Question 1

I saw a problem during a flight — how do I get it fixed quickly?

Accepted Answer

We want to respond to flight issues fast, and the best way to reach us is by email at altosui@ironsheep.biz. To get a rapid turnaround, please send us three things in the same message:

• A screenshot of the problem as it appeared in the app
• A short description of what the problem is and why it's a problem for you
• The .telem file from the flight that exhibits the problem, so we can replay it on our side

With those three items we can reproduce what you saw and turn a fix around quickly. We'll reply right away.

If you'd like to run the fixed build before it's released in the App Store, see the TestFlight early access entry at the bottom of this page — you can then confirm the fix yourself by replaying your .telem file through the new build.

Question 2

What are "Experimental" features, and how can I help?

Accepted Answer

Experimental features are fully built and included in the current App Store release — they are not half-finished. The label means we're still collecting real-world feedback from people actually using them in the field. A feature stays in this category until users tell us the behavior feels right.

That's where you come in. Your reports are what move a feature out of Experimental. We want to hear any of the following:

• This works well as-is — don't change it
• This mostly works, but here's what I'd improve
• This didn't do what I expected, and here's what happened

Send your feedback to altosui@ironsheep.biz. Please name the feature you're reporting on (for example: AR Recovery HUD, Recovery Map, or Flight Report) so we can route it correctly. Screenshots and, where relevant, the .telem file from the flight make your feedback a lot easier to act on.

Question 3

Do I need a TeleBT v4 ground station receiver?

Accepted Answer

The TeleBT v4 introduced an upgraded Bluetooth radio supporting the Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) protocol which is what allows our Apple devices to talk to the TeleBT. If you have an earlier TeleBT you don't have the Bluetooth LE support which then doesn't work with our devices.

Question 4

How do I tell if I have a TeleBT v4?

Accepted Answer

There are two choices. One is to plug into it over USB and see what the software says it is (or run a terminal program, connect to the device, and use the 'v' command to see the product and firmware version info). The second is that if you know the serial number, the first TeleBT v4 unit was s/n 3686. Any TeleBT with lower serial numbers won't work with iOS.

Question 5

Why am I not hearing my new Flight Computer (no battery voltage is showing in AltosUI)?

Accepted Answer

The flight computers can power up in Flight/Pad mode or in Idle mode. If it is powered up in Idle mode you won't get any packets from it over the radio (it will only support IDLE mode communications). However, if you power it off then orient the device as if it were in the rocket ready for launch then power it on it will enter Flight/Pad mode and will be transmitting packets. Once it is running in this mode it can be carefully laid down again and it will stay in this mode.

NOTE: Please pay attention to "Appendix B. Handling Precautions" in the Owner's Manual for Altus Metrum Rocketry Electronics when handling your flight computers.

Question 6

How do I copy my .telem files to my PC?

Accepted Answer

AltosUI exposes the files it creates to iTunes via file sharing. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your PC/Mac, start Apple iTunes Application and select your device. Then (1) locate the "File Sharing" section and scroll to and select the AltosUI application by tapping on its icon, (2) look for the "Telemetry" folder icon in the "AltosUI Documents" panel, click on the folder icon to select it, (3) click on the [Save] button to write this folder and its contents into a folder on your PC.

Question 7

How are you testing the software to ensure it works as well as AltosDroid?

Accepted Answer

We are playing back recorded flights from each model of flight computer — that is, playing the .telem files in real time from actual flights and recording both applications' behavior as the telemetry is received. We then create a single video from the two recordings after synchronizing the Android and iOS recordings. Then we play back the video carefully watching the tracked flight data looking for any differences in display or timing. After noting the differences, we fix the code so they behave as identically as we can get them.

The iOS code is a separate code base from the altos* products — a complete re-creation in a different programming language. We rebuilt the entire application starting from a telemetry packet specification from Altus Metrum, with their source code and their help answering questions about how to interpret behaviors we saw. Watch our releases page for notes about when we certify the "sameness of behavior" for each flight computer.

Question 8

Have you ever seen a version of AltosUI appear to crash the TeleBT?

Accepted Answer

Sadly, yes we have. If you have AltosUI v1.5.x installed and attempt to connect to a TeleBT never seen before you may see the TeleBT not return any packets and show a steady RED LED inside the case. If this happens please upgrade to v1.6.2 or later — the current App Store build includes the fix.

Question 9

How do I get TestFlight early access to upcoming builds?

Accepted Answer

TestFlight is Apple's service for installing pre-release builds of an app before they're released in the App Store. We use it to distribute early builds of AltosUI — containing bug fixes and upcoming features — to users who want to help validate them ahead of the next App Store release.

To request access, email altosui@ironsheep.biz and include:

• The email address associated with your Apple ID — this is what TestFlight uses to send the invitation, so we can't add you without it
• A short note on what you're hoping to test, or which feature or fix you're most interested in trying

We'll send you a TestFlight invite. Install the free TestFlight app from the App Store, accept the invite, and from then on new AltosUI builds show up in TestFlight as soon as we publish them — before they're released in the App Store.

Once you're on the list, you stay on the list — there's nothing more to do between releases. If you'd like to step out of early access at any point, just email altosui@ironsheep.biz and ask to be removed.

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions