License Free Rocket GPS?????

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ColumbiaNX01

ColumbiaNX01

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I know of the BRB900 and the MW RTX GPS which both are license free 900mhz. I am not against getting a ham license. But besides those two GPS are there any other License free GPS on the market used for rocketry?

Andrew
 
I went with the Eggfinder system. The Eggefinder can fit in a 29mm tube.

The Eggfinder requires no FCC license, and is aimed at beginners with limited budgets. There are TONS of helpful posts on the Eggfinder here on TRF.

The Eggfinder is a "KIT" - meaning you have to build it. You can have someone else build it for you. I think its' "Conman" here on TRF that offers an Eggfinder building service for a small fee.
 
scsager said:
I went with the Eggfinder system. The Eggefinder can fit in a 29mm tube.

The Eggfinder requires no FCC license, and is aimed at beginners with limited budgets. There are TONS of helpful posts on the Eggfinder here on TRF.

The Eggfinder is a "KIT" - meaning you have to build it. You can have someone else build it for you. I think its' "Conman" here on TRF that offers an Eggfinder building service for a small fee.
Click to expand...

To further elaborate, you need good soldering skills and equipment. A $20 kit from Radio Shack isn't going to cut it. Also, you need some magnification and a "third hand."
 
Isn't there somebody who has a unit that requires a smart phone for a receiver? Not the best if you are in a launch zone with sketchy reception, but I think there is one, right? And it's pretty cheap, too?
 
Bat-mite said:
To further elaborate, you need good soldering skills and equipment. A $20 kit from Radio Shack isn't going to cut it. Also, you need some magnification and a "third hand."
Click to expand...

A 15 watt Weller on Ebay for under $15.00 shipped works just fine.
 
scsager said:
I went with the Eggfinder system. The Eggefinder can fit in a 29mm tube.

The Eggfinder requires no FCC license, and is aimed at beginners with limited budgets. There are TONS of helpful posts on the Eggfinder here on TRF.

The Eggfinder is a "KIT" - meaning you have to build it. You can have someone else build it for you. I think its' "Conman" here on TRF that offers an Eggfinder building service for a small fee.
Click to expand...

I would love to STAY AWAY from an Egg finder. I have a rocket buddy who is in my club and on here who had a terrible experience with an Eggfinder. He lost 2 rockets with the same system. With my large 2 stage high altitude rocket I need something more advanced. I guess since I have seen its misfortunes in action I dont want to trust it in my own project.
 
ColumbiaNX01 said:
I would love to STAY AWAY from an Egg finder. I have a rocket buddy who is in my club and on here who had a terrible experience with an Eggfinder. He lost 2 rockets with the same system. With my large 2 stage high altitude rocket I need something more advanced. I guess since I have seen its misfortunes in action I dont want to trust it in my own project.
Click to expand...

Lots of people swear by them, and their inventor is a prominent member of these forums and offers excellent customer service. One thing of note is that the Eggfinder antenna needs to be kept away from metal. Not sure what happened to your buddy.
 
Bat-mite said:
Lots of people swear by them, and their inventor is a prominent member of these forums and offers excellent customer service. One thing of note is that the Eggfinder antenna needs to be kept away from metal. Not sure what happened to your buddy.
Click to expand...

Yea you are right. I guess you saying its aimed for beginners, limited budgets, and the unsuccessful rate of my buddy scares me. But if some one can show me in more detail how it works it may change my mind.
 
Bat-mite said:
Isn't there somebody who has a unit that requires a smart phone for a receiver? Not the best if you are in a launch zone with sketchy reception, but I think there is one, right? And it's pretty cheap, too?
Click to expand...

You mean the Insane Rocketry app. It's available for Android phones. The inventor was just interviewed in the most recent episode of the Rocketry Show podcast.
 
Just a word of advice don't buy a used system . I purchased a used tragic little aerospace 900hhz unit . Launched rocket went out of site never to be seen again had coordinates and tracking all the way to the launchpad then nothing ... lesson learned don't buy used electronics . Also bought a used altimeter that didn't work...


It is another 900mhz option

https://www.tragiclittleaerospace.com
 
Danh said:
Just a word of advice don't buy a used system . I purchased a used tragic little aerospace 900hhz unit . Launched rocket went out of site never to be seen again had coordinates and tracking all the way to the launchpad then nothing ... lesson learned don't buy used electronics . Also bought a used altimeter that didn't work...


It is another 900mhz option

https://www.tragiclittleaerospace.com
Click to expand...

When I clicked that link, my work filters blocked it for pornography. What gives?
 
ColumbiaNX01 said:
I would love to STAY AWAY from an Egg finder. I have a rocket buddy who is in my club and on here who had a terrible experience with an Eggfinder. He lost 2 rockets with the same system. With my large 2 stage high altitude rocket I need something more advanced. I guess since I have seen its misfortunes in action I dont want to trust it in my own project.
Click to expand...

My best advice for anything rocketry related - is testing, lots and lots of testing.
I think many issues with Altimeters, RF trackers, GPS locators ect. are sometimes caused by user error.

