Eggtimer Classic Flight Computer

Just finished assembling the Eggtimer Classic Flight Computer. Straight forward layout and very easy soldering. Is there a way to use the Preprogramed Flight Profiles without going through the initial programing and setup of the flight computer? Reason I'm asking is I'm about the least computer savy person in the world. I looked at what needs to be done to program this thing and it's way beyond my skills. If I could just get it to work as a dual deployment device without all the other bells and whistles I'd be satisfied.

Kurt

Hello Kurt (Uncrichie)

You built the Eggtimer. - So that tells me you have some tools, and you know how to follow directions. That's great!!

You don't need to be super computer literate - or have "programing experience". Testing, and preping the Eggtimer is easy, trust me.

I'm willing to bet you can do it.

Taking things one step at a time... you will need 3 things to get started.
1) The assembled Eggtimer.
2) The data cable that comes with the Eggtimer Classic kit. (unless you specifically ordered the kit without the cable)
3) A computer running Windows, Mac, or linux.

We know you have the Eggtimer. You can get the data cable if you don't have it already. This is not just any cable. You need to get the cable from Eggtimer Rocketry.

The computer, has to be a computer, (desktop, laptop, notebook) not a phone or a tablet. Most computers are already running Windows or Mac. Chrome (chromebook) or Android operating systems might not work. The computer you use must also have a standard USB port. Specifically USB v2 or v3 to plug the cable into.

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Provided you have the 3 requirements above, start by reading the assembly guide, and the users guide (two different guides) available on the Eggtimer rocketry website.

You don't have to do anything... just read thru the information. Don't let the word "programming" bother you, just take it slow, and read things over - 3 or 4 times if necessary.

The instructions are very good, and you can always ask questions here on TRF.

Don't give up yet!!

Well the good news is that you only need one initiallzation to fly it.

It may behoov you to find a buddy and either in person or by phone work on the connection if the cable to pc and altimeter, identifying the usb and serial ports, running the terminal program and getting the correct bits set ..once that is up the terminal screen is fairly stright forward.

I am lucky because i worked through attaching the cables from my raven and rrc3 to run their software pkgs and learned to set the sw to match how the cpmputer was talking to the cable. So when it was time to play with egg stuff had half the playbook mastered

Kenny

Thanks everyone for responding to my plight. Kurt, I was saving an e-mail to Cris as a last resort, I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of the creator till the bitter end. By the way good to meet another "Kurt" , there aren't many of us compared to the incorrect spelling ones, Curt! lol.

Kenny I'll check with members of the regional clubs to see if there is someone that can assist me if it gets that far.

Scott, thanks for breaking it down into understandable units. It always sounds so easy till you get to this part: "confirm that your OS assigns a serial port to it. Set the serial port to 19,200 baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, and no handshaking. Open up your terminal program, select the serial port that your OS assigned to the USB interface, and connect. Connect power to the Eggtimer, after a few seconds the IND light should come on, it should start beeping, and you should see the programming screen:
Eggtimer Build_1.53 Flight Settings T:23.50 A 100 LDA <50-500 by 50> P:97804.00 B 10 Burn/Coast Samp/sec: <4,5,8,10,15,20,25,33> A:975.39 100 Interval (ms) Main:0 C 2 Descent Samples/sec <1,2,4,5,10> CHB:0 500 Interval (ms) Batt:3.12 D 0 Main Mode <0-Off, 1-IGN, 2-Servo CCW, 3-Servo CW> E 400 Main Altitude <100-2000 by 50, 0 @ Apogee> F 1 Main ON-Time <1-9,0-Cont.> G 0 CHB Mode <0-Off,1-Ignitor,2-Servo CCW, 3-Servo CW, 4-Airstart, 5-Airstart w/o Breakwire,6-Delay> H 1 CHB ON-Time <1-9,0-Cont.> I 1 Burn Timer <1-20> J 0 Airstart/Delay <0-9> K 0 Telemetry O Comments: Options: Esc, A-O, ?

About 10 years ago I literally screwed up a desktop messing around with port assignments. The quick and dirty solution at the time was to remove and destroy the hard drive threw out the remains and bought my wife a new computer.
From that time on I just use the computer like a smart phone, e-mails, on line favorites and surfing websights. After that episode I have neither the interest nor the time to learn "computering". Old habits die hard unfortunately for this old (66) guy. Radio electronics come very easy for me (K3KL) I've been at that for over 40 years. Even at that when it moved on to the digital age I was lost. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it. I just don't have the "it" when it comes to computer logic.

I'm now working on a few Quarks with the GPS transmitter and receiver waiting in the wings and have put up the flight computer on the back shelf till I feel brave enough to risk my laptop. I'll be sure to pop back in to this thread if I conquer it.

Kurt

There are eight presets that can be selected after you power it up using the button, without the use of the data cable. Please see Page 27 of the Eggtimer User's Guide. For drogue-main deployments, most people would use Preset #6 (20 samples/sec, drogue (CHB) at nose-over, main (CHA) at 500').

Thanks Cris, I'll give it a try.
Kurt

Cris, when I do choose #6 preprogram does this have to be done each time its turned on (SW) or is it remembered. Also when it says after I do choose #6 I need to "reset the eggtimer" does that mean to just toggle the reset off and on?

Kurt

No, the settings will stay the same until you change them.

Cool, thanks.