close the window before performing other desired radio operations.
</para>
<para>
- TeleMetrum only enables packet command mode in 'idle' mode, so
+ TeleMetrum only enables radio commanding in 'idle' mode, so
make sure you have TeleMetrum lying horizontally when you turn
it on. Otherwise, TeleMetrum will start in 'pad' mode ready for
- flight and will not be listening for command packets from TeleDongle.
+ flight, and will not be listening for command packets from TeleDongle.
</para>
<para>
TeleMini listens for a command packet for five seconds after
operation can be performed.
</para>
<para>
- When packet command mode is enabled, you can monitor the link
- by watching the lights on the
- devices. The red LED will flash each time they
- transmit a packet while the green LED will light up
- on TeleDongle while it is waiting to receive a packet from
- the altimeter.
+ You can monitor the operation of the radio link by watching the
+ lights on the devices. The red LED will flash each time a packet
+ is tramsitted, while the green LED will light up on TeleDongle when
+ it is waiting to receive a packet from the altimeter.
</para>
</section>
<section>
<section>
<title>Radio Frequencies</title>
<para>
- The Altus Metrum boards support frequencies in the 70cm
+ Altus Metrum boards support radio frequencies in the 70cm
band. By default, the configuration interface provides a
- list of 10 common frequencies in 100kHz channels starting at
+ list of 10 "standard" frequencies in 100kHz channels starting at
434.550MHz. However, the firmware supports use of
any 50kHz multiple within the 70cm band. At any given
- launch, we highly recommend coordinating who will use each
- frequency and when to avoid interference. And of course, both
+ launch, we highly recommend coordinating when and by whom each
+ frequency will be used to avoid interference. And of course, both
altimeter and TeleDongle must be configured to the same
frequency to successfully communicate with each other.
</para>
</para>
</section>
</section>
- <section>
- <title>Updating Device Firmware</title>
- <para>
- The big conceptual thing to realize is that you have to use a
- TeleDongle as a programmer to update a TeleMetrum or TeleMini,
- and a TeleMetrum or other TeleDongle to program the TeleDongle
- Due to limited memory resources in the cc1111, we don't support
- programming directly over USB.
- </para>
- <para>
- You may wish to begin by ensuring you have current firmware images.
- These are distributed as part of the AltOS software bundle that
- also includes the AltosUI ground station program. Newer ground
- station versions typically work fine with older firmware versions,
- so you don't need to update your devices just to try out new
- software features. You can always download the most recent
- version from <ulink url="http://www.altusmetrum.org/AltOS/"/>.
- </para>
- <para>
- We recommend updating the altimeter first, before updating TeleDongle.
- </para>
- <section>
- <title>Updating TeleMetrum Firmware</title>
- <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
- <listitem>
- Find the 'programming cable' that you got as part of the starter
- kit, that has a red 8-pin MicroMaTch connector on one end and a
- red 4-pin MicroMaTch connector on the other end.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
- to the circuit board.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Plug the 8-pin end of the programming cable to the
- matching connector on the TeleDongle, and the 4-pin end to the
- matching connector on the TeleMetrum.
- Note that each MicroMaTch connector has an alignment pin that
- goes through a hole in the PC board when you have the cable
- oriented correctly.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Attach a battery to the TeleMetrum board.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Plug the TeleDongle into your computer's USB port, and power
- up the TeleMetrum.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Pick the TeleDongle device from the list, identifying it as the
- programming device.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Select the image you want put on the TeleMetrum, which should have a
- name in the form telemetrum-v1.1-1.0.0.ihx. It should be visible
- in the default directory, if not you may have to poke around
- your system to find it.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Make sure the configuration parameters are reasonable
- looking. If the serial number and/or RF configuration
- values aren't right, you'll need to change them.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
- the TeleMetrum with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Confirm that the TeleMetrum board seems to have updated OK, which you
- can do by plugging in to it over USB and using a terminal program
- to connect to the board and issue the 'v' command to check
- the version, etc.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- If something goes wrong, give it another try.
- </listitem>
- </orderedlist>
- </section>
- <section>
- <title>Updating TeleMini Firmware</title>
- <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
- <listitem>
- You'll need a special 'programming cable' to reprogram the
- TeleMini. It's available on the Altus Metrum web store, or
- you can make your own using an 8-pin MicroMaTch connector on
- one end and a set of four pins on the other.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
- to the circuit board.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Plug the 8-pin end of the programming cable to the matching
- connector on the TeleDongle, and the 4-pins into the holes
- in the TeleMini circuit board. Note that the MicroMaTch
- connector has an alignment pin that goes through a hole in
- the PC board when you have the cable oriented correctly, and
- that pin 1 on the TeleMini board is marked with a square pad
- while the other pins have round pads.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Attach a battery to the TeleMini board.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Plug the TeleDongle into your computer's USB port, and power
- up the TeleMini
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Pick the TeleDongle device from the list, identifying it as the
- programming device.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Select the image you want put on the TeleMini, which should have a
- name in the form telemini-v1.0-1.0.0.ihx. It should be visible
- in the default directory, if not you may have to poke around
- your system to find it.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Make sure the configuration parameters are reasonable
- looking. If the serial number and/or RF configuration
- values aren't right, you'll need to change them.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
- the TeleMini with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Confirm that the TeleMini board seems to have updated OK, which you
- can do by configuring it over the radio link through the TeleDongle, or
- letting it come up in "flight" mode and listening for telemetry.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- If something goes wrong, give it another try.
