Takahashi Temma mounts Perl/Tk driver

Unofficial Linux and Windows driver for Takahashi Temma mounts.

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Driver with an easy Graphical User Interface for complete control of your Temma mount.
Works on all Temma mounts after 2000's production.

Features :

- Multiplatform Perl/Tk code for Linux, Windows and MacOS X (X11) systems.
- GOTO operations with the capability to cross the meridian in both directions, 1 or 2 or 3 RA hours adjustable. (depending of the lenght of the tube and depending of the tripod/tube distance for zenital location).
- Calculating and setting tracking parameters for Moon or Comets.
- No true sky map, works with user lists made from XEphem, Carte du Ciel, TheSky (or compatible) , and Argo Navis list compatible software.
- With Linux, can link with XEphem3.6.x fifos (to see current location and to get object data from the SkyView).
- Returns in the main window all useful information from the mount (user friendly or raw data).
- Little 'help' sky map (ZView) to see where the telescope is (East side or West side part of the sky) and where the selected objects are.
- Mosaic of images (2, 4, 6 or 9 images) with GOTO operations, still needs some tests on the sky.
- Because the serial port is required by this driver, you cannot execute this driver and Pegasus or TheSky at the same time.
- Nevertheless you can temporary execute the driver to set a comet tracking for example and then close it, then open Pegasus or TheSky to continue your Temma session.
- Automatic reversing the scope side on current objet in case of critical scope location near the tripod.
- Remote command for motors Standby ON/OFF mode.
- Init and halt on parking location.
- QAstrocam linking (with Linux) :
Tracking tests with RA and DEC curves (peview.pl script).
Webcam autoguiding via serial port (Temma protocole).
Webcam autoguiding via parallel port and autoguide port (with autoguide.pl script).
- Prism linking (with Windows) : copy/paste object RA/Dec from Prism sky.
- Canon EOS digital cameras simple remote exposure controle with "eos.pl" script (with serial or parallel port connexion).

Version 0.9 had be tested under the following OS :

   MSWin32 :
    - Windows 98SE
    - Windows 98ME
    - Windows 2000
    - Windows XP
    - Windows Vista

   GNU Linux :
    - Debian 3.x
    - XAndros (Asus eeepc)
    - lin4astro (live CD dev version) and Astrolix.
    - Mandrake 9.x/10.x
    - SuSE 9.0
    - RedHat 7.3/Fedora 1

   MacOSX
    With X11 layer

What do you need to run it ?

1) A computer with one free serial port (USB2Serial cable works well on current laptops).

2) A download and an install of the following packages :
(this is the specific part depending of your OS, see readme.txt for more details).
    a) Perl core version for your OS (version 5.8 or later, include in most Linux distribs).
    b) Perl/Tk module (version Tk800.024 or later, include in Windows ActiveState Perl core package).
    c) On Windows system : Win32-API and SerialPort Perl modules.

3) You need to download and to copy on your hard disk the necessery driver files :
(see readme.txt for more details)
    a) download the zip file for Windows user (or tgz file for Linux user, the same files are included in zip and tgz).
    b) unzip it and put all files in a same directory (example : c:\my files\temma or /home/username/temma/)
    c) execute the main file : temma.pl (with the mount on connexion)
    d) and follow instructions give by the Perl/Tk GUI.

That's all.

Want to see more...?

Doc contents : informations with screencopies of most windows.
See readme.txt for install information.
See changelog.txt for updates informations.

Download :

v0.9 rev. 310308 (current version).

Linux user : tgz file (1.1 Mo) : temma-tools.tar.gz
Windows user : zip file (1.1 Mo) : temma-tools.zip

v0.9 rev. 200108 (old version).

Linux user : tgz file (1.1 Mo) : temma-tools-200108.tar.gz
Windows user : zip file (1.2 Mo) : temma-tools-200108.zip

Note : the 2 compressed archives (tgz and zip) include the same files list.

Get Perl core package and required modules :

Windows user :
Go to ActiveState download page (to get MSI Perl 5.8xxx core packages for Windows user).
Download Win32-API module
Download SerialPort module

Linux user :
Go to Perl website (to get Perl Tk modules, use CPAN link)
Download SerialPort module(optionnal)

Important notes :

- This driver should now work in Southern hemisphere location but it's not still tested in real conditions.
- Mosaic of images is not working with enought accuracy with the goto operation on the RA axis at the present time. You can use Mosaic window and the driver handbox to get better results.
- Autoguiding works only with Linux and QAstrocam software.

From users :

I will be happy to get some feedback.

For developpers :

Please do any improvements/changes you want, within the Perl "Artistic Licence".
If you have any feedback I will be happy to receive your input.

Rémi Petitdemange, 2008 March 31
v0.9 rev. 310308
Contact : remi.petitdemange#@#wanadoo#.#fr (remove #)