The iOptron HAE69B-EC combines the two most advanced versions of the HAE69 platform into one mount: the integrated iMate imaging computer of the B model and the high-precision right-ascension encoder of the EC.
The mount head weighs less than 20 lb, yet iOptron rates it to carry 69 lb (31 kg) without a counterweight and up to 79 lb (36 kg) with the optional counterweight system. Strain-wave gearing on both axes provides the compact size and high torque, while the RA encoder works with iOptron's Real-Time Periodic Error Correction to continuously reduce tracking error as the mount follows the sky.
At the same time, the computer that can run much of the imaging session is already built into the mount. iMate comes preloaded with KStars, Ekos, INDI drivers, and iPolarServer, with USB ports, accessory power, onboard storage, and Wi-Fi remote access.
One feature improves the tracking platform. The other reduces the number of separate computers, hubs, and cables needed to run the telescope. Together, they make the HAE69B-EC the most fully integrated version of iOptron's highest-capacity HAE mount.
Features
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High-precision RA encoder with Real-Time PEC. The encoder continuously monitors right-ascension motion and allows the mount to correct much of the tracking error produced by the strain-wave drive in real time.
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Built-in iMate imaging computer. A 64-bit ARM-based onboard computer comes preloaded with KStars, Ekos, INDI drivers, and iPolarServer for controlling compatible astronomical equipment.
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69 lb counterweight-free payload. Carry up to 31 kg (69 lb) without a conventional counterweight shaft and stack of weights.
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Up to 79 lb with a counterweight. Add the optional counterweight system when a heavier or more demanding telescope configuration calls for additional capacity.
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Less than 20 lb for the mount head. An unusually high payload-to-mount-weight ratio for a system capable of supporting large refractors, SCTs, RCs, and substantial imaging trains.
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Strain-wave gearing on both axes. RA and DEC both use 800:1 reduction ratios, providing high torque from a compact mechanical system.
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270-second RA gear period. The high-precision encoder and Real-Time PEC work directly with the tracking behavior of the strain-wave RA drive.
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32GB onboard storage. iMate includes 32GB of eMMC storage plus a microSD slot supporting cards up to 64GB.
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Integrated USB connections. One USB 3.0 port and two USB 2.0 ports allow compatible cameras, guide cameras, focusers, filter wheels, and other equipment to connect directly to iMate.
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Three 12V accessory outputs. Two can be switched through the iMate software, allowing the onboard computer to handle part of the imaging system's power distribution as well as device control.
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Remote operation over Wi-Fi. Access the computer inside the mount from Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android using NoMachine remote-access software.
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Direct USB-C mount control. Prefer NINA, your own mini PC, or another imaging environment? Connect directly to the mount and use an external computer instead of making iMate the center of the system.
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Equatorial and Alt-Az operation. Use EQ mode for astrophotography and tracking or configure the mount in Alt-Az mode for visual observing.
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Dual Vixen/Losmandy-D saddle. Accepts either of the two common astronomy dovetail standards.
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Integrated ST-4 autoguider port. Traditional autoguiding remains available in addition to software-based guiding.
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Electronic friction brake. Designed to stop mount movement safely during a planned or unexpected interruption in power.
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Automatic zero-position search and power-down memory. The mount can locate its reference position electronically and retain position information through a power interruption.
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Optional external iPolar. Add iOptron's electronic polar-alignment camera when you want a dedicated polar-alignment solution.
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Aluminum carrying case included. A fitted case protects the mount during transport.
What the Encoder Changes
Strain-wave gearing makes the HAE69 possible. It provides enough torque for a mount weighing less than 20 pounds to carry several times its own weight without requiring the traditional counterweight system that normally accompanies a large telescope.
The tracking behavior of a strain-wave drive, however, is different from the relatively smooth periodic error of a precision worm gear.
The HAE69B-EC addresses that on the RA axis with a high-precision encoder and iOptron's Real-Time Periodic Error Correction. The encoder continuously measures RA motion and lets the mount correct much of the drive error internally rather than waiting for an external guide camera to detect it.
iOptron says the resulting tracking accuracy is sufficient that many users may choose to image without guiding. Whether that makes sense for your system still depends on focal length, camera pixel size, exposure length, polar alignment, and the image quality you expect.
At forgiving image scales, encoder-assisted unguided imaging may be practical. At long focal lengths and fine image scales, guiding can still provide the additional correction needed for consistently good long exposures.
The important advantage is not that the encoder makes guiding obsolete. It gives any guider you do use a much better RA tracking platform to begin with.
The Imaging Computer Is Already Inside the Mount
The “B” side of the HAE69B-EC solves a completely different astrophotography problem.
A large imaging system tends to accumulate hardware. The telescope gets a cooled camera, guide camera, electronic focuser, filter wheel, rotator, USB hub, power distribution, and eventually a laptop, mini PC, Raspberry Pi, or dedicated astronomy controller to run everything.
iMate moves that computer into the mount itself.
