PrimaLuceLab EAGLE6 XTM Computer for Telescopes and Astrophotography

The EAGLE6 XTM: An All-in-One Telescope Control Hub

The EAGLE6 XTM has the most computing power and storage of the EAGLE line. It takes the place of a laptop, USB hubs and a separate dew controller at the telescope, which simplifies cable management and reduces setup time.

By moving the entire control system onto the optical tube, the EAGLE reduces the risk of cable snags and detached cables as the telescope moves. This all-in-one design, protected by European Patent EP3335078, requires only a single 12V power cable to run your entire setup, for portable setups and remote observatories alike.

12-Core Intel i7, 32GB RAM, and 2TB NVMe SSD: The Computer Inside

At its core, the EAGLE6 XTM is the most powerful EAGLE. The 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 12-Core processor has a 28W TDP, 18MB cache and a Max Turbo Frequency of 5.00 GHz.

This processing power is supported by 32GB of DDR4 3200 MHz RAM and a 2TB NVMe SSD. Both the RAM and SSD are industrial-grade components, ensuring reliable operation even in very low temperatures. The XTM has the largest storage space in the EAGLE line.

EAGLE6 XTM vs. the EAGLE6 Line: A 349% Performance Increase

PrimaLuceLab offers EAGLE6 models with different computing power, memory and disk space, and compared them with the PCMark benchmark.

Against a common mini PC with an Intel Celeron N3160 processor, 4GB of RAM and SSD, the scores are:

• EAGLE6 XTM: +349% performance, with its Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and 2TB SSD.
• EAGLE6 PRO: +310% performance (Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD).
• EAGLE6 S: +272% performance (Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD).
• EAGLE6: +62% performance (Celeron J6412, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD).

10 USB Ports Including 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4

The EAGLE6 XTM offers an extensive 10-port USB hub so you need no external hubs, which reduces cable clutter.

The inclusion of two USB 4 Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity offers speeds up to 40 Gbps, for devices like external storage, displays or docking stations, with up to 6 devices daisy-chained through a single port. Four of the five USB 2.0 ports can be remotely toggled on and off via the EAGLE Manager X software, so a device that has temporarily crashed, such as an autoguider or planetary camera, can be reset without going to the telescope.

• USB 4 / Thunderbolt 4: 2x Type-C ports with speeds up to 40 Gbps.
• USB 3.2: 3x high-speed ports.
• USB 2.0: 5x ports, 4 of them remotely switchable.

The Power Bridge: 7 Power Outputs

The EAGLE6 XTM acts as a central power bridge, distributing a regulated 12V DC input to seven separate outputs. This lets you power 12V devices such as your camera, mount and focuser, plus dew heaters, from the EAGLE with a single cable from your battery or AC adapter.

The system features a dedicated internal board with overcurrent protection, which temporarily disconnects power faster than a traditional fuse if a device draws too much current, protecting the EAGLE and connected devices. Power is automatically restored once the issue is resolved. EAGLE Manager X shows the power consumption of each device on the 12V power out ports and the total for your setup.

• High-Current 12V Outputs: Two ports deliver up to 8A each.
• Standard 12V Outputs: Two ports provide up to 3A each.
• Variable Dew Heater Outputs: Three ports offer adjustable voltage up to 12V, so you can set dew heater power without an external controller (or automate it with the optional ECCO2).

WiFi 6E, GHOST Mode, and Remote Desktop Control

The EAGLE6 XTM is designed for remote operation. It features WiFi 6E (802.11ax) connectivity, which expands into the 6 GHz band in addition to the standard 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The 6 GHz band reduces radio interference.

You can control the EAGLE6 XTM from any smartphone, tablet, or computer using a Remote Desktop app (such as Microsoft Remote Desktop or the Parallels Client). The EAGLE creates its own password-protected WiFi network for direct connection in the field (AP mode) or can be joined to an existing wired or wireless network (HOST mode) for remote observatory access. For PrimaLuceLab devices (SESTO SENSO 2, ESATTO, ARCO, GIOTTO and ALTO), GHOST mode allows you to replace the USB data cable with a wireless connection, further simplifying your setup.

