Power up the takcom module with the supplied power supply

The following is a write up of Astronomy-Shoppe’s TAKCOM product. I interfaced the TAKCOM product to my Takahashi EM-200 Temma 2M mount.

Setup is very simple. I will walk you through this process. In less time than it takes to microwave a bag of popcorn or a bowl of soup, you can setup and start using equipment and software you already own to communicate via WIFI and control your serial communications capable telescope mount.

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  Attach the TAKCOM module to the DP9 Serial connector end of the Takahashi Serial to PC cable.
  
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  Power up the TAKCOM module with the supplied power supply.
  
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  On my Samsung Galaxy S6 cell phone, I went to the list of available WIFI devices my S6 could connect to and selected the TAKCOM device from the list.
  
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  I entered in the passcode and my S6 connected to TAKCOM.
  
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  Next, I edited the IP address for the TAKCOM device to a static IP address 10.0.0.2; not required for Apple IPhone and most Android Cell Phones.
  
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  Then I initialized Sky Safari 4 Pro that I had purchased and installed on my S6.
  
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  Under settings, I entered the telescope information specific to my Takahashi Temma mount
  
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  Selected WIFI, deselected the SKYFI option and entered IP address of 10.0.0.1 and port 4030
  
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  After exiting the Settings portion of Sky Safari
  
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  I selected the Telescope ICON and pressed the Connect menu option.
  
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  Upon making the connection between my S6 (running Sky Safari 4 Pro), the TAKCOM module and my Takahashi EM-200 Temma 2M mount; I now had an operational Graphic based GOTO system with a WIRELESS HANDCONTROLLER (My Android Samsung Galaxy S6 Cell Phone).
  
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  To align my telescope’s optical axis with the Sky Safari software,
  
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    all that is required is to center on a known celestial object in my eyepiece,
    
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    locate it on the Sky Safari app map,
    
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    select it and press align from the menu bar.
    
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    With Sky Safari app you can even use the Lock option which will keep the sky chart centered on the telescope’s position as the telescope is moved.
    
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  Also, via a Virtual COM Port application, I was able to interface my WIN XP, WIN 7 and WIN 8 computers to the TAKCOM module and thereby connect to my Takahashi EM-200 Temma 2M mount using Software Bisque’s THE SKY software. Other PC based apps are available to control telescopes.
  

The range of the TAKCOM module, without any enhancement of its signal is 300 feet. I have maintained the connection with my mount in my observatory and controlled my mount from inside my house over 100 feet away with many walls in between my Samsung S6 or Windows PC computers and the TAKCOM device. I have walked 300 feet away from my mount, with it being inside a brick house and in-line of site between me and the mount; a Chevy full size suburban and other ground clutter (trees, shrubs and cars driving by) and was still able to control my Takahashi Temma mount.

Setup is quick and easy! I can use any wireless capable cell phone, IPad, Android Tablet or computer (MAC or PC). On most devices it is just a matter of selecting the TAKCOM from the list of available WIFI sources. On some Android devices there are a couple of extra steps requiring a STATIC IP address to be entered and assigned.

If you are wanting to connect wirelessly to your serial communications capable mount (non-Takahashi Temma) you can purchase ScopeCOM. If you are wanting to connect wirelessly to your serial communications capable Takahashi Temma mount, you now have that ability with the TAKCOM module.

For the price of going to dinner and a movie with your significant other 3 times, you can purchase the Astronomy-Shoppe’s TAKCOM WIFI to Serial communications module and control your mount without wires from your application control host device. I highly recommend TAKCOM for Takahashi Temma Mounts. I also highly recommend ScopeCOM for non-Takahashi mounts. The solutions are the same except for the TAKCOM being a dedicated device for Takahashi Temma mounts.

Some background Pricing Options available for Takahashi Temma Mount Owners to GOTO control their mounts:

Solution: Astrosolutions Windows/Apple Computer Apple/Android Cell
Advanced Hand Controller Phone/IPad/Android Tablet

Hardware Cost $999 $400 to $3,000 *$599 to +/- $1,000

Usage Single Dedicated Multi-Purpose Multi-Purpose

For me personally, the only additional cost is the purchase of Astronomy-Shoppe’s TAKCOM Module for my Takahashi Temma mount and the ScopeCOM Module for my G-11 Gemini 1 Level 4 mount controller. For less than $300, I can connect to both of my mounts wirelessly via a WIFI connection using hardware and software that I already own.