altusmetrum April 2014

altusmetrum@lists.gag.com

8 participants
10 discussions

by Bdale Garbee

"J.Patrick Bowers" <jp_bowers(a)yahoo.com> writes: > I noticed that you have again in stock the EasyMinis. Are these new > ones on the Green boards? Yes. > News on the when the Telemini might be up for sale? We're going to have to do at least one more prototyping round before we have something we'd be willing to sell here. Not sure when that's going to get done, so no real update here yet. > You mentioned that you might have the TeleGPS for sale in May. Is > that still looking like it will happen? Yes, we expect to take delivery on the first production run of TeleGPS boards in time to have them flashed, tested, and ready for sale before the end of May. And since I know it's the next question someone will ask, we've set the retail price at $200. Note that the final PCB size is 1.5 x 1.0 inches, which is slightly wider than the early prototypes, but this size yields significantly better GPS performance with the antennas available to us. I haven't updated the web page photos yet, I'll try to get that done shortly. 73 - Bdale, KB0G

8 years, 11 months

Re: [altusmetrum] Do You have the Dimensions for the Mounting Holes For : Telemetrum, TeleMega, and Easy Mini?

by Bdale Garbee

Shane Justice <shanejustice(a)cox.net> writes: > I am working up ABS Avbays for my rockets and want to put in mounting > bosses for your boards. I have been trying to mic-out the holes and > hole spacing, but I'm not getting very good repeatability with my > micrometer- I think the hole drill size on the Telemetrum V1.2 is > something like 0.1165 inches_ does this sound right? Hole center from > the edge of the board seems to be 0.125 inches in, on the short > dimension of the board. Vertically, the holes nearest the antenna-end > of the board are also 0.125 inches down from the top of the board. The > hole centers by the screw terminal connector at the bottom of the > board appear to be about 0.4 inches up from the bottom of the > board. Does this match your design notes? > > Any chance you have this documented for your other boards? I'm > thinking of building integrated AvBays for a wide range of body tubes > and designing them to house your boards. Any assistance is greatly > appreciated! We now have drill templates as an appendix in the manual, or you can find just the templates at http://altusmetrum.org/Documents/ . Keith and I have already talked about adding explicit dimension information to a future version of the templates. For now, for your easy reference, all TeleMetrum versions we've ever sold have the hole positions (referenced to one aft corner of the board) as: 375.00mil 125.00mil 375.00mil 875.00mil 2625.00mil 125.00mil 2625.00mil 875.00mil For TeleMega, the hole positions are: 125.00mil 125.00mil 125.00mil 1125.00mil 3125.00mil 125.00mil 3125.00mil 1125.00mil For EasyMini, the hole positions are: 1375.00mil 675.00mil 1375.00mil 125.00mil 125.00mil 675.00mil 125.00mil 125.00mil For each of these 3 products, the holes are sized for use with 4-40 or M3 screws. And of course 'mil' means thousandth of an inch. My apologies to our international friends, but PCB design tools and processes in the US still mostly work in mils, even though most of the parts we use are now specified in "real" units. ;-) And if you come up with some cool AvBay designs, please share! I've had a couple requests to add some design info and photos of actual bays to the altusmetrum.org site... if you or anyone else want to write up what you're doing in this regard, I'll be happy to make space for it and publish with appropriate credit! Enjoy! Bdale

8 years, 11 months

EasyMini back in stock

by Bdale Garbee

Since several of you asked, I'm pleased to report that EasyMini is now back in stock. Only a limited quantity right now, but more coming soon. http://shop.gag.com/flight-computers/easymini.html Bdale

8 years, 11 months

Fwd: TeleBT Bluetooth Data Packet Documentation Needed

by Bud Woodling

I'm writing my own Android app for TeleBT that would be optimized for a small screen format, and I'm looking for documentation on the TeleBT Data Packets. In particular I need to know what data strings are sent from AltosDroid (or any app) to the TeleBT module. I'm able to read and process the data packets that TeleBT sends out over BT, but I haven't seen any documentation on communication in the other direction. I've noticed that TeleBT forgets it's 70cm frequency setting when it gets powered down, and I need to be able to tell it which frequency to use. Other uplink command documentation could be useful as well. Thanks, Art

