For Sale Custom Comspec Receiver Compatible Beacons

[BenCook]

Very nice case – I like how you integrated battery removal into the design so it does not require two separate parts like mine does. That little coil antenna is also very nice – maybe report back on how well it works in the field if you would.


Tony

I tested last night at was able to get 1 beep reliably from 1 mile and 2 beeps from half a mile. While shooting through at bunch of houses.

 

[manixFan]

I tested last night at was able to get 1 beep reliably from 1 mile and 2 beeps from half a mile. While shooting through at bunch of houses.

Nice little video demo of the beeps, thanks for that. I am in the 220 band with an old ComSpec receiver so I just use one beep. I know a couple of the club members that use the handheld HAM radios will also like your mounting setup. It looks like the clip on the radio slides into the top piece? More good 3D examples!


Tony

 

[bad_idea]

I tested last night at was able to get 1 beep reliably from 1 mile and 2 beeps from half a mile. While shooting through at bunch of houses.

Apologies if you've posted before and I missed it, but what radio and yagi are you using?

 

[dvdsnyd]

Apologies if you've posted before and I missed it, but what radio and yagi are you using?

Also curious of the radio. Looks nicer than the Quansheng UV5

 

[BenCook]

Apologies if you've posted before and I missed it, but what radio and yagi are you using?

70cm arrow antenna with a 3d printed handle I modified to fit the antenna and my radio. Also 3d printed an element holder for storage and transport. Radio is a Tidradio H3 with custom firmware that has a really nice signal strength meter. By adjusting the frequency steps I can also get some nice attenuation for sensitivity adjustment. The radio is really great for the price.

 

[dvdsnyd]

70cm arrow antenna with a 3d printed handle I modified to fit the antenna and my radio. Also 3d printed an element holder for storage and transport. Radio is a Tidradio H3 with custom firmware that has a really nice signal strength meter. By adjusting the frequency steps I can also get some nice attenuation for sensitivity adjustment. The radio is really great for the price.

Awesome!
I may have to give that one a try.
Which antenna is that? I see 70cm arrow, is it this one -
https://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/440-3ii.html
Could you also supply a link to the firmware for the radio?
Dave

 

[BenCook]

Awesome!
I may have to give that one a try.
Which antenna is that?
Could you also supply a link to the firmware for the radio?
Dave

Here is the antenna. https://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/440-3ii.html

This is the group that has the firmware for the TD-H3 radio. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15BvmkKhNG/?mibextid=K35XfP

Radio cost is less than $30 on Amazon
Antenna is $85. Kinda pricey but super sturdy.

All in around $200 for two beacons and the full receiver setup.

 

[rjenkins133]

PM'd the OP several days ago. So far no response.

Anyone have contact info?

Thanks,
Randy

 

[rharshberger]

PM'd the OP several days ago. So far no response.

Anyone have contact info?

Thanks,
Randy

Same here, might be busy.

 

[tim cubbedge]

I think he’s got something to do with Starship and I ordered my last set right around the last launch and he said he was pretty busy so my order was delayed. I see there’s another launch in 3 days.

 

[rharshberger]

I think he’s got something to do with Starship and I ordered my last set right around the last launch and he said he was pretty busy so my order was delayed. I see there’s another launch in 3 days.

He did respond to my first PM last week, and then I sent another on Sunday so he is communicating, looking forward to getting a couple of these beacons.

 

[Brainstormz123]

Sorry about the not responding. Going to respond to everyone now and will ship all the beacons you guys want before Wednesday. Sorry again about that

 

[rharshberger]

Received my units today, nice little package. I got them in two different freqs just in case. I plan to use mine with 1S Lipos so I soldered leads to the GND and V+ as Alexander recommended then gave them a test in the house and they work nicely.
Thanks Alexander.

 

[rjenkins133]

To OP
Please check pm I sent. The forum shows you have been online but no response to my several PMs over the past week.

