Anyone use altitude telemetry?

[Goldenhour]

What I mean is the live on the screen telemetry not the Eagletree data capture.
I see FrSky with some gear and a small screen(looks good). There is RC Electronics T3000 ($800). None of the online stores sell this gear as ready to go seems to be a niche product.
Thats a lot of money for me. Anyone find a cheap live altitude telemetry solution?
Thanks, Craig

[Koippa]

I use telemetry in my FrSky systems, i have it in ols Hitec Eclipse 7 with FrSky 2,4G and in my Taranis. I have battery current information/constant power, altimeter/variometer and GPS position. They i have in my radio screen not in video. Taranis can also say values with voice

[R_Lefebvre]

Yes, FrSky is excellent for a simple, low cost system. And you could get a full autopilot that will give you just about any data you want, for less than that $800 system you mention. That's a crazy price.

[Mapoff]

I'm thinking about the GPS Altimeter for my Spektrum setup. I went with something I felt was reliable as a newbie and gave me telemetry.

[Goldenhour]

Now the part that trips me up.
What FrSky gear do I buy and can it be set up with my Futaba 10chg Tx? Or with a separate Tx and Rx? Not sure how the air pressure only altimeter telemetry is put together.

[R_Lefebvre]

Does your radio have the module in the back or is it built-in 2.4GHz? If it's got the module, you're in luck. Just switch over to FrSky with their Tx modules. The FrSky system is at least as reliable as Futaba, and the Rx are cheaper, and then you have a lot of options for telemetry.

[Goldenhour]

It's a 2.4ghz Tx. You mean a module that converts 72 or whatever to 2.4?
Can I hack the unit? Make it work with what I have.
I know these are big questions but I need help, I NEED altitude telemetry.

[R_Lefebvre]

Yes, FrSky also sell a hack module if you are comfortable doing that. I used one to make a Tx completely from scratch.

[Goldenhour]

Would you mind posting the link. I don't mind putting in the work, just want to make sure I get exactly what you are talking about.

[Koippa]

http://www.frsky-rc.com/product/pro.php?pro_id=7
and
http://www.frsky-rc.com/product/pro.php?pro_id=39

This is transmitter module to Futaba/Hitec, I have it with my Eclipse 7

[Goldenhour]

So with power to the telemetry unit(helicopter) and power to the screen(on Tx) you can view altitude?

[bcook01]

Craig
Not sure what u are trying to achieve.
Do you want real time? On a monitor? Osd?
Accuracy? Some output alt using atmospheric pressure. Others interpolate GPS.
I use eagletree outputting to a display along with other parameters. Link is 900 mhz
Finally what range do you need?
Bob

[Goldenhour]

Glad you asked. I fly a 600 size single rotor for video and still shots. I can achieve, or have achieved 900 feet. My usual height is about 200-300.
When I am at altitude sometimes high level winds are present. These make life difficult when descending or wanting to just hold tight. When I go to descend I can never be sure if I'm descending, increasing or holding because of high level winds.
I want to be able to see if I am holding safe and when I go to descend I want to make sure it is happening.
For this I need real time data. It doesn't need to be real accurate. Plus or minus a few feet would be alright.
And lastly I don't have a big bank account for this right now. Over two or three hundred would be out of the question.

What I need is something like a battery telemetry system like Quanum has for battery voltage. Only for altitude.

[Goldenhour]

I got my telemetry problem figured out. I bought a Futaba T10J telemetry sbus2 Tx, an sbus2 receiver r3008sb, an sbus2 decoder so I can still use my three swash servos that are non sbus and a vario altitude sensor. What I think is really cool about the futaba telemetry system is the synthetic voice announcements via an ear piece that plugs into the Tx.
Its gonna take more time and more programming, learning and pain in the ass. All I wanted was altitude telemetry in real time.

[R_Lefebvre]

I thought you were limited to $300 budget? I could have had you into a full autopilot for half that much.

[Goldenhour]

I am/ was on a 300 dollar budget. I got all I wrote about above for $285.
The synthetic voice function will be great at a time when you 2-3 seconds to look at something else.
And the sbus TX has the antenna inside the chassis. AND.....A guy makes a printed bracket that will support my video down link nicely. I'm pretty excited about it.

[R_Lefebvre]

Wow, really? So, used I guess? Sounds like a good deal!

[Goldenhour]

I'll be able to ditch the quanum battery voltage telemetry unit as well. I bought the $20 Chinese knock off of the futaba ($65) altitude sensor.
Down side is work work work. I've got to gather some more stock footage for post process practice this winter. (Say that 10 times. )Then I'll strip her down and do the works while also remapping all the new electronics. Hope it works.