Telemetry

Telemetry

An introduction to RF telemetry systems, by Gale Allen (pdf link, 11 pages).

To summarize, with the same type of antenna, the higher the frequency the lower the range. We should prefer a 500MHz band to a 2.4GHz for example. However directive antennas with higher gain are more practical in higher frequencies because the wavelength is shorter and antennas are sized to the wavelength. They may also be cheaper. With a high gain antenna, a higher frequency link can reach the same range as a lower frequency link with a unity gain antenna.

A more complete reading is the Telemetry Systems Radio Frequency Handbook, US military document, 2008 (pdf link, 133 pages).

There are some license-free radio frequency bands available, the ISM bands (Industrial Scientific and Medical) [1]:

• In the EU: 433MHz – up to 10mW power, 868MHz: multiple channels with power output up to 500mW. 2.4GHz with outputs up to 10mW.
• In the US: 433MHz up to 1mW output, 315MHz up to 10mW output, 915MHz up to 500mW (with restrictions on protocol – spread spectrum).

The ~900MHz band seems more promising since it allows for relatively high power without requiring a license, and the bandwidth will be more than enough if no video relay is considered on the telemetry link. Here is an example of RF module of 500mW on 869MHz ($100), here a telemetry module of 1W on 902-928 MHz ($90).

dBm to Watt conversion table

Weather balloons are launched very often (more than 850 twice a day around the world) and the most used product is the Radiosonde Vaisala RS92 and variants. Their RF output is 200mW for the 1680MHz version, and at least 40mW for the 403MHz version. Amateur radio operators have reported catching signals from those radiosondes several hundreds of kilometres away, so we definitely don't need more than the allowed 500mW ISM RF power. That may however require a high quality reception station with high gain antennas and low-noise amplifiers.

List of emission modules available on the 869MHz ISM band, 500mW power

• TIMWO HP868, also known as ARF7581AA, 1-page PDF link
• ARF35 (IP65 package)
• ARF27
• FC-RF209
• [2]
• [3]
• Yishi YS-C30L
• Mellow ml808