PrimaLuce Lab GIOTTO 120 with ALTO-1 Telescope Cover Motor - GIOTTO120ALTO1

About the GIOTTO 120....

The PrimaLuce Lab GIOTTO 120 Smart Flat Field Generator is designed to help you capture flat calibration frames for telescopes with aperture up to 120mm and an external tube diameter of 77 mm to 140 mm. 

GIOTTO uses many LED lights at a color temperature similar to the Sun, a specially designed light diffuser and, thanks to the included thumbscrews, you can easily lock it in front of telescopes with external tube diameter from 77mm to 140mm.

GIOTTO is provided with integrated electronics that allow you adjust its light intensity by 100 steps (0 to 100%).  A USB-C port lets you connect to your EAGLE or any standard Windows computer for remote control with PLAY or an ASCOM driver. WiFi connectivity provides wirelessly control when using your smartphone or tablet via the included Virtual HandPad. If you want to automate the capture of your calibration files or are searching for the best way to remotely open and close your telescope, you can add the optional ALTO telescope cover motor and use GIOTTO as a remotely controlled motorized cap! 

About the ALTO-1 Telescope Cover Motor

If you want to automate the capture of your calibration files or if you are searching for the best way to remotely open and close your telescope, you can add this optional ALTO-1 telescope cover motor,  paired with GIOTTO sizes up to the 220mm model, as a remotely controlled motorized cap!

Primaluce Lab's ALTO-1 is the telescope cover motor designed to let you use GIOTTO for sizes up to 220mm 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 with  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 cable management and simplify your telescope setup. ALTO natively runs off of a 12V power source to avoid the need for external power units.

Main Features:

• Designed to let you use GIOTTO models up to 220 mm as a remotely controlled motorized cap.
• Natively runs off of a 12V power source (sold separately) to avoid the need to external power units.
• USB & 12V power passthrough plugs directly connect GIOTTO to ALTO, improving cable management.
• USB-C port lets you easily connect the ALTO to your EAGLE or a Windows computer.
• WiFi connectivity allows you to wirelessly control the motorized cap with your smartphone or tablet via included Virtual HandPad.
• Control with PLAY astrophotography software for EAGLE or Windows.
• Control through third-party software that supports ASCOM CoverCalibration with included ASCOM driver.
• Weight:  0.7kg or 1.5 lb.

ALTO Provides USB-C Port & WiFi Connectivity

Alto integrated control electronics has a USB-C port on board 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 ALTO 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 its easy to power together with your telescope and other accessories.

ALTO with passthrough ports to connect GIOTTO) and improve cable management

In order to connect ALTO & GIOTTO to your control computer, you do not have to connect USB & power cables to each device.  Instead, ALTO offers USB & 12V power passthrough plugs to improve cable management.  Connect short USB & power cables from GIOTTO directly to ALTO and then you will connect a USB & 12V power cable to your computer.  The computer will recognize GIOTTO and ALTO as separate devices in the device manager. This way, you will always be able to control them individually from your software.

ALTO-1 is Designed for GIOTTO up to 220 mm

In order to connect ALTO to your telescope, you can add the optional MORVLP PLUS dovetail clamp, allowing you to easily attach ALTO to any VIxen or Losmandy-style dovetail bar that often comes standard with many telescopes, such as SCT, Aplanatic SCT, RCT, etc.  If your telescope has a short dovetail plate; often the case with refractors or Newtonians; you can easily add a longer dovetail bar to let you clamp ALTO just above or below the front end of your tube.  This design allows you to adjust GIOTTO and ALTO positions in order to allow for optimal opening and closing of your telescope.  

In the bottom part of the ALTO body, you can find different M6 threaded holes that allow you to attach the ALTO to your telescope if you don't want to add the optional PLUS clamp.  Please note that in this case you will need to figure out how to fix ALTO on your telescope in order to allow GIOTTO rotation.  Since GIOTTO with ALTO can't seal the telescope front opening, we do not suggest using GIOTTO with ALTO to record dark calibration frames.  Instead, PPL suggests you record a dark library instead.

ALTO is Easy to Use with PLAY Software or ASCOM

You can control ALTO with PLAY astrophotography software.  This software was designed by Primaluce Lab to not only control their devices but to let you do astrophotography in the easiest way possible.  In fact, PLAY comes with a special wizard that allows you to easily calibrate the opening and closing position with ALTO & GIOTTO installed on your telescope.  Then, a simple mouse click will remotely open or close your telescope!  

If you would rather use your own Windows astrophotography software, you can also control ALTO with any 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.  On the HandPad, you can open or close your telescope caps without the need for a computer, like using your smartphone as an additional handmade.  It will also allow you to save your preferred settings and recall them very easily.

ALTO-1 What's In the Box

• ALTO-1 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