Most of iOptron's newest HAE mounts don't need a hand controller. The HAE B- and C-series, HAE18C, and HAE16C Hybrid have their control electronics built into the mount and can be operated from a computer, phone, tablet, or — on the B-series — the onboard iMate computer.
That's exactly how a lot of imagers want to work. But “not required” and “not useful” are two different things.
Try nudging a planet into the center of the field with a thumb on a phone screen, gloves on, at two in the morning, and the appeal of four real arrow buttons becomes pretty obvious.
The iOptron Go2Nova 8411 is the optional handset for those mounts. Plug it into the HBX port and you have direct control of slewing, GoTo, tracking, zero position, synchronization, mount settings, and target selection without reaching for a phone or walking back to the imaging computer.
Its approximately 212,000-object database puts everything from the Messier, NGC, and IC catalogs to planets, named stars, double stars, PGC galaxies, Caldwell objects, and more at your fingertips. Nine slew speeds range from 1× sidereal for careful centering to the mount's maximum slew rate for crossing the sky.
Features
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Physical control at the telescope. Four directional buttons make manual centering and slewing easy without trying to operate a touchscreen in the dark.
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Approximately 212,000 objects. The Go2Nova database includes the Messier, NGC, IC, PGC, Caldwell, Abell, Herschel, Hipparcos, named-star, double-star, Solar System, and other catalogs.
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Stores up to 60 user objects. Add favorite targets or coordinates you want available directly from the handset.
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Large 8-line OLED display. With 21 characters per line, the 8411 can display target information, coordinates, mount status, tracking rate, slew speed, operating mode, hemisphere, date, and time without forcing everything through a tiny two-line window.
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Nine slew speeds. Select 1×, 2×, 8×, 16×, 64×, 128×, 256×, 512×, or MAX directly from the number keys.
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Designed for use in the cold. iOptron specifically chose the OLED display for improved usability at temperature extremes and rates the 8411 for operation from 14°F to 113°F (-10°C to 45°C).
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Direct access to mount functions. GoTo, Sync to Target, Zero Position, parking, tracking settings, guiding rates, display settings, and other mount functions are available through the handset menus.
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EQ/Alt-Az mode control on compatible HAE mounts. The handset can change operating mode on supported dual-mode mounts, which can be especially handy for observers who regularly move between imaging and visual use.
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USB-C firmware updates. The handset can be updated from a Windows PC using iOptron's firmware and upgrade utility.
Where the Handset Earns Its Keep
Visual observing. A handset still feels natural at an eyepiece. Select an object, slew to it, use the arrow buttons to center it, and start observing. There is no need to unlock a phone, reopen an app, or find a tiny directional control on a touchscreen.
High-power centering. At high magnification, the difference between tapping an actual direction button and dragging around a screen becomes much more noticeable. The lower slew rates make small corrections easy without disturbing the rest of the setup.
Star parties and outreach. When people are waiting at the eyepiece, tactile controls make it easy to move from one target to another without spending the evening staring at a phone.
Astrophotography setup. Even if NINA, Ekos, an ASIAIR, or another controller will run the actual imaging session, having the 8411 beside the mount can be convenient during setup for manual slewing, rough positioning, returning to zero position, and other quick adjustments.
A backup control method. Wi-Fi and software are convenient right up until they aren't. A handset in the case gives you another way to operate the mount if a phone, tablet, network connection, or imaging computer decides not to cooperate.
Check Your Mount Before Ordering
The 8411 is not a universal iOptron hand controller. It is designed for a specific group of current mounts.
iOptron currently lists the Go2Nova 8411 as compatible with:
- HAE69B and HAE69B-EC
- HAE69C and HAE69C-EC
- HAE43B and HAE43B-EC
- HAE43C and HAE43C-EC
- HAE29B and HAE29B-EC
- HAE29C and HAE29C-EC
- HAE18C
- HAE16C Hybrid
- HAZ130
If your mount is not on that list, don't assume that the 8411 will work simply because it is an iOptron mount. CEM, GEM, HEM, and earlier strain-wave mounts may use a different Go2Nova handset.
The HAZ130 is compatible with the 8411 as well, but iOptron currently lists the 8411 as the handset for that mount, so check what came with your HAZ130 before ordering another one.
