Programmable Mosfet ASTER Basic version for Gearbox AEG V2

ASTER V2 is a younger brother of well-known TITAN V2.

This world's first 4th generation AEG Control System is destined for most of AEGs with gearbox V2 on the market (including stock, low- and mid-tuned) and even for high-tuned guns (in case of EXPERT firmware).

It was designed to achieve maximum reliability at attractive price and hence it has extremely profitable price-performance ratio.

Transform your AEG by replacing trigger contacts with computerized controller equipped with innovative optical sensors, including proximity trigger sensor which offers even 250 sensitivity settings.

Gain unique tactical advantage thanks to extremely fast trigger response and lots of other useful functions.

ASTER's smart fuse protects your AEG’s battery, motor and the controller, even in case of reverse battery connection.

This feature, along with the optical sensors, makes ASTER the most durable drop-in unit on the market.

You choose how to configure ASTER - simply via trigger or through USB-Link / Blu-Link* and our advanced GCS app.

To enjoy full potential of ASTER, you can upgrade its firmware to ADVANCED or EXPERT.

*Blu-Link is future GATE Bluetooth® adapter

What makes ASTER so special?

• Protection against battery reverse polarity
• Proximity trigger sensor which offers even 250 possible sensitivity settings
• Option to configure its main settings simply via trigger or completely through GATE Control Station app for Android, Windows and macOS (also for iOS in 2020 after Bluetooth® adapter release)
• Built-in RGB led makes programming easier
• Removing of safety lever is not required
• No modification of gearbox shell needed, even in case of KRYTAC* and ICS (*when bolt catch lever is removed. This applies to ASTER R1. Next ASTER revisions will be fully compatible with KRYTAC gearbox)
• Optical gear cam sensor supports all types of gears: Infinite Torque-up, DSG, SSG, 19-tooth and standard
• Binary trigger function as basic function
• Premium level functionality at fair price – extremely profitable price-performance ratio
• GCS app allows for making firmware updates via the internet, what enables improvements

GATE Control Station™ app

ASTER and GATE Control Station give you total control of your AEG. The GCS offers you the option to:

• control your airsoft gun from smartphone with Android (also with iOS in 2020 after Bluetooth® adapter release) and PC with Windows or macOS)
• simply adjust the ASTER settings
• update and upgrade firmware
• see the BB counters and Meter statistics
• perform diagnostics and send reports

GATE Control Station Android download page

GATE Control Station Windows/macOS download page

Optical sensors

ASTER has optical sensors for detecting gear cam, trigger and selector position. With the GCS app, you can easly calibrate, test and adjust these sensors.

Trigger sensitivity adjustment

The trigger sensor offers you even 250 possible sensitivity settings. You do not have to disassemble your AEG. Just use GCS app to adjust the trigger to your preferences and level of skills. You can even activate 2-stage trigger and set two different trigger sensitivities. Pulling the trigger slightly produces SEMI or BURST fire and pulling the trigger further produces BURST, BURST/AUTO or AUTO fire. The 1.5 gen. proximity trigger sensor offers the following sensitivity ranges, depending on trigger construction:

• In total: 160 - 250 levels
• In the first millimeter of trigger movement: 3 - 15 levels

Selector switching point adjustment

The selector sensor gives you an option for fine calibration of selector switching point.

Please note that trigger sensitivity and selector switching point cannot be set while programming via trigger

Programming via trigger

This programming mode allows you to configure basic functions of your device only with trigger and fire selector. During programming, functions are indicated by corresponding LED colors and vibrations.

The following ASTER options can be programmed via trigger:

1. Fire mode – blue (unavailable for regional lock)
   1. Safe / Semi / Auto
   2. Safe / Binary / Auto
   3. Safe / Semi / Semi
   4. Safe / Semi / Burst
   5. GCS setting
2. Burst mode – bright blue (unavailable for regional lock)
   1. 3rd, Full
   2. 3rd, Interruptible
   3. 5rd, Full
   4. 5rd, Interruptible
   5. GCS setting
3. Battery protection – green
   1. Off
   2. LiPo
   3. LiPo with 3.2 V warning
   4. GCS setting
4. Active brake – pink
   1. Auto
   2. Off
   3. GCS setting
5. Advanced settings – orange
   1. Read DTC
   2. Clear DTC
   3. Restore default settings
   4. Restore factory settings

Firmware editions

ASTER is available in 3 firmware editions: BASIC, ADVANCED and EXPERT. The table below contains functional comparison of settings configured via trigger and across ASTER firmware editions.

• BASIC: The best for those who prefer simplicity but require highest quality. Economic version with limited number of functions. If you will decide to have more functions, there is always option to upgrade firmware from BASIC to ADVANCED.
• ADVANCED: The best for those who like complex solutions. Advanced version with wide variety of functions. It enables access to the Statistics and ASTER World Rankings.
• EXPERT: The best for experienced airsofters. Vast diversity of settings and options combined with maximum configuration capabilities allow to prepare for the most demanding mission (EXPERT firmware will be released in early Fall together with GCS Big Update).

The table below contains functional comparison of settings configured via trigger and across firmware editions. The comparison applies to the current ASTER possibilities and future TITAN functionality (once GBU firmware update is available). You need to purchase USB-Link or Blu-Link to connect ASTER with GATE Control Station.

In order to upgrade your ASTER, you need to purchase the upgrade:
Upgrade page

Functions

ASTER gives you the option to adjust:

Two selector sensors allow you to take advantage of up to 343 fire selector modes variations, depending on the device firmware edition. The following modes are avaialble for selection*:

Safe - it prevents your gun from firing, even if safety lever is removed

Semi - allows you to fire one shot per one trigger pull

Binary - allows for firing one shot on the trigger pull and another shot upon release 

Burst - enables you to shoot a pre-determined number of BBs, which is very useful in MILSIMs and when using low-caps. There are 2 Burst modes available: 

• Full - burst is shot in full, even if the trigger is released early
• Interruptible - burst can be interrupted by releasing the trigger early

Burst / Auto - available for Full burst mode only; it allows for extending a burst by any number of shots - if you hold the trigger after the burst is shot, it switches to Auto mode 

Auto - shots are fired as long as the trigger is pulled

Semi Ramping - if you pull the trigger very fast, it switches to Auto mode

*You can check fire selector configuration possibilites provided by particular firmware editions here.

Please note: In case of regional lock, only Semi mode is available. Check the law in your country.

This feature allows for simulating magazines of lower capacity than actually used. Even if you have high capacity magazine, this function lets you truly increase realism of your game by imitating that your magazine is real-cap. Then, after pre-determined number of BBs is shot, you will have to wait for previously defined amount of time before a next shot can be fired, as if you were really replacing empty magazine with a full one. In case of ADVANCED and EXPERT firmware, you can also set low ammo warning. 

SERIES SAFETY LIMIT

An AEG can continuously fire a predefined number of BBs in a single series. This can be used as protection against trigger jam. Important notice: in case of an emergency, you can always stop firing by switching the fire selector
position.

SMART TRIGGER

We know how vital the fast trigger response is during combat. This is why we have developed the Smart Trigger function. It enables you to achieve faster trigger response. It works with the ROF Control System. During the first shot, the microprocessor sets the ROF Control to 100%. After the first shot, it switches to a previously programmed value (e.g. 50%). As a consequence, the first shot is fired at a full ROF, and subsequent shots at a reduced ROF. The best results can be achieved when using a battery with voltage higher than standard. For example, if you use a 7.4 V battery, you can replace it with 11.1 V. In this way, you will achieve faster trigger response with the same Rate of Fire than with a standard battery. 

Works only if ROF is decreased by using Power settings of ROF control.

CYCLE DETECTION (gen. 1.5)

Thanks to the gear cam sensor, drop-in unit precisely detects in which position the cycle should finish. Therefore, even the shortest trigger action produces at least one full cycle. The sensor detects the gear cam instead of teeth, so it is possible to use all types of gears: Infinite Torque-up, DSG, SSG, 19-tooth and standard. 

Thanks to the cycle detection function you get:

• Automatic BURST – there is no need to manually set the burst time. You can simply set the number of rounds shot in a burst (available options depend on the firmware edition)
• FULL CYCLE - when pre-cocking is off, the drop-in unit ensures that the gearbox completes a full cycle. This way you gain higher reliability.

NOTIFICATIONS SETTINGS

You can enable or disable information and warning vibrations, and make your gun stealth.

USER PROFILES

Will be released with EXPERT firmware.

Specification

• Support for stock and mid-tuned AEGs (high-tuned AEGs are supported in case of EXPERT firmware edition)
• Maximum operating voltage: 12.75 V (LiPO 11.1 V)
• Minimum operating voltage: 3 V
• Absolute maximum voltage: 17 V
• Conformal coating (Military Specification MIL-V-173C) – resistance to atmospheric conditions