ZWO ASI Air Tutorial: Controlling the Celestron AVX/CGEM-II/CGX/CGX-L From Start to Finish

Ever wondered how to control a Celestron EQ mount from start to finish with the ZWO ASI Air? In this video, I show you how to do just that, using my procedure that took me over a year to perfect! I use this same process night in and night out for controlling my Celestron equatorial amounts to produce astrophotographs of the night sky.

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[lzsjh]

Wow! A Homerun! I've been looking for a checklist to follow, using the ASI Air. You've saved me months of work. THANK YOU! FIVE STARS!!!!

[michaellkovacs]

Just got my CGX yesterday. Thanks to you, I was able to get the CGX and ASI Air working together!

[jonhackett]

Thank you so much! I have a Celestron CGX, just upgraded to the ASIAIR Plus, and used your process. I watched the video and transcribed it into a written check list. Tonight, tested it out inside, works like a champ. Can’t wait for the weather to clear so I can take the rig outside.

[Necro_AAAARon]

Thank you. Nearly 2 years ago, I was struggling to get my Celestron mount to cooperate with my ASIAIR. This video was the one saving grace that kept me from giving up all together. I searched for this video again today just to come back and thank you for proving a means for me to stick with it 2 years ago. I’ve had great success since and give you the credit. Cheers!

[KJRitch]

I have a 8” SCT with AVX mount and recently purchased an ASIAirPlus 256g. I used your tutorial to get started but I can’t get ASIAir to find selected objects reliably. I think the reason yours worked well is because you have an F 2.0 RASA with a short focal length. My 8” SCT has a 2032mm focal length. With a small sensor of an Astro camera it’s harder for the ASIAir to plate solve. I’ve used it three nights so far. ASIAir finds my first target, last night Dumbell Nebula, M27. But it couldn’t find the next three targets, M33 Triangulum Galaxy, M31 Andromeda, and Jupiter. I beginning to thing ASIAir is only suitable for short focal length < 1000mm telescopes.

[willissutherland]

Robert Sutherland you so very much...I did as you said and wrote down all the steps not only the first steps you stated were important but all the steps through to the end...I am new to astrophotography and I have the CGX2 and the ASI Air neither of which have been used yet because I wanted your instruction before doing so...WoW...I love your detail but my writing hand is not as Appreciative...Ha!
Thanks again

[barryyoungco]

Great job and a clear explanation. I teach astrophotography and have several students who own the AVX. This was info was invaluable to me to give them the proper setup procedure. I greatly appreciate the information!

[davidheflin]

I just received my ASIAIR Plus. Your video has been really helpful. I’m rewatching it over and over. Yes, I’m going to write this all down in a notebook. Thank you for your help.

[adamlivingston]

Thank you so much for this! I've had an ASI Air for about 2.5 years and had given up on it being reliable to control my CGX-L. Testing it out tonight after watching your video, and it seems to be working correctly. I'd been searching the internet how to get this ASI Air working with CGX-L, and this is the first time I've actually gotten it running successfully.

[briankotak]

Nice useful video Cody. I took your advice on auto guiding settings in the ASI Air Pro from one of your previous videos and it works great. For some of your subscribers that don't use a Celestron mount, here is my experience with the ASI Air Pro and an Orion Atlas Pro. I use a USB cable from the mount to the ASI Air Pro. I rarely use the hand controller that came with the mount anymore. The ASI Air Pro will not connect to the mount, even when I try and change the Baud rate. The work around is to change the telescope/mount in the drop down menu to "EQMod". It auto connects every time and works (almost) flawlessly. On rare occasions the ASI Air Pro will slew the telescope to a target and indicate that it is centred. However, sometimes the target is off in the corner. The polar alignment is spot on though. No matter how many times I return the mount to Home position and then slew to the target, the same thing happens. The fix is easy - turn everything off (including my laptop) and reboot. No need to polar align again, as the mount has not moved. This seems to work. No rhyme or reason. Sometimes I feel that if I jumped up and down and tapped my hand on my head and rubbed my stomach at the same time, that would probably fix the problem as well. Yep, no rhyme or reason! Thanks again for your great videos!

[alberthamfeldt]

Great video! Thanks for putting this together. I wasted night one playing with the air on my AVX before I watched your video. After I watched your video I was up and running quickly.

[FredLombardo]

Just got my ASIAIR and EAF with a clear sky. Thank you for the instructions on set up. Very useful to a ASIAIR newbie.

[cindyreniers]

Thank you for your video. I learnt from it, I have to say I think the easiest procedure for AVX and asi air plus has changed. This is what does the trick for me. You connect the handcontroller and the asi air with the cable, everything switched off. You power the mount, in the hc you confirm index, time and date. Right before alignment you stop. You turm on asi air, wait for the beep, go to your tablet/phone, make sure it is connected. You go to the app, open the mount page, turn the switch on. Now asi air will/might ask for confirmation that you have alligned the mount. You press ok. Then on your hc you do quick align, all set. This is actually very close to what asi air suggests you do in 'how to. Connect'. Just waiting to turn on asi air, till after the first steps with the hc, is what helped in my case. Unplugging all cables and then restarting everythinh in case something goes wrong, is really the best. Thanks again and good luck everyone!!

[gothicmrcy]

remind me to buy you a pint if i ever see you in a pub:) this is so helpful, probably the most helpful astronomy video ive found...thanks so much

[michaelcooper]

Cody, thank you taking the time to figure this out and then sharing it with the rest of us! When I followed your explanation exactly it worked great with my AVX.

[steveweintraub]

Getting caught up on videos. Freaking awesome tutorial video! You make getting the ASI Air package very compelling…you sold me. Thanks again for another great video, clear skies amigo.

[rueffy]

Thanks so much for your contributions to the astrophotography community, you have helped me personally so much in getting up to speed quickly.

[johnnycanosoda]

Thank you for taking the time to explain your step-by-step procedure, It helped immensely.

[Bridgestreetnursery]

I have an AVX and just got the Asiair plus yesterday. Awesome video showing the step by step process. Thank you!!!

[mrkutube]

Excellent guide with Celestron mounts for ASIAir. Appreciate for giving your time for this tutorial.