altusmetrum July 2013

altusmetrum@lists.gag.com

9 participants
10 discussions

Re: [altusmetrum] Radio link problems in the field and charging question at home TeleMetrum

by Peter Hackett

RE: I've added some text ... to the manual ... (about the case sensitivity of call signs) AWESOME! RE bugs/features: I'm a software engineer and way back in the 80's someone showed me a (paper!) cartoon that showed a anthropomorphic bug with the caption "bug" and next to it the same bug dressed up in a tuxedo with the caption "feature" :-) (Not that I'm saying the case sensitivity is a bug. I just thought this was apropos RE you're bug/feature comment) On Mon, Jul 29, 2013 at 11:15 PM, Bdale Garbee <bdale(a)gag.com> wrote: > Peter Hackett <peter.hackett(a)cal.berkeley.edu> writes: > > > BTW a friend of mine thinks that this feature is a bug. > > Someone once told me that the only difference between features and bugs > is that features are documented... ;-) > > The objective of requiring the ground station to be configured with the > callsign of the flight computer to successfully command the flight > computer is to avoid accidentally commanding the wrong flight computer > at a launch where lots of people are flying Altus Metrum products. It > won't prevent malicious attacks, but it goes a long way toward reducing > accidents... and was specifically requested by several of our early > customers. > > > My take: case sensitivity should be more prominently featured in the > > manual (or noted if it isn't currently in the manual.) > > Really appreciate your mentioning this. I've added some text about the > callsign matching and case sensitivity to the manual sources. Will be > in the next release. > > Bdale >

9 years, 7 months

Radio link problems in the field and charging question at home TeleMetrum

by Peter Hackett

I was at LDRS32 last weekend and used my TeleMetrum for the first time. WRT deployment and data logging, it worked flawlessly. However before the flight I tried to do Monitor Idle over the radio link (while still under the Easy-Up while prepping my rocket) and I couldn't get it to work. Just to make sure things were working well enough to fly with it, I plugged into into the computer via USB and the status was all green. It's a mystery why I couldn't get it to link via radio. I had two successful flights with it otherwise. When I got home, I tried again to get it to radio link. (I was able to establish a radio link before I went to LDRS) When I got home, I notices that I had left the altimeter on after I had hooked it up to the computer to download flight data. I turned it off and plugged it into the USB to get it to change but the orange light didn't light up. I tried various computers and stand alone USB chargers, but I never saw the charge light go on. I did a monitor idle and found that the battery voltage was "red" (I think around 3.5V) Even though the charge light wasn't on, I left it plugged into a USB cable (while turned off) and checked it every hour or three. When on and monitor idle, the battery voltage would read a little higher each time I checked. Eventually (10 to 12 hours) it got to ~ 3.7 and I tried to do a radio link ... and it worked jut fine. (Grr) A couple of questions: Has anyone see a "no charge light" (but it still charges) situation? Before I went to LDRS, the charge light did go on and I *think* when it shut off, the battery voltage was reading something like 4.1V Is ~ 4.1V normal? And RE the radio link. Any thoughts on why I couldn't get it to work at LDRS (at Black Rock Nv)? It was hot (up to 114 degrees at LDRS) could this effect the radio link? And thoughts, speculation, etc is welcome. Peter

9 years, 7 months

Telemetrum Map download

by Thomas Müller

Hi, I just got my radio license and now trying to run my telemetrum. I have a problem with the map download. First I had a problem with the language stetting in windows, because in germany you use a comma instead of a dot as decimal limiter. And this messed up the coordinate format. But now I changed everything to US settings. Now I have another problem. When I chose one of the flight sites and then directly click load map, everything works fine. But if I try to modify the coordinates I can not download the maps. First I thought I was giving the wrong format, but If I just modify the coordinates form the list slightly I can not download a map, even not a small part. I do not get any files, so it does not create grey images or so. If I try to use the maps window in the monitor flight tab it will also not show me any map. Hope you can help me. Best Thomas

9 years, 7 months

Telemetrum Question

by Today & Tonight Mag. - Chris Douglas

Hello, Can anyone tell me the highest they where able to record with the whip antenna on the teledogle. When does it go out of range. I'm debating on the Arrow 440-3. But not sure if it necessary. My computer model estimates about 3,500 ft with the setup I have so far. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks Thank You Chris Douglas Publisher Today & Tonight Magazine/T&T Digital 39 3rd SW Suite 201 Winter Haven, FL 33880 Cell: 863-521-0311 Office: 863-401-8001 Fax: 863-401-8003 http://www.todayandtonight.com Back up email todayandtonight2(a)tampabay.rr.com Expose your business to over 1 Million visitors per year on ten 42" flat screen TV's throughout The Lakeland Center. Call Today For Details.. Expect More . . . Get More . . . We Deliver!