Lights-out Management (LOM) and Observatory Actions

For remote observatories, the EAGLE6 XTM has Lights-out Management (LOM) and Observatory Actions. LOM provides a dedicated Ethernet port that allows you to power on the EAGLE, monitor its sensors, and control power ports, even when the main computer is shut down. It works independently of the operating system, so you can check that everything is ready before the EAGLE is turned on.

Observatory Actions utilize dedicated CTRL IN and CTRL OUT ports to integrate the EAGLE with external observatory equipment. The CTRL IN port can be triggered by an external device (like a smart relay) to power on, off or power cycle the EAGLE, switch a 12V, dew heater or A-B-C-D USB 2.0 port, or activate DARK mode. The CTRL OUT port can turn devices such as a mount or a dome on or off, in Switch or Pulse mode, when they accept an external switch input; it is set up in EAGLE Manager X.

Integrated Sensor Array: GPS, EYE, Inclinometer, and Motion Detector

The EAGLE6 XTM is equipped with a suite of integrated sensors whose data is shown in EAGLE Manager X and can be saved in log files.

• GPS Sensor: An external high-gain antenna automatically acquires precise latitude, longitude, elevation, and UTC time. EAGLE Manager X can write the UTC time to Windows.
• EYE Sensor: This sensor measures sky brightness in a 5° field of view, pointed along your telescope's optical axis. It provides real-time sky quality data in magnitudes per square arcsecond, also shown on the Bortle scale.
• Inclinometer: Measures the elevation of your telescope with a resolution of 0.1 degrees, so you can remotely check the telescope's elevation or your equatorial mount's elevation setting.
• Motion Detector: Shows unwanted motions from wind gusts or cable snags without confusing them with tracking or goto movements, so PLAY (or third-party software that supports it) can automatically repeat the last acquisition.

EAGLE Manager X and Windows 11: The Software Ecosystem

The EAGLE6 XTM runs on a lightweight, stable version of Windows 11 Enterprise, so you can use devices whose makers provide Windows drivers and install Windows software such as NINA, Sequence Generator Pro, Voyager, SharpCap, MaxIm DL, TheSkyX, Stellarium, Cartes du Ciel, PHD Guiding and PLAY.

All of the EAGLE’s unique hardware features are controlled through the EAGLE Manager X interface, which lets you manage power ports, control dew heaters, monitor sensor data, configure network settings, and activate special features like DARK mode (which disables all LEDs) and GHOST mode. It also allows you to create power-on and shutdown routines to automate your workflow.

The PLUS Aluminum Case: Mechanical Integration at 1.2 kg

The EAGLE6 XTM is housed in a rigid, lightweight aluminum chassis designed as part of the PrimaLuceLab PLUS (Prima Luce Universal System). Weighing just 1.2 kg (2.65 lb), the case mounts directly to your telescope; maximum deformation is 0.002 mm with 10 kg, and a guide scope of up to 8 kg can ride in parallel on the M5 holes.

The case features numerous M5 and M6 threaded holes, allowing for versatile and secure attachment to PLUS dovetail bars, clamps, and rings. Attach it at at least two points. The manual's caution: when attaching accessories, the threaded portion of the screw extending into the EAGLE's chassis must not exceed 6mm (or 4mm for holes over the fan) to avoid contact with internal electronics.

Getting Started: Creating a Recovery Drive Before Your First Session

The EAGLE6 XTM is a full Windows 11 computer, and before installing your own drivers or astrophotography software PrimaLuceLab asks you to create a Windows recovery drive. This process uses the built-in Windows tool to create a bootable USB drive (at least 16GB; USB 3.0 recommended).

This recovery drive will allow you to restore the EAGLE to its factory settings if a software or driver installation causes system instability. While PrimaLuceLab records a Windows Restore Point before shipping, major Windows Updates can automatically delete these points. Without a backup, the manual says a unit with Windows or SSD problems has to be shipped back to PrimaLuceLab, since every EAGLE has its own remote control codes.