This is the smallest telemetric payload designed specifically for rockets. You can now perform dual deployment in models as small as the Apogee Blue Streak rocket kit (18mm diameter), using a C6 rocket motor. Or you can control a monster sized rocket on a Level 3 flight.

Ideally, this is a product that is perfect for the modeler that is out to set a new altitude record using the smallest possible rocket. Since it is so small, it hardly weighs anything, so you're not putting unnecessary weight into your rocket that would affect the flight. Such a rocket would fly so high that you'd want to use dual-deployment to bring it down quickly so that it doesn't drift away. And since the rocket is likely to be small, it might be easy to lose. But with the radio link, you'll always be able to find the rocket after the launch using direction finding equipment.

One cool thing about the TeleMini device is that all interfacing with the unit is done via a radio connection. You'll never hook directly into the unit, like you would with other dual-deployment devices. That means you can make changes to the ejection charge settings, even when the rocket is on the launch pad. The only hook-up on the board is where the small LiPo (Lithium Ion Polymer) battery is connected. Don't let the small size of the battery fool you, it has enough power to pop those igniters to deploy the biggest size parachutes.

The Telemini was not created from off-the-shelf components that are simply spliced together. Because of this, it smaller, lighter, and has significantly more capability in controlling dual deployment of the rocket's chutes. And all the components are matched together perfectly so things just work without a lot of fuss or electrical interference between components.

Finally, one single small payload gives you a lot of advanced features you've desired in rocket electronics:

• Dual deployment parachute control - fires two separate ejection charges. The first is fired at apogee. By default, TeleMini will fire the main deployment charge at an elevation of 250 meters (about 820 feet) above ground. There is an override command in the software to allow both the apogee and the main chutes to deploy at different altitudes. This "apogee delay" feature is to ensure multiple altimeters don't fire at the same time when you're flying redundant electronics, which is a requirement when flying a Level-3 high-power certification attempt.
  
  
• Barometric recording altimeter. Barometric pressure sensor good to 45k feet MSL. Allows you to have perfect dual-deployment flights.
  
  
• Telemetry transmitter (70cm ham-band transceiver) allows all the flight data to be seen real-time during the mission. The telemetry system sends flight data 10 times per second during ascent, and once per second after apogee. It also transmits an audio tone once every five seconds that is used for tracking purposes on the ground with a directional rocket locator. The range is over 20 miles (Line-of-sight distance. Of course, this depends antenna you connect with the receiver).
  
  
• It can be mounted in any direction in the rocket, since there is no accelerometer on the board. This means it is forgiving to installation errors (not that you would make any).
  
  
• On-board non-volatile memory (5kb) for flight data storage records data at 10 samples/second on ascent and 1 per second on descent from the barometer.  Due to limited capacity, flight data must be off-loaded after each flight or it will not record subsequent flights.
  
  
• Dual deployment parachute control - fires two separate ejection charges. The first is fired at apogee. By default, TeleMini will fire the main deployment charge at an elevation of 250 meters (about 820 feet) above ground. There is an override command in the software to allow both the apogee and the main chutes to deploy at different altitudes. This "apogee delay" feature is to ensure multiple altimeters don't fire at the same time when you're flying redundant electronics, which is a requirement when flying a Level-3 high-power certification attempt.
  
  
• Rechargeable Lithium Ion Polymer (LiPo) battery is included.  The required charger and USB power cable are also included in the set.
  
  
• Open-source software allows you to expand the functionality of the product should you wish to add extra features.

To view your telemetry data that is transmitted by the TeleMini, you'll download and install onto your computer the ground station program called "AltosUI" from the Altus Metrum web site.

This java-based software connects you to the TeleMini during flight so you can see the current and max values for key parameters during flight. It also logs all the telemetry data to disk for post-processing after the flight.

The software even includes voice synthesis during the flight so that your eyes can stay on the rocket while it speaks to you and tells how high it is. Watching the rocket is a lot more fun than staring at a computer screen, wouldn't you agree?

The AltosUI software includes post flight analysis tools that makes it easy to extract usable things like apogee altitude, max acceleration, and max velocity. You can also generate and view a standard set of plots showing the altitude, acceleration, and velocity of the rocket during flight (such as the ones show here to the left).

The program also export the flight data to a standard CSV (comma separated values) file format that can be read in to a spreadsheet program. This allows you to do additional analysis on your flight data.

Please note: Since it lacks an accelerometer, the TeleMini is not capable of giving a completely accurate speed or acceleration data. Why? Because the barometer does not read fine enough data points to derive an accurate reading. If you want more accurate acceleration and speed information, you may want to consider an electronics unit that includes an accelerometer, such as the TeleMetrum.

Launch Pad State

Descent State

Ascent State

Landed State

This is a complete starter set with everything you see here. Those yellow wires are to be connected to the on/off switch (not included), or you can twist them together to turn on the unit if you're concerned about every gram of mass in your minimum diameter rocket.

Not only do you get the onboard payload (shown to the right), you get the ground-station hardware/software that connects to your computer so you can program it before the flight and receive the radio signal while it is in flight.

A small whip antenna is also included for your ground station (the blue "tele-dongle" device shown in the picture). This transmitter connects to your computer so you can communicate to the TeleMini inside the rocket.

And guess what? The rechargeable Lithium Ion Polymer flight battery is included!

But wait, there's more! You also get a USB cable and the battery charging board so you can charge the battery while it is on the ground.

Plus, you get a cut vinyl decal for your rocket!

Compare our package price to other telemetry systems. You'll save HUNDREDS of dollars!

