{"product_id":"sky-watcher-wave-150i-pro-strain-wave-mount-kit-with-steel-tripod-and-extension-tube","title":"Sky-Watcher Wave 150i Pro Strain Wave Mount Kit with Steel Tripod and Extension Tube","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the steel tripod configuration of the Wave 150i Pro kit: the Wave 150i GoTo strain wave head paired with a 2-inch steel leg heavy-duty EQ6 tripod and the extension tube that adapts the Wave head to it. The complete kit ships at 34.0 lb, of which the mount head accounts for 12.8 lb (5.8 kg), and it carries 33 pounds (15 kg) of payload with no counterweight fitted anywhere in the system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrain wave gearing is what removes the counterweights. High torque from a compact drive means the load sits entirely on one side of the axis, so the mass a conventional German equatorial spends on weights and a heavy head goes into the tripod instead — where it does something useful. The optical tube is not included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if the mount lives in one place — a backyard pad, an observatory floor, a permanent pier position — and you would rather put the extra mass under the mount than carry it. The 2-inch steel legs of the EQ6 tripod are the heaviest and most rigid support Sky-Watcher offers for the Wave 150i, and rigidity under the mount is what settles vibration between exposures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt also suits imagers who already own EQ6-class equipment and know that tripod. If you are running long focal lengths, a large astrograph, or working in wind, the steel legs are the reason to choose this kit over the carbon fiber one. The 33 lb payload covers glass-heavy triplets and large imaging tubes, and the optional stainless-steel counterweight kit lifts that to 55 lb (25 kg).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStrain wave drive technology:\u003c\/strong\u003e high torque from a compact gearbox, delivering smooth precise tracking without bulky counterweights, and the reason a 12.8 lb head handles 33 lb of payload.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e33-pound (15 kg) payload capacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e with no counterweight fitted. The optional stainless-steel counterweight kit takes it to 55 pounds (25 kg).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2-inch steel leg heavy-duty EQ6 tripod:\u003c\/strong\u003e the rigid support option for this kit, with the extension tube for the EQ6 tripod included to raise the head.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt-in cable management:\u003c\/strong\u003e through-mount cabling with a powered hub built into the saddle carrying an autoguiding port, a Dec USB port and two Dec outputs. The RA hub sits at the back of the mount and never moves, so cables do not track with the tube and do not snag.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOTA balancing on both axes:\u003c\/strong\u003e the Wave 150i balances on RA and Dec, which is unusual among strain wave mounts and directly affects how the drive behaves under an off-centre imaging train.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast slewing at 7.5 degrees per second:\u003c\/strong\u003e quick enough for satellite and space station work using the downloadable Satellite Tracker application for Windows PC on Sky-Watcher's International Support site.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEQ and AZ modes with RA and Dec home positions:\u003c\/strong\u003e equatorial for imaging, altazimuth for visual, with repeatable home positions in both.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSingle D\/V hybrid saddle:\u003c\/strong\u003e accepts both Vixen and Losmandy dovetails without changing hardware.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e0° to 90° latitude range:\u003c\/strong\u003e usable from the equator to the pole, with a red LED backlit latitude scale and bubble level for setup after dark.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWi-Fi and Bluetooth:\u003c\/strong\u003e wireless control from a phone or tablet through the SynScan app, alongside the SynScan hand controller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRA power-off braking:\u003c\/strong\u003e the RA axis brakes when power is removed rather than swinging free.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eASIAir compatible with the USB-B cable included:\u003c\/strong\u003e the cable that connects the mount to an ASIAir ships in the box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA conventional German equatorial balances the telescope against counterweights on the far side of the RA axis, and those weights frequently approach the mass of the optical tube itself. Strain wave gearing makes that unnecessary. The reduction ratio and holding torque let the Wave 150i carry 33 lb entirely on one side of the axis, which is why a 12.8 lb head replaces a mount assembly several times its weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 150i is the larger of the two Wave heads and carries the features that matter across a long imaging night. OTA balancing on both RA and Dec is present here and absent on the smaller head — balancing an off-centre train reduces the static load the drive holds, which changes how the mount behaves between slews. The cable architecture follows the same reasoning: the powered saddle hub terminates the guide camera, Dec cabling and USB feed at the moving end of the mount, while the fixed RA hub at the rear keeps the supply side clear of anything that rotates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder all of that sits the mechanical choice that defines this kit. The 2-inch steel leg heavy-duty EQ6 tripod is a mass-and-stiffness solution: steel legs of that diameter damp vibration faster than lighter materials and resist flexure under a long tube swinging near the meridian. The extension tube for the EQ6 tripod raises the head so that a long optical tube clears the legs through a full meridian pass. The trade is weight — 34.0 lb for the complete kit against 22.8 lb for the carbon fiber configuration — and that trade is the whole difference between the two versions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFixed-site and backyard deep-sky imaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e steel legs and an extension tube give a settled platform for long unattended runs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong-focal-length astrophotography:\u003c\/strong\u003e where vibration damping and tripod rigidity show up directly in the guiding trace.