+ <para>
+ Keep wires from different circuits apart. Moving circuits
+ further apart will reduce RFI.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Avoid parallel wires from different circuits. The longer two
+ wires run parallel to one another, the larger the amount of
+ transferred energy. Cross wires at right angles to reduce
+ RFI.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Twist wires from the same circuits. Two wires the same
+ distance from the transmitter will get the same amount of
+ induced energy which will then cancel out. Any time you have
+ a wire pair running together, twist the pair together to
+ even out distances and reduce RFI. For altimeters, this
+ includes battery leads, switch hookups and igniter
+ circuits.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Avoid resonant lengths. Know what frequencies are present
+ in the environment and avoid having wire lengths near a
+ natural resonant length. Altusmetrum products transmit on the
+ 70cm amateur band, so you should avoid lengths that are a
+ simple ratio of that length; essentially any multiple of ¼
+ of the wavelength (17.5cm).
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </itemizedlist>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>The Barometric Sensor</title>
+ <para>
+ Altusmetrum altimeters measure altitude with a barometric
+ sensor, essentially measuring the amount of air above the
+ rocket to figure out how high it is. A large number of
+ measurements are taken as the altimeter initializes itself to
+ figure out the pad altitude. Subsequent measurements are then
+ used to compute the height above the pad.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ To accurately measure atmospheric pressure, the ebay
+ containing the altimeter must be vented outside the
+ air-frame. The vent must be placed in a region of linear
+ airflow, have smooth edges, and away from areas of increasing or
+ decreasing pressure.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ The barometric sensor in the altimeter is quite sensitive to
+ chemical damage from the products of APCP or BP combustion, so
+ make sure the ebay is carefully sealed from any compartment
+ which contains ejection charges or motors.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Ground Testing</title>
+ <para>
+ The most important aspect of any installation is careful
+ ground testing. Bringing an air-frame up to the LCO table which
+ hasn't been ground tested can lead to delays or ejection
+ charges firing on the pad, or, even worse, a recovery system
+ failure.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Do a 'full systems' test that includes wiring up all igniters
+ without any BP and turning on all of the electronics in flight
+ mode. This will catch any mistakes in wiring and any residual
+ RFI issues that might accidentally fire igniters at the wrong
+ time. Let the air-frame sit for several minutes, checking for
+ adequate telemetry signal strength and GPS lock. If any igniters
+ fire unexpectedly, find and resolve the issue before loading any
+ BP charges!
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Ground test the ejection charges. Prepare the rocket for
+ flight, loading ejection charges and igniters. Completely
+ assemble the air-frame and then use the 'Fire Igniters'
+ interface through a TeleDongle to command each charge to
+ fire. Make sure the charge is sufficient to robustly separate
+ the air-frame and deploy the recovery system.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ </chapter>
+ <chapter>
+ <title>Updating Device Firmware</title>
+ <para>
+ TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 and EasyMini are all programmed directly
+ over their USB connectors (self programming). TeleMetrum v1, TeleMini and
+ TeleDongle are all programmed by using another device as a
+ programmer (pair programming). It's important to recognize which
+ kind of devices you have before trying to reprogram them.
+ </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>
+ <para>
+ Self-programmable devices (TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 and EasyMini)
+ are reprogrammed by connecting them to your computer over USB
+ </para>
+ <section>
+ <title>
+ Updating TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 or EasyMini Firmware
+ </title>
+ <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Attach a battery and power switch to the target
+ device. Power up the device.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Using a Micro USB cable, connect the target device to your
+ computer's USB socket.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Select the target device in the Device Selection dialog.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Select the image you want to flash to the device, which
+ should have a name in the form
+ <product>-v<product-version>-<software-version>.ihx, such
+ as TeleMega-v1.0-1.3.0.ihx.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
+ the device with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Verify that the device is working by using the 'Configure
+ Altimeter' item to check over the configuration.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </orderedlist>
+ <section>
+ <title>Recovering From Self-Flashing Failure</title>
+ <para>
+ If the firmware loading fails, it can leave the device
+ unable to boot. Not to worry, you can force the device to
+ start the boot loader instead, which will let you try to
+ flash the device again.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ On each device, connecting two pins from one of the exposed
+ connectors will force the boot loader to start, even if the
+ regular operating system has been corrupted in some way.