The onboard 64-bit ARM system comes preloaded with KStars for planetarium and target selection, Ekos for imaging automation, and INDI drivers for compatible astronomical equipment. Once the equipment profile is configured, Ekos can handle GoTo, plate solving, autofocus, guiding, capture sequences, scheduling, and other parts of an automated imaging session while the software itself runs inside the mount.
The iMate also provides one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and three 12V outputs. Cameras and accessories can therefore connect directly at the mount rather than requiring another hub and power-distribution box hanging from the tripod or pier.
For a large portable imaging system, reducing hardware can be just as valuable as reducing mount weight.
Remote Control Without Leaving a Laptop at the Telescope
iMate runs the imaging applications onboard, but you still need a screen from which to control it.
The system creates its own Wi-Fi network and is accessed using NoMachine remote-access software. NoMachine is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, allowing a laptop, tablet, or other device to become the display and controls for the computer already running inside the mount.
Once connected, you are operating KStars and Ekos on the iMate itself. Start the imaging sequence and the onboard computer continues handling the session without a laptop remaining physically tethered to the telescope.
The iMate hardware also provides a LAN connection for customized installations, although iOptron describes that port primarily for customer DIY use rather than as the standard portable-control method.
You Are Not Locked Into iMate
An integrated imaging computer is far more useful when it remains optional.
The HAE69B-EC can also be controlled directly through the USB-C port on the mount base. Windows users can work through iOptron Commander and ASCOM, while compatible INDI software provides options for macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi systems.
If your existing imaging system is already built around NINA, a mini PC, StellarMate, or another control environment, you do not have to abandon it.
Use iMate when you want the cleanest self-contained setup. Use your own computer when another workflow makes more sense.
69 Pounds Without Counterweights
The encoder and iMate make the HAE69B-EC technologically interesting, but the basic mount underneath them is impressive in its own right.
iOptron rates the mount for 69 lb (31 kg) without counterweights. That leaves room for large telescopes and complete imaging trains — cameras, filter wheels, electronic focusers, rotators, guide hardware, dew-control equipment, and the rest of the accessories that surround a serious imaging system.
Add the optional counterweight system and the published capacity increases to 79 lb.
There is an important qualification to those numbers. The current iOptron specification assumes the payload's center of gravity is approximately 250mm from the RA rotation axis. A compact 50-pound SCT and a long 50-pound refractor do not present the same mechanical load to the mount.
Tube length, diameter, dew shields, rear-mounted cameras, focusers, and filter wheels can all move mass farther from the axis and increase the leverage the drive must manage.
As the telescope becomes larger, think about the complete geometry of the system rather than relying on the scale weight alone.
Guiding an Encoder-Equipped HAE69
The RA encoder can also change the way you approach guiding.
A non-encoder strain-wave mount often benefits from relatively frequent corrections because the external guider has to follow the drive's tracking error directly. On the HAE69B-EC, the encoder and Real-Time PEC are already making RA corrections internally.
That means the fastest possible guide cadence is not automatically the best one.
Depending on focal length, guide-camera sensitivity, seeing, image scale, and the rest of the system, you may find that the guider can work at a slower cadence while allowing the encoder to handle more of the RA correction.
That can be particularly useful with long-focal-length telescopes and off-axis guiders, where bright guide stars may not always be available at extremely short exposure times.
There is no universal setting. Start sensibly, let the encoder do its job, and judge the result from the actual subframes. Round stars and consistent image quality matter more than achieving the smallest possible RMS number on a guiding graph.
From the Cloudy Nights Community
Cloudy Nights owners using HAE69 and HAE69EC mounts provide some useful real-world perspective on what the platform can do with substantial telescopes.
One owner reports using an HAE69EC successfully with a C11 and 0.7× reducer, while another HAE69B owner using a C11 reported strong guided results through the PHD2 installation on the onboard iMate computer. Those are the kinds of systems that make the HAE69's combination of high payload and relatively low mount weight meaningful.
The encoder-equipped versions also generate an important discussion about guiding. Owners generally agree that the RA encoder substantially reduces the raw tracking error of the strain-wave drive, but experienced users still tune the guider to the actual telescope and image scale rather than assuming the EC model should always run unguided.
The iMate side of the system gets similarly practical feedback. Owners like the idea of having KStars, Ekos, device control, Wi-Fi, power distribution, and USB connectivity built into the mount, particularly for mobile systems. At the same time, iMate is a Linux astrophotography computer rather than a closed one-button appliance, so cameras, guide cameras, focusers, and INDI profiles may require some initial configuration.
Several owners therefore treat iMate as one control option rather than the only control option. Some use it as their primary field computer; others keep an external mini PC or other controller as their familiar workflow. The HAE69B-EC supports both approaches.
