The primary telemetry uses an FM transmitter in the 900MHz band attached to a voice synthesis chip. Data is sampled from analog to digital converters or pulse counters. This data is then fed in ascii serial format to the voice synthesis chip for transmission. Depending on the data itself (different words have different lengths), and the number of student teams each year, the rate at which a given team would receive a data sample is about once every couple minutes.<\/p>\n
Custom & Commercial APRS Trackers<\/strong><\/p>\n APRS trackers have proven essential in reliably locating the payload during descent and landing. We have used a custom built APRS tracker, my IRIS Transmitter<\/a> board, as well as commercially available APRS trackers, often in conjunction to provide this essential positioning service.<\/p>\n Video Downlink<\/strong><\/p>\n The video downlink uses an AM amateur television transmitter in the 434MHz band. Two cameras are in the payload. One points downward, and the other points to the side. A relay switches the video signal to the transmitter between the two on a timed interval. The video downlink also makes use of a video overlay board to display required callsign information as well as GPS data on the received video.<\/p>\n Deprecated: High Speed Digital Telemetry<\/strong><\/p>\n The high speed digital telemetry has in the past used an AM transmitter in the 434MHz band to downlink RTTY data at 80 baud. This generally allowed for a data sample once every 20-30 seconds. The secondary telemetry has now been outfitted with a 144MHz band transmitter and is now capable of 1200 baud amateur radio packet transmissions. Data samples could be as frequent as every 5 seconds, though the actual rate will be set in the configuration and will be chosen based on the amount of data needed to be downlinked.<\/p>\n For our High Altitude Balloon flights, we use several different custom built systems to relay and\/or store data and video from the balloon to the ground. Not every system is used on any given flight, but the systems include: Primary … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/digitalnigel.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/photo-150x112.jpg\" "\\"photo\\"")
<\/a>This is the main board for the secondary telemetry system. Visible in this photo are the microcontroller, GPS receiver, barometric pressure sensor, and other support electronics. Yet to be installed are the temperature sensors, flash storage chip, and the radio module.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/digitalnigel.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/APRS_SHIELD-133x150.png\" "\\"APRS_SHIELD\\"")
<\/a>This is the board layout for the 2m Packet transmitter add on. This module will stack on the main board connecting via several headers on the existing board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"