Hardware 

Wiring Practices Use stranded wire for interconnect within a payload.  If a solid piece of wire is nicked during installation, it may fatigue and break during operation.  Use grommets for wiring that feeds through panels and enclosures.  Use high quality pin and socket connectors for interconnects such as a DB-9 connector.  Twist and tie wrap wire bundles.  Twisting the wires offers common mode protection of EMI and other electrical interference.

Battery Fuse primary battery to prevent destruction of wiring harness.  The fusing is primarily protection during integration and test.  When using lithium cells or any battery with exposed contacts, tape the contacts to prevent accidental shorting to a metal chassis or equipment.

Battery Pack During landing, batteries can be dislodged from the battery holder. Two tips may be helpful in securing the batteries. First, apply a strip of Kapton or equivalent tape over the ends of the batteries. Second, mount the battery holder face down so the batteries are against a solid surface.

Print Circuit Boards 

Surface Mount Connectors  A Z-World processor module is used in the Payload Computer and NSRV.  They provide either a through hole or surface mount connector for mating the module to a PCB.  The surface mount connector is easier to use in a design because you don't have to drill 80 holes for the connector pins and the PCB auto router has room between the surface mount pads to route traces.

Communications 

GMSK Frequency  A GMSK MODEM relies on the absolute frequency of the signal for proper modulation and demodulation.  Some radios can invert the spectrum in the transmit or receive chain.  The GMSK MODEM will not properly work with an inverted spectrum.  Most MODEM chips provide an option to invert the input or output data stream.