Telemetry

I'll have a go at the telemetry then. At least the transmitting part to start with. There are a couple of modules that seem to be in widespread use

1. The Radiometrix ntx2 - apparently the workhorse
2. The RFM22B module.

The second is a more modern affair - has an onboard temperature sensor too. Both can be fairly readily linked to an Arduino w/out too much additional circuitry.

Update 24/02/13: I opted for the RFM22B because it might be more flexible - at the expense of being slightly harder to get started with.  I've also ordered a SDR dongle to test it with as well. I'll update here when it's arrived and I've had a play...

Update 26/02/13: The radio and SDR have arrived. I'll solder the header pins onto the module this eve and see if I can get it bread-boarded to the Arduino and read the onboard temp (or something).  It'll have to wait till Thursday till I can play with the radio/SDR properly ...

Update 28/02/13: Well, after some wrestling with the datasheet, I can now read the radio's oscillator temperature using the onboard (on radio) ADC and my arduino.




Here's the radio in its delivery box (I've already soldered the headers on)










and here's the radio breadboarded to the Arduino. Now, reading the temp may not sound that exciting - but it should be easy to extend the sketch to change the radio frequency using the same (similar) code. Thereby allowing us to transmit RTTY...