9 years, 8 months

TeleDongle connection

by Anthony Kremor

Hello everyone, I have recently bought a Telemetrum, and am at the same time also trying to teach myself to code in Python and PHP. Currently I am trying to combine these two, but my main issue is reading data from the TeleDongle connected by USB to my computer. I cannot connect to it using any serial terminals, guessing due to differences in how the TeleDongle operates maybe. I end up looking through the program (AltOSui) source and came upon 'AltosSerial.java' which I assume handles the connection to the TeleDongle. Sadly my programming ability is to low to be able to interpret the above file. Could anyone offer any insights/assistance with regards to the above? Even a general overview or better yet code would be great. Thank you for your time, Anthony Kremor

9 years, 8 months

Problems/Questions with/about TeleMetrum

by Peter Hackett

Just being "that kind'a guy" I waited to last minute to play with my TeleMetrum before going to LDRS-32 starting Wednesday July 17th. I found a number of issues and I'm not totally sure if it's "pilot error" of it the TeleMetrum is having problems. One thing that I found is that, despite what the manual say, the yellow/orange LED on the TeleMetrum never goes out while charging it using the USB cable. I had it hook up for 8 hours and then later for ~ 10 hours.(I found this unsettling.) Is it something to be concerned about? I'm I doing something wrong? The second issue is a bigger concern. When I have the TeleMetrum plugged into my Windows 7 laptop via the USB cable, I can configure it as discussed it the manual. However, when I try to configure it (or even "monitor idle") via the radio, nothing. Any ideas on what's going on? Encouragingly, if I turn the TeleMetrum in the virtual position, I'm able to monitor it via radio and it seems to be behaving just as expected (and like the manual says) If anyone has any light they can shed on this, it would be helpful. I ended up making a new altimeter sled for my Giant Leap Vertical Assault that uses my well tested and trusty PerfectFlite StratoLogger. My plan is to fly with the StratoLogger for a flight or two and then give the TeleMetrum a go. If anything goes wrong at that point at least I'll have two flights on the Vertical Assault before I up the risk and go for some real altitude.

9 years, 8 months

Altus Mentrum/Antenna Question

by Xpert Grafix

Hello, I am about to use my Altus Mentrum for the first time this Saturday. I have bought the Arrow 440-3 antenna. Can you tell me the best way to hook it up. I'm not sure how long of an extension from the Teledongle I can use. I thought I read somewhere that the teledongle should be as close to the antenna as possible. But I can't find that now. Also, during the launch do you need to be pointing the antenna directly at the rocket or can you attach it to something and point it in the in a general direction of the launch. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks Chris

9 years, 8 months

Re: [altusmetrum] Problems/Questions with/about TeleMetrum

by Kevin Trojanowski

From: altusmetrum [mailto:altusmetrum-bounces@lists.gag.com] On Behalf Of Peter Hackett > Anything to look for in searching for you? Tripoli HQ (my wife) is the easiest way to find me. -Kevin

9 years, 8 months

Re: [altusmetrum] Problems/Questions with/about TeleMetrum

by Kevin Trojanowski

From: altusmetrum [mailto:altusmetrum-bounces@lists.gag.com] On Behalf Of Peter Hackett > My plan is to fly with the StratoLogger for a flight or two and then give the > TeleMetrum a go. If anything goes wrong at that point at least I'll have two flights on the > Vertical Assault before I up the risk and go for some real altitude. I have exactly ONE flight on my TeleMetrum, but if you run into difficulties at LDRS, I'd be more than happy to try to help you figure them out. I know of someone else who will be there who has more experience than I, and we may be able to coax him to assist, as well. -Kevin

9 years, 8 months

Re: [altusmetrum] Altus Mentrum/Antenna Question

by Kevin Trojanowski

From: altusmetrum [mailto:altusmetrum-bounces@lists.gag.com] On Behalf Of Peter Hackett > The only way I can understand what you describe is if you can rotate the Arrow BNC > connector so that It doesn't point straight back towards the rearward element. > I don't remember being able to do that. (My recollection is that that bit of the antenna > is pretty solid.) That's exactly what Keith is suggesting. The elements on the Arrow Yagis are just pieces of arrow shaft that are cut to length and threaded on one end. There's then a piece of threaded rod that runs through the boom, to each half of the element. You should be able to twist the element with the connector such that the connector is no longer parallel to the boom, to provide sufficient room to get the SMA-BNC adapter and TeleDongle connected. -Kevin

9 years, 8 months

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altusmetrum July 2013