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GPSFlight releases real-time GPS telemetry modules |
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2003 Archived News by GPSFlight
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Monday, July 07, 2003 |
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SEATTLE, Washington USA — GPSFlight announces the release of a new real-time telemetry module for high powered rockets, RC airplanes, gliders, and paragliders.
The 2" x 4" GPS-based telemetry system transmits GPS data over a 900 MHz Spread Spectrum radio link that has a range of up to 7 miles line of sight with ordinary dipole antennas, and up to 20 miles range with higher gain antennas, providing a real time telemetry data link from the rocket.
The long range of the Spread Spectrum radio link is due to the fact that the radios are designed specifically for data transmission at rates up to 9600b, and can receive and decode data streams nearly 10x better than ordinary radio links. "We've been testing this data link for more than a year" says Tom Gonser, founder of GPSFlight. "We've flown in several rocket and airplane projects. This spring we flew onboard a 2-stage Quantum Leap. Everyone lost visual on the sustainer, but the GPSFlight kept track of everything. Using a second GPS, we found the sustainer within 30 feet of the telemetry position data. This would have been a lost rocket."
"Compared to 'hacking' apart HAM radios, and wiring handheld GPS devices to them, the GPSFlight units are lower cost, much higher performance, and do not require a license to operate." says Gonser. "The GPSFlight modules can also be programmed with an address so multiple devices can operate in the same location without interference."
GPSFlight offers the telemetry modules in kit form that include GPS with integrated antenna, 900Mhz radio, and RS-232 PCB board designed to integrate the radio with the GPS, and enable connection to a PC for programming or other devices onboard the rocket. The data is received on the ground with a base station receiver connected to a PC using a serial cable. Almost any GPS software can be used to monitor and record the flight, and one base station can be set to receive any transmitter, so groups can work together.
The GPSFlight telemetry platform will continue to expand in the future to include other connections for onboard data telemetry all based on the current GPSFlight Module.
Check out the new GPSFlight Telemetry Modules at http://www.gpsflight.com. |
