iOptron CEM70, CEM70G Quickstart Guide [EN]

Quick Start Guide

CEM70™ Center-balanced GoTo Equatorial Mount
Models: CEM70 (#C70A series) & CEM70G (#C70AG series)

PACKAGE CONTENTS1

 Mount head – with iPolarTM electronic Polar Scope, C70AG has an onboard iGuiderTM guiding scope
 Hand Controller (HC) – Go2Nova® 8407+
 Counterweight – 21 lbs (9.5 kg)
 Stainless steel counterweight shaft
 Built-in GPS module
 Hand controller coiled cables
 RS232-RJ9 serial cable
 USB cable
 AC adapter – 100-240V (DC output 12V/5A)
 Hard case
 Quick Start Guide (this document)

ONLINE RESOURCES (at www.iOptron.com, under Support)

 User’s Manual
 Hand controller and mount firmware upgrades (check online for the latest version)
 ASCOM and Commander for computer control
 Discount coupon code for TheSkyTM Imaging Edition

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The design, contents and packaging may change from time to time without notice.

iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com

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STOP!!! Carefully read this Guide BEFORE setting up and using the equipment!

Worm/gear damages due to improper uses are not covered by warranty.

WARNING: Never disengage Gear Switches without holding the mount firmly! Fail to do so

may result in personal injuries and/or equipment damages.

1. Remove mount head from package: The RA axle is

locked by an Allen wrench. Make sure it is inserted all
the way in. Check the R.A. Gear Switch and turn it to
unlocking position before removing it from the box.

Store the wrench inside the base. The wrench size is
6mm.

Level the mount by adjusting the tripod legs. Use the
build-in Bubble Level Indicator or an external level for
this purpose.

3. Adjust latitude: Without any payload, loosen the

Latitude Locking Clamps about a quarter (1/4) turn
with the Allen wrench.

2. Attach the mount: The mount has a 152mm base,

which can be mounted onto an iOptron tri-pier,
LiteRoc tripod, or your own tripod/pier with two M8
threaded mounting holes separated 130mm in
diameter

Hold mount head while remove the Allen wrench
from the RA yoke. Turn the RA gear switch to locking
position to prevent RA free swing.

Turn the Latitude Adjustment Knob until the arrow
points to your current latitude on the Latitude Scale.
There are fine scales on the Knob, as shown in the
photo. Tighten the Latitude Locking Clamps when
done.

Two mounting screws are installed on the base.
Rotate the mount to align the screws to the tripod
mounting holes. Insert the wrench into the holes on
the base where azimuth locking screws are located.

iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com

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4. Install counterweight (CW) shaft: The CW shaft

system is a two part configuration. It comes with
preinstalled top part of the shaft. Just simply thread
the CW shaft onto it.

[TIP: If you latitudes is lower than 10°, please refer to
the full online manual to adjust the counterweight
shaft position to avoid CW bumping into tripod leg.]

5. Install counterweight(s): Before putting on CW,

make sure the mount is at its zero position, i.e., CW
shaft points to the ground. Disengage the R.A. Gear

Switch to set the R.A. axis free before loading the
CW. Remove the CW Safety Cap at the end of CW

Shaft. Glide the CW over the shaft with the larger
hole opening facing down. Place the Safety Cap back
onto the shaft. Move the CW to the bottom of the
shaft and tighten the CW locking Screw.

saddle locking knobs and slide the telescope dovetail
plate into the saddle. Tighten the saddle locking
knobs.

7. Balancing the payload: After attaching the scope and

accessories, the mount head assembly must be
balanced in both DEC and RA axes to ensure
minimum stresses on the mount driving mechanism.

CAUTION: The telescope may swing freely when the
R.A. or DEC Gear Switch is disengaged. Always hold
on to the mount and/or telescope assembly before
releasing the Gear Switches to prevent it from
swinging, which can cause personal injuries and/or
equipment damages.

