PrimaLuceLab EAGLE6 S Computer for Telescopes and Astrophotography

EAGLE6 S: A Windows 11 Computer Designed for Your Telescope

The EAGLE6 S is designed to simplify cable management, power distribution and remote computer control at the telescope. By consolidating a full Windows 11 Enterprise computer, a multi-port power hub, and an extensive USB hub into a single device that rides on the optical tube, it removes the need for a separate laptop and reduces the risk of cables snagging or detaching as the telescope moves.

Because it runs a full version of Windows, you retain complete freedom to use your preferred astronomy software (for example NINA, Sequence Generator Pro, Voyager, SharpCap, MaxIm DL, TheSkyX, Stellarium, Cartes du Ciel, PHD Guiding and PrimaLuceLab's own PLAY) and devices that offer Windows drivers. The entire system is powered by a single 12V regulated input, which simplifies field setups.

13th Gen Intel i3 6-Core Processor and 256GB NVMe SSD

At the core of the EAGLE6 S is a 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor with 6 cores, with a thermal design power (TDP) of 15W. Paired with 8GB of DDR4 3200 MHz RAM and a fast 256GB NVMe SSD, this configuration is powerful and responsive enough to run demanding astrophotography software.

PrimaLuceLab utilizes industrial-grade RAM and SSD components, which PrimaLuceLab chose for reliability also in very low temperatures. The Windows 11 Enterprise operating system is a lightweight, stable version of Windows, free from the bloatware often found on consumer PCs, providing a more responsive and reliable platform for your imaging sessions.

EAGLE6 S vs. EAGLE6: A 272% Performance Uplift

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

Compared to a common mini-PC, with an Intel Celeron N3160, 4GB of RAM and SSD, the base EAGLE6 scores 62% more and the EAGLE6 S 272% more. The main hardware differences from the EAGLE6:

• Processor: The EAGLE6 S uses a 13th Gen Intel Core i3 6-Core processor, where the EAGLE6 has an Intel Celeron J6412 Quad-Core.
• Storage: It features a 256GB NVMe SSD, doubling the 128GB capacity of the base model, providing more space for software, drivers, and image data.
• Connectivity: Unlike the EAGLE6, the S has two USB4 Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, up to 40 Gbps (PrimaLuceLab compares this with up to 5 Gbps for USB 3.0).

10-Port USB Hub with Dual 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 Ports

The EAGLE6 S eliminates the need for external USB hubs by integrating ten ports directly into its chassis, simplifying cable routing.

The port layout:

• 3x USB 3.2 Ports: High-speed ports.
• 2x USB4 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) Ports: Offering speeds up to 40 Gbps, they connect devices like high-speed external storage, displays and multi-port docking stations, and up to 6 daisy-chained devices through a single port.
• 5x USB 2.0 Ports: Four of these ports can be remotely turned on and off via the EAGLE Manager X software, so a device such as an autoguider or planetary camera that has temporarily crashed can be reset without going to the telescope.

7-Port 12V Power Bridge with 8A High-Current Outputs

A central feature of the EAGLE is its integrated power bridge, which distributes a single 12V input to seven different outputs. This lets you power 12V devices such as your camera, mount and focuser, plus dew heaters, from the EAGLE, with one cable from your battery or AC adapter. The four 12V ports have screw-type connections to prevent accidental detachment.

The power distribution is designed to handle a variety of loads:

• 4x 12V Power Outputs: Ports 1 and 2 supply up to 3A each; ports 3 and 4 supply up to 8A each. A microcontroller lets you adjust the maximum current limit of the 12V ports by plus or minus 1A.
• 3x Adjustable Voltage Outputs: These ports provide variable voltage up to 12V, designed to power dew heater straps directly without needing a separate controller. The power level can be adjusted manually through the EAGLE Manager X software or automated with the optional ECCO2 environmental controller.
• Overcurrent Protection: A dedicated chip on the power board quickly disconnects power in the event of an overcurrent, faster than traditional fuses, protecting the EAGLE and connected devices. Power is automatically restored once the issue is resolved.

WiFi 6E and GHOST Mode for Cable-Free Telescope Control

The EAGLE6 S features WiFi 6E (802.11ax) technology, providing a fast and stable wireless connection for remote control. By expanding connectivity to the 6 GHz band in addition to the standard 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, WiFi 6E reduces radio interference. You can control the EAGLE with a Remote Desktop client (such as Microsoft Remote Desktop or the Parallels Client) on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

For an even cleaner setup, GHOST mode allows you to wirelessly control PrimaLuceLab devices (SESTO SENSO 2, ESATTO, ARCO, GIOTTO and ALTO). When activated, GHOST mode uses the EAGLE's WiFi to create a virtual COM port for the device, allowing you to remove the USB cable entirely while software sees it as it would with a USB cable, without special drivers.

