iOptron HAE69 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount

69 lbs of Payload on a Sub-20 lb Head: The 800:1 Strain Wave Advantage

Every HAE69 is built around strain wave gears in both RA and DEC with an 800:1 reduction ratio. This compact, high-torque drive carries up to 69 lbs (31 kg) of telescope and imaging train with no counterweight or shaft, on an all-metal, CNC-machined head that weighs 19.8 lbs (9 kg) with saddle on the HAE69C and HAE69B, and 19 lbs (8.6 kg) on the original HAE69: a payload-to-weight ratio of more than 3.5:1. For oversized instrument packages, the optional 10 lb (4.5 kg) counterweight and Φ20×200mm shaft raise capacity to 79 lbs (36 kg). Strain wave gears have zero backlash, so the mount responds instantly to guide corrections, and the non-encoder versions track with a periodic error of less than ±15 arcseconds over a 270-second period.

Dual AZ/EQ Modes, 0° to 90° Latitude and an Electronic Power-Off Brake

Run the HAE69 in Alt-Azimuth mode for fast, no-alignment visual sessions and outreach, or switch to Equatorial mode for polar-aligned, long-exposure astrophotography without field rotation. The 0° to 90° latitude range lets you polar align anywhere from the equator to the poles, and ±8° of azimuth adjustment makes fine alignment quick. Because strain wave gears can be back-driven, every version has an electronic friction brake that engages automatically when power is turned off or lost, so a heavy OTA can never swing freely. The Vixen/Losmandy dual saddle accepts both dovetail styles, the 152mm mounting base fits optional tripods and piers, and the iPolar electronic polar scope (included with the original iPolar versions, optional for the others) makes polar alignment fast and accurate.

High-Precision RA Encoder: Real-Time PEC for Unguided Imaging (EC Versions)

The HAE69C-EC, HAE69B-EC w/ iMate and original HAE69EC w/ iPolar add a high-precision encoder on the RA axis. It feeds real-time position data to the motor controller, which continuously corrects tracking deviations with real-time periodic error correction (RPEC) across the 270-second gear period. For imagers, that means tighter guiding, consistently rounder stars and, depending on focal length and polar alignment accuracy, unguided sub-exposures of several minutes. For the most demanding long-focal-length work, every HAE69 version still includes an ST-4 compatible autoguide port.

Choose Your HAE69 Version

All HAE69 versions share the same 800:1 strain wave drive, 69 lb (31 kg) counterweight-free payload, 0° to 90° AZ/EQ design and electronic friction brake. They differ in how the mount is controlled, which ports it provides, whether the RA encoder is fitted and, for the original generation, what comes in the box.

• HAE69C: The streamlined current model. Its main board has built-in Wi-Fi plus USB-C on the mount base, and the dovetail saddle adds a DC 12V output and a USB-C port so accessories can be powered and connected right at the telescope. No handset is required: control it from a PC via ASCOM or INDI, or wirelessly from a phone or tablet (Go2Nova® 8411 OLED handset optional). Ideal if you already run your own laptop or mini-PC.
• HAE69C-EC: The HAE69C with the high-precision RA encoder and real-time PEC, for imagers who want the best tracking accuracy and longer unguided exposures from a lightweight rig.
• HAE69B w/ iMate: Adds the iMate, an open-source onboard computer with Wi-Fi, preloaded with KStars/Ekos and iPolarServer. It replaces the laptop or mini-PC at the scope and supplies 1× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0 and 3× 12V DC outputs on the mount for your cameras, focuser and filter wheel. iOptron lists the same 19.8 lb (9 kg) head weight and 69 lb payload as the HAE69C, so the computer comes built in without costing payload.
• HAE69B-EC w/ iMate: The iMate computer plus the high-precision RA encoder: a self-contained imaging platform that plate solves, schedules and tracks with real-time PEC without any external computer.
• HAE69 (Original): The first-generation HAE69 with a 19 lb (8.6 kg) head and periodic error of less than ±15 arcsec. It is controlled through the included Go2Nova® 8409 hand controller with a ~212,000-object database, which also provides built-in Wi-Fi, while a USB port handles computer control and firmware upgrades; power-down position memory is standard. It has neither the HAE69C's on-saddle ports nor the HAE69B's iMate computer.
• HAE69 w/ iPolar (Original): The original HAE69 with the external iPolar electronic polar scope included for fast, accurate polar alignment from a PC.
• HAE69EC w/ iPolar (Original): The original HAE69 with the high-precision RA encoder and real-time PEC, plus the included iPolar electronic polar scope.

HAE69 vs. iOptron CEM70 and Other 70 lb-Class GEMs

Conventional German equatorial mounts in the 70 lb payload class are proven platforms, often with a lower entry cost and a familiar design. The HAE69's strain wave drive changes how much you have to carry and set up.

• Weight & Portability: iOptron's own CEM70 carries a similar payload on a 30 lb head and needs counterweights to balance it, and 70 lb-class GEMs typically call for 30-50 lbs of counterweights plus a shaft. The HAE69 handles 69 lbs on a head under 20 lbs with no counterweights at all.
• Setup: With nothing to balance, assembly is faster and physically far less demanding, which means more time imaging and less time wrestling heavy components in the dark.
• Drive System: The CEM70 uses a well-regarded belt/worm drive. The HAE69's strain wave gears offer zero backlash, and rely on the RA encoder (EC versions) or autoguiding for optimal tracking accuracy.
• Integrated Control: The HAE69B's onboard iMate computer replaces the mini-PC, USB hub and power distribution box a traditional mount needs for the same level of integration.