StarAid Revolution Standalone Autoguiding - Revision B

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StarAid Revolution Standalone Autoguiding - Revision B

# 1485001

€ 890.00 Price excl. German VAT tax (19%): € 747.90

  • Stand-alone lightweight autoguider with AI-powered automatic polar alignment and built-in plate solving, now available in Revision B with new features
    • camera control with dithering
    • comet tracking
    • USB-C Port with USB (5.0 V) instead of a DC Port (12V). The USB-C Port is both on the splitter, and on the StarAid
    • Shorter housing, only 6,3 cm long
  • StarAid automatically monitors the seeing conditions and the mount response
  • No laptop is needed – control and troubleshoot with your smartphone
  • Focusing via Live View function
  • Starts guiding your mobile setup immediately when powered up - no user interaction is needed
  • With built-in WiFi
  • Multi-Star Guiding
  • High Quality – improves image quality by up to 30% due to faster and multi-star guiding
  • Polar alignment in 30 seconds – High accuracy: typically ~30” within about 2 minutes
  • 2 LED lights indicate status of guiding
  • Automatic platesolving within 2 seconds
  • Powered via USB or a USB power bank
  • Only one cable for easier set-up and less flexure
  • 1¼ fitting, optional CS mount
  • Antidust, no-fingerprint housing
  • All mounts with an ST-4 compatible guide port and adjustable screws or knobs are supported (even single-axis tracking platforms)
  • Note: StarAid 1.25" to C-Mount adapter ring, 5mm height (#1485010 , € 30) is needed to conntect the StarAid on a C-Mount guide

New Version: StarAid Revolution Standalone Autoguider Rev. C

The StarAid Revolution Revision B is no longer available and will be discontinued in its current form. We are very pleased to announce that we are able to offer you a successor, the StarAid Revolution Standalone Autoguiding - Revision C (#1485002 , € 890) expected to be available from the end of April 2023. The power supply and data transfer of the new version is now exclusively via the USB-C port with USB (5.0 V) on the StarAid itself. Revision C therefore no longer requires a splitter.

Product Questions and Answers

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Will the StarAid dithering work well for a Canon Ra on a Skywatcher 200/1000 OTA?
Question by: Bert De Wilde on Nov 4, 2021 1:19:00 AM | 1 Answer(s)

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18
Hi, I am considering the purchase of a standalone autoguider. I am using a Skywatcher 200/1000 Newtonian scope with EQ5 Pro GOTO .What do I need to make StarAid rev. B work with my configuration please? Can you recommend all the parts I need to order please?

Question by: Bert De Wilde on Oct 31, 2021 11:07:00 PM | 1 Answer(s)

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15
Is the StarAid compatible with Gemini G53f mount? I am very much interested
http://www.geminitelescope.com
I'd be very happy to receive a response...
Question by: Michel ESTEVES on Oct 17, 2022 12:26:00 AM | 1 Answer(s)

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4
Does I need to buy an adpater (like 1"1/4 - C-mount adapter) between my QHY miniGuideScope and Staraid Revolution B (my last order) ?
Thanks in advance for your response
Question by: Georges Carletti on Mar 27, 2021 6:40:00 PM | 3 Answer(s)

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Description

Details

StarAid Revolution Product Features

Features StarAid Revolution Revision B

Stand-alone autoguiding revolutionised

No configuration

  • Autoguiding starts automatically as soon as you power on your StarAid.  Point your telescope anywhere in the sky, and StarAid will find multiple guide stars. Even under a full moon or in a rich star cloud in the milky way under pristine skies.
  • No laptop or any other device needed
  • Guiding automatically resumes when clouds pass by or when you move your mount to a new location

Accurate and fast tracking for the best image quality

Accurate:

