Baader StarAid Revolution Standalone Autoguider

This revolutionary device combines stand-alone autoguider, AI-controlled automatic polar alignment and plate solving in one lightweight housing. At the same time, the autoguider function goes far beyond the standard.

Revolutionary stand-alone autoguider

No configuration necessary

• Autoguiding starts automatically as soon as the StarAid is connected to the power supply. Point the telescope at any point in the sky and StarAid will find multiple guiding stars. This even works under a full moon or under dark skies in the magnificent star clouds in the Milky Way.
• Does not require a laptop or other equipment
• Guiding continues automatically when interrupted by clouds or when you point the telescope at a new target

Precise and fast guiding for the best image quality

• Detects 1 to 20 stars at a time and uses them for guiding
• Advanced proprietary algorithms for high performance star detection and centering
• Guiding accuracy is not affected by gear backlash
• Up to 30% sharper photos due to faster and multi-star guiding
• automatic processing of meridian flips
• Less "image waste" as more images are usable

Fast:

• Sends up to 5 correction signals per second (5 Hz) to the mount to minimise drift effects and partially compensate for air turbulence
• Calibration of the mount is completed in 4-30 seconds

Automatically optimised guiding parameters

• StarAid automatically monitors air turbulence and mount responses
• Uses artificial intelligence to determine optimal settings

Real-time feedback via LED status

• LEDs show tracking status, warnings and errors
• Different LED patterns for different actions
• No need to connect laptop or smartphone
• Use the StarAid app to adjust the brightness of the LEDs or turn them off completely

Tracking comets

• Create long exposure images of comets. StarAid offers a well-maintained catalogue of interesting comets. Simply select a comet from Object Guiding and point your main telescope at the comet. StarAid will then track to that comet, allowing you to take long exposure, deep images of the comet without it wandering out of frame
• Once Object Guiding is activated, there is no need for a laptop or smartphone.

No laptop needed

Free, built-in StarAid app for additional functions

Although autoguiding with StarAid is completely automatic and requires no other equipment, there is the handy StarAid App to access further functions:

• Autoguiding status monitoring
• Very simple AI-controlled polarisation of the mount
• Automatic plate-solving ("sky detection")
• LiveView for easier focusing of the StarAid.

Works with any device

• Access and use the app via smartphone, computer or tablet
• Works without internet
• Connect your device via the built-in StarAid WiFi or the included USB cable

Precise zeroing in just 30 seconds with the help of the app.

• Point your telescope at any point in the sky. You don't need to see the celestial pole from your location!
• StarAid will now tell you how to align the mount.
• Works in the northern hemisphere as well as in the southern hemisphere and at the equator.
• Also works on balconies or terraces where the view of the celestial pole is obstructed
• Choose between fast alignment or high precision: accuracy is typically 30" in 2 minutes (good enough for guiding), 10" in 4 minutes (accurate), or 1" in 12 minutes (precise).
• Intuitive user guidance with real-time visual feedback during pole alignment.
• Works with all mounts that allow manual adjustment of polar elevation and azimuth (even mounts with only one tracking axis)
• Adjustment is also possible without connection to the guiding port.

Automatic platesolving in only 2 seconds

StarAid star field detection speeds with a 200 mm guide tube. The colours indicate the time needed in seconds. The dark blue, unresolved fields lie along the plane of the Milky Way. In most cases, even less than one second is needed.

• Plate-Solving detects 96 % of all sky regions within 2 seconds (under clear sky, without moonlight).
• Start by tapping in the StarAid app
• Does not require internet
• Check the coordinates in the app and enter them into your telescope's controller to use for GoTo

No large guiding telescope required

StarAid Revolution works best with small focal lengths between 100 and 150 mm. This makes for a very light and stable setup. You can mount it in a 1.25" eyepiece clamp or via the optional C-mount adapter.

Camera control/dithering

The StarAid Revolution also supports dithering - the telescope can be moved a few pixels during a shooting session to avoid structural artefacts of the camera. A 2.5 mm cable for camera control is available separately. Camera control, dithering and guiding is done directly via the app (i.e. no PC required).

Power supply via USB

The StarAid is powered via one of the two USB-C ports (one on the StarAid unit itself and one on the splitter). The USB-C port on the StarAid itself is used for data connections. It only requires 5 V / 0.5 A, so you can power it with any USB power supply or USB power bank or via the USB port of your computer.

Compared to the previous version, power is still supplied via the splitter, with the only difference that the splitter is now supplied via a USB-C socket with USB (5.0 V) instead of a DC socket (12 V). On the StarAid device itself, the micro USB socket has also been replaced by a USB-C socket. The USB-C socket on the StarAid unit can supply power to both the StarAid and the splitter. Unlike the USB-C socket on the splitter, the USB-C socket on the StarAid also allows communication and access to the StarAid web app.

All modern mounts are supported

Tested on various models
All mounts with an ST-4 compatible guiding port are supported.

The following mount types have been tested:

• All mounts with Astro-Elektronik FS-2 control.
• Astro-Physics 1100
• Astro-Physics 1200
• Astro-Physics Mach1
• Astro-Physics models with GTOCP v2, v3 and v4
• Celestron AVX (same control as CGEM, CGEM DX, CGEM II, CGX, CGX-L and others)
• Losmandy GM-8 with original DDS
• Meade FORK mount
• SkyWatcher EQ5
• SkyWatcher EQ6
• Vixen Super Polaris with BoxDorfer MTS-3 Kit

StarAid can be used with the Losmandy DDS Control Box.

• StarAid Revolution (Ø 39 x 39 mm)
• USB-A to USB-C cable (1 m)
• Guide cable (RJ-12, 6P6C cable, 0.5 m flat, USB 2.0 cable)
• Splitter (36 x 22 x 20 mm)
• Uplink cable RJ-45 (CAT6 cable, 2.0 m flex /3 mm OD)