ToupTek Astrostation review

The ToupTek Astrostation (now named the StellaVita) offers broader camera compatibility, aiming to be an alternative to the ASIAIR. While promising, the current version struggles with performance, UI design, and guiding reliability. The polar alignment process could be more intuitive, and key features, like all-sky polar alignment, are still missing. Image processing and system responsiveness may also need refinement through future updates.

Olivia from ToupTek Astro recently reached out to us to inform us that the Astrostation has been renamed StellaVita, a name derived from Latin meaning 'Star Life'. This change reflects the company's commitment to supporting astronomy enthusiasts in exploring the universe. StellaVita is still in development, with various issues that need to be addressed and upgraded. As an open-ecosystem controller, some compatibility challenges are expected, but they aim to resolve them gradually. The ongoing improvements are one of the reasons why StellaVita has not yet been officially released outside of China.

Admittedly, I own five ASIAIRs, one for each rig I keep active, so I don’t have to re-rig every time. I love its "easy button" simplicity and the well-designed mobile app that makes astrophotography feel like playing a game. Compared to something super-advanced like The SkyX, ASIAIR is incredibly simple, but that’s exactly why it works so well.

That said, the ASIAIR comes with vendor lock-in, only supporting ZWO cameras, filter wheels, and focusers, while popular hardware like QHY cameras, Starlight Xpress filter wheels, and many third-party focusers and mountswon’t work with it. The StellaVita, by contrast, promises greater flexibility in hardware compatibility. If future firmware updates improve its performance and usability, it could become a compelling alternative for those looking beyond the ZWO ecosystem.

ToupTek Astrostation specifications:

• Ports: 2x USB 3.0 + 2x USB 2.0
• Power Input: 12V / 8A
• Power Output: 4x 12V (max 3A each)
• Comprehensive Accessories Included
• Internal Memory: 32 GB (expandable up to 256 GB)
• Memory Card Type: SD
• Input Voltage: 12V / 8A
• Output Voltage: 12V
• Plug Type: 5.5/2.1mm
• Power Supply: 12V
• Connector Type: 5.5/2.1mm
• Updateable via web
• Power Pack: No
• Outer Material: Anodized aluminum
• Color: Black
• Type: Controls & Shutter Release
• Autoguiding: Yes
• Galaxies & Star Clusters: Yes
• Moon & Planets: Yes
• Nebulae & Galaxies: Yes
• WiFi: Yes

AstroStation from ToupTek Astro. Will it be the ASIAIR Killer?

ToupTek Astrostation review: Will it be the ASIAIR killer?

The ToupTek StellaVita aims to be a standalone astrophotography control center, but is it truly the “ASIAIR Killer” that some claim? William, also known as Wilfredo, took it out for a field test to see how it performs in real-world conditions. Let's dive into the review.

On a cold 37-degree night, William sets up the StellaVita alongside his RedCat 71 telescope and ZWO ASI2600MC Pro camera. Right away, the interface feels both familiar and different from ASIAIR.

One significant advantage is camera compatibility. Unlike ASIAIR, which restricts users to ZWO cameras, the StellaVita supports multiple brands, including Player One cameras and DSLRs. This is a plus for those who own non-ZWO imaging gear. However, William notes that the menu system is less intuitive, requiring extra time to figure out.

The StellaVita provides standard settings for telescope mounts, such as:

• Parking and homing
• Tracking rate adjustments
• Meridian flips
   

The camera settings are fairly standard too, allowing users to adjust exposure, gain, and cooling settings. However, a key downside is speed, images take significantly longer to load compared to ASIAIR. This delay can be frustrating when fine-tuning focus or capturing quick test shots.

One highlight is the power management feature, allowing users to select DC power ports for accessories. However, William notes that the LED indicators are dim, making them difficult to see in daylight.

The device includes built-in storage and an SD card slot, but William finds that only the SD card worked properly, which could indicate a bug or missing firmware update.

Speaking of updates, when he tried to check for one, the system did not provide an update, and the manufacturer did not respond to his inquiry.

After taking a 3-second exposure, William confirms the focus is reasonably sharp but uses a Bahtinov mask for fine-tuning.

Then comes one of the biggest frustrations, polar alignment. Unlike ASIAIR, which has an all-sky polar alignment feature, the StellaVita requires a direct view of the celestial pole.

Additionally, the alignment process is confusing, with unclear instructions and no visual guides. Compared to ASIAIR’s streamlined polar alignment, this feels like a major step backward.

After achieving rough polar alignment, William moves to targeting and guiding. He selects NGC 1893 in Auriga but encounters more difficulties.

• There is no clear "Go-To" button to slew the telescope to a selected object. Instead, users must navigate multiple menus.
• The Sky Atlas is missing, unlike the ASIAIR’s intuitive SkyAtlas interface.
   

Guiding presents even more challenges:

• Calibration is unclear and automatic guiding seems unreliable.
• There is no obvious way to manually calibrate the guiding system.
• The live guiding interface is difficult to locate.
   

At one point, the system randomly starts moving the mount, which William suspects is an accidental attempt to redo polar alignment.

Despite the frustrating setup, the StellaVita eventually captures images. William takes 30-second and 60-second exposures, testing the system’s tracking accuracy.

Surprisingly, the images show minimal star trailing, indicating that the system does track properly. However, he remains hesitant to trust the system with a heavier setup. Unlike the ASIAIR, which includes a heavy-duty mode for mounts like the AM5, the StellaVita does not offer this feature.

So, does the ToupTek StellaVita live up to the hype? Not yet.

Here are the pros and cons based on William’s review:

Pros

• Supports multiple camera brands (not just ZWO)
• Standard astrophotography settings (mount control, imaging, guiding, etc.)
• Capable of capturing good-quality images
• Built-in storage and SD card support
   

Cons

• Slower than ASIAIR (noticeable lag in loading images)
• Confusing navigation and unintuitive menus
• Polar alignment is difficult and lacks an all-sky option
• No clear Go-To function for targeting objects
• Guiding setup is unclear and sometimes unpredictable
• No heavy-duty mode for supporting larger telescope rigs
• No available firmware updates or manufacturer support
   

The StellaVita has potential, but it is not ready to replace ASIAIR says William. The software feels unfinished, and several usability issues make it less reliable than its competition. While it offers broader camera compatibility, the trade-offs in speed, usability, and reliability are too significant to ignore.

For those willing to experiment and troubleshoot, the StellaVita could become a strong alternative in the future. But for now, the ASIAIR remains the best all-in-one astrophotography controller.