Fast:
  • Recognises and tracks 1 to 20 stars simultaneously
  • Advanced, high performance proprietary star recognition and centering algorithm
  • Guiding accuracy not affected by mount backlash
  • Up to 30% sharper photos due to faster and multi-star guiding
    • automatically handles meridian flips
    • less image waste due to more images being useful
  • Sends up to 5 corrections per second (5Hz) to the mount to minimise drift effects and correct some of the seeing (5Hz)
  • Finishes mount calibration in 4-30 seconds

Automatically optimised guiding parameters

  • StarAid automatically monitors the seeing conditions and the mount response
  • It uses Artificial Intelligence to find the optimal guide parameters

Live LED status feedback

  • LEDs indicate the status of guiding, warnings or errors
  • Different patterns for specific actions
  • No need to connect your laptop or phone
  • Adjust their brightness or turn them off completely from the StarAid App

Comet guiding

  • Image comets with long exposures. StarAid provides a well maintained catalogue of interesting comets. Simply select a comet from object guiding and point your main telescope at the comet. StarAid tracks and keeps the comet stationary so you can confidently take long exposures for crisp comet images.
  • Once object guiding is enabled, no laptop or any other device is needed.

No laptop needed

Free built-in StarAid Application to access extras

The StarAid provides its own WLAN that can be accessed by smartphone, tablet or computer. Using your device's web browser, you can access and control the StarAid's web interface. So this "StarAid app" runs on the StarAid itself, you only need a web browser on a device that you connect to the WLAN that the StarAid provides. Therefore, the StarAid app cannot be accessed for testing purposes on devices that are not connected to the StarAid. And there is also no app to download from an app store

Even though StarAid autoguiding is fully autonomous, and requires no additional device, there is a handy StarAid App available to access advanced functionality:

  • Monitor the status of autoguiding.
  • Super eas, AI-powered polar alignment.
  • Automatic plate-solving (“Sky Recognition”)
  • Live view to help you focus your StarAid.

Use it with any device

  • Access and use the app on your smartphone, computer or tablet
  • Works without Internet
  • Connect your device via StarAid’s built-in wifi or the USB cable

Accurate polar alignment within 30 seconds with a tap in your app

  • Just point your telescope anywhere in the sky. No need to see the celestial pole from your location.
  • StarAid will tell you how to set your mount.
  • Works equally well in the Southern hemisphere, Northern hemisphere and at the equator.
  • Works well for apartment windows or balconies where the celestial pole is obscured.
  • Choose fast or high accuracy: typically 30″ within 2 minutes (good enough for guiding), 10″ within 4 minutes (accurate), or 1″ within 12 minutes (precise).
  • Intuitive guidance with real-time visual feedback while making adjustments.
  • All mounts with adjustable screws or knobs are supported (even single-axis tracking mounts).
  • Polar alignment also works without a connection to the guide port.

Automatic platesolving within 2 seconds

Die Geschwindigkeiten der Sternfelderkennung von StarAid mit einem 200mm-Leitrohr. Die Farben zeigen die benötigte Zeit in Sekunden an. Die dunkelblauen, ungelösten Felder liegen entlang der Ebene der Milchstraße. In den meisten Fällen wird sogar weniger als eine Sekunde benötigt.

Star field recognition speeds of StarAid with a 200mm guide scope. The colors denote solution time in seconds. The dark blue, unsolved areas align with the plane of the Milky Way. In most cases, the actual solve time is less than 1 second.

  • The Sky Recognition functionality recognises 96% of all locations within 2 seconds (under clear skies, without moonlight)
  • Start it with a tap from your StarAid App
  • No Internet needed
  • Check the coordinates in the app, and enter it in your mount to use it for GOTO

No large guide-scope required

StarAid Revolution works best with small focal lengths between 100 and 150mm. This makes a very lightweight and sturdy setup possible. You can attach it in a 1.25" eyepiece clamp or through the optional C-mount adapter. Camera control/dithering The StarAid Revolution also supports dithering – the telescope can be moved by some pixels during an imaging session to avoid structural artifacts of the camera. A 2.5mm cable for camera control is available separately.

