Looking for first hand experience, not advice on what to buy/make/use. I have many Eggtimer products and while they are fantastic (especially for what they cost), but the interface tends to frustrate me. Nothing bad at all with Cris' stuff, it's my lack of computer skills causing my grief. I am going to need at the very least a 4 pyro altimeter if I ever get back on track with my LOC Ultimate build. I can muddle my way through all the emulator stuff and whatnot but I find it stressful and frustrating. A hobby isn't supposed to raise my already too high blood pressure. The thing I find intriguing about the Aim Xtra is their claim of usb plug and play. Can anyone who has and uses one verify this?
Entacor Aim Xtra
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eggplant
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I don't have any experience with the AIM Xtra, but I have heard of them being used in a decent number of very high performance rockets. You could also look into the Marsa, Telemega, or Raven, which all have at least 4 channels and varying feature sets and prices.
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I am eager to see some responses as well. I like the idea of the GPS+baro+accel all in one unit. One unit popped up in the Yard Sale a while back. I should have jumped on it.
It is a South African (or European, can't recall) company, so it may be quirky and without a lot of air time here in the USA. Apogee sells it, so Tim likely has a good write up about it and maybe a how-to video.
I am using Raven at the moment. Marsa didn't meet my needs, and Tele-whatever sounds too fiddly and with poor documentation.
It is a South African (or European, can't recall) company, so it may be quirky and without a lot of air time here in the USA. Apogee sells it, so Tim likely has a good write up about it and maybe a how-to video.
I am using Raven at the moment. Marsa didn't meet my needs, and Tele-whatever sounds too fiddly and with poor documentation.
Thorfire
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We have both an aim extra, and an easy mega (our telemega had an accident after 40+ flights). The aim extra is noticeably larger than the telemega, closer to the size of a eggfinder TRS. I find the telemega easier to program, and ground test. I feel the telemega allows me more control of the conditions when a event will, or will not happen. The extra can use an eggtimer Wifi switch, while the 1S lipo with the telemega cannot. Gary at offwegorocketry.com is the US dealer for the aim extra, he's our local motor vendor at launches and extremely helpful. They're both good units. We use our altus metrums a lot more than the extra because of size and my greater familiarity & control for air starts. The extra requires both altitude and acceleration to detect launch, so I cannot run a validation test with a vacuum chamber like an eggtimer or altus metrum. There are instructions for testing the sensor in the extra. It's my own hangup, the lack of that visual vacuum chamber validation makes me trust the telemega more.
Thorfire
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Photo of a easymega, eggfinder TRS, aim extra, Wifi switch, and eggfinder quantum for size.
Size shouldn't be a problem in a 4" bay, especially if it eliminates the need for an added tracker. My main concern is ease of use/programming. It's turned into a real head scratcher of a decision. I like the features and apparent ease of use of the marsa 33, the wireless "gadgets make it even more intriguing. Just got caught up by the Aim Xtra's advertised usb plug and play thing. If there's a way to screw up programming, I tend to be exceptional at finding it. I really cannot decide. Fortunately there's no real time frame I'm under so I can be confused for quite a while yet.
Andrew_ASC
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I only have the Telemini and TeleGPS due to their small size. (I fly small L-1 stuff). The lack of documentation makes learning curve steep on Altus Metrum products. I consider the forum as Altus customer support. The first thing I noticed about calling Aim was customer support is top notch via phone even for minor device specs. The design documents were all there on website. I do not own an Aim Xtra but plan to buy one someday when the need arises.
If you have common devices that local flyers use the advantage is they can help you troubleshoot and track. I got crickets for asking Altus Metrum to improve device instructions. Those products work, but figuring it out is fiddly. The Altus UI gives you the ability to fire pyro charges on command from ground station on larger devices. I’ve had norten anti virus delete Altus software sometimes to speak of competitor being fiddly. Expect to spend a few days to two weeks practice tracking and figuring it out whichever device you pick.
Sorry I can’t help you on Aim Xtra. If Aim had a Telemini sized GPS I’d be all over it.
If you have common devices that local flyers use the advantage is they can help you troubleshoot and track. I got crickets for asking Altus Metrum to improve device instructions. Those products work, but figuring it out is fiddly. The Altus UI gives you the ability to fire pyro charges on command from ground station on larger devices. I’ve had norten anti virus delete Altus software sometimes to speak of competitor being fiddly. Expect to spend a few days to two weeks practice tracking and figuring it out whichever device you pick.
Sorry I can’t help you on Aim Xtra. If Aim had a Telemini sized GPS I’d be all over it.
Cameron Anderson
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You ever get the XTRA? I just picked up a used 2.0 and got the computer interface working finally. Seems intuitive enough.
Cameron Anderson
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I had two good IT friends spend hours trying to get my existing field laptop (Windows 7) working and never got it. Did the same with an 8 machine - no joy. Finally one of them had a friend with a super basic 10 laptop and they got it to work.
The AIM system seems very capable, I like it a lot in just playing with it on the bench. But so few people use it, I almost with I would have gone with Featherweight just because it's far more common and there is a more accesaable pool of user experience.
I'm planning a staged 50k shot for next year and the XTRA features prominently so we shall see how it does.
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