PrimaLuceLab Ghost Mode - Less cables, less worries!!!!

One of the big advantages of the PrimaLuceLab Eagle is that it reduces the amount of cables on your Astrophotography rig. And now, with the recently introduced Ghost mode, even less cables are dangling around your rig. All about the Ghost mode - the requirements and how you activate it - here in this video.
Products mentioned in this video:
Eagle 5: bit.ly/3ypwxcH
Sesto Senso 2: bit.ly/3QKXDRJ
Esatto 2: bit.ly/3WLdaVt:
Arco: bit.ly/4apIMDl
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[@astrofromhome]

Somehow I am not sold on that solution.
I have a mini PC plus power box or an AsiAir on my telescopes. I run 4 USB cables and 1 or 2 power cables on the telescope itself. All cables just run the shortest distance. So focuser to main cam or control device depending on position, guide cam (OAG) to main cam, main cam to control device. Mount to control device whereas my iOptron mount would also allow wireless.
Switching to an Eagle and the PL focuser would mean that I could substitute one USB cable (focuser) by one 12V power cable and spend 2000 bucks for that kind of "convenience".
Flat Panel is not a selling point as a FP that can be controlled by ASCOM can be used with any miniPC. If I run 1 or 2 cables bundled together to the FP is all the same.
For people who anyway use the Prima Luce stuff already it is nice gimmick. For all others not really a reason to switch anything on their gear.
It could still be the case that maybe I do something wrong. Please let me know. Somehow I don't need 10 USB ports and 8 adjustable power outlets as well as all the cables.🤔
What else do I need then a main cam, guide cam, mount, focuser and maybe a dew band? Mybe in future when I switch to mono I will also have a filter wheel.

[@viewintospace]

As you state correctly, this is not a reason to switch to PLL gear at all - this is just a nice new feature for people who already own PLL gear. Now the other question if it is worth to acquire an Eagle, and consequentially other PLL gear really depends on your use case, your budget and your requirements on quality, convenience and reliability. It is very obvious that PLL offers best in class equipment in these areas, but not everyone needs that, in the same fashion as not everybody buys a Tak ;-)

[@starsips]

Do you know if its only PLL wifi compatible equipment that works with Ghost mode? If you have an Optec Focus Lynx or Starlight Instruments Focis Boss II units, these can be configured with wifi. Would these also connect and work with PLL Ghost mode?

[@viewintospace]

It is only PLL equipment that will work

[@eugennaiman1195]

For Prima Luce owners it does make sense and it is helping them deal with cables so, why not?
For all others who own USB powered devices, Prima Luce decision to go with 2 cables will seem ineffective and an overkill and they will be right as well.
Such is life, when you bought into a closed system you have no other option than go with it.

[@larryfine4719]

I'm assuming you still need a power cable to those devices. But many devices use the USB cable for power so I'm wondering if there will be a need for this feature? I guess if you have run out of USB ports that could be useful.

[@viewintospace]

PrimaLuceLab Equipment works with dedicated power cables as USB cables can only deliver a limited amount of energy. That is for example the reason why the EAF can only deal with 5kg load while the Sesto Senso can deal with 7kg.

[@larryfine4719]

@@viewintospace USB-C supports powering laptops these days so just need to change that USB connector :-)

[@viewintospace]

No, this is not how it works.... Given you also need to transfer data you need to connect the USB to a port on your computer. And this power throughput is much lower than when you load your notebook with a USB power brick....

[@ApoorvaIyer]

PrimaLuce Labs does great work. But in my opinion this is a missed opportunity to move to USBC for power and data just like how phones do it (USB PowerDelivery). Get the best of both worlds, not rely on Wireless, and vastly simplify cable management.

[@viewintospace]

A regular USB-C port on a PC can only provide 5V at 3 Amps. While a USB-C PD port can provide more power, it would be very customer unfriendly to require such a port, as many PCs still don't have it. And if they have it, then only one, and you might have many devices is such a situation. And the 5V 3A is simply not enough energy for powerful motors like the ones in the Sesto Senso.

[@RyanParle81]

Not sold on this idea to be honest! Total gimmick and waste of money! Wireless is always going to be more problematic than a physical cable, and as every device needs power it's no big deal to have a cable for data as well.
About 2 years ago I was a big fan of PLL but they have almost completely turned me away recently and this was the last straw

[@viewintospace]

If it would cost anything, I could kind of sympathize with your train of thought. It is definitely only a nice to have and nothing earth shattering. But if the Wifi connection is stable (to be seen), it is a nice feature. As this comes for free for all PLL customers who own these devices, I don't really get your "waste of money" point....