Sometimes I forget to check my PMs so I'm posting here in the event you are watching this thread.
BR
Randy

 

[Brainstormz123]

Yours has been shipped. Should arrive soon

To OP
Please check pm I sent. The forum shows you have been online but no response to my several PMs over the past week.

Sometimes I forget to check my PMs so I'm posting here in the event you are watching this thread.
BR
Randy

 

[jcowles3]

Do you have more available? thanks

 

[Tommie D]

Do you have more available? thanks

Just send him a DM, I just got one a few weeks ago. Excellent service BTW.

 

[rharshberger]

Just send him a DM, I just got one a few weeks ago. Excellent service BTW.

DMs are how its done.

 

[jcowles3]

DMs are how its done.

He doesn't respond after reading it...

 

[Brainstormz123]

He doesn't respond after reading it...

I did respond to you? Lemme reach out again lol

 

[jabelche]

Looking forward to the trackers, thanks for your help!

 

[jabelche]

Just tried my hand at reprogramming one of my trackers. These were preprogrammed for the 433MHz range, and now I'm interested in changing one of them to 220. Earlier in this thread it was mentioned the resistor is a reference to tell the difference between board revisions.

If I change the antenna and reprogram it, what other changes would be necessary (if possible)? Would I need to move this resistor?

 

[datmongorian]

Just tried my hand at reprogramming one of my trackers. These were preprogrammed for the 433MHz range, and now I'm interested in changing one of them to 220. Earlier in this thread it was mentioned the resistor is a reference to tell the difference between board revisions.

If I change the antenna and reprogram it, what other changes would be necessary (if possible)? Would I need to move this resistor?

You would just need to pop the resistor off the 440 pad and move it to the adjacent 220 pad. The resistor itself is 0 ohms and I think I remember someone saying it was there mostly as a visual indication of the frequency band, but I may be mistaken. The two pads do trace to different pins on the cpu so it's probably best to swap the resistor to the other pad to be safe. Since it doesn't actually provide any resistance, you could just pop it off with a soldering iron and short the 220 pads with a solder bridge or piece of wire.

 

[Brainstormz123]

Just tried my hand at reprogramming one of my trackers. These were preprogrammed for the 433MHz range, and now I'm interested in changing one of them to 220. Earlier in this thread it was mentioned the resistor is a reference to tell the difference between board revisions.

If I change the antenna and reprogram it, what other changes would be necessary (if possible)? Would I need to move this resistor?

The resistor doesnt actually do anything here, its an (unused) indication to the microcontroller to what the frequency is. There are quite a few different passive components on the board itself (inductors and capacitors), so swapping between bands properly is a bit of work/almost impossible.

The board will work if you just change the frequency/program something out of what its tuned for, but the range will fall dramatically the further away you are for what its tuned for. I would expect about a 100x range reduction if using a 220mhz tracker at 440 (but havent tested it)

 

[jabelche]

The resistor doesnt actually do anything here, its an (unused) indication to the microcontroller to what the frequency is. There are quite a few different passive components on the board itself (inductors and capacitors), so swapping between bands properly is a bit of work/almost impossible.

The board will work if you just change the frequency/program something out of what its tuned for, but the range will fall dramatically the further away you are for what its tuned for. I would expect about a 100x range reduction if using a 220mhz tracker at 440 (but havent tested it)

Thanks for the info!

 

[BenCook]

I ordered a couple of the beacons in 70cm and they came with a coiled up antenna. Designed and printed a case. Took some inspiration from some of what others have done for battery ejection. Here are some pics and a YouTube video.

Here are the STL files if you are interested

 

[BenCook]

70cm arrow antenna with a 3d printed handle I modified to fit the antenna and my radio. Also 3d printed an element holder for storage and transport. Radio is a Tidradio H3 with custom firmware that has a really nice signal strength meter. By adjusting the frequency steps I can also get some nice attenuation for sensitivity adjustment. The radio is really great for the price.

Here is the STL for the Element holder in the picture