8 years, 11 months

160mAh batteries

by Bdale Garbee

I'm pleased to announce that 160mAh LiPo cells are now in stock. Like our 850mAh batteries, these are made specifically for use with Altus Metrum flight computers: http://shop.gag.com/parts-and-accessories/160mah-lipo-battery.html http://shop.gag.com/parts-and-accessories/850mah-lipo-battery.html Enjoy! Bdale

8 years, 11 months

Re: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems

by Kevin Trojanowski

Tim... I've flown mine using the supplied battery, without any issues. I've also performed quite a few ground tests (I use Christmas tree bulbs when doing so) without any problems. Is there someone who lives near to you who has a TeleMetrum, where you can try their battery? -Kevin -----Original Message----- From: altusmetrum [mailto:altusmetrum-bounces@lists.gag.com] On Behalf Of Tim Navickas Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 8:06 PM To: 'Keith Packard'; 'Bdale Garbee'; 'Altus Metrum' Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems Today I connected to the Telemetrum via USB and tried to fire the igniters. On both the Main and Apogee firing the Telemetrum resets and goes through the startup sequence. I assume this means I cannot use the supplied battery to fire igniters. I am also assuming that others have used the supplied battery to fire the igniters. Does this mean I have a bad board now? Is there any other kind of troubleshooting I can do? I really do not want to use this only as an expensive tracker and have to use 2 other altimeters. Thanks, Tim -----Original Message----- From: Keith Packard [mailto:keithp@keithp.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 4:54 AM To: Tim Navickas; 'Bdale Garbee'; 'Altus Metrum' Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems Tim Navickas <tnavickas(a)kc.rr.com> writes: > Further information. > > 1. Uninstalled the software and installed version 1.2.1 all the > windows work properly. I have a Telemetrum v1.0 unit. That's interesting information; I'll see if I can figure out how to make sense of it... > 2. I still cannot fire an igniter. I have tried several different one and > every different types..When I arm it then fires it says connecting to COM3. Hrm. TeleMetrum v1.0 units had some extra RF sensitivity due to a missing capacitor as described here: http://www.gag.com/bdale/blog/posts/RF_Immunity.html Have you been trying to fire igniters via USB? Or just over the RF link? If it's over USB, then RF can't be involved as there won't be any transmissions from either end. Does the TeleMetrum reset when you try? It would beep out the startup sequence again if it were. If it's only over RF, then you might send some pictures of the installation as we may be able to suggest ways to reduce the RF problem. > I have always flown this as a data logger and tracker but this will be > the first time I have used it for dual deploy. The battery voltage is > reading > 4.0 volts and the igniters read 3.5 Volts. The resistance is 1.7 ohms > for each igniter. I did make the mod to the battery removing the board > as suggested. I would like to fly this weekend at KLOUDBURST but am > afraid to rely on this altimeter if I cannot ground test. I'd definitely agree with this plan; fly nothing that you aren't sure about. -keith _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list altusmetrum(a)lists.gag.com http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum

8 years, 11 months

Re: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems

by Kevin Trojanowski

Do you have another battery you can try, to eliminate that as a possible cause? -Kevin -----Original Message----- From: altusmetrum [mailto:altusmetrum-bounces@lists.gag.com] On Behalf Of Tim Navickas Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 8:41 PM To: 'Bdale Garbee'; 'Altus Metrum' Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems Further information. 1. Uninstalled the software and installed version 1.2.1 all the windows work properly. I have a Telemetrum v1.0 unit. 2. I still cannot fire an igniter. I have tried several different one and every different types..When I arm it then fires it says connecting to COM3. I have always flown this as a data logger and tracker but this will be the first time I have used it for dual deploy. The battery voltage is reading 4.0 volts and the igniters read 3.5 Volts. The resistance is 1.7 ohms for each igniter. I did make the mod to the battery removing the board as suggested. I would like to fly this weekend at KLOUDBURST but am afraid to rely on this altimeter if I cannot ground test. Does anyone have any suggestions for me, I getting desperate. Thanks, Tim -----Original Message----- From: Bdale Garbee [mailto:bdale@gag.com] Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 1:18 PM To: Tim Navickas; 'Altus Metrum' Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems Tim Navickas <tnavickas(a)kc.rr.com> writes: > 1. When the rocket is in the vertical position and armed I start up > the software and it automatically goes into the monitor mode. All data > is green but I cannot close the window without using task manager Not being able to close the monitor window seems really odd / broken. > 2. When the rocket is horizontal position and I want to test fire the > igniters I first arm them and then press fire but nothing happens. > The software says the igniters are connected. Also, after I press > fire the software acts like it is reconnecting to the altimeter.. Does the TeleMetrum beep at you like it's restarting? If not, you're not having a problem with the flight computer, you're having a problem with the ground station software. Given the oddity of not being able to close the monitor window, sure seems like something isn't happy between the altosui application, the Java runtime, and the operating system. I personally know too little about Windows to be much help here. > I have used all this last year with no problems and was wanting to > test before a launch next weekend. Any thoughts? Definitely sounds like something got updated on your computer in the interim that our software isn't happy about. Bdale _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list altusmetrum(a)lists.gag.com http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum

