iOptron GEM45 User manual

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
Quick Start Guide
GEM45™ German Equatorial Mount
Models: GEM45 (#7603A), GEM45EC (#7603ECA) and GEM45G (#7603AG)
PACKAGE CONTENTS1
Mount head –with iPolarTM electronic Polar Scope (#7603A & #7603ECA), and iGuiderTM guiding system (#7603AG)
Hand Controller (HC) –Go2Nova® 8407+
Counterweight –11 lbs (5 kg)
Stainless steel counterweight shaft
GPS module
RJ11 coiled cables, x2
USB cable
AC adapter –100-240V (DC output 12V/5A)
Alignment peg
Heavy duty tripod and accessory tray
Hard case (for 7603ECA, optional for 7603A, 7603AG)
Quick Start Guide (this document)
ONLINE RESOURCES (at www.iOptron.com, under Support)
User’s Manual
Hand controller and mount firmware upgrades (check online for the latest version)
ASCOM and Commander for computer control
1The design, contents and packaging may change from time to time without notice.

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
STOP!!! Carefully read this Guide BEFORE setting up and using the equipment!
Worm/gear damages due to improper uses are not covered by warranty.
WARNING: Never disengage Gear Switches without holding the mount firmly! Fail to do so
may result in personal injuries and/or equipment damages.
1. Remove mount head from package: The mount
head is shipped with the R.A. Gear Switch unlocked to
protect the worm/gear system. Turn the Gear Switch
90° clockwise to lock the R.A. gear system before
removing it from the box.
2. Set up Tripod: The tripod top is 120 mm in diameter
with 2x M6 holes 103 mm apart for mounting. Two
additional M6 holes are for the Alignment Peg (the
one right next to one of the legs is for uses at high
latitudes; the other one is for uses at low latitudes).
Thread the Alignment Peg into the correct M6 hole.
Insert the Accessory Tray through the center rod and
secure the setup by tightening Locking Knob from
underneath.
Set up Mount Head: Retract the 2x Azimuth (Azi)
Adjustment Screws from both sides to leave ample
space for the alignment peg to fit in between the 2
Azi Adjustment Screws. Remove the 2x Azi Locking
Screws, with washers, from the mount base. Secure
the mount head by tightening the Azi Locking Screws
into the M6 holes on the tripod. An Allen wrench is
included for convenience.
Level the mount by adjusting the tripod legs. Use the
build-in bubble Level Indicator or an external leveler
for this purpose.
3. Adjust Latitude: Without any payload, slightly loosen
the 4x Latitude Locking Screws. Use the Latitude
Adjustment Knob to set the correct latitude value, as
displayed in the Latitude Mark Window. Insert the
Allen wrench into the Latitude Adjustment Knob for
more turning torque.
Two latitude ranges, 14~44° and 36~68°, can be set
up for the mount head. To change the latitude range
Allen wrench
Lat. Lock Screw
Lat. Mark
Azi. Adj. Screw
Lat. Adj. Knob

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
from one to the other, both the Latitude Position Bolt
and the Latitude Locking Screws need to be moved to
the correct locations (see photos below).
Loosen the Latitude Locking Screws just enough to
adjust the latitude setting to 40°. Move the Latitude
Locking Screws with washers (one on each side) to
the new locations revealed, do not tighten them just
yet.
Unthread and remove the Position Bolt to its new
location. Adjust the Latitude Adjustment Knob while
holding the brass eyebolt until it lines up with the
Position Bolt. Secure the Latitude Position Bolt.
4. Install Counterweight (CW) Shaft: Thread the CW
shaft into the CW shaft mounting holes.
5. Install Counterweight(s): Before putting on CW,
make sure the mount is at its zero position, i.e., CW
shaft points to the ground. Disengage the R.A. Gear
Switch to set the R.A. axis free before loading the
CW. Remove the CW Safety Cap at the end of CW
Shaft. Glide the CW over the shaft. Tighten the CW
Locking Screw to hold the CW in place. Place the
Safety Cap back onto the shaft. Move the CW to the
bottom of the shaft and tighten the CW locking
Screw.
You may need more CW for heavier payloads, or a
smaller CW for lighter scopes.
6. Install Telescope:
A GEM45 is equipped with a 6” Vixen/Losmandy-D
dual saddle. It can receive either a Vixen or a
Losmandy-D plate. A GEM45AG has an iGuiderTM
guiding system on the dovetail saddle.
7. Balancing the Payload: After attaching the scope and
accessories, the mount head assembly must be
balanced in both DEC and RA axes to ensure
minimum stresses on the mount driving mechanism.
CAUTION: The telescope may swing freely when the
R.A. or DEC Gear Switch is disengaged. Always hold
on to the mount and/or telescope assembly before
releasing the Gear Switches to prevent it from
swinging, which can cause personal injuries and/or
equipment damages.
Set the mount at Zero Position. Disengage both RA
and DEC gear switches and move the mount to
horizontal position to check balance. Return to Zero
Position for balance adjustment. Balance the DEC axis
by moving the scope with accessories back and forth
Position Bolt

