Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Strainwave Mount Kit w/ CF Tripod

The hardest part of astrophotography has always been the mount. You can own a beautiful refractor, the latest cooled CMOS camera, and filters that isolate every emission line in the catalog — and all of it is worthless if the mount can't hold a star steady for three minutes. Traditional German equatorial mounts solve the problem with mass. They're heavy, they need counterweights, and getting one to a dark site means planning your evening around a 60-pound payload strapped to a dolly. Strain wave drives changed the equation. The Sky-Watcher Wave 100i is a 9.5-pound mount head that carries 22 pounds of telescope without a counterweight, tracks with sub-arcsecond guided accuracy, and the head can fit in a backpack alongside your optics if you are so inclined. This kit bundles it with the matched carbon fiber tripod and extension tube — everything you need except the telescope, the camera, and the power supply.

How Strain Wave Drives Work

A strain wave (harmonic) drive replaces the worm gear and worm wheel of a traditional mount with a flexible spline, a wave generator, and a circular spline. The result is a gear reduction of 300:1 with negligible backlash. In practical terms: when you tell the mount to move, it moves. When you tell it to stop, it stops — with minimal overshoot compared to worm-gear mounts. For imaging, this means faster and more accurate GoTo slewing, tighter guiding corrections reducing backlash-induced star elongation when the wind shifts or the guide algorithm reverses direction.

The Wave 100i is Sky-Watcher's entry into the strain wave market, and independent reviews have measured guiding accuracy at 0.35–0.45 arcseconds RMS with autoguiding — dropping to 0.25 arcseconds on excellent nights. Those numbers puts it in line with other strain wave mounts in this class. For context, 0.4 arcseconds RMS means it can support round stars at focal lengths over 1000mm under good conditions, which is the territory where mount quality separates good images from wasted evenings.

What's in the Kit

This bundle brings together three components that Sky-Watcher sells separately:

• Wave 100i mount head (S30900). The strain wave GoTo head with dual D/V hybrid saddles (accepts both Losmandy and Vixen dovetails), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, EQ and AZ operating modes, ASIAir compatibility with included USB-B cable, and a secondary saddle that mounts over the counterweight port for dual-telescope setups in alt-az mode.
• Carbon fiber tripod. High-strength CF legs with a 44-pound payload capacity. Extends to 29 inches, retracts to 19.7 inches. Weighs 5.3 pounds. The carbon fiber damps vibrations faster than aluminum and doesn't conduct cold to your hands on winter nights.
• Extension tube. A 7-inch pier extension that sits between the mount head and tripod. Raises the telescope above the tripod legs so longer optical tubes clear the legs throughout their range of motion. Weighs 2.4 pounds. Essential for refractors and longer SCTs that would otherwise collide with the tripod near the zenith.

Total system weight with all three components: approximately 17.2 pounds. Add a telescope and camera and you're still under 40 pounds for a complete imaging rig that a single person can carry to the field in two trips.

EQ and AZ Modes

The Wave 100i operates as both an equatorial mount (for astrophotography — tracking the sky's rotation) and an alt-azimuth mount (for visual observing and solar work). In EQ mode, you polar-align, connect your autoguider, and image. In AZ mode, the mount tracks in both axes simultaneously — no polar alignment required. AZ mode is particularly useful for solar observing, outreach events, and quick visual sessions where you don't want to spend time on alignment.

The included secondary saddle turns the Wave 100i into a dual-saddle alt-az mount. Mount a telescope on top and a second instrument — a guidescope, a solar scope, a camera lens — on the counterweight port side. Both saddles accept up to 22 pounds in AZ mode, though the practical limit for dual instruments depends on balance and the combined moment arm.

Connectivity

The Wave 100i connects wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to Sky-Watcher's SynScan app on your phone or tablet. For deeper integration, a USB-B cable (included) connects directly to ZWO's ASIAir controller, allowing plate-solving, automated framing, and multi-target sequencing without a laptop. The mount also supports ASCOM and INDI protocols for users running N.I.N.A., Sequence Generator Pro, KStars/Ekos, or other imaging software on a Windows or Linux computer.

RA power-off braking holds the mount's position when you cut power — the telescope doesn't swing free. RA and DEC home position functions let you return to a known reference point for repeatable setups night after night.

Features

• Strain wave drive, 300:1 ratio. Near-zero backlash. Smooth, precise tracking without the reversal delays of worm-gear mounts. This is what makes sub-arcsecond guided imaging possible at the mount's weight class.
• 22 lb payload without counterweight. Enough for a 100mm-class APO refractor with camera, guidescope, and accessories. No counterweight bar, no counterweight shaft, no extra 10 pounds of iron. Just telescope on top, mount underneath.
• 33 lb payload with optional counterweight. Add the counterweight kit (sold separately) and the capacity jumps to 33 pounds — enough for 6" refractors, 8" Newtonians, and larger SCTs. The counterweight kit converts the mount from ultralight portable to mid-capacity workhorse.
• 9.5-pound mount head. Light enough to carry in one hand. The entire kit — head, tripod, extension tube — weighs under 18 pounds. That's the weight of many tripods alone on traditional GEM setups.
• Dual D/V hybrid saddles. Accept both Losmandy D-style and Vixen-width dovetail bars without swapping saddle plates. Whatever dovetail your telescope uses, it fits.
• EQ and AZ operating modes. Polar-aligned equatorial for imaging. Alt-azimuth for visual, solar, and outreach. One mount handles both without hardware changes.
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-B. Wireless control via SynScan app. Wired connection to ASIAir, N.I.N.A., SGP, or any ASCOM/INDI-compatible software. The USB-B cable for ASIAir is included in the box.
• Carbon fiber tripod, 44 lb capacity. Vibration-damping CF legs that handle more than double the mount head's maximum payload. Fast thermal equilibrium. Won't freeze your hands on cold nights.
• Pier extension tube included. 7 inches of additional height between mount and tripod. Prevents optical tube/tripod leg collisions. Essential for refractors and long-focus instruments.
• Red LED latitude scale and bubble level. Set your latitude in the dark without a white flashlight ruining your night vision. The bubble level ensures the tripod is plumb before you begin polar alignment.
• 2400x maximum slew rate (10°/sec). GoTo slews are fast enough to minimize wait time between targets. Point, slew, arrive, image.