From the Cloudy Nights Community
Owners on Cloudy Nights provide a good example of why an optional handset can still make sense on a mount that is perfectly capable of running without one.
One HAE69C-EC owner runs the imaging system through an ASIAIR but still plugs in the 8411 because manually slewing the telescope with physical buttons is easier for him than using the controls on an iPad screen.
An HAE18C visual observer ran into a different situation. Commander Lite was not allowing him to switch the mount from equatorial to Alt-Az mode, so he updated a spare 8411 and made the change directly from the handset. Once the mount was in Alt-Az mode, he went back to controlling it through SkySafari on his phone.
Those are good examples of what the 8411 really adds. It doesn't replace computer or wireless control. It gives you another control surface right beside the telescope when physical buttons are simply more convenient.
What's Included
- iOptron Go2Nova 8411 hand controller
- 6P6C handset cable for connection to the mount's HBX port
A USB-C data cable is required for handset firmware updates. Check current package contents if you need one included rather than supplying your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the 8411 to operate an HAE69B/C, HAE43B/C, HAE29B/C, HAE18C, or HAE16C Hybrid?
No. These current mounts can be operated without the 8411. Depending on the model, control is available through direct USB, built-in Wi-Fi, or the iMate computer. The handset is an optional way to add physical controls and standalone GoTo operation at the telescope.
Will it work with the EC versions too?
Yes. iOptron lists both the standard and EC versions of the HAE69B/C, HAE43B/C, and HAE29B/C as compatible with the 8411.
Will the Go2Nova 8411 work with my CEM40, GEM28, or HEM27?
No. Those mounts are not on iOptron's current 8411 compatibility list. iOptron uses several different Go2Nova handset models, so choose the controller specified for your particular mount.
What is the difference between the 8411 and 8409?
They are designed for different generations and models of iOptron mounts. This isn't a case where the more expensive or newer handset is automatically an upgrade. Use the handset iOptron specifies for your mount.
How many objects are in the database?
Approximately 212,000. The database includes major deep-sky catalogs, Solar System objects, named stars, double stars, and other target lists, plus storage for up to 60 user-entered objects.
Can I use the handset while my imaging computer is connected?
Owners report doing exactly that on compatible mounts — using imaging software or an ASIAIR for the session while keeping the 8411 connected for convenient manual slewing and adjustments at the telescope. The handset supplements the computer-driven workflow rather than requiring you to abandon it.
Can the 8411 switch a dual-mode HAE mount between EQ and Alt-Az?
Yes. Compatible HAE mount firmware includes an EQ/Alt-Az mode selection through the handset. Availability of individual menu functions can vary somewhat by mount and firmware version.
What are the nine slew speeds?
1×, 2×, 8×, 16×, 64×, 128×, 256×, 512×, and MAX. The slower rates are useful for fine centering, while MAX uses the fastest slew rate supported by the connected mount.
How large is the display?
The 8411 uses an 8-line OLED display with 21 characters per line. It can show considerably more status and coordinate information at once than older small-display hand controllers.
What temperature range is the handset rated for?
iOptron specifies an operating range of 14°F to 113°F (-10°C to 45°C).
How do I update the firmware?
Connect the 8411 to a compatible powered mount through its HBX cable, then connect the handset's USB-C port to a Windows PC. Install the PL2303 virtual COM-port driver if needed, then use iOptron's Upgrade Utility and the current 8411 firmware. After the update, power-cycle the mount and confirm the version under Firmware Information.
Final Thoughts
The 8411 exists because optional doesn't mean unnecessary.
Modern HAE mounts can be run beautifully from a laptop, phone, tablet, or onboard iMate computer. For a fully automated imaging session, you may barely touch the mount after sunset.
But there are still times when four arrow buttons beside the telescope are simply better than a touchscreen — centering an object at high power, moving between targets during outreach, setting up an imaging rig, changing mount settings, or just getting the telescope pointed where you want it without pulling another device out of your pocket.
If your mount is on iOptron's compatibility list and you prefer having tactile control available at the telescope, the Go2Nova 8411 gives you that option without changing the way you already use the mount.
