Recent thread on the Android apps now available for the Missile Works T3?

[jahall4]

Back when I researched my missile Works T3 systems (years ago) there was maybe one Android App for the system, now there are 4 listed on the website. Has there been a recent thread about the pros and cons of each? If not, what is your favorite?

 

[Tommie D]

I picked up a T3 a few months back and I couldn't find any of the android apps listed in the app store. Blue GPS, Rocket Track, or Rocket Locator.

 

[Buckeye]

This was the most recent thread.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...leworks-and-eggfinder-gps.181007/post-2460230

The only one on the App store currently is GPS Connector.

I still use have Rocket Locator and Rocket Track on my phone. I prefer Rocket Track. Search the forum - there is a download link somewhere.

 

[jahall4]

Thanks for the quick replies, but it appears my worst fear has come true... the app I used on my very old phone (an S6, which I had to upgrade) was rock solid using an app that no longer appears to be available "Bluetooth GPS". What is available now has less function... No maps, No satellite locations. Equipment I invested years ago now provides less functionality. So, I'm done w/Missile Works until Jim can provide/support a reliable way to get coordinates of his trackers.

 

[jahall4]

I picked up a T3 a few months back and I couldn't find any of the android apps listed in the app store. Blue GPS, Rocket Track, or Rocket Locator.

So, what did you do? Return it?

 

[Tommie D]

So, what did you do? Return it?

No, I will probably use the windows apps with my laptop but it would have been nicer to use my phone.

 

[jahall4]

No, I will probably use the windows apps with my laptop but it would have been nicer to use my phone.

Are you sure it works?

I've just discovered that the last app Jim is recommending for Android GPS Connect is not viable because it clears the last coordinates displayed to read N/A when enough satellites drop out. Basic logic flaw in how the app is written. So currently there are no Apps in the Play store for the T3 that work or work well enough to risk recovery of your rocket. So just because I upgraded to a new phone, I now have $400 in nose ballast.

 

[Buckeye]

No, I will probably use the windows apps with my laptop but it would have been nicer to use my phone.

The Windows apps will require a Bluetooth connection through a serial port. This can be very flakey. I tried ucenter, Visual GPS, and Mapshere with only partial success.

 

[Buckeye]

Are you sure it works?

I've just discovered that the last app Jim is recommending for Android GPS Connect is not viable because it clears the last coordinates displayed to read N/A when enough satellites drop out. Basic logic flaw in how the app is written. So currently there are no Apps in the Play store for the T3 that work or work well enough to risk recovery of your rocket. So just because I upgraded to a new phone, I now have $400 in nose ballast.

Hmm, disappointed to hear that about GPS Connector.

I suggest that you do a detailed search in the forum for the Rocket Track apk. Somebody attached it or provided a download link. You have to side load the apk, so you need to be comfortable in doing that. Hopefully it still works with your new phone.

I purchased a T3 system (+ additional transmitter) several years ago when it was priced very attractively. Now, it costs just as much as the other GPS products but without a good UI available. Jim should fix this or cancel the product, frankly.

 

[jahall4]

Hmm, disappointed to hear that about GPS Connector.

I suggest that you do a detailed search in the forum for the Rocket Track apk. Somebody attached it or provided a download link. You have to side load the apk, so you need to be comfortable in doing that. Hopefully it still works with your new phone.

I purchased a T3 system (+ additional transmitter) several years ago when it was priced very attractively. Now, it costs just as much as the other GPS products but without a good UI available. Jim should fix this or cancel the product, frankly.

Spot on!

Like you I purchased several years back because they were inexpensive and easy to use but having to sideload an app that may or may not work is not something one should have to do for a commercial product. Time can be better spent earning the funds to pay for something that will work. Speaking of... Anyone using the Featherweight GPS with the new Android UI? What do you think? Any issues? I've seen the iPhone app operate to find rockets that would have been truly lost otherwise. I was impressed.

BTW... If someone here would want my T3 transmitters, receiver, mounting accessories etc... let me know. I'd like them to have a nice home with some one that can still use them.

 

[jahall4]

Hmm, disappointed to hear that about GPS Connector.

I suggest that you do a detailed search in the forum for the Rocket Track apk. Somebody attached it or provided a download link. You have to side load the apk, so you need to be comfortable in doing that. Hopefully it still works with your new phone.

I purchased a T3 system (+ additional transmitter) several years ago when it was priced very attractively. Now, it costs just as much as the other GPS products but without a good UI available. Jim should fix this or cancel the product, frankly.

... I am corresponding the app developer for GPS Connector. If he will make one very minor enhancement, we can use it for rocketry. He said he had no idea it was recommend by Jim or even used for drones (or rocketry). Sounds like an opportunity to me!

 

[Buckeye]

Anyone using the Featherweight GPS with the new Android UI? What do you think? Any issues?

I am still using my FW with the old iFIP interface on a cheap iPhone simply because it is working good, and I don't like messing with success. I ground tested with the Blue Raven app on my Android phone (my daily driver), and it seems fine. I just need to summon the courage to fly it. Adrian was pushing Android updates recently, so I am letting that settle down, too.

 

[jahall4]

I am still using my FW with the old iFIP interface on a cheap iPhone simply because it is working good, and I don't like messing with success. I ground tested with the Blue Raven app on my Android phone (my daily driver), and it seems fine. I just need to summon the courage to fly it. Adrian was pushing Android updates recently, so I am letting that settle down, too.

I don't either, this is the reason I avoided upgrading my S6 for so long. The app I was using with the T3 worked well and provided more functionality. IOW to borrow from Devo the apps for use with the T3 have devolved.

 

[jahall4]

The developer of GPS Connect (Markus) may have saved the T3. Hot of the press waiting on Play store to test...

From Markus just this morning...

Hi Allen, Version 1.2.7 is published.

I did *not* change showing N/A if there is no valid location, because i don’t want to confuse my other clients! But what i did is building internally a list of the last 50 valid locations. You can show this list by simply tapping on the location lat or long. (latest is on top) If you tap on any line of this dialog i open Google Maps with that location.



I’m planning to integrate a better tracking page where you visually see the track on the map. But for this feature i need a little more time …

As soon as Google has approved my upload the new version will be available. (usually it takes some hours)

Regards,
Markus

 

[Buckeye]

Wow, nice! Thanks for following up with the developer.

 

[cerving]

Eggtimer stopped selling the Bluetooth version of our RX "dongle" receiver awhile ago due to the lack of Android software. I'll have to look at GPS Connect... hopefully it will decode multi-constellation $GNGGA records.

 

[Tommie D]

Thank You Allen ! I downloaded the app to my phone. Now I just need to find my new S1 lipo batteries and get them charged so I can take the T3 out and start playing with it and see how all this works as electronic tracking is new to me.

 

[cerving]

Well, apparently my ancient Android table is too old... it doesn't come up on the Play Store for it. It would be nice if they published the minimum version for apps...

 

[jahall4]

Well, apparently my ancient Android table is too old... it doesn't come up on the Play Store for it. It would be nice if they published the minimum version for apps...

My problem is my phone is too new. My S6 worked great with an old version of an App Called Bluetooth GPS. Your problem is easier to solve by a new tablet.

 

[jahall4]

Thank You Allen ! I downloaded the app to my phone. Now I just need to find my new S1 lipo batteries and get them charged so I can take the T3 out and start playing with it and see how all this works as electronic tracking is new to me.

Don't download yet, the update to version 1.2.7 has not been approved by Google yet.

 

[QFactor]

I sent an email to Missile Works with a link to this thread. They are looking into the apps.

 

[cerving]

My problem is my phone is too new. My S6 worked great with an old version of an App Called Bluetooth GPS. Your problem is easier to solve by a new tablet.

LOL, I'm hanging onto this tablet forever, since it has GPS Rocket Locator, Rocket Track, and Bluetooth Serial on it.

Although I may get a new one... just to have on hand.

