Couldn't connect Takahashi EM11 Temma2 Jr

james03

Recently I got an equatorial mount, Takahashi EM11 Temma2 Jr model which is quite old but known as very good.
As long as I know, ASIAIR support Takahashi Temma2 mount which is in the mount selection list.
But it failed to connect the mount even I chose Takahashi Temma2 driver in the list.
I used RS292-USB cable to link the mount to ASIAIR plus.
Please advise me what I've missed and what I have to do to solve this problem.
Best regards,
James
FYI. I could connect Takashi EM11 Temma2 Jr mount to APT or Stellarium or PHD2 after running ASCOM Temma driver setup program on the notebook.

w7ay

james03 As long as I know, ASIAIR support Takahashi Temma2 mount which is in the mount selection list.

Yes, ASIAIR works fine with the EM11. At least during the ASIAIR v1.3 days, before I switched to a RainbowAstro mount.

Keep in mind that if you have an older EM11 (the one where the motor controller, shaft encoder and connectors are in the box with the same puke green color as the mount), you will need to pick 9600 baud, if memory serves. The newer EM11 (the one with the black box) may be 115200 baud (I am not sure -- never owned a newer EM11).

The serial port configuration (that "8-N-1"stuff) was weird too, if I remember, but since the old ASIAR had worked for me, it is probably set corectly by ASIAIR.

I had many years ago written a MacOS interface for the EM-11. If you read through the port configuration in my manual, it might give you more clues to check:

http://www.w7ay.net/site/Applications/cocoaTemma/Users%20Manual/index.html

Another thing to check is your virtual serial port adapter (the one that adapts the Tak RS-232 serial port to a USB connector). The ASIAIR does not play well with adapters made using the Prolific chips (until recently, the ASIAIR did not even include the Prolific driver). Find an adapter that uses the FTDI chip and it should work.

Chen

james03

w7ay
Hi Chen, Thanks for your kind reply. I am very sorry I forgot my leaving the message here, and now I see this.
I am still have same problem, so I've been running Temma2 mount on PC using ATP and Stellarium which works fine.
I can't connect the link you gave, http://www.w7ay.net/site/Applications/cocoaTemma/Users%20Manual/index.html
And I can't figure out your mentioning,
"Another thing to check is your virtual serial port adapter (the one that adapts the Tak RS-232 serial port to a USB connector). The ASIAIR does not play well with adapters made using the Prolific chips (until recently, the ASIAIR did not even include the Prolific driver). Find an adapter that uses the FTDI chip and it should work."

Specifically what do I have to do to find an adapter to use FTDI chip?

James

w7ay

james03 Specifically what do I have to do to find an adapter to use FTDI chip?

The serial adapter specs should specify what chip set is used.

For example, this one uses the Prolific chipset (avoid):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IDSM6BW

While this one uses the FTDI chipset:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759HSLP1

Chen

james03

w7ay

Mine is this which just came with Tak mount, a used one.
I googled with NEXT-RS232U20, and I can find it's a FTDI chipset.
What else may I need to check?
Thanks,
James

w7ay

james03 What else may I need to check?

Baud rate? The old Temma-2 Jr. were 9600 baud, the new ones are, I believe, are 115,200 baud. Try at least those two baud rates.

Since the USB end works with a real computer, at least you need not worry about needing a null modem.

I did not have any problem with the EM-11 when the ASIAIR was first introduced, but have not used that mount with ASIAIR for a number of years now (since ASIAIR v1.3).

Chen

james03

w7ay
I've already tried both baud rate, 9600 and 115200. But it didn't work, and even with other rates listed.

Tech@ZWO

james03 Is it different from EM-11 Temma 2(without Jr)?

james03

@tech@zwo#57312
The listed driver name is Temma by Takahashi, so I guess same driver will apply to both EM-11 Temma2 and EM-11 Temma2 Jr mounts.

w7ay

james03 both EM-11 Temma2 and EM-11 Temma2 Jr mounts.

Temma 2 was the bigger brother (EM-200 mounts, etc) of the Temma 2 Jr. The mount protocols were the same. If I remember correctly, the encoders were different; but that has nothing to do with the protocol.

Be sure that you are correctly feeding 12V to the mount, and the computer switch is turned on.

Chen

w7ay

james03

My mistake, the baud rate should be 19200 baud, not 9600 baud.

I just quickly hooked up an unused EM-11 to an unused ASIAIR. The Temma end looks like this:

DC In is connected to a 12V source. The RS-232C mini-DIN connector has a homemade cable that goes from a FTDI USB connector directly to the DIN connector (without going through a male-female DA-9 (misnamed as "DB9" by hobbyists) pair.

Notice that the COMPUTER STAND BY switch on the Temma is turned on to activate the serial port.

Motor switch only needs to be on to move the mount (if you are not familiar with the EM-11, the two black cylinders are the shaft encoders -- treat them gently).

The other end of the black cable is the USB Type A male that has the FTDI chip, and plugged into the ASIAIR (version 2):

The ASIAIR is directly connected with Ethernet to a 12.9" iPad Pro.

The red and black connector at the top is the PowerPole 12 volt distribution (both ASIAIR and Temma grounds (black wire) are tied through this power. If you use separate supplies, be sure to use a ground strap between the ASIAIR and the mount (not just Temma, but any mount).

The iPad end looks like this:

Notice that ASIAIR has auto detected 19200 baud.

If you want to build your own cable, the FTDI cable is this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DEED3GM

You can buy the Mini-DIN connector from places like Mouser Electronics or DigiKey.

The iPad is running ASIAIR Beta 2.0.0. But I don't think ZWO had touched the INDI Temma driver since Day 1. I had long ago used ASIAIR v1.1, v1.2 and v1.3. When ASIAIR v1.4 started to work with the RainbowAstro protocol, I switched to using the RST-135 mount.

Chen