Hard Core Rocket Tracking

[Hospital_Rocket]

I wonder if this, or something like it, would work.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4660&item=3813505296&rd=1

Attach a long piece of metallic streamer to your recovery system. And track the thing all the down.

Only problem is that close range on this thing is 10 miles.

 

[bobkrech]

Al

I doubt it is powerful enough to pick up a rocket at 10 miles without a radar transponder inside the rocket. Additionally that's a lot of money for a radar system is designed to go into an airplane, that may or may not be working, and most likely requires FCC and FAA licenses to operate.

A much simpler way to go is to use a GPS receiver/RF modem approach like the one from https://www.gpsflight.com/

For less than a grand you can purchase a GPS/digital altimeter/100 mw RF modem package combo with real-time mapping software and directional high-gain base antenna that will plug and play into any notebook computer.

Range is quoted as better than 15 miles, and with the real-time tracking you can follow the rocket trajectory down to the ground. As you are likely to loose contact as the rocket drops over the horizon, if you have a hand-held GPS unit, you can drive to the last known location of the rocket and you should then be close enough to pick up the rockets modem telling you where the rocket landed. Just drive/walk to the spot and you should be within 5 meters of your rocket.

Obviously this is not an inexpensive system, but neither is a rocket that breaks 50 kft! Rockets flying that high can land anywhere in a 1000+ square mile area depending on the winds aloft, so it may be worth the expense.

Bob Krech

 

[teflonrocketry1]

Hospital_Rocket

All you need is a small 1/2 watt FM or CW transmitter, and a good directional finder like the Ramsey FoxHound. Visit:

https://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=DF1C

Bruce S. Levison, NAR #69055

 

[Hospital_Rocket]

It was only meant as a somewhat silly post. (I was kind of protesting the word association post count building subroutine) I forgot that occasionally people take me seriously. I had 10 years in air search radar systems and I suspect the only way you could keep track of a model rocket with a Collins weather radar would be if you somehow tied the rocket to it with a string....

Now on the other hand, here is what I would call the ideal launch control and rocket tracking set-up.

https://srmsc.org/par2000.html

Sorry folks, you can mark this one closed.:kill:

 

[Len B]

Why do people want to build their post count? Seriously? And, no I am not posting this to increase mine. I really can't imagine why it would matter!

Sorry to change threads here.

(Interesting links BTW.)

Len Bryan

 

[wwattles]

Kinda makes my little SPY-1D look piddly, don' it?

WW

 

[Hospital_Rocket]

Yes, but you are a moving target.

And you can shoot back.