Set the mount at Zero Position. Disengage both RA
and DEC gear switches and move the mount to
horizontal position to check balance. Return to Zero
Position for balance adjustment. Balance the DEC axis
by moving the scope with accessories back and forth
in the mount saddle or within the scope mounting
rings. Balance the assembly in R.A. axis by moving
CW along its shaft. Repeat the process until both DEC
and RA axes are balanced.

You may need more CW for heavier payloads, or a
smaller CW for lighter scopes.

6. Install telescope: CEM70 is equipped with a

Vixen/Losmandy-D dual saddle. It can receive either a
Vixen or a Losmandy-D plate. Release the dovetail

iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com

CAUTION: The balancing process MUST be done with
Gear Switch at the total disengaged position!
Otherwise it might damage the worm system.

Return the mount to Zero Position after balancing
and engage gear switches.

8. Connecting cables: Plug in a 12V DC power supply to

the DC12V power socket (size 5.5mm/2.5mm).
Connect the Go2Nova® 8407 Hand Controller to the
HBX port on the mount base panel.

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For the mount without polar scope, please refer to
full manual for Bright Star Alignment, or use
software to assist alignment.

For a CEM70G mount, connect USB3.0 port on mount
base (shown in photo here) to a computer for
computer control, iPolar, iGuider and 3X USB port
hub connection.

For a CEM70 mount, Connect USB2.0 port on mount
base to a computer for computer controller and 3X
USB2.0 port hub connection. CEM70 does not have a
built-in WIFI.

Refer to the full User’s Manual on how to use the
cable management system.

9. Polar alignment: CEM70 & CEM70G are equipped

with an iPolarTM electronic polar scope. To perform
polar alignment, please refer to CEM70 User’s
Manual, or iPolar Operation Manual from iOptron’s
website, or follow steps briefly outlined below:

 Download and install iPolar Software (first

time use);

 Connect a USB cable between the iPolar port

on the mount (CEM70);

For the mount with an optional AccuAlignTM optical
polar scope, please refer to full manual for Quick
Polar Alignment.

10. Manual operation: The mount can now be used to

observe astronomical objects with the HC. Use arrow
keys (►, ◄, ▼, and ▲) to point the telescope to
desired objects. Use the number keys to change the
slewing speed. Press the STOP/0 button to start or
stop tracking.

11. Set controller: Press the MENU button; then Settings

=> Set Time and Site.

Before GPS picks up signals (before displaying GPS
OK), check for Daylight Saving Time using arrow key
to toggle between Y and N. Enter the time zone
offset to the UTC; for examples:

 Boston is “UTC -300 minutes”
 Los Angeles is “UTC -480 minutes”
 Rome is “UTC +060 minutes”
 Sydney is “UTC +600 minutes”

or USB3.0 port (CEM70G) and a computer
USB port;

 Run iPolar Software and start polar alignment

by following on screen instructions.

iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com

Waiting for the mount to pick up the GPS (you’ll hear

beep). If the GPS is “OK’d” during setup, just power
cycle the mount. Double check the HC display and it
should show correct local time.

[TIPS: All time zones in N. America are “UTC -XXX
minutes”. Latitude and longitude coordinates can be
obtained from GPS-equipped devices (navigator,
phone), or from internet and entered manually, in
case GPS cannot receive enough satellites signals
(unplug the GPS module) or GPS malfunctions. “W/E”
= western/eastern hemisphere; “N/S” =
northern/southern hemisphere. Use arrow and
number keys to enter location and time information.]

12. Set Zero Position: The Set Zero Position command

registers the current position as zero position. So

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before registering, the mount should be physically set
at Zero Position either manually or slewed by hand
controller. The Zero Position is defined as the
telescope being on top of the mount head and
pointing to North Pole, with CW shaft pointing to the
ground. To register, press MENU => Zero Position =>
Set Zero Position. Press ENTER to confirm. One can
also use MENU => Zero Position => Search Zero

Position to set the Zero Position.