Camera control/dithering

The StarAid Revolution also supports dithering – the telescope can be moved by some pixels during an imaging session to avoid structural artifacts of the camera. A 2.5mm cable for camera control is available seperately.

Power Supply via USB

The power supply of the StarAid is done through one of the two USB-C-Ports (One on the StarAid unit itself and one on the splitter). The USB-C port on the StarAid unit itself can also be used for data connections. It only need 5V/0,5A, so you can power it with any USB power supply or a USB power bank, or through the USB-port of your computer. Camera control, dithering and guiding can be done direct via app (i.e. no PC is needed!).

Compared to the previous version, the power is still supplied via the splitter, with the only difference that the splitter is now supplied with USB (5.0V) via USB-C port instead of a DC port (12V). On the StarAid unit itself,  the micro USB port has been substituted by a USB-C port. The USB-C port on the StarAid unit can also power both StarAid and the splitter. Unlike the USB-C port on the splitter, the USB-C sport on the StarAid also provides communications and access to the StarAid web app.

All modern mounts supported

Tested on several models

  • All mounts with a ST-4 compatible guide port are supported.
  • Tested on the following mounts and mount types:
    • All mounts with Astro-Elektronik FS-2 control system
    • Astro-Physics 1100
    • Astro-Physics1200
    • Astro-Physics Mach1
    • Astro-Physics models with GTOCP v2, v3 and v4
    • Celestron AVX (the same control as, among others CGEM, CGEM DX, CGEM II, CGX, CGX-L)
    • Losmandy GM-8 with originals DDS
    • Meade FORK mount
    • SkyWatcher EQ5
    • SkyWatcher EQ6
    • Vixen Super Polaris with BoxDorfer MTS-3 Kit
  • Can be used with Losmandy DDS control box

Related Articles
Specifications

Additional Information

General
Manufacturer StarAid
SKU (#) 1485001
EAN Code 0745178249300
Net weight (kg) 0.11
Sensor Information
Sensor Sony IMX290LL monochrome STARVIS CMOS
Sensor Size 1/2.8”
Pixel Size 2.9µm
Resolution 1920 x 1080 @ 12bit
Imaging Features
Monochrom or Color? Monochrome
Read Noise (e- RMS) 0.72e-
Peak QE 75%
Operating Temperature Storage temperature (air): -20C - +60C | Operating temperature (air): -15C - +40C |
Storage Temperature -20C - +60C
Interface Optical interface: 31.65mm (1¼”) OD x 12 mm ocular guidescope, 1¼” filter, C-mount lens / guidescope via C-mount adaptor (sold separately), camera shutter control via 2.5 mm adaptor cable (sold separately)
Additional Features
Included Accessories USB-A to USB-C cable (1m); Uplink cable RJ-45 (CAT6 cable, 2.0 m flex /3 mm OD), Guide cable (RJ-12, 6P6C cable, 0.5 m flat, USB 2.0 cable), Splitter (36 x 22 x 20 mm)
Electronics
Power Input Standard USB 5.0V, 0.5A or better - typical power pack or USB wall outlet
Power consumption 1.2W (active), 2.5W (peak)
Body and Connections
Diameter (mm) 39 mm
USB Connection USB 2.0 via USB-C Port
Telescope connection ST-4 compatible guide port
Guiding Port ST-4 kompatibler Anschluss
Adaptable to All mounts with an ST-4 compatible guiding port are supported
FAQ
Downloads
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Claus-Peter Selzer 360/12/2021 27/12/202113:36
  • Rating:
Hervorragender Service, sehr gutes Produkt
Fragen zum Staraid und zum QHY miniGuideScope und zur Bestellung im Vorfeld wurden kompetent und zuverlässig beantwortet. Die Lieferung erfolgte sogar vor dem angegebenen Termin. Gerne kaufe ich wieder bei Ihnen.

