StellarTune™ EQ5 Mount

Why StellarTune™ your EQ5 SynScan Mount?


Equatorial mounts by nature are precision made products. However, due to mass production and to keep the prices lower, they are often not adjusted to the best of their ability due to the variances in each mount. Various improvements can be made to transform the performance of your mount from what is a median production build, which may save you the need to upgrade to a more expensive mount if you are happy with the payload you have.

Check out how your mount compares in our performance charts.

EQ mounts are subject to being outside and often in the damp, so renewing the grease is often a first port of call with a better type more suited to our climate. It will also help reduce friction which means the motors can drive the mount more accurately, both unguided and guided. 

Also, with more care in adjusting the worm-gears and motor drive train, they can often be made to run smoother and quieter, which also benefits better tracking and periodic error reduction. Mounts do need servicing and can be tuned, like any mechanical device. No-one as yet has designed a maintenance free mount!

EQ5 SynScan Notes:

The EQ5 mount typically runs at ±40-50 arcsecs from new unguided in independent tests and is said to be sweeter than the NEQ6 for astro-imaging. Once tuned our mounts run near-sub-arcsecond Also the mount will run smoother and much quieter once rebuilt. Unguided the mount is running circa ±18 arc-secs or less. We will confirm this as we acquire more data across more mounts.

The worm-gear shaft is upgraded with our low-friction Hybrid Ceramic bearings. These reduce the end-float, and provide a very solid feel to the mount, which in turn virtually eliminates the well known rocking motion in both RA/DEC. The Build Type we use for the EQ5 is v6.3.3 (Bonneville) which is similar to the AZ EQ6 GT.

Once tuned, consistent 300-600sec subs are more than possible with this mount, with very few if any lost frames when guided and 2-4 mins unguided at circa 500mm focal length. Far superior than the standard mount.

Here is a customer supplied PHD2 graph of our tuned EQ5. Yes. That's 1.05 Arcseconds.

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Work includes:

Every Mount is examined externally for any damage and owner notified for any extra-parts (replacement Sky-Watcher EQ bolts for example).

The Mount is stripped back in both axis to component level, inspected for damage or wear, and degreased and ultrasonically cleaned where applicable. Bearings are then replaced with Hybrid-Ceramic worm-gear bearings, that improve the responsiveness of this mount. All bearings are checked before fitting.

Owners are notified for any extra-parts and time if required if there is a need of repair, as other costs may be incurred.

Mount is reassembled using upgraded greases and oils which operate in all temperatures from -25ºC to +120ºC (we use them in our Export Service and our own products so have been tested at these temperatures for over three years!).

The Mount is then bench tested and adjusted to remove backlash in the worm gear, and to ensure the operation of the mount is as cohesive as it can be.

GoTo Handset and Mount are checked for Firmware updates and updated with latest code as required and also tested for operation.

In the case of axis repairs and tuning we carry out a load test on every mount with either an 8 inch f5 Reflector or 100mm f9 Refractor - or 70mm Refractor for smaller mounts, and adjust so to ensure the mount is performing as it should under real-world conditions. 

Your mount is then readied for shipping/collection. Our 3-way UK Courier Service is just £39 using a tracked service, if you don't have original packaging.

The mount is videoed/photographed during evaluation, disassembly and rebuild, with a soundwave check to confirm drivetrain signature - for our own purposes only. All work carried out is now covered by our 24 month limited warranty.

E&OE - Mount Build Specification and components used subject to change without notice. Example EQ mount tracking performance is not guaranteed, and is subject to the age and condition of the Donor Mount.