TeleMega GPS Altimeter Setup: Your Questions Answered
By High Power Model Rocketry | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: How-to Guides
Straight answers to the most common Altus Metrum TeleMega questions, from wiring and pyro configuration to GPS tracking and battery power choices.
Quick answer
Treat the TeleMega as a recording dual-deploy altimeter with GPS and telemetry, not just a tracker: plan pyro outputs around flight events, confirm your telemetry link on the ground, and size battery power for the whole flight plus recovery.
Why the TeleMega is more than a GPS tracker
The TeleMega combines a recording dual-deploy altimeter with integrated GPS and a telemetry link. That matters because your setup decisions are not limited to tracking: pyro events can be configured by time or by flight events and status, including angle from vertical. If you only plan for GPS, you will miss the configuration that makes complex projects, such as sustainers on multi-stage flights, work as intended.
When a simpler altimeter is the better choice
If your rocket is a single-deploy sport model and you do not need GPS or telemetry, the TeleMega's extra configuration surface adds work without adding value. The honest trade-off is that a high-end recording altimeter with event-based pyro logic rewards careful planning and ground testing; it is not a drop-in replacement for a basic altimeter in every airframe.
TeleMega setup questions answered
- How should I wire the TeleMega?
- Wire pyro outputs and power according to the Altus Metrum documentation for your board revision, and keep high-current pyro leads separated from GPS and telemetry wiring. The catalog does not list connector types or pinouts, so use the official documentation rather than guessing from photos. Confirm your board revision before ordering connectors.
- How do I configure pyro events for dual deployment?
- Decide which output fires on which event, then configure time-based and event-based triggers deliberately. Because angle from vertical is available as a status input, you can add logic for complex projects such as sustainers, but test each rule on the ground before relying on it in flight. Write down each pyro rule and verify it in a ground test.
- What do I need for GPS tracking and telemetry?
- The TeleMega includes an integrated GPS and telemetry link, so your job is to confirm the link works on the ground and that your ground station is ready before launch. Do not assume a successful bench check guarantees range in flight; verify reception at a distance during your pre-flight checks. Do a range check with the rocket horizontal, not just on the bench.
- How should I plan battery and power?
- Size the battery for the full flight plus recovery time, and confirm the voltage your board revision expects before connecting power. The catalog does not list battery chemistry or connector requirements, so check the official Altus Metrum documentation for your version rather than copying another flyer's setup. Record your battery voltage and capacity in your pre-flight checklist.
Product facts
- Altus Metrum TeleMega Altimeter with GPS: Recording dual-deploy altimeter with integrated GPS and telemetry link. You can plan deployment and tracking as one system rather than adding a separate GPS tracker.
Altus Metrum TeleMega Altimeter with GPS - Altus Metrum TeleMega Altimeter with GPS: Pyro events are configurable by time and by flight events and status, including angle from vertical. Event-based logic lets you tailor deployment to actual flight conditions instead of fixed timers alone.
