I’ll have a go at answering (some of) your questions :-) See inline below.

Kieran

> On 13 Apr 2017, at 15:22, Scott Myers <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Tim for the reply and thanks for the links.  I've read all those links 
> before.  I think I have read nearly everything there is to read, including 
> development history and the manual.  Granted, I could have missed or skimmed 
> over the details I am looking for.  BTW- I'm a 55 year old mechanical 
> engineer and an Amateur Extra class, AC8DE.
>  
> My first question is on the uplink/downlink frequencies.  It simply states 
> 433 MHz.  I assume this to be an approximate frequency in the 70 cm band and 
> not the actual exact frequencies. 
>> Correct, it’s the 70cm band. There are 9 ‘preset’ frequencies and you can 
>> change the frequencies if you need to. The hardware is capable of quite a 
>> wide range - look up the TI CC1200 radio chip.
> Rarely is something right at 433.000 MHz.  Are there separate uplink and 
> downlink frequencies (full duplex) or does it switch on/off transmit/receive 
> at each transceiver (Telmetrum and Teledongle) using the same exact 
> frequency. 
>> It’s single frequency. The Telemetrum (or Telemega and others) will run in 
>> one of two modes. Idle (Pad) mode - the telemetrum waits for a query from 
>> the ground station (teledongle, telebt) and then responds with the packet(s) 
>> that have been requested. Flight mode - the telemetrum stops listening and 
>> just spews (technical term)  packets of data.

> Is the frequency(ies) movable in case of frequency conflict and RFI? 
>> Yes, by default 9 different frequencies (channels).
> How wide is the data bandwidth in KHz? 
>> Can’t remember off the top of my head. See the manual which lists the 
>> frequencies. 
> I happen to have a commercial radio (HBC Radiomatic) in my launch system 
> design that uses, yep... the 433 frequency range.  I can select 4 discrete 
> "channels" on it to help it avoid any conflict, but it would be good to know 
> where the Telemetrum actually transmits and receives so I can shift the 
> launcher away from that frequency as far as possible. 
>> Yeah, shouldn’t be a problem.

> Then there is the case of what if there is another Telemetrum or two around 
> the launch site; a very probably scenario.  (I think they are all coded and 
> using "telegraph" messaging handshaking to avoid conflict with another 
> Telemetrum, but I could be wrong.) 
>> They are each on their own frequency - nothing fancy and no attempt to avoid 
>> trampling over someone else’s frequency. This has to be managed at the 
>> launch site.

> I could figure most of this out with a spectrum analyzer, but I'd have to buy 
> it first and then spend the time to test.  Better to know these technical 
> details before I buy.

>> It’s very simple, so no spectrum analyser required. The ground station 
>> software has a ‘scan’ operation where you can look for other users. However, 
>> launch site management of frequencies would be more reliable.
>  
> I see there is a starter "kit" that uses the Teledongle.  But there is also 
> the TeleBT, which seems to do everything the Teledongle does, PLUS adds 
> bluetooth for use with the Android App.  It seems that starting with the 
> TeleBT would the better choice and don't even buy the Teledongle, but I 
> wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something on this.

>> TeleBT seem good if that’s the way you want to go. Easier than the aerial 
>> being tethered to the groundstation laptop/tablet. I have only used the 
>> Teledongles though. The ‘kit’ also has a battery - remember to order one or 
>> two of those.
>  
> I saw the history on older versions with the problems with pyro events and 
> battery rail sag and that it is supposed to be solved now.  (An age-old 
> problem on many avionics packages.)  I think I'd rather put a second LiPo on 
> the Telemetrum and give the pyro events their own rail and simply avoid any 
> potential rail sag issue.  Just a small LiPo should do the job.  I'm guessing 
> others have done this and I read where that is an option on the board.  I'd 
> like feedback on that.
>> That is an option, you can add a second LiPo if you want. Not had any issues 
>> so far with a single LiPo though.
>  
> I read where there is an SMA connector option for the Telemetrum. 
>> There are pads to solder your own SMA connector if you want to. Other 
>> alternatives might be to solder a pigtail direct to the board to try to 
>> reduce component mass (they may go AWOL under acceleration :-))

> I've considered ordering the Telemetrum with that option and make the 
> antennas a permanent part of the Avionics bays fed with a short piece of 
> RG-316 or the like.  Of course downside is mass of the connector soldered to 
> the board and having to support the feed line to account for high-G 
> conditions so the connector isn't broken from the board.  I'd like some 
> feedback and discussion on the use of the SMA connector.  I can't figure out 
> how to order the Telemetrum with that option anyway. 

>> Contact BDale for special order? Very easy to solder on your own in the 
>> field though (well at home before you go to the field…).
> Perhaps it is a field mod?
>  
> Thanks,
> Scotty
>  
> From: altusmetrum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tim 
> Cubbedge
> Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2017 8:53 AM
> To: 'Altus Metrum'
> Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] New Member
>  
> Have you looked here?
>  
> http://altusmetrum.org/AltOS/doc/altusmetrum.html 
> <http://altusmetrum.org/AltOS/doc/altusmetrum.html>
>  
> or here?
>  
> http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum/ <http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum/>
>  
> What do you want to know? 
>  <> 
> From: altusmetrum [mailto:[email protected] 
> <mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of Scott Myers
> Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2017 7:11 AM
> To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
> Subject: [altusmetrum] New Member
>  
> I just  joined this Altus Metrum mailing list.  I'm trying to get a bit more 
> information and learn more about the Telemetrum before I purchase one.
>  
> Thanks,
> Scotty
> _______________________________________________
> altusmetrum mailing list
> [email protected]
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