Here is a posting that indicates the CG4 and SW EQ3-2 are virtually identical.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/159999-cg4-worm-gear-ratios/

I can't confirm that because I've never seen either.

On September 19, 2022 5:03:33 p.m. EDT, Biswajit Bose <solarbose@...> wrote:

Will it work with CG4 mount?... 

On Tue, 20 Sep, 2022, 02:18 "Guilherme Vênere, <venere@...> wrote:

I bought (probably) one of the latest Instein units to be sold before they went offline, and only found this group *after* spending the money, because I needed to change parameters in my unit and never got the source code for their specific version. So I spent some time understanding the code for the last version at the time and with help from some people here I was able to integrate Instein's changes to master, hence helping everyone who had those units.

Now if this Chinese company sells a million units, and 0.1% of the buyers do like myself and get interested and decide to contribute to the project, I think that's a win, right?

Guilherme

On Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 1:37 PM Dave Schwartz via groups.io <Dave.Schwartz=netflash.net@groups.io> wrote:

Instein was the same... a few folks who took the GPL'd code and made a
business selling turn-key solutions for only one or two mounts where
everything was known. However, since the controller was a custom design
the group doesn't provide support (unless some members with Instein
experience take pity on them and discuss off-line).

This looks like an ESP32 variation with about 50% of the parts converted
to surface mount construction. As such it doesn't look like it would
have required code customization so it probably is supportable and on
the migration path as long as they give you the config files (which,
being re-sold GPL, they are obliged to do). It looks like the case has a
clever design where the grid antenna is printed on the outside of the
endplate (might have some reception pattern issues).

You are paying >>300% markup for the convenience but that's probably
worth it for some.

On 2022-09-19 3:54 p.m., GuitsBoy wrote:
>
> Wow, that seems incredibly generous, regardless of who's selling
> what.  I always assumed Enstein had some kind of licensed deal before
> things went belly up, but never really inquired about it or even
> looked at the license as it pertains to commercial applications.  But
> I suppose some people really need a turn-key solution, and that's one
> way to continue to grow the OnStep community beyond those willing (or
> capable) of tinkering with their own build.
>
> While I can't explain why, I'm now more impressed than ever.
>
>
> On 9/19/2022 3:39 PM, Howard Dutton wrote:
>> It's ok by me, hopefully the quality of the kit is decent.
>>
>> And OnStep is GPL3, they're allowed to use it commercially if they like.
>

--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Will it work with CG4 mount?... 

On Tue, 20 Sep, 2022, 02:18 "Guilherme Vênere, <venere@...> wrote:

I bought (probably) one of the latest Instein units to be sold before they went offline, and only found this group *after* spending the money, because I needed to change parameters in my unit and never got the source code for their specific version. So I spent some time understanding the code for the last version at the time and with help from some people here I was able to integrate Instein's changes to master, hence helping everyone who had those units.

Now if this Chinese company sells a million units, and 0.1% of the buyers do like myself and get interested and decide to contribute to the project, I think that's a win, right?

Guilherme

On Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 1:37 PM Dave Schwartz via groups.io <Dave.Schwartz=netflash.net@groups.io> wrote:

Instein was the same... a few folks who took the GPL'd code and made a
business selling turn-key solutions for only one or two mounts where
everything was known. However, since the controller was a custom design
the group doesn't provide support (unless some members with Instein
experience take pity on them and discuss off-line).

This looks like an ESP32 variation with about 50% of the parts converted
to surface mount construction. As such it doesn't look like it would
have required code customization so it probably is supportable and on
the migration path as long as they give you the config files (which,
being re-sold GPL, they are obliged to do). It looks like the case has a
clever design where the grid antenna is printed on the outside of the
endplate (might have some reception pattern issues).

You are paying >>300% markup for the convenience but that's probably
worth it for some.

On 2022-09-19 3:54 p.m., GuitsBoy wrote:
>
> Wow, that seems incredibly generous, regardless of who's selling
> what.  I always assumed Enstein had some kind of licensed deal before
> things went belly up, but never really inquired about it or even
> looked at the license as it pertains to commercial applications.  But
> I suppose some people really need a turn-key solution, and that's one
> way to continue to grow the OnStep community beyond those willing (or
> capable) of tinkering with their own build.
>
> While I can't explain why, I'm now more impressed than ever.
>
>
> On 9/19/2022 3:39 PM, Howard Dutton wrote:
>> It's ok by me, hopefully the quality of the kit is decent.
>>
>> And OnStep is GPL3, they're allowed to use it commercially if they like.
>

I bought (probably) one of the latest Instein units to be sold before they went offline, and only found this group *after* spending the money, because I needed to change parameters in my unit and never got the source code for their specific version. So I spent some time understanding the code for the last version at the time and with help from some people here I was able to integrate Instein's changes to master, hence helping everyone who had those units.