- </listitem>
- </orderedlist>
- </section>
- <section>
- <title>Updating TeleDongle Firmware</title>
- <para>
- Updating TeleDongle's firmware is just like updating TeleMetrum or TeleMini
- firmware, but you use either a TeleMetrum or another TeleDongle as the programmer.
- </para>
- <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
- <listitem>
- Find the 'programming cable' that you got as part of the starter
- kit, that has a red 8-pin MicroMaTch connector on one end and a
- red 4-pin MicroMaTch connector on the other end.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Find the USB cable that you got as part of the starter kit, and
- plug the "mini" end in to the mating connector on TeleMetrum or TeleDongle.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
- to the circuit board.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Plug the 8-pin end of the programming cable to the
- matching connector on the programmer, and the 4-pin end to the
- matching connector on the TeleDongle.
- Note that each MicroMaTch connector has an alignment pin that
- goes through a hole in the PC board when you have the cable
- oriented correctly.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Attach a battery to the TeleMetrum board if you're using one.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Plug both the programmer and the TeleDongle into your computer's USB
- ports, and power up the programmer.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Pick the programmer device from the list, identifying it as the
- programming device.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Select the image you want put on the TeleDongle, which should have a
- name in the form teledongle-v0.2-1.0.0.ihx. It should be visible
- in the default directory, if not you may have to poke around
- your system to find it.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Make sure the configuration parameters are reasonable
- looking. If the serial number and/or RF configuration
- values aren't right, you'll need to change them. The TeleDongle
- serial number is on the "bottom" of the circuit board, and can
- usually be read through the translucent blue plastic case without
- needing to remove the board from the case.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
- the TeleDongle with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- Confirm that the TeleDongle board seems to have updated OK, which you
- can do by plugging in to it over USB and using a terminal program
- to connect to the board and issue the 'v' command to check
- the version, etc. Once you're happy, remove the programming cable
- and put the cover back on the TeleDongle.
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- If something goes wrong, give it another try.
- </listitem>
- </orderedlist>
- <para>
- Be careful removing the programming cable from the locking 8-pin
- connector on TeleMetrum. You'll need a fingernail or perhaps a thin
- screwdriver or knife blade to gently pry the locking ears out
- slightly to extract the connector. We used a locking connector on
- TeleMetrum to help ensure that the cabling to companion boards
- used in a rocket don't ever come loose accidentally in flight.
- </para>
- </section>
- </section>
</chapter>
<chapter>
This reprograms any Altus Metrum device by using a TeleMetrum
or TeleDongle as a programming dongle. Please read the
directions for flashing devices in the Updating Device
- Firmware section above
+ Firmware chapter below.
</para>
<para>
Once you have the programmer and target devices connected,
</para>
</section>
</chapter>
+ <chapter>
+ <title>Updating Device Firmware</title>
+ <para>
+ The big conceptual thing to realize is that you have to use a
+ TeleDongle as a programmer to update a TeleMetrum or TeleMini,
+ and a TeleMetrum or other TeleDongle to program the TeleDongle
+ Due to limited memory resources in the cc1111, we don't support
+ programming directly over USB.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ You may wish to begin by ensuring you have current firmware images.
+ These are distributed as part of the AltOS software bundle that
+ also includes the AltosUI ground station program. Newer ground
+ station versions typically work fine with older firmware versions,
+ so you don't need to update your devices just to try out new
+ software features. You can always download the most recent
+ version from <ulink url="http://www.altusmetrum.org/AltOS/"/>.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ We recommend updating the altimeter first, before updating TeleDongle.
+ </para>
+ <section>
+ <title>Updating TeleMetrum Firmware</title>
+ <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
+ <listitem>
+ Find the 'programming cable' that you got as part of the starter
+ kit, that has a red 8-pin MicroMaTch connector on one end and a
+ red 4-pin MicroMaTch connector on the other end.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
+ to the circuit board.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Plug the 8-pin end of the programming cable to the
+ matching connector on the TeleDongle, and the 4-pin end to the
+ matching connector on the TeleMetrum.