 

[QFactor]

LOL, I'm hanging onto this tablet forever, since it has GPS Rocket Locator, Rocket Track, and Bluetooth Serial on it.

Although I may get a new one... just to have on hand.

Like you I have an old Motorola Android phone that I have had forever and no plans to retire.
It has Locator, Track and Bluetooth GPS. All work fine. The phone stopped updating years ago.

I use VisualGPS a lot at the launches when flying with the T3. It has a file option that allows
me to collect all the NMEA code streaming in from the T3's base unit. I don't use the apps
too much anymore.

 

[Tommie D]

Don't download yet, the update to version 1.2.7 has not been approved by Google yet.

The version I have is 1.2.7.0

 

[Tractionengines]

I need to be missing something. I can't find GPS Connect as an app ? There's one with that name but its for connecting groups of people... what app store is this available from?

EDIT: FOUND IT. Installed and the added history is there. Version 1.2.7.0

I'll test it with the Eggtimer Bluetooth module tonight.

 

[jahall4]

Okay I've test 1.2.7 much improved. but the list of 50 introduces a new issue. Here is my email to Markus....

Hi Markus,

I Finally got a few minutes to test 1.2.7. Much improved! The link to google maps, nice touch, but it has a problem recording and clearing the 50 saved coordinates…

First, it appears to record a “blank”.



Second, it appears to spontaneously reset the list and start recording the 50 from scratch. Note I purposely attenuated the signal from the GPS transmitter which is one of the failure modes that the list of 50 is supposed to mitigate. Again the expectation is the last 50 are recorded not recorded then lost. As long as the app is running it should retain the last 50



Either one of these behaviors could result in not having the location and subsequent loss of the rocket.

Can you fix this?

-A

 

[Buckeye]

Note I purposely attenuated the signal from the GPS transmitter which is one of the failure modes that the list of 50 is supposed to mitigate. Again the expectation is the last 50 are recorded not recorded then lost. As long as the app is running it should retain the last 50

View attachment 684408

I saw the same behavior. The GNSS Status and the list of 50 went blank when I powered off the T3 transmitter.

However, if I put the display in Terminal mode, the last NMEA strings remained displayed after I turned off the transmitter. So, this may be a workaround for now. Leave the display in Terminal mode during flight.

In the $GPGGA string, you can find the latitude and longitude:

 

[jahall4]

However, if I put the display in Terminal mode, the last NMEA strings remained displayed after I turned off the transmitter. So, this may be a workaround for now. Leave the display in Terminal mode during flight.

In the $GPGGA string, you can find the latitude and longitude:

Whether things go "blank" or not, is not very consistent so I would not trust that the NMEA data will stay available. Even if it did "decoding" or parsing where your rocket is in the moment is not practical. :-( Best thing that can happen is the developer fix the problem. No reason why an app can't remember a few coordinates.

 

[PilaBlu]

The new version 1.2.8 has already been released and is currently being reviewed by Google since yesterday.
Should be available soon.

Whether things go "blank" or not, is not very consistent so I would not trust that the NMEA data will stay available.

As a quick hack, i have integrated the storage of the NMEA data into the status activity. However, on Android the activity is destroyed as soon as the user switches to another app or, for example, just changes from portrait to landscape format. Sorry - my fault!
With version 1.2.8, the storage is moved into the service which in turn runs permanently in the background.

Markus

 

[Buckeye]

The new version 1.2.8 has already been released and is currently being reviewed by Google since yesterday.
Should be available soon.


As a quick hack, i have integrated the storage of the NMEA data into the status activity. However, on Android the activity is destroyed as soon as the user switches to another app or, for example, just changes from portrait to landscape format. Sorry - my fault!
With version 1.2.8, the storage is moved into the service which in turn runs permanently in the background.

Markus

Hi Markus. Thanks for joining the forum!

I am glad you noticed the behavior when switching apps or rotating the phone and working to fix that. Other Android GPS apps suffered from the same problems and were pretty useless for our rocket tracking application.