Featherweight GPS tracker

[Dave A]

1. You can plug the a USB cable into charge the GS with any USB port. The internal charger will limit the current.
2. Set the adjustable charger to turn off all the switches except the 400 one. That will limit the current to 400 mAhrs, which will charge an empty tracker battery in a little over 1 hour.

Thank you, you emailed me back, too.
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Can't wait to use it.

 

[Dave A]

Adrian
I had another question.
I use a wireless Missileworks WRC2 in large rockets. 7.5" or larger nose cones have room for the WRC2 and your GPS tracker.
The WRC2 transmitter runs 900mhz at 30mW.
Will that disrupt the GPS tracker?

 

[deangelo54]

Does anyone have any photos of how they have mounted/secured the Featherweight tracker to their rocket? Do you have to have an ebay or payload section?

 

[Dave A]

I have a removable plate that fits a ring in the bottom of every 6" or larger nose cone.
I've used this method for multiple timers and plan to do the same for the GPS tracker:
I will mount a piece of PML 38mm through a hole in the bulkplate. I usually mount an Aeropak retainer on the end.
Additive Aerospace 38mm altimeter sleds will mount inside a 38mm coupler tube.
The Featherwieght GPS fits easily on that sled, it is very small. His sled has a pocket on the back to hold the LipPo battery.. I'll make the couple tube short enough for the antennae to stick past the end of the tube. I saved old CTI 38mm reloads and use the nozzle end to make a shoulder to sit in the retainer. Slide in the module and screw on the cap. That way it goes in multiple rockets easily.

 

[Voyager1]

I use a nosecone mount from LabRat Rocketry.

 

[deangelo54]

Gentleman, thank you for your inputs. Seems like the nose cone mount is a popular method.

 

[Voyager1]

Assuming that you have a non-conductive plastic or fiberglass N/C, it's the most practical place to install a GPS and telemetry module. There are typically no (or few) components that will interfere with either the GPS or telemetry antennas reception/radiation patterns.

 

[deangelo54]

I was just looking at the Labrat Rocketry website. They also have a sled for connecting the Featherweight tracker to a shock cord. What do you think of that method?

 

[Voyager1]

I was just looking at the Labrat Rocketry website. They also have a sled for connecting the Featherweight tracker to a shock cord. What do you think of that method?

To be honest, I don't know. The tracker will experience deployment accelerations and shocks wherever it's installed. It will be clear off most interfering components if it's attached somewhere around the midpoint of your cord. I just feel it will be better protected in the N/C, but that's just a personal preference.

 

[timbucktoo]

I was just looking at the Labrat Rocketry website. They also have a sled for connecting the Featherweight tracker to a shock cord. What do you think of that method?

I glassed a tube and sealed one end and used a piece of removable fiberglass on other end. It’s packed in foam and then taped to shock cord with electrical tape. Dozens of flights and no damage.

 

[deangelo54]

Nose cone mount does sound good. Someone in my club does it that way but he said if he was to do it all over again he would use the shock cord mount.

I like timbucktoo's method. Maybe I can put the shock cord sled inside a BT50 body tube with foam and connect it to the shock cord.

 

[Richard Dierking]

Does anyone have any photos of how they have mounted/secured the Featherweight tracker to their rocket? Do you have to have an ebay or payload section?

Here's my reasoning for putting the GPS/Tracking in the nose. If the tracker is necessary mass it makes sense to put that mass where it would be useful. Putting the tracker with the battery in the nose brings the GC forward. If the nose isn't constructed with CF of course, it's a good place for the tracker antenna.
Here are a couple photos showing my standard arrangement. The good thing about having a tracker that attaches to a shock cord is that it would be easy to move to other rockets. But, I typically use two different sizes of aluminum u-bolts. And I use coupling nuts on the u-bolts with all-thread (aluminum, titanium, and nylon). So, the sled with the GPS can be moved to different rockets.
I do just about all the prep at home including packing the parachutes and installing the nose coupler on the forward parachute section. I connect the battery and turn on the GPS (and CommSpec when I'm using as a back up) and install the nose with bolts or screws just before installing the motor and taking to the pad. Also, I can check the signal on the trackers before installing the nose.

 

[deangelo54]

It's hard to disagree with your logic for placing the tracker in the NC.
Thank you for taking the time to take all those photos. You did a great job. It all looks very professionally done.