Copyright (c) 2001 Richard Lawler
Written by Richard Lawler (richardl * at * well* dot * com)
Note: This is a preliminary release. This driver was developed using a Temma PC Jr EM-10 and a ThinkPad laptop running Windows 2000.
At this point I have had positive reports from people using this driver with the following equipment.
Takahashi Mounts:
Windows Operating Systems:
If you try this driver please drop me a note to richardl * at * well* dot * com, and let me know if it works or not with your equipment. Please indicate what type of mount and computer you are running.
Likewise report bugs or problems to richardl * at * well* dot * com.
Please include information on the model of Temma PC mount you are using (include the version number if possible), computer type, operating system and TheSky version. (The Temma PC version number is displayed in the Telescope API settings dialog after you have connected and disconnected from the mount once.)
I will try to fix problems where possible.
There is no charge for this software. It is free for anyone to use. But please do not redistribute this driver. If anyone wants a copy of this driver they should obtain the current version directly from me at
http://www.well.com/user/richardl/astro/temma
Thank you.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This software is provided as is. Use it at your own risk.
No warranties are expressed or implied.
CAUTION: Safe operation of computer-driven telescopes is solely the responsibility of the telescope operator! Richard Lawler provides the Unofficial Temma PC driver as a matter of convenience only. Richard Lawler is not responsible for any accidents or damage that may occur while TheSky is linked to a Temma PC mount. Always use extreme caution while operating expensive telescope equipment.
The Unofficial Temma PC TheSky driver software was independently developed to allow the TheSky to communicate with the Takahashi Temma PC telescope mounts. The Unofficial Temma PC TheSky driver was not developed by or for Takahashi Corp., Texas Nautical Repair or Software Bisque. Neither Takahashi, Texas Nautical Repair nor Software Bisque is responsible to support this driver.
The Unofficial Temma PC TheSky Driver is a software plugin that allows TheSky planetarium software from Software Bisque to communicate with and to control the Temma PC and Temma PC Jr computer controlled telescope mounts from Takahashi. The Temma PC and Temma PC Jr connect to a PC via standard RS-232C serial Comm port. Once connected TheSky can be synchronized with the pointing position of the Temma PC mount. Then TheSky can direct the telescope to point to any object in its database of currently visible objects. TheSky also reads the current location of the telescope so you can still use the Temma PC's manual control paddle without losing synchronization.
If you release the clutches on most of the Temma PC mounts (models EM-10, EM-200 and NJP) TheSky will lose synchronization with the current pointing location of the scope. You will need to re-sync TheSky with the current telescope position.
Requires TheSky Version 5.00.001 or later for Windows. (Updates to TheSky Version 5 are available from the Software Bisque web site http://www.bisque.com.)
This driver is not compatible with TheSky Pocket Edition for Windows CE or TheSky for Mac.
The Unofficial Temma PC TheSky Driver uses TheSky's Telescope API to communicate with the Temma PC mount. TheSky can only use one Telescope API driver at a time. This driver is always called TeleAPI.dll and should be located in the \Program Files\Common Files\System folder on your computer. TheSky comes with a dummy Telescope API driver that must be replaced by the Unofficial Temma PC driver.
Note: The Temma PC goto system uses only a single celestial synchronization point for its goto calculations. Therefore Temma PC relies on accurate polar alignment for the accuracy of its goto slewing. A poor polar alignment will result in poor accuracy in goto slews. Re-syncing to a star near your target can help with the accuracy of slews to nearby targets if you haven't done a very precise polar alignment.
