ZWO ASIAir Plus Wireless Camera Controller
Manufacturer: ZWO
Astrophotography can be a very rewarding hobby, capturing beautiful images of the night sky. But the learning curve can be quite high, causing many people to give up. I remember when I started in this hobby in the mid 1990’s. Digital cameras were just starting to replace film cameras, and the possibility of automation was just beginning to appear. Fast forward to present day technology, and automation is very possible once you learn how to connect and interconnect your equipment. Choosing what equipment to buy is hard enough, let alone figuring out how to make it all work together.
Why ZWO?
ZWO is known for making a variety of high-quality equipment that won’t break the bank. They make a variety of gear including specialized cameras, focusers, filter wheels and mounts. The company has also been a pioneer in making equipment easy to connect to a central control unit that helps to minimize complicated cabling setups that can lead to disaster if the cables become entangled or stretched.
The ASIAIR Plus is their latest offering for device integration. It even allows remote imaging automation with a WIFI connected tablet or smartphone. It even controls a wide variety of equipment from other manufacturers. One of the nicest features is the ability to control everything remotely via WIFI through the ASIAIR app for both Android and iOS.
For anyone that has all ZWO equipment, this is a no-brainer, as it allows you to control every aspect of an imaging session. How nice would it be on a cold clear winter evening to be able to turn on your gear and do most everything from the comfort and warmth of your home? This is very doable. And for those who don’t have all ZWO gear, the news is almost as good, since most gear that is compatible with standard astronomy communication protocols will be controllable. The only downside I see is that for those of us who have a DSLR or mirrorless digital camera will still have to supply power, although the shutter can be controlled by the ASIAIR.
The software is downloadable through the respective app stores and is easy to use with understandable icons and menus. With its ability to control mounts, cameras, focusers, filter wheels and dew heaters, starting an imaging session is straightforward and can even do precise polar alignment to get you started. You can pick an object, point to it, plate-solve (the software will take an image and compare it to known star fields and adjust the pointing if necessary), autofocus and begin programmed imaging sessions all from within the software. Because not all software or hardware is perfect, my recommendation is to always keep an eye on the progress of an imaging session, even including a visual inspection of the gear periodically to ensure that nothing is happening that could jeopardize the equipment or imaging session. If your imaging setup has fewer items to control, the ASIAIR Mini has similar capabilities with fewer ports.
Specs
- 4x USB ports (2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0)
- 4x DC 12v power output ports (with indicator lights) max output 5a
- 1x DC 12v power input port (compatible power supply sold separately, requires 11v-15v @ 2A-5A)
- USB-C port (for transferring files to computer)
- MicroSD card slot (for additional storage options)
- DSLR SNAP shutter release port (shutter release cables sold separately)
- Ethernet port (for hardwired control)
- Wi-Fi antenna port (for wireless control with included antenna or third-party antennae)
- Power supply sold separately
Included Items
- ZWO ASIAir Plus Wireless Imaging Controller
- 2x DC 0.5m male cable
- 2x DC 1m male cable
- ASIAIR Plus Quick Start Guide
- ASIAIR Plus Activation Guide
- DC 1.5m male-female extension cable
Pros
- Almost all modern astronomy equipment can be controlled
- The ASIAIR improves over its predecessors with a longer WIFI range and a dual band antenna to allow both 2.4GHz or 5GHz connection.
- Included storage media, both internal (up to 256Gb) and external memory cards allows for imaging without needing a laptop. Files can be uploaded to the computer after an imaging session for processing.
- 4 USB and 4 12v DC out ports allow control of your whole setup without long messy cables
- Makes the learning curve for getting everything working much shorter
- Even those with no experience with automation will find this unit very user-friendly
- No more excuses for not imaging on a perfectly clear cold winter evening or mosquito-plagued summer evening
Cons
- Only one power output cable included
- Power supply adapter is optional
- DC power output is limited to 5 amps at a time, which makes supplying power to the mount iffy (make sure you add up the amp consumption of all your gear before trying to power everything at once).
- DLSR cameras can be controlled, but not powered unless they are 12v (not really that big a deal)
Conclusion
If I didn’t already have a Pegasus Powerbox to minimize cables in my setup controlled by free N.I.N.A software, I would definitely purchase the ASIAIR. It has taken me a while to get to the point with my setup where I pick an object and basically just push a button to begin and control a whole imaging session. I am even tempted to buy one anyway since the idea of controlling a whole session from inside without a computer is very compelling. The ASIAIR units have always been in great demand, with many retailers selling out early and having to special order for customers. If you see one available, I highly recommend getting one.