The starter set also includes a 110mAh battery that connects to your TeleMini payload. It has enough kick to power the electronics, and fire off the e-matches (or Quest Q2G2 igniters) that kick out the parachutes of your high-power rocket.

The battery is recharged using the LipoCharger included with this starter-kit.

You'll also receive a USB-powered battery charger - called the LipoCharger - and a USB (A to mini-B) to power cord for the charger.

This is a dual-rate, stand alone single-cell battery charger for Lithium Polymer batteries such as those sold for use with Altus Metrum products such as this one, and the TeleMetrum battery.

A switch allows selection of approximately 100mAh and 500mAh charge rates. See your battery data sheet for charge rate recommendations, but the 100mAh setting is typically best for batteries of less than 300mAh, and the 500mAh setting is best for batteries greater than 300mAh.

A dual LED shines red while charging, green when fully charged, and both or "yellow" when there is a problem (no battery connected, or a bad battery).

The input connector is a micro USB, compatible with the "wall wart" power supplies provided with most cameras and smart phones. The output connector is a 2mm spacing 2-pin "JST" style connector compatible with the TeleMini battery.

The circuit board is tiny just 1.0 x 0.4 inches wide.

That little blue box included in your starter set is called the "TeleDongle" device. This is both a transmitter and receiver that allows your computer to issue commands remotely to the TeleMini payload (such as arm the igniters for launch), and to receive back telemetry data while the rocket is in the air. It connects to your computer using a standard USB connector. Software is available for Mac, Linux and Windows computers.

TeleDongle Antenna

For low altitude flights (less than 2,500 feet) and for ground-testing your TeleMini altimeter, this whip antenna is perfect. It is a dual-band, flexible antenna that covers the amateur radio 2-meter and 70 cm bands (140 & 440MHz), including the frequencies used by all Altus Metrum products.

Overall length is approximately 7.5 inches, and the whip portion is roughly 1/8 inch in diameter. The whip is highly flexible, it can be bent into a circle and will spring back into position when released.

For high altitude flights, we recommend using a hand-held directional antenna connected to the TeleDongle to receive data back from the rocket. A good low-cost antenna can be purchased from Arrow Antennas (model number 440-5ii) at: www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/440-5ii.html

The TeleMini payload works by sensing the altitude of the rocket. In simple terms, it is an altimeter. But this one is different, it has a sophisticated brain to send electricity to two different ejection charges.

As the rocket takes off, this electronic payload is calculating the altitude of the rocket. When it senses the peak altitude, called apogee, it sends electricity to one of the igniters. This igniter sets off a small charge of black powder. That pressurizes one section of the rocket and spits out the small parachute (called a drogue chute).

While the drogue chute brings down the rocket quickly, the payload is still sensing the altitude of the rocket. When it descends to a pre-programmed height (which you can control), it then triggers a second time. This time is ignites another black powder ejection charge which pushes out the main parachute. Since the rocket is now closer to the ground, the wind really doesn't have the time to push it downrange too far. So it lands slowly, but much closer to the launch pad. That means you don't have to walk very far to retrieve your rocket.

Q. Where do I get a HAM radio "Technician Class License" so I can use this product?

A. It is not hard. If non-rocketry people can get licensed, so can you. You're a rocket scientist, right? Start here: http://www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license

Q. Why is a HAM radio license required?

A. While some competing products claim they do not require a license, they do not have the features of the TeleMini. To be honest, the guys at Altus Metrum wish they could get it certified to use without a HAM license. It probably could pass easily. But the certification fee is over $20,000. When you're talking that amount of money, it is hard to justify that amount of investment in a small hobby like rocketry.

The other products simply do not have the same data transmitting capability as the TeleMini. And if they claim they do, it might be a good idea to check to see if their products have actually been tested and certified by the FCC.

Q. What changed in the lasted release of the TeleMini firmware and AltOS release?

A. Please visit the Altus Metrum page for the AltOS for the lastest release information

Q. What if I want to use a Pyro battery in addition? Where do I connect it?

A. It will work with separate pyro batteries less than 15 volts, see the manual for details on how to connect it.

Q. What is the range of the TeleMini system?

A. There are 4 variables that determine the maximum range of the telemetry system. Those are the transmit power output, the transmit antenna gain, the receive antenna gain, and the receiver sensitivity. Improving any one of the four will give greater range. The easiest one to make better is the receive antenna gain.

The theoretical maximum range for the system with a 3-element yagi antenna on the ground is about 50km (or 30 miles). However, there are a number of sources of loss that are hard to model that conspire to make the *actual* range something less than the theoretical range. Tests performed at Altus Metrum have shown that a 3-element yagi antenna yields good telemetry from rockets to 20 Km (65,600 feet) altitude, and that a 11-element yagi antenna can receive telemetry from the TeleMini to around 100k ft (almost 19 miles). Finally, the software reports the signal strength, so it's pretty easy for someone to "ground test" the range of the system in a given airframe before they fly it.

Q. Do you sell any type of ejection charges that could be used with the device on this page?

A. No. The ejection charge is always made from loose black powder. Because black powder is regulated by the government, you have to purchase it from a gun store (one that specializes in muzzle-loading supplies). You also need to be at least 18 years old to use loose black powder in this manner.

Q. Does it matter what elevation the launch field is?

A. The altimeter samples the air on the ground, so it knows the altitude of the ground level. So when you set it to deploy the main chute at 500 feet, it will know that is above ground level. It doesn't matter where you start.

Q. How easy is it to set up dual-deployment?

A. To be honest, it is not a beginner-level operation. For starters, you have to design your rocket with two separate parachute compartments. This is detailed extensively in the book Modern High Power Rocketry 2. We highly recommend this book if you are new to large rocket or dual deployment techniques.