[NRVR-Members] EggTimer Sale and NRVR Build Session

Fri Nov 30 09:49:21 CST 2018

I have a soldering iron, but the tip felt a bit "big and unwieldy" during
my work on my through-hole Classic.  Not sure it will be small enough to do
SMT, and it doesn't have a replaceable tip.

I've been thinking about upgrading to a Weller.

On Wed, Nov 28, 2018 at 11:26 PM Thomas Tweeks Weeks <tom at theweeks.org>
wrote:

> Cool.. sounds like we have at least 4-5 folks getting them.
>
>
>
> Should be a fun meeting Jordan.. :)
>
> Just work out a date and I'll get us the space.
>
>
>
> Who in the group who ordered stuff does NOT have a soldering iron?
>
>
>
> Tweeks
>
>
>
> On Monday, November 26, 2018 11:26am, "Adrien Drouault" <
> adrien.drouault at gmail.com> said:
>
> I've ordered the basic Tx and "dongle" Rx (no LCD for now).
>
> On Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 12:43 AM Thomas Tweeks Weeks <tom at theweeks.org>
> wrote:
>
>> *Q: How many of you are thinking about getting some form of the Eggfinder
>> GPS transmitter? *
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I have android.. but am still going with Jordan's 2b option (full
>> wireless GPS data back to my own GPS-LCD for bearing & distance arrow
>> pointing to where my rocket landed..)
>>
>> No muss.. no fuss..
>>
>>
>>
>> One note.. The creator Cris said you'll also get much better reception on
>> the LCD receiver with the extra high gain external antenna.. (which I opted
>> for).
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm also using the full "Eggtimer TRS GPS/Flight Computer" ($70) which is
>> a great deal (full flight computer, wireless programming,
>> continuity/voltage status, arming, remote deployment testing + GPS on the
>> rocket.. all for $70).
>>
>>
>>
>> I love hardware hacking.. This is going to be a fun little project...
>> Thanks for the nudge Jordan! :)
>>
>>
>>
>> Tweeks
>>
>> p.s. Bob asked about the club getting a GPS/LCD Receiver.. I can't
>> see justifying this if only a couple of us have a GPS xmitters in our
>> rockets.. but if more than that end up doing this.. say like 4-6 of us or
>> more.. then I think that might be a nice "club service" we offer our
>> flyers. Thoughts?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:01pm, "Jordan Truesdell" <
>> jordan at truesdell.org> said:
>>
>> I just wrote this up for an iPhone user. I meant to forward it to the
>> group but...email is hard.
>>
>> The question was "what do I need to get this data onto my iPhone"
>>
>> *tl;dr*.
>> (1) All the GPS transmitters work with all the receivers he sells.
>> (2) Apple and generic GPS data don't mix.
>> *      A * buy LCD receiver and manually type the coordinates into Maps,
>>       *B * get Android, or
>>       *C  *buy the "extra" GPS RX module and forget the phones
>> altogether.
>>
>> *Long version. (sit down, grab a beer)*
>> Bluetooth GPS and iPhones don't play nice. More specifically, Apple
>> doesn't support external serial data over bluetooth, so even if you find a
>> module that will say the magic Apple words, there are no apps which can
>> take that data and put it on a map. If you want a snazzy GPS+iPhone app,
>> you'll have to spend $350 on a Featherweight GPS tracker. Or go find a $10
>> Android phone and dedicate it to rocket tracking. Kroger has LG tracphones
>> on sale every few months.
>>
>> On to the product dump. BTW - I made this myself, so it's probably
>> slightly wrong. But I think it's mostly right.
>>
>> There is one altimeter which includes GPS, which is the *Eggtimer TRS
>> GPS/Flight Computer *($70). The whole line goes like this:
>>
>> *GPS ONLY*
>> Mini - GPS transmitter that fits in a 24mm body tube
>> TX GPS transmitter that fits in a 38mm body tube
>>
>> *GPS + Altimeter*
>> TRS - a flight computer / altimeter which also has a GPS transmitter on it
>>
>> *Altimeter Only*
>> Quark - 2 outputs at apogee and 500', barometric only, peak altitude
>> beeps out at landing
>> Classic - flight altimeter that's easy to assembly (no surface mount); 2
>> channels, flight data recorder, USB interface with PC
>> Quantum - Classic, but with surface mount components and wifi programming
>> (and possibly arming..I'm not sure)
>> Proton - flight altimeter with 6 channels, 120G accelerometer, wifi
>> programming/arming
>> It doesn't matter which GPS you get, they all work with all of the GPS
>> receivers.
>>   ***The GPS Receivers aren't used for setting the altimeter, they just
>> receive data from the GPS***
>> The receiver for the GPS module breaks down into two options, each with a
>> sub-variant, and these all get data from all of the GPS transmitters
>>
>> (1a) Wireless receiver board + USB cable - you plug it into your PC and
>> it sends GPS data to you just like you had a 1000' long serial cable
>> plugged into your rocket
>> (1b) Wireless Receiver board + bluetooth module - you virtually plug the
>> BT into your Android phone or PC and it sends GPS data to you just like
