[NRVR-Members] Tracking Beacon/System Reccomendations?

[Eric Paterson]

Caitlyn, another option is the RTx/GPS and T3 systems from missileworks, https://www.missileworks.com/products/

I have both.  The RTx/GPS works with a number of interfaces (direct HMI, bluetooth to android device, or USB to a computer) and I’ve flown it with mixed success.   Slaving it to the RRC3 altimeter proved to be a bit tricky.  In contrast, The T3 is much simpler and I have it in a minimum diameter project that I haven’t flown yet.  

In general they work, but software is clunky at best.    However, I haven’t really had to rely on them for actual tracking.   I am expecting that MD project will push that a bit due to small size of rocket and expected altitude. 

--
Sent from my iPhone


> On Aug 25, 2018, at 9:10 PM, Captain_Zero Residential School Bus of Ten Forward <uss.defiant-a at live.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks, everyone, for your input! Definatly a lot of good information here to sit down and work through.
> 
> Again, thanks for the input, everyone!
> 
> Caitlyn A. Stone, KE8FNY 
> 
> __ 
> 
> B.S. Aerospace Engineering 
> 
> B.S. Meteorology 
> 
> Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Class of 2018 
> 
> __ 
> 
> P.O. Box 73 
> 
> Mullens, WV 25882 
> 
> __ 
> 
> castone at vt.edu 
> 
> uss.defiant-a at live.com 
> 
> 
> 
> From: nrvr-members-bounces at server2.nrvr.org <nrvr-members-bounces at server2.nrvr.org> on behalf of Thomas Tweeks Weeks <tom at theweeks.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2018 12:47:25 AM
> To: NRV Rocketry Members
> Subject: Re: [NRVR-Members] Tracking Beacon/System Reccomendations?
>  
> I've heard great things about the Egg Timer units.
> 
> I really want to get a 70cm APRS based tracker (like the cool stuff Jordan flies).. But it's a bit pricey for me..  (what's all that hardware go for Jordan.. ~$300?)
> 
> For my L3, I did a last minute on-site vendor purchase of a cool little, button cell powered, 216MHz beeper (fox and hound style) that was designed for falcon tracking for around $125:
> https://marshallradio.com/north-american-falconry-products/north-american-falconry-transmitters/item/122-scout-transmitter 
> 
> It's okay.. you can also get 150MHz MURS transmitters for $70-80.  If you don't want to use a BaoFeng + analog meter (for directional gain fox/hounding).. then you can get a nice little dedicated hand held two element (see com-spec link) + wide beam yagi to get basic a basic bearing.. 
> 
> These cheaper analog beeper fox/hounds works pretty well for bare bones directionalityt (as long as your rocket doesn't land in a ditch or dip in the ground, then range is severely shortened ;).  Mine claims to xmit 30 miles.. but I think between 1-3mi is more real world.  
> 
> One of our vendors sells sa little 216MHz unti for like $75:
> https://www.csrocketry.com/electronics/communications-specialists/tracker-rchp.html
> more specs + dedicated receivers:
> http://www.com-spec.com/law_enforcement/index.html
> 
> Also.. here's a good write up on NICER, GPS/APRS trackers.. including this club's growing favorite, the Altus Metrum (if you can afford it):
> http://jcrocket.com/gps-tracking.shtml
> 
> GPS/APRS tracking is MUCH more cool.. you don't just get a bearing, but a bearing + distance.. or if decoding into a phone+app, you can get cross hairs of your rocket location on google maps. Seen this in action and it's very cool.
> 
> Jordan is the authority on this subject.
> 
> Hope that helps..
> 
> Jordan.. time to do another "Radio in Rockets" talk? :)
> 
> Tweeks
> 
> 
> On Friday, August 24, 2018 10:49am, "Jordan Truesdell" <jordan at truesdell.org> said:
> 
> > _______________________________________________
> > NRVR-Members mailing list
> > NRVR-Members at mail.nrvr.org
> > http://server2.nrvr.org/mailman/listinfo/nrvr-membersI have four - a beacon on
> > 70cm, a GPS on 70cm (both BigRedBee), an RF-v16 (GPS tracker over GSM/SMS), and an
> > Eggfinder (one which failed before I flew it but after testing, and one still in
> > kit form). Any particular questions?
> > 
> > --
> > Jordan
> > On 8/24/2018 8:59:59 AM, Captain_Zero Residential School Bus of Ten Forward
> > <uss.defiant-a at live.com> wrote:
> > I was wondering what folks would reccomend for using as a means of tracking. I've
> > looked at a couple of different types and methods, but beyond product descriptions
> > and user reviews there are, I'm not too sure on the pros and cons.
> > 
> > 
> > Any suggestions/reccomendations from folks who routinely use tracking systems in
> > their stuff?
> > 
> > 
> > Caitlyn A. Stone, KE8FNY
> > 
> > 
> > __
> > 
> > B.S. Aerospace Engineering
> > 
> > B.S. Meteorology
> > 
> > Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Class of 2018
> > 
> > __
> > 
> > 
> > P.O. Box 73
> > 
> > Mullens, WV 25882
> > 
> > __
> > 
> > 
> > castone at vt.edu
> > 
> > uss.defiant-a at live.com
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> NRVR-Members mailing list
> NRVR-Members at mail.nrvr.org
> http://server2.nrvr.org/mailman/listinfo/nrvr-members
> _______________________________________________
> NRVR-Members mailing list
> NRVR-Members at mail.nrvr.org
> http://server2.nrvr.org/mailman/listinfo/nrvr-members
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://server2.nrvr.org/pipermail/nrvr-members/attachments/20180826/261652b1/attachment-0001.html