Vixen | Producer of optics from astronomical telescopes and binoculars
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Suggested retail price: Contact local dealer
The SD103SII features a high-performance SD objective lens and is the successor to the former SD103. Improved spacers of the objective lens produce aesthetically pleasing star images and will enhance the beauty of astrophotography. The SX2WL allows you to enjoy automatic celestial navigation conveniently from your smartphone.
Improved Spacer for Sharper Star Images
In the previous SD103S model, the objective lens was retained by three small foil clips that served as spacers. Because these clips protruded into the optical path, they produced diffraction, creating three faint radial flares around bright stars. By replacing these clips with a ring-shaped spacer, diffraction is evenly distributed, resulting in beautifully clean and sharply defined star images.
High-Performance SD Glass Lens Minimizes Chromatic Aberration
This high-performance “photo-visual” optical tube employs an SD (Super ED) glass lens that effectively suppresses chromatic aberration. It reduces color fringing exceptionally, enabling clearer, sharper star images.
With an f/7.7 focal ratio and a well-balanced 795 mm focal length relative to its 103 mm aperture, it offers outstanding versatility for a wide range of applications, from detailed planetary observation to astrophotography of nebulae and star clusters.
It comes with a Flip Mirror Diagonal whose mirror can be switched with a simple turn of a dial. This is highly convenient, allowing you to instantly switch between two eyepieces of different magnifications or shift from visual observation to a camera attached to the straight-through back.
It also includes a Vixen-standard dovetail attachment plate and a metal carrying handle, making installation, removal, and transport of the optical tube quick and easy. This setup delivers excellent performance across a wide range of astronomical observing situations.
While retaining the excellent usability of the SX series equatorial mounts, this model has been revamped with the same micro-step-driven pulse motors used in the SXD2 series. By increasing the number of bearings from one to five, Vixen has achieved even greater operational stability. You can enjoy automatic Go-To slewing to celestial objects, all easily controlled from your smartphone.
The "Wireless Unit" is included as standard, allowing you to control your equatorial mount with your smartphone or tablet. By installing a free dedicated smartphone app "STAR BOOK Wireless" on your device, you can use it as a controller.
The "STAR BOOK Wireless" smartphone app inherits the highly acclaimed interface of the STAR BOOK TEN controller, renowned for its ease of use. Simply view the star chart displayed on your screen, tap the celestial object you want to observe, and the mount will automatically slew to it and begin tracking. Following the intuitive display design of the STAR BOOK TEN, the app is easy for anyone to use without difficulty.
STAR BOOK Wireless
Wireless Unit
Product page
Notice Regarding Wi-Fi Connection for Wireless Unit Users
This extendable tripod features adjustable legs from approximately 80 cm to 130 cm, allowing you to set the height to suit your setup and preferences. Its hexagonal aluminum legs offer excellent load capacity and vibration damping, providing stable support for astronomical observations. Setup is tool-free and can be completed in a single step, making it ideal for mobile observations with a car.
Optical Tube Part
Mount Part
Eyepiece Part
Tripod
Others
Thank you for using the Vixen Wireless Unit for equatorial mounts.
If you are experiencing unstable or dropped Wi-Fi connections between the Wireless Unit and the dedicated "STAR BOOK Wireless" app, please try the following solutions.
Even if the Wi-Fi connection becomes unstable or is lost, the equatorial mount will continue tracking as long as the Wireless Unit is not turned off.
When the Wi-Fi is reconnected, the app will retrieve the data stored in the Wireless Unit, and the star chart on the app screen will be automatically updated to match the mount's current orientation. You do not need to perform the alignment again.
When connecting to the Wireless Unit, a pop-up will appear on your Android device asking whether to maintain the connection. Please select "YES".
If you do not select "YES" (including not making any selection), the connection will be disconnected after a certain period.
When the pop-up appears, please be sure to select "YES" by following the steps below.
Step 1
Tap this pop-up when it appears.
(*This notification may disappear after a few seconds, so please tap it promptly.)
Step 2
Be sure to select "YES".
*Since the Wireless Unit does not connect via the internet, this confirmation message is displayed.
If there are other familiar Wi-Fi networks nearby, your device may try to connect to them, causing the connection to become unstable. By switching to Airplane Mode, you can disable all wireless communications on your smartphone at once.
Setup Procedure
Step 1) Turn ON [Airplane Mode] from your smartphone's [Settings].
Step 2) Turn ON [Wi-Fi] from your smartphone's [Settings].
*If a message like "This connection has no internet access. Keep connection?" appears when you turn on Wi-Fi in Step 2, be sure to select "YES".
Changing the Wi-Fi channel setting in the app may stabilize the connection.
Step 1
Tap [Settings] in the STAR BOOK Wireless app.
Step 2
Select [Advanced Settings].
Step 3
Select [SSID/Password].
The default setting is "5ch".
Please change it to a channel other than "5".
Step 4
Turn the equatorial mount's power off and on again.
*Restarting the power will apply the channel change to the Wireless Unit.
Important Note
When you restart the power, be sure to select "Use previous mount" to carry over the alignment data.
If the password or SSID settings are incorrect, you will not be able to establish a Wi-Fi connection.
If you have forgotten the password, please try resetting the unit.
Pressing the reset button on the Wireless Unit for one second or more will restore the password and SSID to their factory default settings.
For details, please refer to the Wireless Unit's instruction manual (pages 11 and 13).
Important Note
When you perform a factory reset, all settings will be initialized. You will need to reconfigure the following:
- Channel setting
- Re-acquire alignment (*The "Use previous mount" option will not be available)
- The password set in the STAR BOOK Wireless app
If these methods do not resolve the issue, or if you have any questions, please contact us for individual support.
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