TeleMini - a flight computer with dual deploy *and* radio tracking

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JMZawodny said:
So where does one go to get assistance with a telemini problem?
Click to expand...

My ears are burning!

Did you get this working yet? The first key for configuring TeleMini is to start the configuration dialog and *then* turn on the TeleMini device. The second key is to make sure the callsigns match between ground station and telemini device. If you can receive telemetry, you can see the callsign that the TeleMini is using. Make sure that callsign matches the one set in the 'Configure AltosUI' dialog.

I'm "fixing" this in our next AltosUI release by showing the AltosUI callsign in the 'connecting' dialog to at least let you know it's important.

Let me know if you're still stuck.
 
Say...when are you fellas going to come out with that TeleNano listed on your web site?

:grin:
 
Yes..... I went through almost exactly the same thing recently until Keith reminded me of that 5 second window during which a TeleMini will accept commands. Of course I found it (again) in the docs afterward.

Your post, CarVac, sounds almost exactly like the email I sent him....
 
DAllen said:
Say...when are you fellas going to come out with that TeleNano listed on your web site?
Click to expand...

Turned out that TeleNano was so close in parts cost, and was actually *more* expensive to manufacture than TeleMini that it just didn't pencil out. Lots of options here that might make sense, but we're running pretty much flat-out trying to get TeleBT and MegaMetrum/ finished, so we're putting other projects on hold until those are done.
 
Hi

Can the Telemini be used as a stager instead of the dual deploy? And would it be an easy adjustment?
Thanks
Paul
 
keithp said:
Turned out that TeleNano was so close in parts cost, and was actually *more* expensive to manufacture than TeleMini that it just didn't pencil out. Lots of options here that might make sense, but we're running pretty much flat-out trying to get TeleBT and MegaMetrum/ finished, so we're putting other projects on hold until those are done.
Click to expand...

Well that makes sense. Can't blame you there. :wink:

The green terminal blocks on your minis - where do you get those? I cannot stand the white terminal blocks that places like Radio Shack sells and I like the little green thingy's better. Do you folks sell them or is there somewhere I can get them?

-Dave
 
Paul Whalen said:
Can the Telemini be used as a stager instead of the dual deploy? And would it be an easy adjustment?
Click to expand...

The provided version of the AltOS firmware is hard-coded for dual-deploy; one pyro channel is set to fire at apogee (with a configurable delay), the other is set to fire on the way down at a (configurable) height above the launch altitude. So, any changes would involve modifying the code. Of course, AltOS is all free software, and the tools required to build and install it are also all free software, so you could change that to do whatever you want.

AltOS is also running on MegaMetrum, and so the code to detect motor burn out fire pyro channels at that point is already written. However, TeleMini has only a baro sensor, which has large errors around mach transitions, making precise motor burn out detection difficult above about 300m/s. And, it doesn't have gyros to compute the orientation of the airframe and inhibit staging when pointing in the wrong direction.
 
Yes, I managed to figure this out and have it working. Now I have a little request for a future release. Please consider adding a setting where the user can specify how long to wait after power on before the Telemini looks for evidence of a boost. I had the Telemini in an 18mm tube and hooked up to a cable cutter so I could convert a small single deploy rocket to dual deploy. I flipped the switch and pushed the recovery hardware into the rocket. When I installed the nose cone the computer said "boost". There was no way I could get back to the flight line and get the rocket launched in 20 seconds, so I slowly, carefully tried to extract the recovery hardware at the pad (away from everyone else). The charge in the cable cutter went off as I pulled the stuff from the rocket. No harm done other than to my ego. It would provide added safety if the user could set that delay to something more realistic like the 5 minutes it takes to activate the Telemini, install the nose cone, and install the igniter in the motor. Maybe even 10 minutes would be better. I see a lot of potential in this product and just want to make it even better. Or perhaps give the user the option to arm the Telemini via the wireless link.
 
Last edited:
JMZawodny said:
Please consider adding a setting where the user can specify how long to wait after power on before the Telemini looks for evidence of a boost.
Click to expand...

Yeah, sometimes you just can't make the switch available on the rail. For this case, we've got a better plan -- arming *over the air*.

Here's what you do -- bring up the UI on the laptop, start the 'Configure Altimeter' dialog and get it trying to talk to TeleMini. Now boot TeleMini. It will now be stuck in 'idle' mode and will not go to pad mode unless you turn it off. Assemble the airframe and get things ready. Now, when you're on the rail and ready to launch, *reboot* TeleMini using the Configure Altimeter tab. That should close the Configure Altimeter tab and let the TeleMini boot up into flight mode. You can check this by starting the Monitor Flight dialog at that point, and you should see it happily emiting telemetry packets.

This also works with TeleMetrum, of course -- useful to avoid climbing a 47' ladder to arm the electronics while the rocket is vertical.

Obviously, try this at home to make sure you know how it works and feel comfortable doing it.
 
As for terminal blocks, I get mine on ebay. They are $1.91 (free shipping) from Radio Shack.
 
DAllen said:
SAH WEET! I've been looking all over for those...guess I used the wrong search criteria. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Okay...got the terminal blocks...now if I could just figure out a way to install them on my bulkheads for e-matches... :confused:
 
Cool enough. I'll give it a try next weekend. I know quite a few SEVRA members are interested in this device and are watching/learning from my experiences. Thanks!
 
DAllen said:
Okay...got the terminal blocks...now if I could just figure out a way to install them on my bulkheads for e-matches... :confused:
Click to expand...