For things like altimeters, trackers, GPS locators and such, these can all be tested:
-Ground testing. (For GPS -one person hides the rocket, the other person finds the rocket)
-Flight testing. (Fly the GPS system several times on "low" flights where you keep full visual recovery) Make sure the GPS reports the correct coordinates.

Testing accomplishes two goals. It helps to make sure the system is working, and it helps the operator understand the system and how it works.

I personally have never failed to find one of my Eggfinder equipped rockets.
 
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scsager said:
My best advice for anything rocketry related - is testing, lots and lots of testing.
I think many issues with Altimeters, RF trackers, GPS locators ect. are sometimes caused by user error.

For things like altimeters, trackers, GPS locators and such, these can all be tested:
-Ground testing. (For GPS -one person hides the rocket, the other person finds the rocket)
-Flight testing. (Fly the GPS system several times on "low" flights where you keep full visual recovery) Make sure the GPS reports the correct coordinates.

Testing accomplishes two goals. It helps to make sure the system is working, and it helps the operator understand the system and how it works.

I personally have never failed to find one of my Eggfinder equipped rockets.
Click to expand...

True! Thanks
 
I use the Rocket Locator app on my Android phone.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.frankdev.rocketlocator&hl=en

It connects via Bluetooth to my Eggfinder GPS receiver. If I have a network connection, I get a map. If I have no connection, I still get the right coordinates and a directional compass, just no image of the field I'm walking through. Not the biggest loss there. :wink:

It works really well. If you're concerned about soldering it, there are people here who will do it for you for a fee.

What's your projected altitude and simmed travel distance?
 
mccordmw said:
I use the Rocket Locator app on my Android phone.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.frankdev.rocketlocator&hl=en

It connects via Bluetooth to my Eggfinder GPS receiver. If I have a network connection, I get a map. If I have no connection, I still get the right coordinates and a directional compass, just no image of the field I'm walking through. Not the biggest loss there. :wink:

It works really well. If you're concerned about soldering it, there are people here who will do it for you for a fee.

What's your projected altitude and simmed travel distance?
Click to expand...

The sustainer could go 30,000 or higher depending on motor. The booster 15,000 or so. The RTX goes in sustianer. The GPS were talking here will go in booster.
 
I just played hide and seek with my Eggfinder tonight works great. My buddy drove into one of the locked storage sites that I didn't know he had access to. I kept driving in circles and finally told him he had to be in the locked fence. Nailed it within a couple of feet.
 
I use Eggfinder, eggfinder TRS and a system I built myself https://www.ausrocketry.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5240
All are quite capable but all need to tested for usage and range before use.
Make sure to test them mounted and with any other electronics you plan to use turned on as well.
It's better to find out if another system or your mounting causes interference or reduced range prior to launching.
I am working on a handheld unit with direction lights and a display with distance, altitude and coordinates on it that can also link to a mobile phone (not ios compatible).
 
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A little advice. One has to do a range test of any Rf installation before flying period. You don't do that, you risk losing your rocket the first time you fly it out of sight. Rule of thumb: carbon fiber and metallic paints may block Rf from getting out of the rocket. Learned that my first GPS flight 8 or 9 years ago.
Here is another "golden rule", fly your tracker rocket the first time with a motor you know will likely lead to a flight that will come down within sight.
Two to three thousand feet is all that's necessary.

In this way, if a battery gets disconnected or there is something wrong with your setup, you still get your rocket back and trouble shoot the problem.

An unrestrained tracker that gets its antenna smashed by G forces is going to be useless.

It's plain stupid, stupid, stupid to fly blindly out of sight, super high, the first time one uses any kind of tracking system. Same holds true for RDF too.

For further details on EggFinder tracking, look at this recent thread I did: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?137555-Eggfinder-Map-tracks

I go into details and explain the behavior I see with the EggFinder system. Kurt
 
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ColumbiaNX01 said:
The sustainer could go 30,000 or higher depending on motor. The booster 15,000 or so. The RTX goes in sustianer. The GPS were talking here will go in booster.
Click to expand...

The new version of GPS Rocket Locator can cache maps for offline use. It's in the pull down menu. If you have a device with adequate memory you can download
maps of your launch area and use it off line. I've done it with a Nexus 7 2013 WiFi only unit. No phone inside.

The Rtx has the potential for more range than an EggFinder due to the fact it is 250mW vs 100mW of the EggFinder. Also, I find a patch antenna on a 10 foot pole
on the receive end improves the recovery of positions from an EggFinder. Just point it in the presumed direction of the rocket. Kurt
 
An Eggfinder with the stock wire antenna on the transmitter and an external 3 dB omni on the receiver will easily get to 20,000'. That should be fine for your booster.
 
cerving said:
An Eggfinder with the stock wire antenna on the transmitter and an external 3 dB omni on the receiver will easily get to 20,000'. That should be fine for your booster.
Click to expand...

I'll just add that the end user needs to heed Cervings advice he gives in his documentation on the EggFinders. If one is not already a Ham, a new user will
likely not be familiar with a proper Rf tracker installation and needs to read the user guide from stem to stern. Kurt
 

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