8 years, 11 months

Telemetrum Problems

by Jesse Gersenson

Am not sure if this work around is available for your v1.0 board. That said, a quick possible-fix work around is using an external pyro battery. http://altusmetrum.org/AltOS/doc/altusmetrum.html#idp50937840 See "1.4. Using a Separate Pyro Battery" and "3.2. Using a Separate Pyro Battery with TeleMetrum"

8 years, 11 months

Re: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems

by Kevin Trojanowski

That second point sounds a lot like it's resetting due to power loss when the igniter fires. Have you checked to see if the resistance isn't too low on what you're using? -Kevin -----Original Message----- From: altusmetrum [mailto:altusmetrum-bounces@lists.gag.com] On Behalf Of Tim Navickas Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2014 4:55 PM To: 'Altus Metrum' Subject: [altusmetrum] Telemetrum Problems I seem to be having problems with my telemetrum and am wondering if I am using it correctly. 1. When the rocket is in the vertical position and armed I start up the software and it automatically goes into the monitor mode. All data is green but I cannot close the window without using task manager 2. When the rocket is horizontal position and I want to test fire the igniters I first arm them and then press fire but nothing happens. The software says the igniters are connected. Also, after I press fire the software acts like it is reconnecting to the altimeter.. I have used all this last year with no problems and was wanting to test before a launch next weekend. Any thoughts? Thanks, Tim _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list altusmetrum(a)lists.gag.com http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum

8 years, 11 months

EasyMini voltage measurements

by Bdale Garbee

Pat, I'm replying to this via email instead of privately on TRF because I think the answers are of general interest to our customers, and thus I want to CC our mailing list. Hope you don't mind! > I noticed that when I accessed the EM via AltosUI, the battery voltage > reported is about .5 volt lower than the actual voltage of the lipo. There are two things going on. The first is that EasyMini v1.0 units with purple circuit boards like yours have a design glitch, in that the voltage measurement is actually at the input of the LDO *after* a blocking diode, not on the battery itself. This means the reading will always be a fraction of a volt down from what you read at the battery terminals. We corrected this for the batch currently under assembly that will be on green circuit boards. For some reason, we failed to bump the version number, so both purple and green boards will be marked v1.0 but purple have the bug and green are good. [sigh] The second issue is that we aren't sure we got the ADC conversion coefficients right on EasyMini. Keith will investigate this as soon as the new (green) batch of boards arrives, to make sure we're reporting the right voltage on the corrected board design. That may result in a firmware bump, we'll report if so. > Second (disconnected from Altos), when I turn on the EM, it reports > Startup, Pad, and then continuity. It does not report the battery > voltage. So, on the pad, when the EM is powered up, I won't know what > the voltage state of the lipo is? > > Is there a firmware update that will provide a report of the lipo > voltage? Great question. Just hasn't come up before since all our other flight computers have radio telemetry. Keith says he'll add voltage reporting to the EasyMini startup beeping. We'll report when that's done and new firmware is available. The plan is to report two digits so you get tenths of volts. > On your next version of the EM, you might consider (if possible > without increasing power consumption too much) an increase in audio > volume. As it is right now, the EM beeps away for over 2.5 hours on a > 110mah lipo..... nice! Still had a reading of 3.90 volts on the lipo > at that time. The audio volume is constrained by the combination of our choice of beeper and the fact that we're operating at 3.3 volts. We use the same beeper on all our products that have one because it's the best I've been able to find so far. The same beeper is louder on 5V, but that doesn't help us. I haven't found a small beeper that's louder, but I do check our suppliers from time to time hoping something better comes along! If anyone knows of a better beeper, by all means let me know! Hope this helps. Bdale

8 years, 11 months

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

altusmetrum April 2014