I drill holes for the wires, thread them through and solder to terminal block, then epoxy block to bulkhead. NC Av-bay 005.jpgNC Av-bay 004.jpg
 
bill2654 said:
I drill holes for the wires, thread them through and solder to terminal block, then epoxy block to bulkhead.
Click to expand...

Okay, I tried that and it didn't work. Let's just say I need to work on my soldering skills. :bangpan:
 
keithp said:
Yeah, sometimes you just can't make the switch available on the rail. For this case, we've got a better plan -- arming *over the air*.

Here's what you do -- bring up the UI on the laptop, start the 'Configure Altimeter' dialog and get it trying to talk to TeleMini. Now boot TeleMini. It will now be stuck in 'idle' mode and will not go to pad mode unless you turn it off. Assemble the airframe and get things ready. Now, when you're on the rail and ready to launch, *reboot* TeleMini using the Configure Altimeter tab. That should close the Configure Altimeter tab and let the TeleMini boot up into flight mode. You can check this by starting the Monitor Flight dialog at that point, and you should see it happily emiting telemetry packets.

This also works with TeleMetrum, of course -- useful to avoid climbing a 47' ladder to arm the electronics while the rocket is vertical.

Obviously, try this at home to make sure you know how it works and feel comfortable doing it.
Click to expand...

Keith today we tried to fly the Telemini without a power switch, just plug power then go through configure altimeter to put into idle mode. Idle mode worked but we could never get the Telemini to reboot to go into pad mode. We tryed at least six or seven times. So no dice for the Telemini doing deployments or any telemetry. It went along for the ride with another altimeter handling the deployments. So we came home and thought maybe try and update the firmware, well we have lastest software but when we try to update the firmware we get the message 'debug port not open'. What are we doing wrong
Thanks
 
maxvelocity said:
Idle mode worked but we could never get the Telemini to reboot to go into pad mode.
Click to expand...

There was a bug in pre-1.1 Tm firmware which could have prevented it from rebooting to pad mode. What version does your board have? (Configure Altimeter will show the version)

maxvelocity said:
When we try to update the firmware we get the message 'debug port not open'.
Click to expand...

Reflashing the fimrware requires a special cable between the TeleDongle and the TeleMini; you can't do that over the radio link, I'm afraid. Here's a link to the cable in the AltusMetrum store:

TeleMini Programming Cable
 
Any news on the MegaMetrum project! This year being the year of the two stage I'm building a 2" Wildman two stage and probably a 4" two stage and need/want the capabilities of the Tele with air start capability.

Something we may see this spring, or should I go with a timer for the air start?

Thanks for any insight you might share.
 
rheil said:
Any news on the MegaMetrum project!
Click to expand...

We're spinning the prototype boards again as we're switching to the U-Blox GPS chip and when we met with Ken Biba and Casey Barker during NARCON last month they had some great suggestions which we wanted to incorporate. I suspect it'll probably be a couple of months before these are in our store. We've got some projects we'd like to fly as well that need these boards, so we're probably even more anxious to have them done. I'll try to get some updates posted to the MegaMetrum web page.Thanks for your interest
 
Thanks for the prompt reply Keith... and very encouraging news!
 
keithp said:
One of the test airframes I built was a 29mm minimum diameter project -- TeleMini, one of Adrian Adamson's magnetic arming switches and the 110mAh LiPo were tucked inside a Performance fiberglass 1:4 conical nose. Having seen several of Adrian's ebays, I felt like I was following in his footsteps :)


So what is the wiring diagram for using a Telemini with a Featherweight magnetic switch?
Click to expand...
 
Jimmy F. said:
keithp said:
One of the test airframes I built was a 29mm minimum diameter project -- TeleMini, one of Adrian Adamson's magnetic arming switches and the 110mAh LiPo were tucked inside a Performance fiberglass 1:4 conical nose. Having seen several of Adrian's ebays, I felt like I was following in his footsteps :)


So what is the wiring diagram for using a Telemini with a Featherweight magnetic switch?
Click to expand...

I own a rocket exactly like this. I'm currently storing it in a nice, dry place about 200 miles from my house under a sage bush. I'd love to know *which* sage bush it is...

So, the wiring is pretty simple -- the switch leads on the telemini go to the in/out terminals on the switch, and the gnd terminal on the switch goes to either of the two mounting holes on the telemini. The wire connected to the hole closer to the antenna is the battery lead, so that goes to the 'in' terminal on the switch. The wire connected to the hole closer to the screw terminals gets connected to the 'out' terminal on the switch.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Keith, that works perfect!
This project is far from a minimum diameter, the Telemini will be primary flight computer in a Dominator 4.
With a Raven 2 on a PowerPerch as secondary. We are alpha testing a new video camera system, so using these
two computers leaves plenty of room for the video board.
The wiring and getting things to fit was a breeze.
Thanks again Keith, and your prompt customer service response is highly appreciated.
 
Are the user manuals up to date? People love your products but commonly we have to ask around on how to use it. Telemini seems sparse compared to TeleGpS documents.
 
Mate, is it too much to ask you to write a manual similar to TeleGPS but for the Telemini. Honestly I love your products. I hate the lack of details in documents. The TeleGpS documents were easier to follow because they contain more details. I hate to nag. I want to use a Telemini in a 24mm MD. And I want to buy one. A new Telemini manual would be awesome.
 

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