Tinytrac Obsolete?

[Wmacky]

I've been away for a while and trying to catch up. I see no mention of the Tinytrac for telemetry for the last 2 years? Are small radio modems now dominate? The TT seemd like such a great idea as many already have Video / Audio transmitters onboard. I hate the idea of more transmitting gear to deal with, and i'm guessing a more limited range. What has happened to this once great device????

[radiohound]

I've been away for a while and trying to catch up.
I know the feeling!

Tiny Trak is still around, in fact, they are getting into dsp now, and have a bunch more features. There is a very active yahoo group too.

http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak/ttsmt.php

I never saw people using these much in RCs, but they could be. For people that already have a video link, with sound input, this would be pretty good. Otherwise, you have to get some sort of transmitter, and by that time, you might as well get a radio modem.

[workshop]

Radio modems mean another TX on the plane... I agree; the audio channel is grossly under used... 4800 baud is all that is needed for standard GPS.

I played with the DZL modem for a while but since I didn't have access to the code, I could not improve it. I sold a few kits and still have one in the shop.

I'd LOVE to know if this has been tackled yet... (I've been away for awhile too).

Jeff

[radiohound]

Here's a 4800 baud solution for anyone with an audio downlink.

http://dzl.dk/projects/electronics/modem/modem.html

[Gary Mortimer]

Thanls radiohound, that mighjt be a very handy back up if you have an fpv setup on board and the xbee goes down!

Cheers

G

[workshop]

Yeah, that is the project that I kitted up.

The nice thing about this approach is that when one plays back the video, the audio channel carries a real-time route of what is on the screen. One can send the audio playback to the modem and then to Google earth for a real-time map that matches the video. Very cool for review.

I have parts for twenty or so kits less the PCBs but I think a more robust modulation and error correcting scheme is necessary. I'm learning Spin (Parallax's Propeller Chip language) so I can possibly bring a modem to market because one transmitter beats two and day of the week.

I use Maxstream (now Digi) XTend 900MHz serial modems and they work great. However the overhead (current, heat, RF, weight, complexity, etc.) makes that unused audio channel look mighty tempting. :rolleyes:

Jeff