SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro: Review & In Depth Insights After 1 Year Of Ownership 

One tip with the EqMOD Toolbox, if you right click and open as an administrator you won't get the error message and it will register.

Wow, great review! Including the computer control setup was very valuable for me, thank you. Very impressive line up of people you have in your final image!

So excited because I just got notification after waiting for many, many months that my EQ-6- R-PRO Mount is on its way! Thank you for the very detailed review. I feel like I know what I'm getting into already.

Great review. Thank you

Very focus and helpful review.

SkyWatcher, please: DO NOT LIGHTEN UP THE EQ6! The increased mass of the EQ6 is one of the desirable attributes of this mount. Make it liter, it won't be as as stable. Stability is GOLD in mounts! Don't trade solid gold for a little convenience.

You probably know this already, since it's been 3 years since you posted the video, but your complaint about having power outlets and USB connections closer to the saddle have been answered by the ASIAIR and a few other on-mount operating systems. I connect my ASIAir to the back end of my dovetail, putting it directly below my focuser and close to the main camera and guide camera. Also, you might like the ADM saddle for the EQ6R-Pro mount, it is a machined piece of aluminum instead of cast, and has both dovetail sizes like the Skywatcher saddle, but holds much more securely. Good review, and a great mount.

By far the best review of this thing :). Thanks for that, you got my sub ^^

I've been wanting to buy this one for a while and I was searching all over RU-vid for a detailed well prepared and well shot review review, and omg u hit the jack pot bro. Thank you so much. Just subbed keep up the good work.

Great video! I was on the fence between the HEQ5 and EQ6R Pro...this assisted in my decision making. Thanks!

Yes I have had that issue, legs not clamping properly and with scope on the legs slipping. Vaseline worked a treat.

Nice review. I have HEQ5, with belt mod. The advantage for much more easz to carry.. And my setup is around 9 kg only...

Perfect thanks.

Flexible Polar Alignment Sky-Watcher includes an illuminated polar finderscope to aid the polar alignment process. The finderscope features a circular grid reticle for the northern hemisphere, consistent with todays popular polar alignment apps. For astronomers in the southern hemisphere, the constellation Octans is built into the reticle as well. Even without a clear view of Polaris, the EQ Pro can be polar aligned using our SynScan hand controller. Simply choose one of the visible stars listed and use the latitude adjustment screws to center it in the eyepiece.

Very helpful & practical real world review, thanks for making it. I am very impressed with the mount's build quality & quietness. (I don't own one though) Like you, I wish the power cable could be one that could be used with a Celestron power cable (2.1mm x 5.5mm) or even Meade ( 2.5mm x 5.5mm ). I wonder if there is an adapter out there that converts Celestron power cables to be able to be used with Skywatcher mounts? That would be great as I would then be able to use my array of Celestron power tanks on a Skywatcher mount. I'm planning on getting an AZ-EQ6 mount, hence me watching your video. Do you happen to know if it's true that when that mount is in AZ mode that the capacity is effectively doubled, IE 20 kilos of gear can be installed on each side of the mount? I have read in various places that one can do that but it's almost like an urban astronomy myth because I can't find anything definitve from Skywatcher about that. Do you happen to know?? Thanks again for a great vid!! Subscribed

I modified the altitude adjustment handle by removing the inside spring, replacing the retaining screw with a 40mm x 5mm 0.8 allen head screw, appropriate spring and washer to keep the handle engaged with enough back space to dis-engage for adjusting.

its it possible to explain in video home position setup

I would love to learn how you polar align in the southern hemisphere.

Does ANYONE have any experience using the usb port now on the EQ6-R PRO?. I'm struggling to find anything about it.

What battery charge power can you use with this?????

I like mine too except the RA will slip no matter how tight the clutch is, if it's not balanced well. Also if you open the clutches it still isn't very loose, so you can't balance it perfectly and you can tell when it's guiding that it's unbalanced depending on which side of the meridian it's on. On the slipping, the very first night I took it out the guiding went nuts after the mount started tracking even slightly at an angle in the RA. I looked and it was obviously slipping. I fixed it by probably over tightening the RA clutch. This was with a very light setup (72ED with a ZWO 183mm pro and a 60mm guide scope). I was only using one counterweight and it was close to balanced, but as I said it's hard to balance it exactly. I think they are using the same grease that's in the AVX. I started with the AVX and it's about the same when I tried to balance them both.

What's the best battery to use mate?

Is EqMOD necessary for astrophotography?

EQ6R: funciona con qué tipo de energía ? Baterías AA, AAA or other

Hi! Thanks for this video, looks like a very good mount. I own a Celestron CGEM, but I´ve been thinking about upgrading it with the EQ6r Pro. What I love about the CGEM, or Celestron mounts in general, is the ASPA feature, which let´s you polar align the mount with any star. Does the EQ6r Pro has a similar option?

Where did you get the male power connector? Or, did you use the original one and soldered the orange power cable instead?

The front panel now has a USB port on it in addition to the 2 RJ ports.

Great review! How it compares to AZ-EQ6 pro? Which one is better, in terms of stability and long focal length long exposure astro photography?