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeavy refractors and astrographs:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 33 lb payload without counterweights covers glass-heavy triplets and large imaging tubes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutomated and remote-controlled sessions:\u003c\/strong\u003e ASIAir, Eagle and StellarMate control gives plate solving and unattended imaging runs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSatellite and ISS tracking:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.5 degrees per second with the Windows Satellite Tracker application.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAltazimuth visual observing:\u003c\/strong\u003e AZ mode with a home position makes the same mount a straightforward visual platform.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe single D\/V hybrid saddle takes Vixen and Losmandy dovetails as supplied, which covers essentially every optical tube shipped with a rail by Sky-Watcher, Celestron, William Optics and Takahashi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eControl has three routes: the SynScan hand controller, the SynScan app over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or a third-party platform such as ASIAir, Eagle or StellarMate. The ASIAir connection uses the USB-B cable supplied with the kit. Sky-Watcher publishes Wave firmware updates on their firmware and software page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePower is 12V 2A and is not included. A regulated 12V supply or a lithium power pack of that rating runs the mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stainless-steel counterweight kit, the pier adapter, and the carbon fiber tripod configuration are separate options in the Wave range. If you are choosing between this steel kit and the carbon fiber version, or working out whether your tube needs the counterweight kit to sit inside the rating, send us the optical tube, camera and accessories you plan to run and we will work through the loaded weight and the tripod choice with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis is the steel tripod configuration.\u003c\/strong\u003e The kit includes a 2-inch steel leg heavy-duty EQ6 tripod and an extension tube for the EQ6 tripod. The carbon fiber version is a separate SKU with its own weight and price.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe complete kit ships at 34.0 lb.\u003c\/strong\u003e That is 11.2 lb more than the carbon fiber configuration, and the difference is entirely in the tripod and extension.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe optical tube is not included.\u003c\/strong\u003e The kit supplies the mount head, tripod and extension tube only.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12V 2A power is not included.\u003c\/strong\u003e The mount needs a supply of that rating to run.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e33 lb is the payload without a counterweight.\u003c\/strong\u003e Reaching 55 lb (25 kg) requires the optional stainless-steel counterweight kit, sold separately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12.8 lb is the mount head alone.\u003c\/strong\u003e The 34.0 lb figure is the complete kit as it ships, tripod and extension tube included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Satellite Tracker application is Windows PC only.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is downloaded from Sky-Watcher's International Support website.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit goes together in three pieces: tripod, extension tube, mount head. There are no counterweights to thread onto a shaft and no shaft to fit. The red LED latitude scale and bubble level are readable in the dark, and the 0° to 90° latitude range means the head is set once for your site. From there the SynScan app or an ASIAir handles the alignment. The steel tripod is the heaviest single component, which is why this configuration tends to be assembled once and left standing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from the carbon fiber kit?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tripod and extension. This kit ships with a 2-inch steel leg heavy-duty EQ6 tripod and an extension tube for the EQ6 tripod, and weighs 34.0 lb complete. The carbon fiber kit ships with a carbon fiber tripod and carbon fiber extension tube and weighs 22.8 lb complete. The Wave 150i mount head, its payload rating and every electronic feature are identical in both.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it need counterweights?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot for the 33 lb (15 kg) rating — that figure is published with no counterweight fitted. The optional stainless-steel counterweight kit exists to extend the rating to 55 lb (25 kg).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it work with an ASIAir?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and the USB-B cable for that connection is included. Eagle and StellarMate are also supported, as are the SynScan hand controller and the SynScan app.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat dovetails does the saddle accept?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe single D\/V hybrid saddle takes both Vixen and Losmandy dovetails.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it track satellites?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe slew rate is 7.5 degrees per second, and Sky-Watcher publishes a Satellite Tracker application for Windows PC on their International Support website for exactly that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Wave 150i on the most rigid support Sky-Watcher offers for it: 2-inch steel legs, an EQ6 extension tube, and a 33 lb payload carried with no counterweights at all. This is the configuration for a mount that stays put and images all night.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sky-Watcher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53896755642479,"sku":"S40016","price":3890.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/S30918_S30916_S30905_TripodPierandMount_LeftProfile.jpg?v=1785253564","url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/products\/sky-watcher-wave-150i-pro-strain-wave-mount-kit-with-steel-tripod-and-extension-tube","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}