Der Staraid arbeitet sehr gut am QHY mineGuideScope. Die Montage ist sehr einfach. Mit einem Handy, Tablet, Mac lässt sich der Staraid sehr bequem kontrollieren. Der WLAN-Verbindungsaufbau und Anzeige der Benutzeroberfläche im Browser ist trivial. Das Autoguiding funktioniert sogar bei fast Vollmond gut. Das Polar Alignment ist einfach und intuitiv. Über die Kamerasteuerung kann ich leider noch keine Aussage treffen - das Wetter war zu schlecht.
Der einzige Kritikpunkt am Staraid ist die fehlende ausführliche Dokumentation.
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Christoph Kaltseis 41/02/2021 11/02/202113:42
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StarAid Rev-B mit QHY miniGuideScope
Dass ich mit der Celestron CGX-Montierung sehr gut zurecht komme, hatte ich ja bereits in meiner letzten Bewertung und dem Blog-Beitrag "Celestron CGX-Montierung in Kombination mit StarAid Revolution als Guider" berichtet, wo ich den Baader Multi-Purpose Vario Finder 10x60 als Leitrohr verwendete.

Ich habe nun eine Zeit lang auf den StarAid 1.25" nach C-Mount Adapterring # 1485010 für die Befestigung des StarAID – Revision B am QHY miniGuideScope gewartet. Als der Adapter endlich ankam, konnte ich loslegen… aber 2021 ist wohl ein Jahr, das wenig für Astronomie übrig hat. Am letzten Wochenende konnte ich dann wenigstens unter wechselnden Bedingungen einen Test mit den kleinen QHY GuideScope versuchen.

Und was soll ich sagen: Einfach und GENIAL! Einfach einschalten und den StarAid über das Smartphone-Display fokussieren, kalibrieren und los. Bitte schaut euch die Werte anhand der Screenshots meines Smartphones an, was der StarAid machte.

Der Weg in der Anwendung ist klar:

Erst die Montierung mit der internen Routine der Montierung am Himmel ausrichten (AllStar Polar Alignment / Verfeinerung mit 2 Sternen), danach den StarAid mit dem Live View am Smartphone fokussieren – dieser Schritt ist enorm wichtig, damit es mit 130mm wirklich passt!

Anschließend noch die Kabelverbindung zur CGX herstellen (am Autoguider-Port anstecken) und in der Software dann auf Guide drücken, und die nächsten Schritte laufen automatisch ab. Danach vergeht eine kurze Zeit, die Kalibrierung der CGX war ruckzuck abgeschlossen, und das Guiding lief. An der CGX hatte ich als Guiding Speed für RA 40 und für DEC 45 eingestellt.

Was dann kam – nun, besser geht es nicht, alles lief reibungslos. Dazu waren die Bedingungen oft sehr gut (es war klar), nur ab und zu zog etwas durch.

Im Ergebnis war es das gleiche – rund und rund und rund… TOP! So klein so leicht und absolut ohne ein Problem oder hängen bleiben – einfach AUTOGUIDING!

CS und hoffe auf besseres Wetter im letzten Abschnitt von 2021!
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Christoph Kaltseis 99/04/2020 09/04/202018:34
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CELESTRON CGX MOUNT IN COMBINATION WITH STARAID REVOLUTION AS GUIDING CAM
The CGX: A Versatile Mount For Everyone!

Recently I was able to work with the Celestron CGX, the Baader Apo 95/560 Travel Companion, the Nikon D810A and the StarAid Revolution as guiding system for the first time. Once again the results proved how much you can get out of a good system if you take some time to tweak the settings a little bit instead of simply working with the factory settings of the software without taking a closer look at them.

To get straight to the point: I'm really excited about what the CGX delivered last night!

For polar alignment, I used the star Regulus and the integrated AllStar Polar Alignment (ASPA) system of the CGX. My alignment routine only consisted of a 2-star alignment, with Regulus added as another calibration star. Then I let the mount slew across 2/3 of the sky to the star Vega. The CGX placed Vega in the middle of the field of view of the APO 95 and the Z6, with less than 5% deviation!

That's AMAZING, because it means that I don't need an additional high-precision goto, even with small sensors! In any case, high-precision goto is only intended for those times when the mount is badly polar aligned, anyway.
And the tracking accuracy? If the CGX is properly aligned using the CGX's ASPA routine, it works really well. Up to 30 seconds were possible without guiding. It's the same as with a 10Micron mount without the additional pointing model: balance the mounts axles, set it up with caution and perform a good - very good - polar alignment, then the CGX is TOP!

Excuse me if I have said this before, but again and again I hear and read – not only in the forums – that it does not matter if the mount is perfectly polar aligned, or if it is perfectly balanced, etc... this madness must be put to an end! Instead of two vectors (RA + DEC) or ideally one (with an ideal setup it should only be RA) to represent the tracking, we have to deal with four motion vectors at once (for RA + DEC + the drift in both Axes in plus and minus), plus the field of view rotation! This is still inconspicuous visually (and the CGX compensates for these deviations at least when slewing to each new object), but when tracking an object with a camera, this will harm the quality of the result! (Sorry, but that's my personal opinion – and nobody can tell me anything else; I've already had my discussions about this.)

Of course, I used an autoguider to do serious astrophotography, in this case the StarAid Revolution. With it, there were still round (or better: pin-point) stars even after 600 seconds – that's very good. The system just ran smoothly: the routines in the CGX are very practical and the gearbox (belt drive) implements the guiding pulses in real time.

The StarAid was only connected to a power supply and the guiding port; it is a real standalone autoguider without a laptop. The autoguiding starts automatically as soon as the StarAid is powered up. By the way, the StarAid Revolution is not only a standalone autoguider. It combines automatic polar adjustment and plate solving (in just 2 seconds) in a light, only 8 cm large body. This all-in-one astrophotography device replaces a specialised guiding camera and a laptop with various programs for guiding and polar alignment, and it can solve the biggest problems related to astrophotography – initialization and polar alignment are done with the smartphone, then it runs autonomously!

After what feels like 1000 years of experience with guiding I can only say again and again: "Guiding must be adapted to seeing!" This principle has been confirmed once again, as the CGX reacts very accurately to every control command.
That means: The StarAid guides the CGX in a direct manner. Everything is almost 1: 1 in effect.

That is why the guiding rate of the CGX has to be adapted to the seeing. In the case of the CGX, this is possible separately for both the RA and the DEC axis, as a percentage of the star speed. The standard value of the CGX is 85% of the siderial speed. If the seeing is bad, this will cause pendulum movements, but everything is still within tolerance. But if I reduce the rate to 50% – I even went as low as 35% per axis (the seeing was really ugh!) – the correction is only 0.5 PIXEL of the guider. The RA axis was in teeny-tiny overbalance towards the counterweight. Hence the movement from plus to minus in the RA axis. (I call it the "I'm already gone away" error.)

And here is the result:

Image: IC1318 and the 2.2mag star Sadr in RGB with Baader APO 95 and Nikon D810A, Celestron CGX mount and StarAID StarAid Revolution Standalone Autoguiding, 22x 360sec (132min) under good conditions
M51 / Baader APO 95 / Celestron CGX / StarAID / D810A

Image: M51 with Baader APO 95 and the Nikon D810A; Celestron CGX mount and StarAID StarAid Revolution standalone autoguiding at 600s and in original resolution

After these experiences I am really looking forward to something else: The combination of RASA 8 + CGX is a really hot product, because I already got round stars on the APO95 / 560 for about 30sec without auto guiding ... and with guiding, hour-long narrowband imaging sessions are easy! For remote operation, the CGX has another great feature when it is operated through ASCOM and Celestron's CPWI control software: power failures are no longer a problem! The mount is then simply moved back to the home position, the last alignment is called up, and everything will be fine:-)

All screens about the CGX in measurement mode can be found in my blog: https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/blog/celestron-cgx-montierung-in-kombination-mit-staraid-revolution-als-guider
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