PrimaLuceLab ALTO Telescope Cover Motor
ALTO is the telescope cover motor we designed to let you use GIOTTO Smart Flat Field Generator as a remotely controlled motorized cap. Now you can remotely open and close your telescope allowing you to use GIOTTO to record flat calibration frames without having to be at your telescope. ALTO provides a USB-C port to connect to your EAGLE or standard Windows computer that you choose to control it with our PLAY astrophotography software, or via a third party astronomy software using the ASCOM CoverCalibrator driver. You can also control ALTO by connecting to its WiFi network from your smartphone or tablet and use the included Virtual HandPad. The provided USB and 12V power passthrough plugs (to directly connect GIOTTO to ALTO) and the included Cable Locking Clips (CLC) allows you to improve cables management and simplify your telescope setup. ALTO natively runs off of a 12V power source to avoid the need for external power units.
ALTO provides USB-C port and WiFi connectivity
ALTO integrated control electronics offers USB-C port to let you easily connect it to your EAGLE or standard Windows computer and control it with PLAY or third party astrophotography software that supports ASCOM CoverCalibrator. It also comes with WiFi connectivity so you can wirelessly control it using your smartphone or tablet via the included Virtual HandPad! In order to power ALTO, you don't need a separate power unit, since it natively runs off of a 12V power source so it's easy to power together with your astrophotography telescope.
ALTO with passthrough ports to connect GIOTTO and improve cable management
In order to connect ALTO and GIOTTO to your control computer, you do not have to connect USB and power cables to each device. Instead, ALTO offers USB and 12V power passthrough plugs to improve cables management. Connect short USB and power cables from GIOTTO directly to ALTO and then you will connect just a USB and a 12V power cable from ALTO to your computer; it will recognize GIOTTO and ALTO as separate devices in device manager. This way you will always be able to control them individually from your software.
ALTO is easy to use with PLAY software or ASCOM driver
You can control ALTO with PLAY astrophotography software that we designed not only to control PrimaLuceLab devices but also to let you do astrophotography in the easiest way. In fact PLAY comes also with a special wizard that allows you to easily calibrate the opening and closing position of ALTO and GIOTTO installed on your telescope. Then with a simple mouse click you will be able to remotely open or close your telescope. And if you want to use your preferred Windows astrophotography software, you can also control ALTO by using third party software that supports the ASCOM CoverCalibrator driver.
Use the Virtual HandPad to control ALTO even without a computer
You can also control ALTO without a computer by connecting your smartphone or tablet to ALTO’s WiFi network, then access the controls via the built-in Virtual HandPad. Here you can open or close your telescope cap without the need of a computer, like using your smartphone as an additional handpad! It will also allow you to save your preferred settings and recall them very easily.
In this table you can see the compatibility of different ALTO models with GIOTTO flat field generators. For example, ALTO-3L is compatible with GIOTTO560 but not with smaller models (that require ALTO-1, ALTO-2 or ALTO-3).
Technical Specifications
ALTO-1 telescope cover motor for GIOTTO up to 220mm - main features:
- Designed to let you use use GIOTTO up to 220mm model as a remotely controlled motorized cap
- It natively runs off of a 12V power source to avoid the need for external power units
- USB and 12V power passthrough plugs to directly connect GIOTTO to ALTO and improve cables management
- Included Cable Locking Clips (CLC) to let cables rotate together with the ALTO arm and GIOTTO
- USB-C port to let you easily connect it to your EAGLE or Windows computer
- WiFi connectivity so you can wirelessly control it using your smartphone or tablet via the included Virtual HandPad
- Control with PLAY astrophotography software for EAGLE or Windows
- ASCOM driver to let you control it through third party softwares that support ASCOM CoverCalibrator
- Weight: 0.7 kg (1.5 lb)
ALTO-2 telescope cover motor for GIOTTO up to 320mm - main features:
- Designed to let you use use GIOTTO up to 320mm model as a remotely controlled motorized cap
- It natively runs off of a 12V power source to avoid the need for external power units
- USB and 12V power passthrough plugs to directly connect GIOTTO to ALTO and improve cables management
- Included Cable Locking Clips (CLC) to let cables rotate together with the ALTO arm and GIOTTO
- USB-C port to let you easily connect it to your EAGLE or Windows computer
- WiFi connectivity so you can wirelessly control it using your smartphone or tablet via the included Virtual HandPad
- Control with PLAY astrophotography software for EAGLE or Windows
- ASCOM driver to let you control it through third party softwares that support ASCOM CoverCalibrator
- Weight: 0.85 kg (1.9 lb)
ALTO-3 telescope cover motor for GIOTTO larger than 320mm - main features:
- Designed to let you use use GIOTTO larger than 320mm model as a remotely controlled motorized cap
- It natively runs off of a 12V power source to avoid the need for external power units
- USB and 12V power passthrough plugs to directly connect GIOTTO to ALTO and improve cables management
- Included Cable Locking Clips (CLC) to let cables rotate together with the ALTO arm and GIOTTO
- USB-C port to let you easily connect it to your EAGLE or Windows computer
- WiFi connectivity so you can wirelessly control it using your smartphone or tablet via the included Virtual HandPad
- Control with PLAY astrophotography software for EAGLE or Windows
- ASCOM driver to let you control it through third party softwares that support ASCOM CoverCalibrator
- Weight: 1.5 kg (3.3 lb)
ALTO-3L telescope cover motor for GIOTTO 560mm - main features:
- Designed to let you use use GIOTTO 560mm model as a remotely controlled motorized cap
- It natively runs off of a 12V power source to avoid the need for external power units
- USB and 12V power passthrough plugs to directly connect GIOTTO to ALTO and improve cables management
- Included Cable Locking Clips (CLC) to let cables rotate together with the ALTO arm and GIOTTO
- USB-C port to let you easily connect it to your EAGLE or Windows computer
- WiFi connectivity so you can wirelessly control it using your smartphone or tablet via the included Virtual HandPad
- Control with PLAY astrophotography software for EAGLE or Windows
- ASCOM driver to let you control it through third party softwares that support ASCOM CoverCalibrator
- Weight: 1.8 kg (4.0 lb)
In the Box
ALTO telescope cover motor
USB-B cable to USB-C to connect ALTO to GIOTTO via passthrough plug (length 65 cm - 25.5 inches)
12V cable to power ALTO through GIOTTO via passthrough plug (length 65 cm - 25.5 inches)
Quick guide
Warranty & Manuals
PrimaluceLab 1-Year Warranty
