== Using Altus Metrum Products
+ ifdef::radio[]
+
=== Being Legal
- First off, in the US, you need an
- link:http://www.altusmetrum.org/Radio/[amateur radio license]
- or other authorization to legally operate the radio
- transmitters that are part of our products.
+ In the US, you need an
+ link:http://www.altusmetrum.org/Radio/[amateur radio license]
+ or other authorization to legally operate the radio
+ transmitters that are part of our products.
+
+ endif::radio[]
=== In the Rocket
In the rocket itself, you just need a flight computer
and a single-cell, 3.7 volt nominal Li-Po rechargeable
- battery. An 850mAh battery weighs less than a 9V
+ battery.
+ ifdef::telemetrum,telemega,easymega[]
+ An 850mAh battery weighs less than a 9V
alkaline battery, and will run a TeleMetrum, TeleMega
- or EasyMega for hours. A 110mAh battery weighs less
+ or EasyMega for hours.
+ endif::telemetrum,telemega,easymega[]
+ A 110mAh battery weighs less
than a triple A battery and is a good choice for use
- with TeleMini or EasyMini.
+ with
+ ifdef::telemini[TeleMini or]
+ EasyMini.
+ ifdef::radio[]
By default, we ship TeleMini, TeleMetrum and TeleMega
flight computers with a simple wire antenna. If your
electronics bay or the air-frame it resides within is
antenna is fixed on all current products, so you
really want to install the flight computer in a bay
made of RF-transparent materials if at all possible.
+ endif::radio[]
=== On the Ground
+ ifdef::radio[]
To receive the data stream from the rocket, you need
an antenna and short feed-line connected to one of our
link:http://www.altusmetrum.org/TeleDongle/[TeleDongle]
TeleDongle looks like a simple serial port, your
computer does not require special device
drivers... just plug it in.
+ endif::radio[]
The GUI tool, AltosUI, is written in Java and runs
across Linux, Mac OS and Windows. There's also a suite
of C tools for Linux which can perform most of the
same tasks.
+ ifdef::radio[]
Alternatively, a TeleBT attached with an SMA to BNC
adapter at the feed point of a hand-held yagi used in
conjunction with an Android device running AltosDroid
makes an outstanding ground station.
+ endif::radio[]
- After the flight, you can use the radio link to
+ After the flight,
+ ifdef::radio[]
+ you can use the radio link to
extract the more detailed data logged in either
- TeleMetrum or TeleMini devices, or you can use a mini
- USB cable to plug into the TeleMetrum board directly.
- Pulling out the data without having to open up the
- rocket is pretty cool! A USB cable is also how you
+ TeleMetrum or TeleMini devices, or
+ endif::radio[]
+ you can use a
+ USB cable to plug into the flight computer board directly.
+ A USB cable is also how you
charge the Li-Po battery, so you'll want one of those
- anyway... the same cable used by lots of digital
+ anyway. The same cable used by lots of digital
cameras and other modern electronic stuff will work
fine.
+ ifdef::gps[]
If your rocket lands out of sight, you may enjoy
having a hand-held GPS receiver, so that you can put
in a way-point for the last reported rocket position
look around starting from there. AltosDroid on an
Android device with GPS receiver works great for this,
too!
+ endif::gps[]
+ ifdef::radio[]
You may also enjoy having a ham radio “HT” that covers
the 70cm band... you can use that with your antenna to
direction-find the rocket on the ground the same way
with a suitable 70cm HT. TeleDongle and an SMA to BNC
adapter fit perfectly between the driven element and
reflector of Arrow antennas.
+ endif::radio[]
=== Data Analysis
velocity. You can also generate and view a standard
set of plots showing the altitude, acceleration, and
velocity of the rocket during flight. And you can
- even export a TeleMetrum data file usable with Google
+ even export a flight log in a format usable with Google
Maps and Google Earth for visualizing the flight path
in two or three dimensions!
=== Future Plans
+ ifdef::telemetrum,telemega,easymega[]
We have designed and prototyped several “companion
boards” that can attach to the companion connector on
TeleMetrum, TeleMega and EasyMega flight computers to
control of events in your rockets beyond the
capabilities of our existing productions, please let
us know!
+ endif::telemetrum,telemega,easymega[]
Because all of our work is open, both the hardware
designs and the software, if you have some great idea