Just to define terms: if a given undesirable and avoidable characteristic of design is documented, then it's a design flaw; if it contradicts the documentation, then it's a bug; if not documented either way, then it's debatable, but a design flaw at best. The limited range is neither, since there's bound to be a limit, and they tell you what it is. The requirement to go through a pairing procedure every time it goes out of range then back is a design flaw, in my opinion.
Well, after thinking about it. I agree it's a flaw, and here's my thoughts on that. The flaw how you are referring to it though is human error, or lack of knowledge about what they are using. I may be wrong, please correct ANYTHING that is with the exception of grammar errors or words that look like this "ywsgaoontrytoteldhdh" because there was some kind of medical issue here.
After countless hours in the hospital over the over the course of 5 days back in June, plus many more hours after researching even more. This was when I decided to go high power or give it an attempt. I starting wondering about dual deployment, altimeters, and GPS trackers. I started here at the forum, then Googled all of them one at time. I read as much of the information they had on the main pages. Then downloaded instructions and read them a few more times from boredom. But I looked all the owners manuals for Eggfinder, Featherweight, Missileworks, or KATE by Multironix. They are nice, I mean top notch. But they also can fail if your not careful too. All of them can, with KATE being the hardest one to shake. I even found a $8 GPS pet tracker on Amazon that worked, but it kept breaking. Oh well.
But here's what my thoughts getting into low power rocketry then back to mid and high power build for my L1 cert flight. For my L1 I thought I probably wouldn't need a tracker because it simmed to 1500 ft. I had gone to URRG in September to check it out. After that went back on 11/4/23, did the L1 attempt, and was L1 certified. So after finding out too you don't need DD for an L2, as I hadn't paid attention to those rules at that time. I thought why not? Many things were based on a successful L1 certification then what I'd do after. So being successful, even though it had a freak ejection with things correct. I said I'd go L2, even more so Interested now in going L3 eventually.
So I've been waiting for a tracker, for one the money, and two to see what I'd chose for my L2. As well just to be sure I'd even need one. Well I've been wanting one to keep track of low power ones. They truly are the ones I will be certain to lose the most. So with that in mind, I picked up a Marco Polo Drone Tracker off Amazon for $280 shipped to my door with a warranty from Eureka. This decision was based on many hours, over the course of several months until 2 weeks ago when I ordered one.
After looking at all of them the Marco Polo was perfect for me. While it does say it has a 2 mile range its not really a design flaw, its a great feature to me. I wanted one that was independent, and able to withstand a flight from a launch g-force to a hard jirbr ballistic landing. After seeing people succeed or fail even doing it correctly I picked the Marco Polo with one tracker for now, until I see how the cert flight goes.
The Marco Polo is a independent tracker that uses a base unit or transponder/transmitter that you link to a tracker. It doesn't require any wifi or internet connection. It doesn't rely on any Satellites for GPS, laptops, or cell phones if it be iPhone or Android to track from the hand held base. Its also comes ready to use with a slight charge, it has crash protection which is what caught my eye to first back in June. But its got half a chance of survival should anything go wrong on the L2 certification flight.
Each MP base unit comes with the ability to have and track three independent trackers at the same time. Given they stay within the two mile radius. If it goes out of that range of 2 miles then it automatically will disconnect that tracker whether its number 1, 2, or 3. It does this because its a built in fail-safe. When it goes out of that 2 mile or 10,560 foot range(I'm gonna test this). Or it goes out of a preset range you can set manually anywhere. Within the 2 mile range in monitoring mode for all 3 trackers independently, with different parameters or distances from the base unit to one or three trackers at a time.
The Marco Polo unit does this for a reason as its a multipurpose tracker. Meaning Dogs, Cats, birds(with feathers), RC Planes, Model Rockets, RC Helicopter, Drones. .So when any of those go out of that 2 mile range it tells you right away. You need to notice the last know arrow direction, because you knowingly went out of range it disconnects completely. The owners manual also says how to retrieve it should this happen and lists causes.
