X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?a=blobdiff_plain;ds=sidebyside;f=rockets%2Findex.mdwn;h=5d674d28c013a258d329f0e265b50b483bead6eb;hb=c3e645057af6f8a71acd456d719fc2e84d4b93d1;hp=a2d280cf13bba1b3d7faf2244340a49e2d0aa1bc;hpb=56dade40b873873b5b5522ae426b1654aa6f976b;p=web%2Fgag.com
diff --git a/rockets/index.mdwn b/rockets/index.mdwn
index a2d280c..5d674d2 100755
--- a/rockets/index.mdwn
+++ b/rockets/index.mdwn
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
# Garbee Rockets #
-![Photo of Bdale and Robert with Horizon just before successful level 2 certification flight](./level2.jpg "Photo of Bdale and Robert with Horizon just before successful level 2 certification flight")
+
Building and launching model rockets is one of our favorite hobby activities
right now. While everyone in the family gets into the act in one way or
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Jr member
## [Airframes](airframes) ##
+## Photos ##
+
+See some of our launch photos in Bdale's Flickr Photostream.
+
+## Electronics ##
+
## Clubs ##
We have family memberships in (and regularly enjoy flying our
@@ -59,24 +65,52 @@ We have also flown with
and [Rouse-Tech cases](http://rouse-tech.com) from them. And they're
responsive and helpful on the phone.
-## Photos ##
-
-See some of our launch photos in Bdale's Flickr Photostream.
-
## Electronics ##
-A related project Bdale works on delivers fully open hardware and software
-designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
-[Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
-
-## Rocketry books we like ##
+Lots of people make electronics for use in hobby rockets. This is a brief
+list of only the things we've actually used ourselves.
-Note that Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry is definitely not for
-everyone, as it's heavy on math and isn't a "how to" book at all! The
-others are great general books for learning about and gaining greater
-enjoyment from the hobby.
+First off, Bdale and friends develop fully open hardware and software
+designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
+[Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
-
-
-
+We also fly commercial altimeters in some projects. The cheapest off the
+shelf altimeter we've used and often recommend to beginners is the
+[Missile Works](http://www.missileworks.com/) RRC2-mini. At about $80, it
+gets the job done for simple barometric control of dual deployment. Note
+that while early versions had a firmware bug that we believe is at least
+partially responsible for Bdale's loss of his first L3 project, recent
+versions seem fine. For another $20, the
+[PerfectFlite](http://www.perfectflite.com/)
+[miniAlt/WD](http://www.perfectflite.com/catalog/MAWD.html)
+adds the ability to records the barometric flight altitude profile. Both
+of Bdale's L3 certs flew with one each of these two commercial altimeters,
+and we often use the MAWD as a backup for our
+[TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) units during test flights.
+
+The [BeeLine TX](http://www.bigredbee.com/BeeLine.htm) boards from Big Red
+Bee are radio tracking transmitters that just work. They require an
+[amateur radio](http://www.altusmetrum.org/Radio) license, but we think
+anyone flying big rockets can and should get one of those anyway!
+
+## Books ##
+
+While a lot of great information is available on the web, there are some paper
+books that we've found very helpful at various stages.
+
+* Handbook of Model Rocketry, 7th Edition (NAR Official Handbook)
+ may be the best first book on model rocketry. While the focus is on small
+ rockets, the basic principles of static stability and construction covered
+ here are important at all levels of the hobby.
+
+* Modern High-Power Rocketry 2
+ covers a lot of material, and is a great resource if you're starting to think
+ about a high power certification and don't have a club nearby, or just like
+ to read about how other people have done things and why.
+
+* [Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry](http://www.apogeerockets.com/topics_advanced_model_rocketry.asp) is definitely not for everyone, as it's heavy on
+ math and isn't a "how to" book at all! But, if you really want to understand
+ what's going on with higher performance models and/or inside the simulation
+ software we use when designing rockets, the material here will take you
+ a long way!