Lights-Out Management (LOM) and Observatory Actions

Designed for fully remote observatories, the EAGLE6 S has two features for advanced automation. Lights-Out Management (LOM) provides control over the EAGLE even when the computer is powered off. By connecting the dedicated LOM Ethernet port to your network, you can access a web interface to remotely power on the EAGLE, monitor sensor data, and check the status of power and USB ports before initiating an imaging session.

Observatory Actions extend this control to other equipment in your observatory. The system includes two dedicated ports:

• CTRL IN: This port allows an external device, like a smart relay switch, to trigger actions on the EAGLE. You can configure it to power on, off or power cycle the EAGLE, switch a 12V power out port, a dew heater port or one of the A-B-C-D USB 2.0 ports, or activate DARK mode.
• CTRL OUT: This port lets the EAGLE turn external devices such as mounts or domes on or off, in Switch or Pulse mode, when they accept an external switch input (the cable depends on your device and is not included).

4 Onboard Sensors for Positional and Environmental Data

The EAGLE6 S integrates a suite of sensors that provide critical data about your telescope's position and the observing environment, all visible within the EAGLE Manager X interface. Sensor data can also be saved in log files on the EAGLE.

• GPS: An external high-gain antenna allows the GPS sensor to quickly acquire your 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 narrow 5° field of view, matching where your telescope is pointed. It gives sky brightness in magnitudes per square arcsecond, also on the Bortle scale.
• Inclinometer: Measures the elevation of your telescope with a resolution of 0.1 degrees. The average error is under 1 degree, so you can remotely check that the telescope points at the correct elevation or that the equatorial mount elevation is set correctly.
• Motion Detector: Shows unexpected 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: Your Telescope's Central Command

All of the EAGLE6 S's advanced features are controlled through the EAGLE Manager X software, which starts automatically.

From the main dashboard, you can:

• Manage Power: Remotely enable or disable each of the four 12V power out ports and monitor the real-time current draw of each connected device.
• Control USB Ports: Toggle the four switchable USB 2.0 ports on or off to reset a device remotely.
• Adjust Dew Heaters: Manually set the voltage for the three dew heater ports.
• Monitor Sensors: View live data from the GPS, EYE sky monitor, Inclinometer, and Motion Detector.
• Configure Network: Switch between Access Point (AP) mode for direct connection in the field and HOST mode for connecting to an existing WiFi network.
• Automate Routines: Define the default state of power and USB ports for startup and shutdown procedures, automating your session setup.
• Activate Special Modes: Enable DARK mode to turn off all indicator LEDs or GHOST mode for wireless device control.

The PLUS Case: Secure Mounting at Just 1200 Grams

The EAGLE6 S is housed in a rigid, lightweight aluminum chassis designed as part of the PrimaLuceLab PLUS (Prima Luce Universal System) ecosystem. Weighing 1200 g, the case has M5 and M6 threaded holes to attach PLUS support rings, guide rings, dovetail bars or dovetail clamps, at at least two points to keep the system rigid.

You can mount the EAGLE in several ways, for example directly above the support rings like a dovetail bar, or below your main telescope, using PLUS rings, bars and clamps. When mounting, it is critical to use the correct length screws; the manual specifies that the threaded portion of the screw entering the EAGLE case must not exceed 6mm (or 4mm for holes over the fan) to avoid contact with internal electronics.

Your First Session: Create a Recovery Drive in 4 Steps

After attaching the WiFi and GPS antennas and connecting a 12V power source, you power it on (a first beep), and after about one minute a second beep indicates the WiFi network is active. You can then connect from your chosen device (phone, tablet, or computer) to the EAGLE's WiFi network and use a remote desktop client to access the Windows desktop.

Before installing any of your own drivers or astronomy software, PrimaLuceLab asks you to do this first: creating a Windows recovery drive. This process copies the factory system files to an external USB drive (not included, at least 16GB; the manual recommends USB 3.0). Should you encounter a software or driver issue in the future that corrupts the Windows installation, this recovery drive will allow you to restore the EAGLE to its original state. The manual walks through the Windows 11 recovery drive tool step by step.