I read this stuff before I even purchased it. The box just confirmed it for that it was really perfect. Because, while it was limited to that 2 miles. I started to think about that too, with a rocket on the pad. At URRGs field in the fingerlakes region of NY, and how the MP would be a good first buy. I didn't plan on my L2 really having a tracker, but then with the price of it compared to a featherweight it was $100 plus change for the full Featherweight system. Which is a good system to have if you're going higher than a Marco Polo will support, ever. It didn't make sense to get the full Featherweight tracking system. When I'm serious when I say I may not need it.
My L2 won't be going higher than 2,500 feet. In that range having a dedicated independent tracker that didn't rely on using satellites to track its position. Or have to use a laptop, desktop, or cell Phone to rely on getting your rocket back. When the Marco Polo is connected to any one of the 3 trackers it can monitor at the same time with preset warning alarms for each one. They all have a built in fail-safe that automatically disconnects and sounds 1, 2, or 3 of those at the same time, that are all waterproof, crash resistant, under warranty, ready to use, non-placement specific trackers. I decided to get the one base unit and one tracker. A tracker too was $104 for a new tracker with a USB charging cord.
I bought the one, to see how I would like it. So far I love it. Because it's an independent tracker and doesn't use a satellite and rely on a cell phone and or computer for it to work. Like I said that 2 mile range, which that's a 4 mile diameter, 10,560 feet up with the base unit and tracker in the dead center. With the exception being 100ft or 200 ft back, or more from the pad you need to factor that distance in too. So because the MP is an independent tracker, and by independent it only uses the head unit and the tracker or trackers to find location.
Now(here's my thinking)if I use the single tracker with the base unit. Once you pair them you put the tracker in the rocket, this one will go in the Av Bay. It won't interfere with any other electronics. The rocket goes on the rod. I verify its still tracking or I can put it in monitor mode. I'm still reading about this, as its in the paperback manual. But I can set a preset distance with the tracker so an alarm goes off on the base unit, but it still tracks until the max distance. You can shut the preset alarm off. Or set it for 2 distances. So, when my rocket passes 3,000, but not 5,000 it will tell me. It will also point to the direction of the tracker as long as it stays within that max range.
My rocket has left the pad, it didn't CATO and destroy a Featherweight Tracker, Missileworks Tracker, or KATE. If you've read the Multironix instruction manuals and the downloads they have. You know KATE is a pretty trusted system, like Featherweight, and Missileworks. While the Featherweight full system is a great system, it wasn't for me. That system uses a base unit and a tracker just like the Marco Polo, it also has a limit of 262,000 feet! 49.2 miles.
While its the exact same principle Featherweight, Missileworks, and Multironix use with a base unit/tracker. The only exception is those 3 use satellites to help locate your model rocket. Which is cool, but had me thinking. Because in realizing laying there reading this, confused by a few things because guys had questions about whats the best. I like to help, plus I needed to know that the Featherweight system while its great. Even though you paired the tracker and head unit which with the Featherweight it also still has a range just like the Marco Polo it can go out of, Like the Missileworks GPS at 262,000 feet. Or, the Featherweight may lose signal and not pick you flying rocket up at all. They tell you this right on Featherweights many information pages.
While Featherweight has a LONG range of 262,000 feet, which is as you know 49 miles up. To some L3s thats average. Now, my L2 that's about $800 ready to fly. Why $800, because the correct parts based on just reading websites. I'd know then, that a Featherweight can also loose signal at certain range like the Marco Polo. Its just not as far and doesn't rely on a, or many Satellites to find the rocket.
Featherweight GPS. It works the same way as the Marco Polo but uses GPS equipment that may or may not have a pin on your rocket at all. Then it leaves the rod, and if you don't see it land or have a good direction that rocket and GPS, is gone for good. Now not only do you have to buy a new tracker you lost a rocket.
" talk to them. I did that, about the rockets and all trackers used that had successful recoveries. September 10th we went up to URRG in NY to see that field and watch them fly high power. To get an idea of how they all flew(sizes/stability), by asking different rocketeers where they where landing, how high they went, what size drouge, what motor, SD OR DD, of DD what altimeter, what's the main set for? etc....Every thing I needed to have better chances of a successful L1/L2 cert. I knew I had to make it bigger so you see it, make it heavy so it stays low, and use a motor enough to take it up and let come right back down.
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