Can you tell me the diameter of the tripod when fully open at the base. Thanks

What DC power source do you use in the field away from home? Will it work from a compact jump start battery or do you need a large car or marine battery?

Thanks for a great video. That has raised some questions for me. As I get deeper into Astrophotography, I'd like to upgrade my mount. I am using a Edge HD 8" SCT with DSLR. Will the HEQ5 Pro be sufficient or am I better with this larger mount? I mostly will use from shed to garden, but may want to transport further also.

have you had any issues with loose drive belts??

Have their been any development changes (like motor or otherwise) with this mount between 2018 and 2020?

Where did you get that orange power cable? That’s pretty cool 👍 Me want 😬

Do you think it is OK for astrophotography with a C-11 (OTA 28 pounds) or an Astrophysics 6-inch f/7 ETF refractor? I currently have an old Astro-Physics 900 mount with homemade70 pound tripod, but it is too heavy for me to handle.

Where do we purchase the rj45/usb cable such as yours?

I’m new to astronomy. I have a 10” Zhumell Dobsonian. It weighs 15kg Can you put a big light bucket on this mount?. I want it for visual viewing

I see that OPT has two models of this tracker, "SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Go-To Mount" ($1,595) and the "SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 Mount"($2,170). I can see the differences in the construction of each but am wondering what other differences they have. The AZ-EQ6 is also more expensive. Anyone know the facts?

are you able to control this mount from a ipad or android phone from sky safari or any other telescope controling apps ?

Wish it came in a dark color

Is this a tracking mount?

And you run the 190 MN Maksutov-Newtonian on this? And it's adequate for that weight?? I had not realized the EQ6R was that robust...

does themount come with that cable Lynx astro or did you have to order seperate?

Interesting that you do not use your alignment scope, I just watched a Sky-Watcher video about this exact scope and the alignment scope can be used in the southern hemisphere... Flexible Polar Alignment Sky-Watcher includes an illuminated polar finderscope to aid the polar alignment process. The finderscope features a circular grid reticle for the northern hemisphere, consistent with todays popular polar alignment apps. For astronomers in the southern hemisphere, the constellation Octans is built into the reticle as well. Even without a clear view of Polaris, the EQ Pro can be polar aligned using our SynScan hand controller. Simply choose one of the visible stars listed and use the latitude adjustment screws to center it in the eyepiece.

How do you power this mount when in the middle of no where?

Why do you not have the weight over the front leg? You can put the lin over the leg, that way easier to adjust latitude adjustment and weight is over the leg, so no chance of any tipping. I can understand having between legs if lower latitude, but like me of your 43 south or even around 40 degrees am sure you could have the weight over the leg. The mount between the legs and being top heavy a big scope its likely to topple over, weight on front leg prevents this and mount pin allows either over or between leg options.

Skywatcher make great mounts, but behind celestron, which has better easier software. Was considering the eq alz version, but think the software and HC is better setup than Skywatcher. Their PWI software is amazing and allready have the Celestron electric focuser which cannot be controlled with skyscan HC. Looking at the CGX mount, so much better I feel as software and controller menus etc are better on celestron. Its just more integrated than skywatcher. Think though the eq/ alt alz mount is one of the best mount, just let down by lacking its own software and HC not as great as celestron. Compared Skywatcher is just a little large, wereas celestron reacts instantly. Plus one big plus is all star polar alightment with celestron making getting your scope polar alightment as easy as doing a star alightment. Also star alighment us easier with celestron and not restricted to even knowing the star or in any area, any 3 stars, will do, even if you dont know there names, so think celestron is easier. Guess they are the equivalent to apple, they just integrate better.

Have heard the AZ EQ6 is better, has a much better attitude adjustment on bolt instead of push pull like the EQ6 and double encoders so can manually move mount without losing alignment. An torn between EQ6 R PRO OR AZ EQ6

A nice mount, but it is heavy, so don't drop it on your foot. I am disabled and it is difficult to carry any distance. I have mine connected directly to my computer

You think auto-guide cogs annoyed your neighbors, try using a blow dryer at 1:00am to defog your mirrors instead of anti-dew belts 🤣

possibly drop your exposure a little - Your shot is overexposed in the top left quarter - very distracting. Nice review and I love my EQ6PRO too.

Ok.. I don't mean to be picky here .. but took me a bit to rewind and play a few times to realize what you were trying to say.. @ 1:00 - 1:20 .. You kinda threw me off. ( SO I know a noobie who knows NOTHING about this stuff watching to see if they should buy this mount) .. cuz you kept talking about the MOUNT. yet looking at and talking about the TRIPOD .. which is NOT the mount and has nothing to do with the mount. ( it can be on a portable or permanent pier or even a totally different Tripod ) etc.. So the loose screw you fixed. is not related to the "review" of the MOUNT.. ( AS I just purchased the Mount without a tripod. so I could purchase a portable pier to stick it on ) and watching this to see if I need to make any changes etc. to my MOUNT.. Other than that one misstep on the tripod.. GREAT REVIEW ..

Perfect.