Announcing the 5Hz GPS Expander from Eagle Tree!

[billpa]

We're pleased to announce our 5Hz GPS Expander Module for our eLogger V3 and Seagull Telemetry systems.

http://www.eagletreesystems.com/images/gpsv3-med.gif

The GPS supports 5Hz update rate, which is five times faster than our prior GPS unit, giving very high resolution position information for aerobatic pilots and other model vehicles with rapidly changing position.

The GPS s also much smaller, and has improved sensitivity for fast and reliable fixes, often even indoors! The GPS supports WAAS and EGNOS enhanced resolution protocols for the best position accuracy.

GPS Expander Specifications:

* Update Rate: 5Hz
* Antenna: Built-In patch, with port for optional External Antenna
* WAAS and EGNOS support
* Built-in battery backup for fast fix reacquisition
* Time to Fix: 1 second hot, 41 second cold (typ)
* Low current draw (approx. 33 mA steady state)
* Tiny: dimensions approx 1.4” x 1.7” x 0.5” (36x43x13mm)
* Weighs approx 0.8 oz (23g)
* Position accuracy approx 11ft (3.3m) CEP
* Sensitivity: approx -158dBm

When coupled with our Seagull, Data Recorder, or eLogger V3 systems, these GPS features are available:

* Lat/Lon, GPS Speed, GPS Altitude, Course, Distance to Operator, and UTC timestamp display/graphing
* Live and recorded Google Earth™ Support
* Logging of position throughout the session
* Last known position displayed with our Seagull Dashboard for easy location of a lost plane (with a separate handheld GPS to guide you to the location)
* 2D and 3D position graphing in the Virtual Dashboard PC software, with support for overlaid images of the field or track

See your Eagle Tree Dealer or click here (http://eagletreesystems.com/press/GPS-5HZ.pdf) for more information.

[skewbasteve]

Hey Bill, just in time for a late xmas present. Been waiting on this one a loooong time, putting in my pre-order now. Just one question about it, is there a specific voltage range on the data recorder you have to stay under? As the previous WAAS GPS Expander it had to be under about 6.0v for it to function.

[billpa]

Hi Skewbasteve,

Correct, the 6V limit with the GPS-WAAS unit does NOT apply to the new GPS unit. That was specific to the GPS-WAAS.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[mikefield]

Could someone tell me what reference point the GPS uses for height, the online manual says "mean sea level" but I'm not sure exactly what that means. Sometimes WGS84 or similar is used. I email the vendor but go no reply.

[billpa]

Hi Mike,

Correct, WGS84 is used.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[mikefield]

Thanks, you may want to edit your manual to reflect this. anyone integrating flight data to an electronic map will need to know which datum is being used.

[billpa]

Hi Mike,

Good point. I just updated the online version of the manual with this information.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[Block]

Cool! I wonder if this would report accurate enough speed and altitude results so I could buy it instead of the altimeter and speed sensors. Would be much easier to move this between models than the pitot tube, and probably weighs less than the altimeter + speedometer units. GPS altitude is not very accurate, but maybe the data is good enough with lots of smoothing. I suspect speed is also smoothed seeing that speed is derivative of position and thus has a larger error. Maybe the GPS chips do the smoothing themself.

[billpa]

Hi Block,

You've made some good points here, thanks. As you note, GPS altitude is not always "perfect" due to the # of satellites in view, etc. Barometric altitude is generally more reliable. But, horizontal GPS speed is quite good, especially with the 5Hz GPS. So, the combination of GPS and a baro altimeter should handle most cases, and you avoid the necessity of mounting a pitot tube.

I want to do some post-processing software that computes a version of the GPS speed based on the horizontal change in position combined with the altimeter readings. This would be a good approximation of true airspeed on a calm day.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[Bryan Davison]

I gotta say, the GPS works great. Really cool seeing it in Google Earth, as a 3D track of the flight. But the really cool thing is looking at the data so you can see climb to altitude vs amp draw, and such.
Sweet little device.

Its also neat that it can pick up spins and such. You can actually see a little spiral in Google earth where the spin took place.

Gotta try some pattern flights with it to see if it can help getting everything lined up.

[skewbasteve]

Yep its a very very nice unit. First of its kind I believe for RC use. Only complaint I have now is that its using a ton memory space compared to the old WAAS model. I can only run for 12-15 minutes before the memory fills up. I'm using a standard boat data recorder.

[Bryan Davison]

Im thinking V4 will be having a SD card slot for 1GB cards....LOL

edit....or maybe MicroSD....lighter weight, smaller profile.

