FSQ Telemetry Readme
====================

M. Greenman 05/07/16

Applies to:

  FSQCall V0.36
* FST V0.04
* FSTstore V0.00
* FSTplot V0.02
* FSTraw V0.00
* Telem0.3.ino
  FSTHelp.htm

The first thing to do is read the Introduction to FSQ Telemetry in the file FSTHelp.htm.

This describes how it all works, what it all does, and how to install the software and firmware.

Essentially there are five software products provided in this archive, listed above*. FSQCall V0.36
can be separately downloaded, and should be installed first. Follow the instructions in the archive
containing that program.

FST, or Fast Simple Telemetry
-----------------------------
This is a 'helper' program for a remote site equipped with a computer running FSQCall V0.36 and has
an Arduino unit connected which provides the data to be transmitted. It formats the data into FSQCall
formatted stored message sentences, and transmits them to your home station. The program runs in the
background behind FSQCall V0.36, and sends real-time data.

FSTstore, local storage version
-------------------------------
This is a 'helper' program for a remote site equipped with a computer running FSQCall V0.36 and has
an Arduino unit connected which provides the data to be transmitted. It formats the data into standard
telemetry frames, and stores them on remote computer, to be picked up any time. The program runs in the
background behind FSQCall V0.36, and provides stored-file data.

FSTplot, the Telemetry Analyser
-------------------------------
This is a 'helper' program which reads the received telemetry at your home station, and displays it.
Most of the data is graphed, and some is also shown in numerical form. It reads the telemetry formats
that FST and FSTstore generate. The program can run in the background behind FSQCall V0.36 for real-time
analysis, or can simply be run periodically, as it always reads all the available data. This version is
hardware specific - it works only with the analogue inputs suggested for the Arduino FSQCall Telemetry
Shield. This version uses calibration scaling and offers offsets, useful for temperature measurement.
You can also write your own (and probably better) analyser.

FSTraw, the Telemetry Analyser
-------------------------------
This is a 'helper' program which reads the received telemetry at your home station, and displays it.
Most of the data is graphed, and some is also shown in numerical form. It reads the telemetry formats
that FST and FSTstore generate. The program can run in the background behind FSQCall V0.36 for real-time
analysis, or can simply be run periodically, as it always reads all the available data. This is the
generic version, with no scaling or offsets. It will work with any analogue input arrangement.

Telemetry from the Arduino
--------------------------
Telem0.3.ino is a 'sketch' for the Arduino Uno R3, undoubtedly the most popular and convenient of the
Arduino platforms. This program scans six 10-bit analogue inputs and six switches, processes the data
into 12-bit using a decimation process (reduces noise, increases data resolution), then once every
second sends a raw telemetry frame out its USB port.

A simple circuit board (called a 'shield') is connected to the Arduino, and this processes the real-
world inputs. The 'shield' is described in the accompanying FSTHelp.htm document, and is simple
to build on Veroboard. This design (shield and firmware) provides the following data:

	Sequence Number	A number unique to each raw data frame, 0 - 4097 (repeats every hour or so).
	Switch Data	Four bits defining Device ID 0 - 15; two bits for alarm or status switches.
	Voltage AD0	12-bit analogue voltage 0 - 16V with 4mV resolution (0.02%).
	Voltage AD1	Ditto
	Voltage AD2	Ditto
	Current AD3	12-bit analogue current 0 - 5A with 1.2mA resolution (0.02%).
	Temp AD4	12-bit analogue temperature from thermistor, 0 - 50°C (resolution ~0.1±C)
	Temp AD5	Ditto

Nothing in the design of the Arduino firmware or either Helper program limits what the Arduino can
measure. This is defined by the design of the Telemetry Shield, which is easily adapted. Data presented
by the FSTplot analyser can have the names, scaling and offsets defined for any adaptation. Data
presented to the FSTraw analyser can be anything, as it is completely generic, working only with 12-bit
raw data.

The data is sent in the order listed above. Typically AD0 is AC Charger, AD1 is Battery, AD2 is Solar Panel,
AD3 is charging current into battery, AD4 is ambient temperature and AD5 is equipment temperature.
If you use FSTraw as the analyser, the six channels can represent anything you can measure. For example,
you could use it for a weather station.

It is possible to measure the current in the positive supply and calculate the current by subtraction,
thus avoiding a need for op-amps. This option is provided for in FSTplot.

Everything else you need to know is covered in the FSTHelp.htm document.

73,
Murray Greenman ZL1BPU


