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Diffstat (limited to 'doc/using-am-products.inc')
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1 files changed, 37 insertions, 14 deletions
diff --git a/doc/using-am-products.inc b/doc/using-am-products.inc index 8d7d005a..8bca563d 100644 --- a/doc/using-am-products.inc +++ b/doc/using-am-products.inc @@ -1,23 +1,32 @@ == 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. + 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. + 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 @@ -28,9 +37,11 @@ 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] @@ -42,28 +53,35 @@ 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 @@ -72,7 +90,9 @@ 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 @@ -102,6 +122,7 @@ 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 @@ -115,7 +136,7 @@ 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! @@ -125,6 +146,7 @@ === 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 @@ -135,6 +157,7 @@ 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 |