before the deployment channels are enabled. For most flights that will be a second or two
before apogee.
In general, if you’re using dual-deployment then you should set this to ZERO. If you aren’t
using the drogue channel (for example, you’re using motor-deploy for the drogue) then set it to
OFF. The other settings are designed for delaying the drogue using the Quasar as a backup
deployment controller in a dual-controller redundant setup, or for special-purpose uses (i.e. the 5-
second setting is designed for ejecting ARLISS CanSats). Typically, the backup controller will
have the drogue setting delayed slightly from the primary controller, so that if the primary
controller fails the backup will fire and deploy the drogue. You should model your flight with a
program such as OpenRocket or Rocsim in order to determine the best delay setting, you want to
make sure that the rocket won’t be going too fast before the backup controller deploys the
drogue. Typically, 1.0 to 1.5 seconds is adequate.
To change this setting, click on the drop-down list and scroll to the setting that you wish to set.
Depending on your browser/OS, you will either click on it or click a “Done” button to select it.
Click on the Submit button to save it, and you will be returned to the Status page.
Drogue DMode (Deployment Mode)
DMode: Igniter or Servo
Igniter On-Time: 0.1-3.0 secs by 0.1 secs, 3-9 secs by 1 sec.
or
Servo Skew: See discussion below
You can change the Drogue so that it turns on for a specified amount of time when triggered (as
it would be with an igniter or hot-wire) or so that it’s pulse-width modulated (for hobby servo
use). For Igniter mode, you can change the on-time from 1 to 30 seconds. For Servo mode, you
can select any of 8 different rotation and skew (amount of rotation) modes.
When you’re using igniter mode, you only need to set the on-time and you’re good. For most
ematches, 1 second is fine… they typically fire in a few dozen milliseconds. The longer times
are appropriate for hot-wire deployments or other special purposes… you’ll probably know if
you need to use them. Note that all deployments are disabled on landing detection.
About Servo Mode
Servo mode assumes that the servo is going rotate to the selected position relative to the zero-
degree center position when actuated, and it’s going to rotate in the opposite position by the
same amount when reset. Typically, you’re going to use some kind of trap-door or pull-pin
mechanism, and there needs to be some way to close the door or reset the pin before you fly.
That’s done with the Test Menu… more on that in the Appendixes.
The servo pulses are sent for 2 seconds, which is plenty fast enough for any servo. Once the two
seconds are up, no more servo pulses are sent, so the servo basically stays where it is, at the end
of its selected travel.
Direction/Skews are in relation to the center point of the servo’s travel. Ideally, a servo would
have 180 degrees of travel, so full counter-clockwise (CCW) would go 90 degrees to the left, and
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