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
in the mount saddle or within the scope mounting
rings. Balance the assembly in R.A. axis by moving
CW along its shaft. Repeat the process until both DEC
and RA axes are balanced.
CAUTION: The balancing process MUST be done with
Gear Switch at the total ddisengaged position!
Otherwise it might damage the worm system.
Return the mount to Zero Position after balancing
and engage gear switches.
8. Connecting Cables:
Plug in included 12V/5A DC power supply to the
DC12V 5A socket, which is located at the end of the
RA axis.
Connect the Go2Nova®8407 Hand Controller to the
HBX port on the mount main board.
Plug GPS module into the iPORT with a coiled cable.
When powering on, GPS ON sign should be displayed
at the upper right corner of the hand controller. You
may disconnect the GPS module after it picks up
satellites signals and displays GPS OK. (It takes about
1 to 2 minutes in normal conditions).
9. Polar Alignment: GEM45 mounts are equipped with
an iPolarTM electronic polar scope. To perform polar
alignment, please refer to GEM45 User’s Manual, or
iPolar Operation Manual from iOptron’s website. The
steps are outlined below:
Download and install iPolar Software (first
time use)
Connect a USB cable between the USB2.0
port at the end of the RA axis and a computer
USB port
Calibrate the iPolar camera center (first time
use)
Click Connect and start polar alignment by
following on screen instructions
For the mount without polar scope, please refer to
full manual for Bright Star Alignment, or use
software to assist alignment.
10. Manual Operation: The mount can now be used to
observe astronomical objects with the HC. Use arrow
keys (►, ◄, ▼,and ▲) to point the telescope to
desired objects. Use the number keys to change the
slewing speed. Press the STOP/0 button to start or
stop tracking.
11. Set Controller: Press the MENU button; then Settings
=> Set Time and Site.
Before GPS picks up signals (before displaying GPS
OK), check for Daylight Saving Time using arrow key
to toggle between Yand N. Enter the time zone
offset to the UTC; for examples:
Boston is “UTC -300 minutes”
Los Angeles is “UTC -480 minutes”
Rome is “UTC +060 minutes”
Sydney is “UTC +600 minutes”
Waiting for the mount to pick up the GPS (you’ll hear
beep). If the GPS is “OK’d” during setup, just power
cycle the mount. Double check the HC display and it
should show correct local time.

