+ The other active device in the starter kit is the half-duplex TeleDongle
+ rf link. If you plug it in to your computer it should "just work",
+ showing up as a serial port device. If you are using Linux and are
+ having problems, try moving to a fresher kernel (2.6.33 or newer), as
+ there were some ugly USB serial driver bugs in earlier versions.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Next you should obtain and install the AltOS utilities. The first
+ generation sofware was written for Linux only. New software is coming
+ soon that will also run on Windows and Mac. For now, we'll concentrate
+ on Linux. If you are using Debian, an 'altos' package already exists,
+ see http://altusmetrum.org/AltOS for details on how to install it.
+ User-contributed directions for building packages on ArchLinux may be
+ found in the contrib/arch-linux directory as PKGBUILD files.
+ Between the debian/rules file and the PKGBUILD files in
+ contrib, you should find enough information to learn how to build the
+ software for any other version of Linux.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ When you have successfully installed the software suite (either from
+ compiled source code or as the pre-built Debian package) you will
+ have 10 executable programs all of which have names beginning with 'ao-'.
+ ('ao-view' is the lone GUI-based program.
+ The rest are command-line based.) You will also
+ have 10 man pages, that give you basic info on each program.
+ And you will also get this documentation in two file types,
+ telemetrum.pdf and telemetrum.html.
+ Finally you will have a couple of control files that allow the ao-view
+ GUI-based program to appear in your menu of programs (under
+ the 'Internet' category).
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Both Telemetrum and TeleDongle can be directly communicated
+ with using USB ports. The first thing you should try after getting
+ both units plugged into to your computer's usb port(s) is to run
+ 'ao-list' from a terminal-window (I use konsole for this,) to see what
+ port-device-name each device has been assigned by the operating system.
+ You will need this information to access the devices via their
+ respective on-board firmware and data using other command line
+ programs in the AltOS software suite.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ To access the device's firmware for configuration you need a terminal
+ program such as you would use to talk to a modem. The software
+ authors prefer using the program 'cu' which comes from the UUCP package
+ on most Unix-like systems such as Linux. An example command line for
+ cu might be 'cu -l /dev/ttyACM0', substituting the correct number
+ indicated from running the
+ ao-list program. Another reasonable terminal program for Linux is
+ 'cutecom'. The default 'escape'
+ character used by CU (i.e. the character you use to
+ issue commands to cu itself instead of sending the command as input
+ to the connected device) is a '~'. You will need this for use in
+ only two different ways during normal operations. First is to exit
+ the program by sending a '~.' which is called a 'escape-disconnect'
+ and allows you to close-out from 'cu'. The
+ second use will be outlined later.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Both TeleMetrum and TeleDongle share the concept of a two level
+ command set in their
+ firmware. The first layer has several single letter commands. Once
+ you are using 'cu' (or 'cutecom') sending (typing) a '?'
+ returns a full list of these
+ commands. The second level are configuration sub-commands accessed
+ using the 'c' command, for
+ instance typing 'c?' will give you this second level of commands
+ (all of which require the
+ letter 'c' to access). Please note that most configuration options
+ are stored only in DataFlash memory, and only TeleMetrum has this
+ memory to save the various values entered like the channel number
+ and your callsign when powered off. TeleDongle requires that you
+ set these each time you plug it in, which ao-view can help with.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Try setting these config ('c' or second level menu) values. A good
+ place to start is by setting your call sign. By default, the boards
+ use 'N0CALL' which is cute, but not exactly legal!
+ Spend a few minutes getting comfortable with the units, their
+ firmware, 'cu' (and possibly 'cutecom') For instance, try to send
+ (type) a 'cr2' and verify the channel change by sending a 'cs'.
+ Verify you can connect and disconnect from the units while in 'cu'
+ by sending the escape-disconnect mentioned above.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Note that the 'reboot' command, which is very useful on TeleMetrum,
+ will likely just cause problems with the dongle. The *correct* way
+ to reset the dongle is just to unplug and re-plug it.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ A fun thing to do at the launch site and something you can do while
+ learning how to use these units is to play with the rf-link access
+ of the TeleMetrum from the TeleDongle. Be aware that you *must* create
+ some physical separation between the devices, otherwise the link will
+ not function due to signal overload in the receivers in each device.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Now might be a good time to take a break and read the rest of this
+ manual, particularly about the two "modes" that the TeleMetrum
+ can be placed in and how the position of the TeleMetrum when booting
+ up will determine whether the unit is in "pad" or "idle" mode.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ You can access a TeleMetrum in idle mode from the Teledongle's USB
+ connection using the rf link
+ by issuing a 'p' command to the TeleDongle. Practice connecting and
+ disconnecting ('~~' while using 'cu') from the TeleMetrum. If
+ you cannot escape out of the "p" command, (by using a '~~' when in
+ CU) then it is likely that your kernel has issues. Try a newer version.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Using this rf link allows you to configure the TeleMetrum, test
+ fire e-matches and igniters from the flight line, check pyro-match
+ continuity and so forth. You can leave the unit turned on while it
+ is in 'idle mode' and then place the
+ rocket vertically on the launch pad, walk away and then issue a
+ reboot command. The TeleMetrum will reboot and start sending data
+ having changed to the "pad" mode. If the TeleDongle is not receiving
+ this data, you can disconnect 'cu' from the Teledongle using the
+ procedures mentioned above and THEN connect to the TeleDongle from
+ inside 'ao-view'. If this doesn't work, disconnect from the
+ TeleDongle, unplug it, and try again after plugging it back in.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Eventually the GPS will find enough satellites, lock in on them,
+ and 'ao-view' will both auditorially announce and visually indicate
+ that GPS is ready.
+ Now you can launch knowing that you have a good data path and
+ good satellite lock for flight data and recovery. Remember
+ you MUST tell ao-view to connect to the TeleDongle explicitly in
+ order for ao-view to be able to receive data.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Both RDF (radio direction finding) tones from the TeleMetrum and
+ GPS trekking data are available and together are very useful in
+ locating the rocket once it has landed. (The last good GPS data
+ received before touch-down will be on the data screen of 'ao-view'.)
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Once you have recovered the rocket you can download the eeprom
+ contents using either 'ao-dumplog' (or possibly 'ao-eeprom'), over
+ either a USB cable or over the radio link using TeleDongle.
+ And by following the man page for 'ao-postflight' you can create
+ various data output reports, graphs, and even kml data to see the
+ flight trajectory in google-earth. (Moving the viewing angle making
+ sure to connect the yellow lines while in google-earth is the proper
+ technique.)
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ As for ao-view.... some things are in the menu but don't do anything
+ very useful. The developers have stopped working on ao-view to focus
+ on a new, cross-platform ground station program. Mostly you just use
+ the Log and Device menus. It has a wonderful display of the incoming
+ flight data and I am sure you will enjoy what it has to say to you
+ once you enable the voice output!