Rocketry Planet

FAIRPORT, New York USA — John Derimiggio of Piping Rock Engineering recently announced a first for the hobby rocketry market with the introduction of Internet connectivity for the new MARSA4 altimeter. The new altimeter firmware and software update makes MARSA4 the first and currently only altimeter that can connect to the Internet.

The MARSA4, introduced at last year's LDRS28 in Potter, New York, features an integrated LCD screen and on-board joystick, eliminating the need for you to lug around a computer to launches in order to program the unit or read its data output.

The MARSA4 altimeter, top, now features Internet connectivity, via MARSA Connect v1 software, bottom.

With the addition of the new update, the MARSA4 introduces MARSA Connect, a software product that further enhances the MARSA4 altimeter system, elevating the MARSA4 in the domain of technological innovation, features, useability and reliability.

The innovative new features include:

• Software connects to the MARSA server via the Internet to check the installed altimeter firmware version against the latest release.
• Firmware updates done automatically within MARSA Connect instead of the previous manual process.
• The altimeter's critical parameters are logged by the MARSA Server to provide remote diagnostics via statistical process control.

Whenever the MARSA Connect software is run on a computer that is connected to the Internet, the software connects to the MARSA4 data server, comparing the firmware version of your MARSA4 altimeter to the latest firmware build. If your MARSA4 needs updating, you will have the option of immediately updating your altimeter right on the spot, seamlessly. This means no more manual file downloading and version checking, MARSA Connect does it all for you automatically.

MARSA Connect will upload your MARSA4's key diagnostic parameters to the MARSA4 server database. These values are then tracked over time, to look for any deviations that might indicated a developing problem. Should an issue be discovered, a notification message is displayed in the MARSA Connect software's display, telling you how to correct the problem.

The MARSA4 Build 23 firmware update adds a new feature to combine the altimeter's two memory banks, giving you twice the recording time for long duration flights where more recording time is desired.

All MARSA4 user's are highly encouraged to download and install this new software release. This new software is 100% compatible with all existing MARSA4 altimeters and using the new MARSA Connect software, users can easily upgrade the firmware themselves.

Website: http://www.marsa4.com/