Practical Considerations

A few things to know before you buy. First, the 22-pound unweighted payload is a a realistic, usable payload — but it assumes a balanced load. A heavy camera hanging far behind the saddle creates a longer moment arm than the same weight centered over the saddle. Balance matters even on a strain wave mount. Second, the mount requires 12V 2A DC power, which is not included. A lithium field battery or a 12V power tank is the standard solution for portable use. Third, the counterweight kit is not included. If your imaging setup stays under 22 pounds, you'll never need it. If you plan to use heavier instruments, budget for the kit separately.

The carbon fiber tripod maxes out at 29 inches. With the 7-inch extension tube, you're at 36 inches of height below the mount head. That's comfortable for seated observing or imaging with the mount at roughly waist height, but it's not a standing-height setup. If you need more height, the tripod legs extend, but the 29-inch maximum is what it is. For most imaging setups, lower is better — a lower center of gravity means less vibration and more stability.

Observing Tip

If you're new to strain wave mounts, resist the urge to load yours to the rated maximum on the first night. Start with a lightweight setup — a small refractor or a camera lens on a dovetail — and learn the mount's behavior: how it slews, how it settles, how it responds to guide corrections. Strain wave drives feel different from worm-gear mounts. The near-instant response to guide pulses can actually cause overcorrection if your guiding software's aggressiveness settings are tuned for a traditional mount. Drop your PHD2 aggressiveness to 40–50% to start, and let the mount show you what it can do before you push the payload.

Frequently Asked Questions

What telescopes fit within the 22-pound unweighted payload?
Most 80mm to 130mm APO refractors with camera and guidescope. A TeleVue NP-127is with camera comes in around 18 pounds. Lightweight 6" Newtonians and compact 8" f/4 imaging Newtonians also work, though balance becomes more critical with longer tubes.

Do I need the counterweight kit?
Not for most portable imaging setups with refractors or compact OTAs. The mount handles 22 pounds without one. If you plan to use heavier instruments — a 6" refractor, an 8" SCT, a large Newtonian — you'll want the counterweight kit to reach the 33-pound capacity. It's sold separately.

Can I use this mount visually?
Yes. AZ mode provides GoTo and tracking without polar alignment. The dual-saddle option lets you mount a telescope and a finder or second instrument simultaneously. For star parties, outreach, and casual visual observing, it works well. For serious deep-sky visual sessions where you want a tall mount, the 29-inch tripod height may feel low — consider a taller pier or stool.

How does it connect to ASIAir?
Via the included USB-B cable. Plug the cable from the mount's USB-B port into the ASIAir's USB-A port. ASIAir recognizes the mount automatically and provides plate-solving, framing, GoTo control, and automated sequencing through its app.

What power supply do I need?
12V DC at 2A minimum. A portable lithium battery pack with a 12V DC output (5.5mm barrel plug, center-positive) is the standard field solution. Most astrophotography power stations work. The mount draws very little current — a 6Ah lithium battery will typically run it for a full imaging session.

Is the extension tube necessary?
For short-tube instruments like 80mm f/6 refractors, you might not need it — the tube clears the tripod legs at most orientations. For anything longer — a 130mm f/7, a 6" refractor, an SCT — the extension tube prevents the optical tube from colliding with the tripod legs when the telescope points near the zenith. At 2.4 pounds, it's cheap insurance. This kit includes it.

Accessories

• Sky-Watcher Wave Counterweight Kit. Extends payload capacity from 22 lbs to 33 lbs. Necessary for heavier optical tubes. Sold separately.
• 12V lithium field battery. Required for portable operation. A 6–12Ah lithium battery with 12V DC output will power the mount for a full imaging session.
• ZWO ASIAir Plus or ASIAir Mini. The wireless imaging controller that turns the Wave 100i into a phone-controlled imaging station. Plate-solving, framing, guiding, and sequencing — no laptop required.
• Autoguider (guidescope + guide camera). The mount tracks well unguided for short exposures, but autoguiding is what delivers the 0.35–0.45" RMS accuracy. A 30mm or 50mm guidescope with a small guide camera is the standard addition.

Final Thoughts

The Wave 100i kit solves the problem that has kept a lot of capable imagers from getting out under dark skies: weight. A complete mount system under 18 pounds that tracks at sub-arcsecond accuracy, accepts both Losmandy and Vixen dovetails, runs off a small battery, and talks to ASIAir or a laptop over Wi-Fi — that's a portable imaging platform you'll actually use on weeknights, not just planned expeditions. The carbon fiber tripod and extension tube complete the package so you're not piecing together components after the fact. You still need a telescope, a camera, and a power source. But the mechanical foundation — the part that determines whether your images succeed or fail — is well addressed. Set it up, polar-align, and start collecting photons. That's the whole point.

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