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Pratt Micro Beacons -- Get some!!

I've been using these occasionally over the past couple years. Didn't get to really put them to use much at first though, because too often they were getting wiped out in recovery failures, etc. And a lot of times, I simply didn't bother to attach one -- too lazy, too much in a hurry, etc.

On my recent Nevada trip I finally had a chance to do quite a bit of flying, and used these on every flight. I am now completely sold on these little gadgets! Quick and easy to use, cheap, fairly reliable and saved me lots of search time. They don't seem very loud, but can be heard from an amazing distance away. In some cases I would estimate over 500 feet!

Now I just need to order more. Killed a couple during this trip, but also I want to have one for each payload and each rocket. So far I've only been using them on the payloads. Would have saved me much more time if I'd had them on the rockets too -- and more importantly, I would not have lost a rocket including a

29mm AT motor casing.

Thanks Doug, for a great product! I'll be putting in an order as soon as I get caught up on all my post-trip stuff.

Reply to
RayDunakin
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"Fairly reliable?" How can I make them more reliable?

Thanks for all the kind words!

Reply to
Doug Pratt

Make them automatically walk the rocket back to the owner please :)

Good products made by good people are the cornerstone of a fine industry.

Keep adding value.

Jerry

Reply to
Jerry Irvine

The only problem I've had, and it's a small one, is that occasionally the unit shuts off at ejection. It may be that the repeated flexing of the unit during packing and ejection is causing a loose connection, or maybe the battery holder terminals are getting dirty or something.

Reply to
RayDunakin

They are indeed wonderful little things! I need to replace the one I've lost (DO NOT get stingy on the batteries; it's just not worth it), as well as stock up on batteries.

Mine have saved me several times their purchase price.

-Kevin

Reply to
Kevin Trojanowski

The batteries do last a surprisingly long time though. If they get a lot of use (several flights over a period of a few days), I replace the battery at the end of the trip. Haven't yet had to replace a battery mid-trip.

Reply to
RayDunakin

They're guaranteed for life unless you step on them or run them over with a truck. When one quits, send it back. I need to know where the weak points are. I've changed the glue I use to stick the LED to the top of the battery clip, so it's stronger.

Reply to
Doug Pratt

Have you tried those 'spy microphones' kid sets that have headphones and a dish? It would at least give you a directional heading. After watching Bruce's tube launch disappear faster than we could say 'holy..', I'm sold on rocket hunter. Certainly a pricey item, but as you have found a worth while investment. He headed out the opposite direction from where the rocket was found

Joel. phx

Reply to
Joel Corwith

NOW that would be wayyyyy cool shockie B)

Reply to
shockwaveriderz

courtesy snip :)

That would be a strong feature or perhaps a switch to select among 2-6 choices?

Jerry

Reply to
Jerry Irvine

I was thinking that you could use Terfenol-D to vibrate the nose cone or rocket itself, and use one of the greeting card chips to keep saying "Hey, I'm over here!"

Alan

Reply to
Alan Jones

Or "help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"

Joel. phx

clap on, clap off, the clapper..

Reply to
Joel Corwith

Or "Step AWAY from the rocket!"

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

Reply to
Bob Kaplow

What, and guarantee that somebody will step on it in the stampede?

Rock Firth

Reply to
Rocky Firth

No, everybody ignores them dang car alarms.... how about...

"FREE BEER!!"

Joel. phx

Reply to
Joel Corwith

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