraine, although their factory/warehouse was destroyed in the war and they had to relocate to another country
Ordered!
Woohoo! Hopefully it works out for you!