[TucsonClint]

I'm thinking of getting one for my v3.

Does anyone have a sample .kml file I could examine with G Map?

Thanks in advance...

Clint

[Rem 1973]

I quite recently purchased a 5Hz expander unit for the V3 eLogger.
But i am unable to get a reading of max. speed on my power panel.
I did select "Airspeed" and "All GPS parameters" in the tools menu for logging, and set "speed" in the config of the powerpanel display.
The reading on the power panel keeps coming up with zero max. speed.
The aplication on my pc does give me a good reading of all speeds.

Anyone know what i've done wrong?

[billpa]

Hi Rem,

Right now the PowerPanel does not display any of the GPS parameters. The "Spd" parameter on the PowerPanel is associated with the airspeed microsensor.

I am not sure when we will display GPS parameters on the PowerPanel. However, GPS speed is a relatively easy one to do.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[Rem 1973]

Hello Bill,

Tnx for the quick reply.

Do you mean to tell me, my running back and forth my garden was all for nothing? ;-)
I hear you.
I'm looking forward to flash my V3 eLogger with the new "GPS speed display" upgrade.

Greetings,
Remco.

[Reckless Bill]

+1 on wanting to display GPS data on the PowerPanel.

Right now the PowerPanel is serving as my make shift OSD (I'm pointing my camera at it in flight). But if I had to choose between the new OSD coming out sooner and getting GPS on my PowerPanel, I'd choose the OSD of course.

[Golikov]

I need to convert the polar coordinates from GPS to meters.

Please help, how it is possible to do.

[Crash9]

I remember reading somewhere how to change the Eagle Tree 5hz GPS Lat/Lon info I see from DDD:MM:SS.SSSS to match what I have on my Garmin GPS DDD:MM.SSS (hDDD:MM.MMM) which would help when locating a downed aircraft. Is it possible and if so how, Thanks


Up-Date: I found what I was searching for under "Tools/Choose Instruments to Display on PC/ Unchecked box : Show GPS Coords in DMS mode :) . Amazing what you can find when you play around with this stuff long enough ;)

[joe manor]

How many G's can the unit handle and still operate accurately?

[billpa]

Hi Joe, I don't have an exact answer, but we have had very good luck with high powered rocket launches, which pull many G's.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[joe manor]

Many as in? 20,40?

[joe manor]

Which/what type of rocket?

[billpa]

Hi Joe,

They have been used in a variety of hobbyist HPR's.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[pda75]

i have received a new GPS ! So small and light !

http://www.offshore-rc.com/forum/uploads/post-3-1238845746.jpg

and the old one
http://www.eagletreesystems.com/images/gpsv3-med.gif


size is divided by two !

Great job !

Pierre

[pda75]

http://www.offshore-rc.com/forum/uploads/post-3-1238935007.jpg

logger : 28 gr
GPS : 10 gr
external GPS Antenna: 20 gr (for carbon hull)

[nexus665]

Cool, that thing is tiny! I just ordered a V3 GPS unit and wondered why the picture looked different than the 5Hz unit I saw before - neat, waited just long enough to order and got the newest model by pure luck :)

Regards,
Simon.

[heraldoboldrin]

Bill

I am thinking to buy an eagle tree SEA-FLIGHT-900 with GPS to use in a jet, just for speedy, altitude, distance from pilot...

my interesting is more on speedy, i know that GPS is more accurate on horizontal speedy..

what you can say...? will it work..:?

Heraldo

[pda75]

I am running boats. Sorry My experience won't help you ! :)
Wait for Bill !

Cheers

Pierre

[billpa]

All, sorry for the delayed announcement of our new GPS-V3. The combination of deadlines on the OSD-Pro product, the Toledo trade show, and other factors have not left time for the announcement.

All GPS units that have shipped from us for the past two weeks are the new GPS-V3. We'll be doing an "official" announcement of the GPS-V3 soon. :o Hopefully no one is upset at having ordered the larger unit and receiving the new one. :D

heraldoboldrin, GPS is great for measuring horizontal speed, so if you are flying level, that should work just fine. If you want to measure speeds in dives, or other non-horizontal flight, I would recommend our airspeed (pitot) sensor in addition to GPS.

Regards,

Bill, for Eagle Tree

[BlueAngel2000]

I have now also order the new gps v3.
What are the pros except for size?

Is maybe the interference problem with 35Mhz gear and gps extensions cable solved?
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1025722