It would be nice if this thread stayed focused on the Featherweight tracker and it's features rather than become a generic tracking thread. I don't think folks are coming here to learn about generic trackers and software features. I know thread drift happens but it doesn't have to if folks stay focused.
If someone feels super strongly that a tracker has to have real time mapping, then maybe at this point there are different options out there to look at. Honestly I think it's a waste of a programmers effort to add in a feature that likely won't be nearly as nice as a dedicated app like MotionX. I'd much rather see unique features like public relay, lost rocket mode, ability to track multiple stages, etc., than yet another mapping app.
From someone who has actually spent the money to buy the trackers, I put almost no value on a real time map solution and a lot of value on the existing and other features than have been announced. I've talked to other folks who have also purchased the system or are planning to and none of them mentioned the lack of real time maps.
Kurt keeps talking like this tracker will only be useful for simple recoveries or rockets that won't go very high. I believe just the opposite is true. Based on the technical specifications and early tests, I believe this will become the tracker of choice for those flying extreme projects and want the best odds of getting their rocket back. The beauty of the Featherweight system so far is it's simplicity to set up and the very robust feature set planned. If folks want to mess around with jury-rigging up a custom solution, great, but that should be a different thread.
Tony
The specs are very good but the bottom line is when a rocket is tumbling under drogue, antenna polarity changes constantly and depending on ones tracking system, recovery of positions could be intermittant. The LoRa technology is supposed to be excellent but the fact of the matter is if a project drifts out of range there is the risk of a loss depending upon the terrain and the ground footprint of the tracker. I contend that most of you who are going to use the Featherweight project are not going to be going to extremes of altitude nor distance (ie. many tens of thousands of feet and many miles of drifting). In that case, an arrow with lat/long is perfectly fine to find a project.
Now it's great if the developer tests it out West with the radical requirements of the playa in projects that go high and far. Remember, with the salts in the playa the "ground" footprint of a tracker, any tracker is zilch. RDF is a dicey affair unless a rocket comes down within sight out there. Walkie Talkies have lousy range there also I'm told.
Do not mistake me Tony, I am not dissing this. It's small, will have the mesh prospect (which will only make a difference if there are a bunch of other folks flying the same device) and I think will be simple enough for a non-electronic type to put in their rocket to find it. I call that a simple recovery. Note well, it's easy to put a small rocket up out of sight for long periods of time and see none of the events. That's where any functioning GPS tracker shows it's mettle. My Wildman Jr. I've never seen any of the events with flights to 8k (darned J motors!). I call that a simple flight but I've walked right up to it 14 times where obviously the chute events occurred as intended. If the GPS tracker hadn't worked (APRS unit) , it would have been lost years ago.
There's plenty of folks chomping at the bit to buy one of these and I don't think they'll be disappointed map or no map. Especially since they are taking care to make sure the system operates as advertised. Remember, it was supposed to be out by last Christmas! That was the hope. In my opinon getting all the kinks worked out is better than a premature release with a pile of bugs. As far as the "go to" choice for extreme projects define for me "extreme"?
When Tony says it's the device of choice, it may be the device of choice because one doesn't need a Ham license to operate. Every tracker has limitations no matter what. If this is tested to the extreme say like a very long distance
recovery then by golly no one should worry. If 5 to 10 miles out on the playa is a piece o' cake for it then us Midwest flatlanders would have nothing the fear.
If one is going to use a single tracking remedy for really high flights 20k or more, there is a higher risk of loss if their device fails. Keep that in mind. Yes, yes I know there have been plenty of flights a lot higher than 20k with successful
recoveries but that was because the tracker worked. Lose power and it can be a really disheartening experience. Note well, I've been burned a number of times hence my caution and dwelling on given failure modes and ways to deal with them. A live map is one of them but yes is not necessary for all flights.
Thinking about what could happen if one gets to a last known position and there is no rocket in sight nor a signal received can be the difference of salvaging a recovery vs. loss.
Oh remember, if you can stick a noisemaker on the harness that is extra insurance for the terminal phase of your recovery. I once walked up to a small fiberglass rocket that was close but I didn't "see it" in descent. It was black tubed fiberglass that blended in with the black dirt farm field. The chute failed to deploy as it hung in a chute release. I walk up to it as shown on the map and the rocket isn't there! The receiver is beeping away the position and the two icons are on top of each other. I have the right lat/long right. Well stupdhead had to zoom in on the map and I was able to walk closer and do the recovery. If I had put a beeper on the harness, my ears would have made up for my "mapping" mistake.
Also be aware, depending upon the position of the GPS receiver antenna on the rocket tracker in the lie and the number of satellites locked, the position can jump around on the map and hence your lat/long will change on your display.
With a lot of ground vegetation, might be hard to locate even though you seem to be right on top of the rocket. Again, more evidence to use a noisemaker on the harness if at all possible. Kurt