13. One Star Alignment: Perform One Star Align to

correct the Zero Position discrepancy and improve
GOTO accuracy. Refer to User’s Manual for more
details about improving GOTO accuracy.

14. Go to an object: The mount is now ready for GOTO

and tracking targets. Press MENU, select and ENTER

Select and Slew. Select a category (e.g., Solar
System), then select an object of interest (e.g.,
Moon). Press ENTER and the telescope will slew to

the object and automatically start tracking.

15. Sync to target: If the object is not in the center of the

eyepiece, use this function to center and synchronize
the object to improve local GOTO accuracy. Press
MENU and select and ENTER Sync to Target. Follow
the on-screen instruction to perform the sync.

[TIP: After slewing to an object, a list of nearby bright
object(s) can be displayed by pressing the ? button.]

16. Computer connection and autoguiding: Please refer

to CEM70 product page for mount computer control.

17. Put the mount back into the package/carrying case:

It is recommended to return the mount to Zero
Position at the end of the observing session. Lay the
mount into the carrying case. Disengage the gear
system for transportation and insert the Allen wrench
into RA yoke to lock the RA axis.

Please contact [e-mail] for technical
support.

V1.0

iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com

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IOPTRON TWO YEAR TELESCOPE, MOUNT, AND CONTROLLER WARRANTY

A. iOptron warrants your telescope, mount, or controller to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two years. iOptron will
repair or replace such product or part which, upon inspection by iOptron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship. As a
condition to the obligation of iOptron to repair or replace such product, the product must be returned to iOptron together with proof-of­purchase satisfactory to iOptron.

B. The Proper Return Merchant Authorization Number must be obtained from iOptron in advance of return. Contact iOptron at

1.781.569.0200 or [e-mail] to receive the RMA number to be displayed on the outside of your shipping container.
All returns must be accompanied by a written statement stating the name, address, and daytime telephone number of the owner,
together with a brief description of any claimed defects. Parts or product for which replacement is made shall become the property of
iOptron.

The customer shall be responsible for all costs, such as transportation, insurance and fees, both to and from the factory of iOptron, and
shall be required to prepay such costs.

iOptron shall use reasonable efforts to repair or replace any telescope, mount, or controller covered by this warranty within thirty days of
receipt. In the event repair or replacement shall require more than thirty days, iOptron shall notify the customer accordingly. iOptron
reserves the right to replace any product which has been discontinued from its product line with a new product of comparable value and
function.

This warranty shall be void and of no force of effect in the event a covered product has been modified in design or function, or
subjected to abuse, misuse, mishandling or unauthorized repair. Further, product malfunction or deterioration due to normal wear is not
covered by this warranty.

IOPTRON DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WHETHER OF MERCHANTABILITY OF FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR USE, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HERE. THE SOLE OBLIGATION OF IOPTRON UNDER THIS LIMITED
WARRANTY SHALL BE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE COVERED PRODUCT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS SET FORTH
HERE. IOPTRON EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY LOST PROFITS, GENERAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT FROM BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY, OR ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE
ANY IOPTRON PRODUCT. ANY WARRANTIES WHICH ARE IMPLIED AND WHICH CANNOT BE DISCLAIMED SHALL BE LIMITED
IN DURATION TO A TERM OF TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or limitation on how long an implied
warranty lasts, so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
iOptron reserves the right to modify or discontinue, without prior notice to you, any model or style telescope.
If warranty problems arise, or if you need assistance in using your telescope, mount, or controller contact:

iOptron Corporation

Customer Service Department

6F Gill Street

Woburn, MA 01801

www.ioptron.com

[e-mail]

Tel. [phone]

Fax. [phone]

Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM EST

NOTE: This warranty is valid to U.S.A. and Canadian customers who have purchased this product from an authorized iOptron dealer in
the U.S.A. or Canada or directly from iOptron. Warranty outside the U.S.A. and Canada is valid only to customers who purchased from
an iOptron Distributor or Authorized iOptron Dealer in the specific country. Please contact them for any warranty.

iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com

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