tBeacon Green

Features

learning the position of a craft using an onboard or dedicated GPS receiver
activation via call from UHF handheld radio or by timer
transmitting voice with GPS position among classical beacon tones and unique Proximity search mode
built-in bright LED and a buzzer
external voltage sensor: reports the voltage of the main battery during the flight
equiped with a small LiPo cell (50mAh) which provides 7 days of standby time
able to charge it's own battery using external 5V source
easy configuration and calibration through a PC app
size: 20x30mm
weight: 5-6g (with 50mAh battery)

Package includes

tBeacon Green (assembled, calibrated and tested unit) with wire antenna and a soldered LiPo cell
2 x cable for connecting to a model's GPS system and for configuration of the tBeacon
heatshrink tube
decals

Installation recomendations

It is highly recommended to cover the beacon with water-resistant coating: a specialized lacquer or a "liquid tape". That's why the heat shrink tube is supplied separately and intended for user installation.

NOTE: When coating the PCB, please avoid the switch, buzzer and connector.

When installing the beacon on the model, evaluate the likelihood of accidental disconnection of the beacon. If such an event is likely it is recommended to take preventive measures: from the simple removal of the switch lever (which will complicate the process of switching on/off) to complete replacement of the switch with a more reliable counterpart.
Avoid installation locations where the beacon may be subject to strong deformation (for example, in front of a heavy battery) or may be buried under the radiopaque objects.

NOTE: Avoid using conductive instruments while preparing the beacon. Remember, it is connected to a charged LiPo battery!

Voltage monitoring

The beacon is equipped with a voltage monitoring circuits: it can monitor the voltage of its own battery and an external (main flight) LiPo battery. It is possible to monitor batteries of 2-6S.
The voltage monitoring will blocks the beacon startup until its own battery voltage is higher than 3.0V. It blinks with red LED waiting the voltage to raise up to 3.3V
During normal startup the beacon reports the voltage of its own battery. For example, "three eight" means that the battery voltage is 3.8V.

Assuming a non-zero value of the "External battery thresholds" parameter the beacon will try to detect an external battery at startup and so forth every 15 seconds.
In the presence of voltage at the corresponding input, the beacon will determine the number of cells of the battery and the buzzer will emit a corresponding number of "beeps". For example, with connected 3S battery the beacon will emit three "beeps".
Then the beacon will report the average voltage of the battery cells. For example, "four two" means the average voltage of 4.2V of the cells.
Next, the beacon enters the external battery monitoring cycle: it will check once per second for excess of a specified thresholds.
When the "WARNING" threshold is reached, the beacon reports the current average voltage of the cells every 15 seconds.
When the "CRITICAL" threshold is reached, the beacon reports the current voltage of the cells with an intervals of 1 second, and uses light and sound alarm.
The beacon consider the average cell voltage of 2.5V as an absense of battery. It will signal it with a short double "beeps" and three "zero zero" reports.
By default, the value of the "External battery thresholds" parameter is set to "0", i.e. monitoring is disabled. Recommended setting: "3533". Which means "WARNING" threshold is set to 3.5V, and the "CRITICAL" threshold is set to 3.3V.
When using this functionality it is strongly recommended that you connect the beacon to a 5V source to keep its own battery charged.

Connection

5-pin JST SH connector is used for connection to the GPS, charging voltage supply, an external (monitored) battery and for all service operation with the beacon.

Vext - optional connection to the positive side (+) of an external monitored LiPo battery.
RX - UART input. Used for connection to a GPS location source and to a PC
TX - UART output. Used only for connection to a PC
+5V - 5V input connection. Used for the beacon's own LiPo charging
GND - Ground.

Configuration and flashing

This model does not use the DTR signal, therefore any UART adapter could be used for configuration/flashing. Even the one without DTR pin.
Connect GND, TX & RX lines with corresponding GND, RX & TX lines of UART adapter. Note that RX should be connected to TX!
For connection to the configuration utility, you should turn on the beacon right after clicking the CONNECT button.
For firmware flashing you should click "FLASH FW" button and turn on the beacon at the moment when black terminal window will appears.