Product Description
The iEXOS-100 is a complete astronomical computerized Wifi or Wired GOTO Equatorial Tracker with integrated PMC-Eight electronics suitable for attaching Small Telescopes or DSLR Cameras attached to a standard "Vixen Style" Dovetail Plate. Use with the free ExploreStars App for Tablets (Windows, Android, iOS), or with the free ASCOM Standards Compliant POTH Client from Explore Scientific (either wired or wireless) to work with virtually any sky software that supports ASCOM.
The iEXOS-100 utilizes a proven German equatorial mount design and Explore Scientific’s revolutionary PMC-Eight™ precision motion control system to flawlessly navigate the night sky and track objects as they journey across it. This combination provides superior observing and imaging performance without a prohibitive price tag.
GOTO systems play an important role in the world of amateur astronomy because they ensure users spend less time searching for particular objects and more time observing and imaging. The PMC-Eight with its versatile connections supported with free to download apps for Window, Android, and iOS, or through the free to download ASCOM POTH Client to connect to your favorite ASCOM Compliant Astronomical Software, can allow you to control the telescope from a few feet away or by communicating computer-to-computer with an Internet connection from virtually anywhere in the world.
One of the standout features of the iEXOS-100 system is its German equatorial design. When it comes to tracking the stars with a telescope, there is nothing that compares to a German equatorial mount because it will precisely follow objects as they rise in the east and set in the west. For observers, a German equatorial mount makes it easy to keep your celestial target in your eyepiece. For imagers, it helps you avoid common astrophotography pitfalls like field rotation.
Before you can track an object, you need to find it, and that objective can be daunting when you’re faced with a vast expanse of inky black sky. The iEXOS-100 puts a powerful GOTO system in your arsenal of astronomical tools that takes the frustration out of navigating the night sky. This integrated version of Explore Scientific’s PMC-Eight™ system transcends the industry standard single processor by utilizing eight CPUs that operate independently of one another to focus on defined functions. This delegation of tasks among the processors results in a system that offers superior responsiveness, efficiency, reliability and astoundingly fast timing intervals for seamless images and accurate tracking.
Although it is internally complex, the GOTO system can be easily operated from your own Apple, Android or Windows tablet using the ExploreStars app, which has an intuitive nature that makes it simple and quick to align your telescope, navigate the stars and learn specifics about tens of thousands of celestial objects. This dynamic app is fueled by a database that is routinely updated to ensure it remains a relevant resource.
Explore Scientific's commitment to creating a streamlined GOTO mount is obvious in other design choices. The iEXOS-100 has locking clutches that will let you quickly reposition your telescope from one side to the other and an altitude knob for smooth height adjustments. The mount base includes a small polar alignment tunnel that allows users to roughly align their observing setup with Polaris. It also has a simple bubble level that comes in handy when stabilizing your tripod. Other features include a bracket for holding the battery pack, which powers the PMC-Eight system™ through 8 C batteries (not included); two 1 kg counterweights for balancing; and glow-in-the-dark markers on certain points of the mount and tripod so you can stay oriented with your setup at night. The mount is designed to hold up to 19 lbs of astronomical equipment.
The iEXOS-100 is an astronomical GOTO system that utilizes a proven German equatorial mount design and Explore Scientific’s revolutionary PMC-Eight™ precision motion control system to flawlessly navigate the night sky and track objects as they journey across it. Features include:
Integrated Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ system that transcends the industry standard single processor by utilizing eight CPUs that operate independently of one another to focus on defined functions, which results in superior responsiveness, efficiency, reliability and astoundingly fast timing intervals.
Clutched dual-axis worm gears with quiet precision stepper motor belt drives
Intuitive ExploreStars app, which is available for Apple, Android and Windows tablets, that makes it simple to operate the GOTO system. Through it, users can quickly align their telescope, navigate the stars and learn specifics about tens of thousands of celestial objects
Locking clutches and altitude knob, which make the process of repositioning your telescope efficient
Small polar alignment tunnel in mount base that can be used to roughly align your observing setup with Polaris
Battery pack powering the PMC-Eight™ system uses 8 C batteries and is secured in a bracket on one of the tripod legs when in use
Two 1 kg counterweights included
Glow-in-the-dark markings on mount and tripod
| Item Number | ES-iEXOS-100 |
| Mount head weight | 9.45 lbs |
| Tripod weight | 5.35 lbs |
| Tripod fully collapsed, no mount head: | 25.5” |
| Tripod open, retracted legs, no mount head: | 25” |
| Tripod open, retracted legs with the mount head: | 38.5” at highest point, 36” to the center of the mounting bracket |
| Tripod open, legs fully extended, no mount head: | 42” |
| Tripod open, legs fully extended with the mount head: | 45” at highest point |
| Counterweights: | 1 kg each |
| Mount weight capacity: | 15 lbs Photographic; 19 lbs Visual (Equip & Weights) |
Tech Details
Reviews
1. No azimuth adjustment?
2. No polar scope. A small hole (tunnel) to do rough polar alignment. Similar to a cheap omegon star tracker which comes with a plastic tube to polar align. Only in this case, a small hole in the RA raxis.
Later ES ended up adding a separate azimuth adapter ($99) and an external polar scope attachment (somewhere like $89 or so).
The problem for me was not even having the polar scope rather the basic functionality a mount should have which is an azimuth adjustment functionality similar to the way you would expect to have an altitude adjustment knob. Without these knobs precise polar alignment was impossible through sharpcap or something similar. The solution I got from ES was to just loosen the mount and rotate it by hand????
I shelved this mount for more than 10 months because of these issues.
Finally ended up buying the azimuth adapter as the mount was collecting dust. Am able to use it now atleast.
As one of the reviewers mentioned, the mount was rushed to market with basic tools that should be part of any mount missing for some reason.
So the whole mount if your getting for the first time ends to cost $429.99 + $99.99 (for azimuth adapter) + $ 89.99 (polar scope) = $618.98
I would recommend that you buy a different mount with a little bit of extra money which would be far superior and have way more load capacity to start with. (Posted on 9/3/2020)
I 'm only use the mount once since I received it in mid-September. The 2/3 star alignment with the Explorer app is different from what I am use to with Goto mounts with hand controllers so a learning curve is involved. The mount does track well even with a rough polar alignment. I am using 102mm refractor that weight 6lbs plus a dslr camera so I do not know how it handle with a heavier ota. (Posted on 10/5/2019)
