Kamera Standalone Autoguider Revolution Revision C

Great product and concept but it's future is not supported

( 5 / 5 )

I have a StarAid Revolution version C and it works well and allows polar alignment and multi-star tracking and camera dither with minimal cables, minimal power consumption, low system weight and no need for a computer. For the first time, my small astro rig has done 3minute exposures. I do have a mini-PC and PhD etc but I find the setting-up is too time-consuming. For functionality and uniqueness the StarAid product merits 5 stars. For it's future and support it merits 0 stars. I give it 5 stars here because people, like me, would buy it for it's qualities, as long as you can cope with the price. I would also like to see the stocks of version C sold to encourage it's future, either by the original inventor or someone who can continue the theme.

However, people like me should also know the product support limitations here.

The promise was that updates and upgrades would extend it's functionality for using it's plate solving capability to allow a direct GOTO control. This has not happened. The StarAid website does not even list version C so any software downloads listed there do not necessarily apply to version C. The support link accepts requests but there is never a reply. The inventor and founder of StarAid has sold his technology to Celestron for use in a Celestron-specific product so it's not clear if the rights for a stand-alone generic device are separate.

The StarAid product nicely proves the principle but is leaving the market wide open for someone else to come up with a similar stand-alone product at a sensible price. I would do it myself if I had the time.