rockets
Well-Known Member
can you make a small tracker that could fit an 18mm tube for really cheap? or buy one? I really need help! Thanks!
can you make a small tracker that could fit an 18mm tube for really cheap? or buy one? I really need help! Thanks!
This one is a bit over 8mm in diameter: https://www.merlin-systems.com/media/wysiwyg/pdfs/Merlin-Systems-Mini-FMV-Falconry-Transmitter.pdf so yes
can you make a small tracker that could fit an 18mm tube for really cheap? or buy one? I really need help! Thanks!
I believe bird trackers are on frequencies reserved for wildlife research and are not supposed to be used for other tracking.
M
The Merlin systems are specifically available for rockets as well. They're about $100 for the transmitters but the receiver is $300+
Easier but generally more expensive are the GPS trackers, but I don't know if any of the ones currently on the market will fit in an 18mm tube. I was working on one, but I decided that too many compromises would have to be made to make it fit, mainly in terms of your battery options.
I know Robert DeHate made a GPS tracker for a 13mm two stage carbon fiber rocket. The rocket is small enough that he want to be able to find it, the casings (13mm snap ring B motor) and the electronics for DD.
I saw Robert's tiny GPS board at LDRS 29 I think. It was amazingly small, and consisted of several circuit boards daisy chained together with some flexible connectors.
Just for fun, I was playing with the PCB layout to see how narrow I could make my GPS board. I threw out the data logging memory chip, and all of those large, pesky connectors and got it down to just 15x45mm.
one could go even narrower with a small GPS like the Nano Spider from OriginGPS, it's just 4.1 x 4.1 mm !!!
Greg
Will the Communication-Specialists receivers' work with Merlin transmitters of proper frequency?
is $18.50 cheap enough?
https://distance-rc.com/store/beaconv2
I have one of these and it is exactly 18mm wide. fits snug into an 18mm tube. It runs on a single cell lipo and you can easily get one that fits in the tube. the downside is it does not transmit your ham call sign so it isn't 100% legal to use on ham frequencies. I have done some testing with a home made yagi antenna and a $30 baofeng ham radio with great results. I have not had an opportunity to test long range but it should be good based on the power output.
Ahhhhhh, Just use the Handi-Talkie to announce your callsign and intent on the frequency. Be careful about Baofengs in that the power meter is all on if any signal is detected and off if no signal is heard. Go here to check: https://www.miklor.com/
You really can't track with a Yagi unless you do it by ear as the meter is useless.
I was going to get one and experiment as the price is right. Listed as out of stock though. Kurt Savegnago KC9LDH
Thats exactly what i did when using it. I actually carried another ht to say my call every 10 minutes. This tracker is really neat. It transmits three tones on three power levels, you can set the level for each. I use a yagi and attenuator and no real power meter is required. The whole setup was under $100
Oh yeah, I transiently forgot. If one has an attenuator/yagi connected, can't transmit through the attenuator without messing it up. Kurt
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