>> you had a 1000' long serial cable plugged into your rocket
>>
>>           You can upgrade from 1a to 1b at any time with a $7 HC06
>> Bluetooth board off Amazon and a 4 pin standard jumper cable.
>>
>> (2a) LCD display and small microprocessor with a wireless module all on
>> one board. It displays the current GPS coordinates of your rocket, which
>> you can type into your iPhone Maps application
>> (2b)  LCD display and small microprocessor with a wireless module PLUS
>> another GPS receiver module that plugs into it.  It displays the current
>> GPS coordinates of your rocket, distance to your rocket, and an arrow
>> pointing towards your rocket. No other device is required.
>>
>>          You can upgrade from 2a to 2b at any time with the $40 GPS ($34
>> on sale) module from EggTimer
>>          You can put a USB cable or a bluetooth module on the LCD
>> version - it has the pin header for it - and get both the LCD readout and
>> the link to your PC or Android phone at the same time.
>>          You CANNOT upgrade from 1 to 2. You buy a new one and you now
>> have a backup receiver. Or use a second receiver for staged flights with
>> two transmitters (because we haven't spent enough money already, amirite?)
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jordan
>>
>> On 11/25/2018 7:16:46 PM, Jordan Truesdell <jordan at truesdell.org> wrote:
>> Hey everybody,
>>
>> Egg Timer Rocketry is having a sale. It happens once a year and you can
>> get their rocketry electronics (altimeters, wifi switches, deployment
>> computers, GPS trackers etc.) for $5-20 off. The gear is generally very
>> affordable, from $15 for a dual deployment altimeter to $70 for the
>> cheapest GPS receiver/transmitter kit. The catch is that you have to
>> *build* the electronics from a kit. You get a bag o' parts - everything
>> you need from pcbs to solder to heat shrink - and a link to an assembly PDF
>> with detailed instructions. You supply the soldering iron, some tape, and
>> your time.  The simple kits take less than an hour to build, the more
>> complex ones can take two hours.
>>
>> As challenging as they are to build alone, I think they'd be fun - and a
>> lot less stressful - to build as a group. They're not difficult, per se,
>> but there are some tricks to working with the small parts and assembly
>> techniques. To that end, if anyone wants to try out a build-you-own
>> avionics I'm going to host a build party for the Eggfinder(/timer) kits in
>> mid-January. I'm thinking around the last week of January would be best.
>> If you get a kit, ping me off-list (jordan at truesdell.org). Presuming we
>> have interest we'll set up a date and converge on a convenient location
>> with soldering irons, magnifying glasses, and spare hands to put them all
>> together and test them.
>> --
>> Jordan
>>
>> On 11/25/2018 6:18:56 PM, Thomas Tweeks Weeks <tom at theweeks.org> wrote:
>>
>> Got the links reversed.. :)
>>
>>
>>
>> If you're not on fbook.. the sale info is here:
>>
>> http://eggtimerrocketry.com/eggtimer-rocketry-holiday-sale/
>> <http://eggtimerrocketry.com/eggtimer-rocketry-holiday-sale/?fbclid=IwAR1CFBoxIUR5y--AxIHzOtsGrwtJoHNmB6ndxotdjdvxnA3u53GJ8X63eeI>
>>
>>
>>
>> Cris (the owner) only does purchases via email + paypal.. So jump in now
>> if you're thinking about doing so.
>>
>>
>>
>> Stay tuned for a Q1 date or Jordan to post follow up details here.
>>
>>
>>
>> Anything else Jordan?
>>
>>
>>
>> Tweeks
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sunday, November 25, 2018 5:03pm, "Thomas Tweeks Weeks" <
>> tom at theweeks.org> said:
>>
>> Hey all..
>>
>>
>>
>> Jordan posted something on our fbook group about doing a group build of
>> EggTimer trackers and flight computers:
>>
>> http://eggtimerrocketry.com/eggtimer-rocketry-holiday-sale/
>> <http://eggtimerrocketry.com/eggtimer-rocketry-holiday-sale/?fbclid=IwAR1CFBoxIUR5y--AxIHzOtsGrwtJoHNmB6ndxotdjdvxnA3u53GJ8X63eeI>
>>
>>
>>
>> If you're not on fbook, see here:
>>
>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRV.Rocketry/permalink/2464862803540486/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Maybe Jordan can follow up on specifics (dates, etc) here and I can book
>> us a room (probably some time in Jan/Feb).
>>
>>
>>
>> Tweeks
>> _______________________________________________ NRVR-Members mailing list
>> NRVR-Members at mail.nrvr.org
>> http://server2.nrvr.org/mailman/listinfo/nrvr-members
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NRVR-Members mailing list
>> NRVR-Members at mail.nrvr.org
>> http://server2.nrvr.org/mailman/listinfo/nrvr-members
>
>
> --
>
> *Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.*
> _______________________________________________
> NRVR-Members mailing list
> NRVR-Members at mail.nrvr.org
> http://server2.nrvr.org/mailman/listinfo/nrvr-members

-- 

*Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://server2.nrvr.org/pipermail/nrvr-members/attachments/20181130/76556962/attachment-0001.html 