+ </para>
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>TeleMega</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Connect pin 6 and pin 1 of the companion connector. Pin 1
+ can be identified by the square pad around it, and then
+ the pins could sequentially across the board. Be very
+ careful to <emphasis>not</emphasis> short pin 8 to
+ anything as that is connected directly to the battery. Pin
+ 7 carries 3.3V and the board will crash if that is
+ connected to pin 1, but shouldn't damage the board.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>TeleMetrum v2</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Connect pin 6 and pin 1 of the companion connector. Pin 1
+ can be identified by the square pad around it, and then
+ the pins could sequentially across the board. Be very
+ careful to <emphasis>not</emphasis> short pin 8 to
+ anything as that is connected directly to the battery. Pin
+ 7 carries 3.3V and the board will crash if that is
+ connected to pin 1, but shouldn't damage the board.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>EasyMini</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Connect pin 6 and pin 1 of the debug connector, which is
+ the six holes next to the beeper. Pin 1 can be identified
+ by the square pad around it, and then the pins could
+ sequentially across the board, making Pin 6 the one on the
+ other end of the row.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
+ </section>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Pair Programming</title>
+ <para>
+ The big concept to understand is that you have to use a
+ TeleMega, TeleMetrum or TeleDongle as a programmer to update a
+ pair programmed device. Due to limited memory resources in the
+ cc1111, we don't support programming directly over USB for these
+ devices.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Updating TeleMetrum v1.x Firmware</title>
+ <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
+ to the circuit board.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Attach a battery to the TeleMetrum board.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Plug the TeleDongle into your computer's USB port, and power
+ up the TeleMetrum.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Pick the TeleDongle device from the list, identifying it as the
+ programming device.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Select the image you want put on the TeleMetrum, which should have a
+ name in the form telemetrum-v1.2-1.0.0.ihx. It should be visible
+ in the default directory, if not you may have to poke around
+ your system to find it.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
+ the TeleMetrum with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ If something goes wrong, give it another try.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </orderedlist>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Updating TeleMini Firmware</title>
+ <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
+ to the circuit board.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Attach a battery to the TeleMini board.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Plug the TeleDongle into your computer's USB port, and power
+ up the TeleMini
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Pick the TeleDongle device from the list, identifying it as the
+ programming device.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
+ the TeleMini with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ If something goes wrong, give it another try.
+ </para>
+</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>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Take the 2 screws out of the TeleDongle case to get access
+ to the circuit board.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Attach a battery to the TeleMetrum board if you're using one.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Plug both the programmer and the TeleDongle into your computer's USB
+ ports, and power up the programmer.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Pick the programmer device from the list, identifying it as the
+ programming device.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ Hit the 'OK' button and the software should proceed to flash
+ the TeleDongle with new firmware, showing a progress bar.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ 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.
+ </para>
+</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+<para>
+ If something goes wrong, give it another try.
+ </para>
+</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>
+ <title>
+ TeleMega Specifications
+ </title>
+ <itemizedlist>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Recording altimeter for model rocketry.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Supports dual deployment and four auxiliary pyro channels
+ (a total of 6 events).
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 70cm 40mW ham-band transceiver for telemetry down-link.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Barometric pressure sensor good to 100k feet MSL.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 1-axis high-g accelerometer for motor characterization, capable of
+ +/- 102g.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 9-axis IMU including integrated 3-axis accelerometer,
+ 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis magnetometer.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ On-board, integrated uBlox Max 7 GPS receiver with 5Hz update rate capability.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ On-board 8 Megabyte non-volatile memory for flight data storage.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ USB interface for battery charging, configuration, and data recovery.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Fully integrated support for Li-Po rechargeable batteries.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Uses Li-Po to fire e-matches, can be modified to support
+ optional separate pyro battery if needed.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 3.25 x 1.25 inch board designed to fit inside 38mm air-frame coupler tube.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </itemizedlist>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>
+ TeleMetrum v2 Specifications
+ </title>
+ <itemizedlist>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Recording altimeter for model rocketry.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Supports dual deployment (can fire 2 ejection charges).
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 70cm, 40mW ham-band transceiver for telemetry down-link.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Barometric pressure sensor good to 100k feet MSL.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 1-axis high-g accelerometer for motor characterization, capable of
+ +/- 102g.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ On-board, integrated uBlox Max 7 GPS receiver with 5Hz update rate capability.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ On-board 8 Megabyte non-volatile memory for flight data storage.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ USB interface for battery charging, configuration, and data recovery.
+ </para>