Updated Schematic

Here is a new revision to the schematic. Had to add in a 1-Wire analog to digital converter. When I made the initial design I thought the BS2px had an ADC built in. The ADC converts the analog voltage output of the barometric sensor to an 8-bit digital value. I chose the DS2450 mainly for the I2C interface. The DS18B20 temperature sensors also use the 1-Wire interface which means the DS2450 and the DS18B20's can use the same bus. I also chose the DS2450 because it has four inputs to allow future addons for experiments or extra sensors.

I also rearranged the design a bit. I didn't fully read the docs on the BS2px and certain pins will only work for certain things such as synch and asynch serial, 1-wire, and I2C protocols.

Also, http://www.procknation.com/ is starting to come online. I finally found my old copy of Dreamweaver MX. As I get time I will be adding page content. But don't expect to much. I follow the Google model of web page building, less is better. I don't have a bunch of graphics or flash crap. Just the content.

Videos of Other High Altitude Balloons

Here are some videos from other people that have launched high altitude balloons.

Making Progress. Update 4-20-2008

Here is the proto version of the Basic Stamp 2px (blue chip), DS18B20 temperature sensors (little black things to the left of the blue chip), and connection to the GPS receiver (red and white wire on left to the top). The green chip on the right is a MAX1668 temperature monitor with 1 local and 4 remote sensors. Unfortunately I have not been able to get it to talk to the BS2px over the SMBUS, yet. After a little research I think I have figured out how to "bit-bash" the SMBUS protocol out of a synchronous connection from the BS2px but have not had the time to try to develop the code and test it.

There are some other components on there like the LED bars and resistors such that I am not using right now.

As for the main program code, things are going good. I got the DS18B20 sensors to talk using an I2C link. I also have the GPS data acquisition part working over a serial link. It took a while to figure out how to correctly parse the incoming data from the GPS receiver.

On Thursday I ordered the serial LCD panel, I2C EEPROM memory chips, and the atmospheric pressure sensor. I'll update again after I get those components working and post some pictures and maybe some video.