* Initialize mount to Western-Zenith option |
In this mode you start out by positioning the mount with the scope on the west side of the mount and pointed straight up (just as in Telescope Tracer 2000). After you have connected to the scope move the scope to point to a known star east of the meridian then sync TheSky to the same star. |
* Initialize mount to Eastern-Zenith option |
In this mode you start out by positioning the mount with the scope on the east side of the mount and pointed straight up. After you have connected to the scope move the scope to point to a known star west of the meridian then sync TheSky to the same star. This mode is useful since many people like to image with the scope weight loaded on the east side of their mount. It's also handy with some Takahashi mounts which have to be positioned with the scope to the east in order to align the mount through the polar scope. So polar alignment and initial scope positioning can be done with one setup. |
* Initialize mount to none (do not change sync) option |
In this mode the telescope position will not be changed from the last synchronization since the Temma PC mount was turned on. For example from a previous use of TheSky or another Temma PC-compatible program like Telescope Tracer 2000 or Kagayaki III. This allows you to connect, disconnect and re-connect without having to re-sync. |
* Ask on connect option |
You will be asked which initialization option you want from the above three choices when you connect to the Temma PC mount. (This is the default.) |
Note: If the mount has not been previously initialized or synced to a known star since being turned on (either in TheSky, Telescope Tracer 2000 or Kagayaki III or some other Temma PC-compatible software) TheSky and Temma PC will think the scope is pointing to RA = 0 and Dec = 0 and that the scope is on the west side of the mount. Before proceeding make sure that you sync to an actual star with the scope on the west side of the mount or you will get unpredictable results.
Note: Do not flip the mount from one side to the other with the clutches released and then re-sync because the Temma PC mount won't know correctly on which side of the mount the scope is and it won't be able to manage mount flips properly. If you do flip the mount with the clutches released you should re-connect with Eastern-Zenith or Western-Zenith initialization as appropriate.
You can update the sync of TheSky with the actual telescope position at any time by centering the target in the eyepiece, select the target in TheSky, then click the Sync button in the Telescope pane of the Object Information dialog for the target. TheSky will update the white cross-hair/circle to indicate the newly synchronized position of the scope.
Note: You currently can not sync to a star on the other side of the mount from its current orientation. You must first either perform a goto slew to a star on the other side of the sky or reinitialize the Unofficial Temma PC driver by terminating the link to the mount and reconnecting using the Eastern-Zenith or Western-Zenith initialization options as appropriate.
Choose a target in TheSky's virtual sky. The target must be above the horizon. In the Object Information dialog click the Slew icon near the bottom right. The scope will now slew to the target. TheSky will display a Slewing in progress indicator. This indicator will go away when the slew is complete. (If for some reason the Slewing progress indicator does not go away once the slew is clearly completed just click the Cancel button. There is no harm.)
If you want to cancel a slew you have started just click the Cancel button on the Slewing in progress indicator. Your telescope will be positioned where the slew happens to stop. You can easily return to your original location with the Slew Prior button in the Telescope pane of the Object Information dialog.
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If you want the Temma PC to be able to slew to a target at or very close to the horizon you may need to "fool" the Temma PC mount into thinking the horizon is lower than it actually is. This can be done most easily by changing the Longitude and/or Latitude settings in the Telescope->Setup...Settings dialog. You must temporarily terminate the link with the Temma PC to make these changes.
CAUTION: These limits are built into the Temma PC to prevent you for damaging your telescope. Always use caution when changing Latitude and Longitude values in the Unofficial Temma PC driver settings.
CAUTION: Changing the Longitude will cause what the Temma PC believes to be the meridian to move too. This meridian is used to determine when a mount flip will be needed to prevent a collision between your scope and accessories and the mount and tripod. Caution is advised when pointing near the meridian when you have entered an incorrect Longitude value.
Examples: To lower the Temma PC's western horizon limit by 5 degrees change the Longitude 5 degrees west. To lower the eastern horizon limit by 5 degrees change the Longitude 5 degrees east. To lower the southern horizon 5 degrees change the Latitude 5 degrees south. To lower the northern horizon 5 degrees change the Latitude 5 degrees north.
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CAUTION: You must make sure your telescope or camera will not collide with the mount or tripod when moved the additional degrees past the true meridian. Adjusting the longitude may also affect your ability to sync to or goto to targets near the East and West horizons.
Adjusting the longitude east will move the meridian used in flip calculations east. Likewise adjusting the longitude west moves the meridian west.
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Since only one program can communicate with the Temma PC mount at a time it is important that only one program is connected to the mount. Telescope Tracer 2000 always attempts to be connected to the Temma PC mount whenever it is running. So if Telescope Tracer 2000 is already running you will not be able to initiate a new connection to the Temma PC from TheSky.
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