+ Note that each MicroMaTch connector has an alignment pin that
+ goes through a hole in the PC board when you have the cable
+ oriented correctly.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Attach a battery to the TeleMetrum board.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Plug the TeleDongle into your computer's USB port, and power
+ up the TeleMetrum.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Pick the TeleDongle device from the list, identifying it as the
+ programming device.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Select the image you want put on the TeleMetrum, which should have a
+ name in the form telemetrum-v1.1-1.0.0.ihx. It should be visible
+ in the default directory, if not you may have to poke around
+ your system to find it.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Make sure the configuration parameters are reasonable
+ looking. If the serial number and/or RF configuration
+ values aren't right, you'll need to change them.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
+ the TeleMetrum with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Confirm that the TeleMetrum board seems to have updated OK, which you
+ can do by plugging in to it over USB and using a terminal program
+ to connect to the board and issue the 'v' command to check
+ the version, etc.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ If something goes wrong, give it another try.
+ </listitem>
+ </orderedlist>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Updating TeleMini Firmware</title>
+ <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
+ <listitem>
+ You'll need a special 'programming cable' to reprogram the
+ TeleMini. It's available on the Altus Metrum web store, or
+ you can make your own using an 8-pin MicroMaTch connector on
+ one end and a set of four pins on the other.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
+ to the circuit board.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Plug the 8-pin end of the programming cable to the matching
+ connector on the TeleDongle, and the 4-pins into the holes
+ in the TeleMini circuit board. Note that the MicroMaTch
+ connector has an alignment pin that goes through a hole in
+ the PC board when you have the cable oriented correctly, and
+ that pin 1 on the TeleMini board is marked with a square pad
+ while the other pins have round pads.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Attach a battery to the TeleMini board.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Plug the TeleDongle into your computer's USB port, and power
+ up the TeleMini
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Pick the TeleDongle device from the list, identifying it as the
+ programming device.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Select the image you want put on the TeleMini, which should have a
+ name in the form telemini-v1.0-1.0.0.ihx. It should be visible
+ in the default directory, if not you may have to poke around
+ your system to find it.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Make sure the configuration parameters are reasonable
+ looking. If the serial number and/or RF configuration
+ values aren't right, you'll need to change them.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
+ the TeleMini with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Confirm that the TeleMini board seems to have updated OK, which you
+ can do by configuring it over the radio link through the TeleDongle, or
+ letting it come up in "flight" mode and listening for telemetry.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ If something goes wrong, give it another try.
+ </listitem>
+ </orderedlist>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Updating TeleDongle Firmware</title>
+ <para>
+ Updating TeleDongle's firmware is just like updating TeleMetrum or TeleMini
+ firmware, but you use either a TeleMetrum or another TeleDongle as the programmer.
+ </para>
+ <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
+ <listitem>
+ Find the 'programming cable' that you got as part of the starter
+ kit, that has a red 8-pin MicroMaTch connector on one end and a
+ red 4-pin MicroMaTch connector on the other end.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Find the USB cable that you got as part of the starter kit, and
+ plug the "mini" end in to the mating connector on TeleMetrum or TeleDongle.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
+ to the circuit board.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Plug the 8-pin end of the programming cable to the
+ matching connector on the programmer, and the 4-pin end to the
+ matching connector on the TeleDongle.
+ Note that each MicroMaTch connector has an alignment pin that
+ goes through a hole in the PC board when you have the cable
+ oriented correctly.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Attach a battery to the TeleMetrum board if you're using one.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Plug both the programmer and the TeleDongle into your computer's USB
+ ports, and power up the programmer.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Pick the programmer device from the list, identifying it as the
+ programming device.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Select the image you want put on the TeleDongle, which should have a
+ name in the form teledongle-v0.2-1.0.0.ihx. It should be visible
+ in the default directory, if not you may have to poke around
+ your system to find it.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Make sure the configuration parameters are reasonable
+ looking. If the serial number and/or RF configuration
+ values aren't right, you'll need to change them. The TeleDongle
+ serial number is on the "bottom" of the circuit board, and can
+ usually be read through the translucent blue plastic case without
+ needing to remove the board from the case.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
+ the TeleDongle with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Confirm that the TeleDongle board seems to have updated OK, which you
+ can do by plugging in to it over USB and using a terminal program
+ to connect to the board and issue the 'v' command to check
+ the version, etc. Once you're happy, remove the programming cable
+ and put the cover back on the TeleDongle.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ If something goes wrong, give it another try.
+ </listitem>
+ </orderedlist>
+ <para>
+ Be careful removing the programming cable from the locking 8-pin
+ connector on TeleMetrum. You'll need a fingernail or perhaps a thin
+ screwdriver or knife blade to gently pry the locking ears out
+ slightly to extract the connector. We used a locking connector on
+ TeleMetrum to help ensure that the cabling to companion boards
+ used in a rocket don't ever come loose accidentally in flight.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ </chapter>
<chapter>
<title>Hardware Specifications</title>
<section>
projects / fw / altos / commitdiff