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
[TIPS: All time zones in N. America are “UTC -XXX
minutes”. Latitude and longitude coordinates can be
obtained from GPS-equipped devices (navigator,
phone), or from internet and entered manually, in
case GPS cannot receive enough satellites signals or
GPS malfunctions. “W/E” = western/eastern
hemisphere; “N/S” = northern/southern hemisphere.
Use arrow and number keys to enter location and
time information.]
12. Set Zero Position: The Set Zero Position command
registers the current position as zero position. So
before registering, the mount should be physically set
at Zero Position either manually or slewed by hand
controller. The Zero Position is defined as the
telescope being on top of the mount head and
pointing to North Pole, with CW shaft pointing to the
ground. To register, press MENU => Zero Position =>
Set Zero Position. Press ENTER to confirm. One can
also use MENU => Zero Position => Search Zero
Position to set the zero Position.
13. One Star Alignment: Perform One Star Align to
correct the Zero Position discrepancy and improve
GOTO accuracy. Refer to User’s Manual for more
details about improving GOTO accuracy.
14. Go to an Object: The mount is now ready for GOTO
and tracking targets. Press MENU, select and ENTER
Select and Slew. Select a category (e.g., Solar
System), then select an object of interest (e.g.,
Moon). Press ENTER and the telescope will slew to
the object and automatically start tracking.
15. Sync to Target: If the object is not in the center of
the eyepiece, use this function to center and
synchronize the object to improve local GOTO
accuracy. Press MENU and select and ENTER Sync to
Target. Follow the on-screen instruction to perform
the sync.
[TIP: After slewing to an object, a list of nearby bright
object(s) can be displayed by pressing the ?button.]
16. Put the mount back into the package/carrying case:
It is recommended to return the mount to Zero
Position at the end of the observing session. Lay the
mount into the carrying case. Disengage the gear
system for transportation.
Please contact [email protected]om for technical
support.
V2.0

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
IOPTRON TWO YEAR TELESCOPE, MOUNT, AND CONTROLLER WARRANTY
A. iOptron warrants your telescope, mount, or controller to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two years. iOptron will
repair or replace such product or part which, upon inspection by iOptron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship. As a
condition to the obligation of iOptron to repair or replace such product, the product must be returned to iOptron together with proof-of-
purchase satisfactory to iOptron.
B. The Proper Return Merchant Authorization Number must be obtained from iOptron in advance of return. Contact iOptron at
1.781.569.0200 or s[email protected] to receive the RMA number to be displayed on the outside of your shipping container.
All returns must be accompanied by a written statement stating the name, address, and daytime telephone number of the owner,
together with a brief description of any claimed defects. Parts or product for which replacement is made shall become the property of
iOptron.
The customer shall be responsible for all costs, such as transportation, insurance and fees, both to and from the factory of iOptron, and
shall be required to prepay such costs.
iOptron shall use reasonable efforts to repair or replace any telescope, mount, or controller covered by this warranty within thirty days of
receipt. In the event repair or replacement shall require more than thirty days, iOptron shall notify the customer accordingly. iOptron
reserves the right to replace any product which has been discontinued from its product line with a new product of comparable value and
function.
This warranty shall be void and of no force of effect in the event a covered product has been modified in design or function, or
subjected to abuse, misuse, mishandling or unauthorized repair. Further, product malfunction or deterioration due to normal wear is not
covered by this warranty.
IOPTRON DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WHETHER OF MERCHANTABILITY OF FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR USE, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HERE. THE SOLE OBLIGATION OF IOPTRON UNDER THIS LIMITED
WARRANTY SHALL BE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE COVERED PRODUCT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS SET FORTH
HERE. IOPTRON EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY LOST PROFITS, GENERAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT FROM BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY, OR ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE
ANY IOPTRON PRODUCT. ANY WARRANTIES WHICH ARE IMPLIED AND WHICH CANNOT BE DISCLAIMED SHALL BE LIMITED
IN DURATION TO A TERM OF TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or limitation on how long an implied
warranty lasts, so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
iOptron reserves the right to modify or discontinue, without prior notice to you, any model or style telescope.
If warranty problems arise, or if you need assistance in using your telescope, mount, or controller contact:
iOptron Corporation
Customer Service Department
6F Gill Street
Woburn, MA 01801
www.ioptron.com
[email protected]
Tel. [phone]
Fax. [phone]
Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM EST
NOTE: This warranty is valid to U.S.A. and Canadian customers who have purchased this product from an authorized iOptron dealer in
the U.S.A. or Canada or directly from iOptron. Warranty outside the U.S.A. and Canada is valid only to customers who purchased from
an iOptron Distributor or Authorized iOptron Dealer in the specific country. Please contact them for any warranty.