ZWO ASIAIR Plus WiFi Smart Camera Controller

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Effortlessly control your telescope setup with the ZWO ASIAIR Plus. This device offers wireless management, extensive compatibility, robust weatherproof construction, and intuitive app-driven operations. Perfect for enhancing your night sky observations.

Gain wireless control of your entire telescope setup using your smartphone or tablet with the ASIAIR Plus. This device manages and supplies power to a range of compatible astrophotography tools including cameras, mounts, autofocusers, filter wheels, dew heaters, and more. You can plan and automate your entire imaging session with ease, enjoying advanced features like polar alignment, autofocus, plate solving, and guiding. It also provides a 12V power distribution to all connected devices and offers 32GB of internal storage, expandable with external solutions. Compatible with ZWO, various DSLR, and mirrorless cameras, it simplifies your astrophotography experience.

Detailed features and compatibility of the ZWO ASIAIR Plus WiFi Smart Camera Controller:

The ZWO ASIAIR Plus acts as the central control unit for your telescope setup, streamlining the management of various astrophotography accessories. It supports connections via both Apple and Android devices, ensuring you can control your rig effortlessly from your phone or tablet. The ASIAIR Plus is compatible with a variety of equipment including ZWO cameras, certain models of Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras, and supports over 400 third-party GoTo mounts. However, it is not compatible with other brand astronomy cameras like QHY. This smart device also features a robust IPX-7 certified design for enhanced durability against water ingress, making it suitable for use in various weather conditions. The lightweight magnesium body is reinforced with rubber armoring for added protection and grip.

ASIAIR app capabilities:

The ASIAIR app serves as your main interface for controlling and monitoring your telescope rig. It allows comprehensive control over settings such as the imaging camera, guide camera, mount, and other accessories. The app is equipped with several automated modes including Autorun, which handles complex imaging sequences, and Plan mode for scheduling multiple targets in one night. It also offers Live and Video modes for real-time viewing and video capture. The app’s polar alignment tool simplifies setup without the need for auxiliary cameras, and it can handle tasks like meridian flips and refocusing automatically, ensuring optimal imaging results throughout your session.

How to attach the ZWO ASIAIR Plus to your telescope:

To attach the ZWO ASIAIR Plus to a telescope or mount, use the provided finder shoe style mount which can be installed either on the bottom or side of the ASIAIR Plus. Once installed, this can be slotted into the finder shoe port on your telescope. Additionally, for securing it to a dovetail bar or plate, you may use longer 1/4"-20 screws, which are available separately. Another option is to use Velcro or hook and loop material for attachment to the dovetail plate or mount head.

Running the ASIAIR App on Mac and PC:

For Mac users with M1 and M2 chips, the ASIAIR app is available directly from the App Store and can be run natively on these devices. However, it's important to note that the app is not officially verified for MacOS yet.
Owners of older Macs with Intel processors can operate the ASIAIR app using an Android emulator like Bluestacks. Keep in mind, this setup is not officially supported and may encounter performance issues.
On PCs, running the ASIAIR app also requires an Android emulator such as Bluestacks. This method is not officially supported, and functionality is not guaranteed, as it may not operate optimally within the emulator.