iOptron iPolar User manual

iOptron
®
iPolar
TM
Electronic Polar Scope
Operation Manual
Product #3339
®
Ver. 1.1 2019.04
iOptron reserves the rights to revise this instruction without notice. Actual color/contents/design/function of a product may differ from
those described in this instruction manual.

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1. Connect iPolar to a PC and Download iPolar Software
(1) Connect the iPolar Electronic Polar Scope (EPS) to you PC USB port
(2) The iPolar EPS will automatically install the driver if it is the first tome connecting to the
computer
(3) You should see “iOptron iPolar” under Camera in computer Device Manager.
(4) Goto www.ioptron.com to download iPolar software and save on your computer
(5) The iPolar software needs Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 or later version, 32 bit or 64 bit
operation system, with .NET Framework 4.6 or later version.
2. Polar Alignment
Step 1: Adjust Equatorial Mount Pointing Direction
Set the counterweight shaft at the lowest point. Adjust the altitude to you latitude. Point the mount to
true north (or true south if located in southern hemisphere).
Step 2. Initialization iPolar
(1) Run downloaded iPolar Software to bring up the polar alignment main menu
(2) Click on “Connect” button to connect the iPolar to the computer. The software will start to
initialize the process the camera is connected successfully.
(3) If this is the first time to use iPolar, a dark frame mage of the camera needs be taken. Click on
Settings to bring up Settings Menu.
GainAdjustment

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(4) Adjust Exposure Time and Gain (from 1.0X pull down menu in main display menu) to obtain
a sky image with clear stars displayed
(5) Click on Take Dark Frame
(6) Follow the on screen instruction to cover the camera, finish taking dark frame and uncover the
camera
(7) You may check the Auto-Load Last Dark Frame for next time use. Close Setting Menu
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Step 3. Set Location
There are two ways to set your observing location info:
Enter Manually
(1) Click on Settings
(2) Click on Change
(3) Enter your latitude and longitude numbers

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(4) Click Confirm to complete the location setting.
Read from an ASCOM Supported Mount
(1) Click on Settings
(2) Click on Read Location from Mounts
(3) An ASCOM Telescope Chooser window will occur, if the mount is ASCOM supported and
connected to the computer. Select correct mount ASCOM driver and click OK.

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(4) Click OK to complete the location setting.
Step 4. Plate Solving and Polar Alignment
If the iPolar EPS has been calibrated (see Section 3 for calibration), there will be a bright red cross
on the screen, which is the polar scope/mount RA axis rotating center. The alignment software will
perform plate solving near the pole star area. There is no need to see the pole star, nor a crystal clear
night sky.

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When the camera can see more than 4 stars, it will take the images, enhance the star and darken the
background, remove the noise and plate solving the area. It will display the pole with a dark read dot.
Adjust the altitude and azimuth screws to move the read dot towards read cross. The image will be
enlarged when they are moving close.

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When read dot fully covers red cross, the pole alignment is done.
NOTE: You can click on Settings and check RAW to see the real sky image at any time. Please
uncheck RAW during polar alignment for better results.
3. iPolar Calibration
If do not see the red cross on the screen, the iPolar EPS has not been calibrated. Calibration is only
need after iPolar is installed or any mechanical adjustment has been done on iPolar.
iPolar Rotating With Mount RA Axis
For most EQ mounts, the iPolar EPS can be rotated with the RA axis. The rotating center of the EPS
can be calibrated via the flowing three positions, with on screen assistance.
Rotate the RA axis of the mount roughly to the following three positions. Click on Confirm Position 1,
Confirm Position 2 and Confirm Position 3, respectively, to complete the calibration.
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位置 1
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位置 2
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位置 3
Position1 Position2 Position3

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iPolar Not Rotating With Mount RA Axis
For those mounts that the polar scope does not rotate with the RA axis, such as SkyTracker and
SkyTracker Pro, the rotating center can be determined by turn the iPolar manually.
(1) After insert iPolar into polar scope mounting hole, tighten polar scope locking screw to secure
it. Click Confirm Position 1.
(2) Release polar scope locking screw. Turn iPolar 90 degree. Tighten the screw. Click Confirm
Position 2.
(3) Release polar scope locking screw again. Turn iPolar 90 degree further. Tighten the screw.
Click Confirm Position 3.
The calibration is done.