Now if this Chinese company sells a million units, and 0.1% of the buyers do like myself and get interested and decide to contribute to the project, I think that's a win, right?

Guilherme

On Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 1:37 PM Dave Schwartz via groups.io <Dave.Schwartz=netflash.net@groups.io> wrote:

Instein was the same... a few folks who took the GPL'd code and made a
business selling turn-key solutions for only one or two mounts where
everything was known. However, since the controller was a custom design
the group doesn't provide support (unless some members with Instein
experience take pity on them and discuss off-line).

This looks like an ESP32 variation with about 50% of the parts converted
to surface mount construction. As such it doesn't look like it would
have required code customization so it probably is supportable and on
the migration path as long as they give you the config files (which,
being re-sold GPL, they are obliged to do). It looks like the case has a
clever design where the grid antenna is printed on the outside of the
endplate (might have some reception pattern issues).

You are paying >>300% markup for the convenience but that's probably
worth it for some.

On 2022-09-19 3:54 p.m., GuitsBoy wrote:
>
> Wow, that seems incredibly generous, regardless of who's selling
> what.  I always assumed Enstein had some kind of licensed deal before
> things went belly up, but never really inquired about it or even
> looked at the license as it pertains to commercial applications.  But
> I suppose some people really need a turn-key solution, and that's one
> way to continue to grow the OnStep community beyond those willing (or
> capable) of tinkering with their own build.
>
> While I can't explain why, I'm now more impressed than ever.
>
>
> On 9/19/2022 3:39 PM, Howard Dutton wrote:
>> It's ok by me, hopefully the quality of the kit is decent.
>>
>> And OnStep is GPL3, they're allowed to use it commercially if they like.
>

Instein was the same... a few folks who took the GPL'd code and made a
business selling turn-key solutions for only one or two mounts where
everything was known. However, since the controller was a custom design
the group doesn't provide support (unless some members with Instein
experience take pity on them and discuss off-line).

This looks like an ESP32 variation with about 50% of the parts converted
to surface mount construction. As such it doesn't look like it would
have required code customization so it probably is supportable and on
the migration path as long as they give you the config files (which,
being re-sold GPL, they are obliged to do). It looks like the case has a
clever design where the grid antenna is printed on the outside of the
endplate (might have some reception pattern issues).

You are paying >>300% markup for the convenience but that's probably
worth it for some.

On 2022-09-19 3:54 p.m., GuitsBoy wrote:
>
> Wow, that seems incredibly generous, regardless of who's selling
> what.  I always assumed Enstein had some kind of licensed deal before
> things went belly up, but never really inquired about it or even
> looked at the license as it pertains to commercial applications.  But
> I suppose some people really need a turn-key solution, and that's one
> way to continue to grow the OnStep community beyond those willing (or
> capable) of tinkering with their own build.
>
> While I can't explain why, I'm now more impressed than ever.
>
>
> On 9/19/2022 3:39 PM, Howard Dutton wrote:
>> It's ok by me, hopefully the quality of the kit is decent.
>>
>> And OnStep is GPL3, they're allowed to use it commercially if they like.
>

It's ok by me, hopefully the quality of the kit is decent.

And OnStep is GPL3, they're allowed to use it commercially if they like.

I get how this might initially be very off-putting.   And to say nothing of any legal or copyright issues at hand.   But if you consider that a very large portion of OnStep controller boards come from china by way of aliexpress or amazon, the end result is not much different.  Theyve handled a lot of the custom fabrication and brackets you normally have to figure out for yourself, and put it all in a fairly attractive enclosure, with nice connectors, and the ability to add upgrades.  While I dont know exactly what components theyre using, at first glance, it looks like a fairly reasonable deal.  If you looked at it as if they were selling the hardware only, and you had to flash onstep yourself, would you feel a little better about it? 

I personally have mixed feelings about it.  I certainly dont want to see some asian based vendors making money off the hard work by Howard and the rest of the OnStep community.   But from a hardware point of view, it might be an attractive consideration.  I guess we'll have to wait and see how the big names here feel about this.   Ultimately, if Howard and co feel slighted by it, I'll make certain they dont see one cent from me. 

On 9/19/2022 2:41 PM, Craciun Bogdan wrote:

Hey guys dis you know that aliexpress sells OnStep controller omg...freaking Chinese how's that possible