That flexibility may be the strongest part of the design: encoder-assisted tracking and an onboard computer are available when you want them without taking away the conventional guiding and computer-control options you already know.
EQ for Imaging, Alt-Az for Visual
The HAE69B-EC can operate in either equatorial or Alt-Az mode.
In equatorial mode, polar alignment provides the geometry needed for long-exposure astrophotography. The encoder and Real-Time PEC handle the internal RA corrections, while iMate can run the rest of the imaging session and guiding remains available whenever the system benefits from it.
Switch to Alt-Az mode and the same head becomes a high-capacity GoTo platform for visual observing without requiring a conventional polar-alignment routine.
That can be especially useful with equipment in this size class. A large SCT or refractor that spends one night gathering several hours of imaging data can spend the next night pointed at the Moon, planets, globular clusters, or double stars with an eyepiece.
What's Included
- iOptron HAE69B-EC strain-wave AZ/EQ mount head
- High-precision RA encoder with Real-Time PEC
- Integrated iMate computer
- Dual Vixen/Losmandy-D dovetail saddle
- 12V/6A AC/DC power adapter for indoor use
- USB-C computer/firmware cable
- Aluminum carrying case
Available separately: Go2Nova 8411 OLED hand controller, external iPolar electronic polar scope, LiteRoc tripod, Tri-Pier, Tri-Pier 360A, counterweight shaft and counterweight, MiniPier extension, iGuider, and other compatible accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the HAE69B-EC different from the HAE69B?
The HAE69B-EC adds a high-precision encoder to the right-ascension axis along with iOptron's Real-Time Periodic Error Correction. Both models include the iMate computer and share the same basic dual strain-wave platform and payload capacity.
What does the encoder actually do?
It continuously monitors RA motion and lets the mount correct much of the strain-wave drive's tracking error internally rather than relying entirely on an external guider to detect and correct it afterward.
Can I image without guiding?
Potentially. iOptron says the encoder provides enough tracking accuracy that many users may choose to image unguided. How practical that is depends on focal length, pixel scale, exposure length, polar alignment, and the requirements of the imaging system. Long-focal-length systems may still benefit substantially from guiding.
What is iMate?
iMate is the 64-bit ARM-based astronomy computer built into the mount. It comes preloaded with KStars, Ekos, INDI drivers, and iPolarServer and can control compatible cameras, guide cameras, focusers, filter wheels, and other equipment.
Can I really image without leaving a laptop at the telescope?
Yes. The imaging applications run on iMate itself. You still use another device to access and configure the onboard computer remotely, but the computer performing the imaging work remains inside the mount.
How do I access iMate?
Connect to the iMate Wi-Fi network from a compatible computer, tablet, or mobile device and use NoMachine remote-access software to operate KStars, Ekos, and the other applications running on the mount.
Do I have to use iMate?
No. The HAE69B-EC can also be controlled directly through USB-C from an external computer using compatible ASCOM or INDI software.
How much can the HAE69B-EC carry?
iOptron rates the mount for 69 lb (31 kg) without a counterweight and up to 79 lb (36 kg) with the optional counterweight system. The current rating assumes the payload center of gravity is approximately 250mm from the RA axis, so telescope geometry matters in addition to total weight.
Does it include a hand controller?
No. The current HE694B does not require a handset. iOptron's 8411 Go2Nova OLED controller is available separately if you want physical controls and standalone GoTo operation.
Does it include iPolar?
No. iOptron's external iPolar electronic polar scope is optional. The onboard iMate computer includes iPolarServer for use when an iPolar camera is connected.
Does it support autoguiding?
Yes. The HAE69B-EC includes an ST-4-compatible autoguider port, and software-based guiding through Ekos, ASCOM, INDI, and other compatible systems is also available.
Can I use it for visual observing?
Yes. The mount can operate in Alt-Az mode for visual use as well as equatorial mode for astrophotography.
Final Thoughts
The HAE69B-EC is the most complete version of iOptron's HAE69 concept because its two major upgrades solve two different problems.
The high-precision RA encoder improves the tracking behavior of the strain-wave drive. The iMate computer puts KStars, Ekos, INDI device control, storage, USB connectivity, and accessory power directly into the mount.
Underneath both is still the feature that makes the HAE69 unusual: 69 pounds of counterweight-free payload in a mount head weighing less than 20 pounds.
You can build a self-contained imaging system around iMate, let the encoder continuously correct the RA axis, and leave a surprising amount of traditional mount hardware and computer equipment at home.
Or you can plug in the external computer, software, guider, and workflow you already prefer. The integrated approach is available without taking the conventional options away.
For an imager who wants the greatest payload, the onboard computer, and encoder-assisted tracking in the same HAE package, that is the reason the HAE69B-EC exists.
