Re: GPS tracker for your rocket. Cost/size?

Apr 24, 2004 5 Replies
C

This is the kind of stuff I was looking for. Transponders are most likely the kind of thing I will use. All posts were extremely helpful and I will keep this group informed (even if it takes a while...) to my situation for this search., again, thanks for all the help. dbuhler wrote in


Hi Casey Well, there are a few options out there now. We (Atha Aerospace) have been developing a system that interfaces with the FC-877 flight computer but the GPS portion does not require the FC to operate and find your rocket. The bonus with the FC-877 is you can get real



altimeter data back for immediate accurate altitude feedback. It > works very well.
>
> We are in limited distribution at the moment with the locals trying
> the system and software out and giving us some feedback. We are using
> the same designer and developer of the FC-877 for the AGTS system, > Wayne Hortensius.
>
> You will need some ground support to receive and then walk to the
> landing site. There is software for the palm for cheap data
> interpretation, along with pc software.
>
> Check out
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for the product. If you need more
> info contact us. There is also lots of links and info on gps in
> general at
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>
> The next question is what size of rocket are you looking at? We have
> fit the Atha AGTS unit into a 2.1" airframe (some magic maneuvering is
> required) But a better option may be to use a beacon transmitter and
> a sensitive receiver (still expensive but smaller). Try
>
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for the TX units and
>
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for the receivers. You will have to
> point and find with this system and it does have a limited ground > range.
>
>
> David Buhler
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R

There is another option:

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For $90 you get a encoder and transmitter. Just plug it into your favorite GPS and you are good to go.

The GPS I have currently installed in my rocket is a Motorola Oncore Board GPS I got off Ebay for $35. I might get the above mentioned product, but I have never used it. My GPS is wired directly to my Win98 computer and the computer records the flight ;-)

RDH8

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A

GPS is fine, but you can lose lock and the signal when the rocket comes down on the other side of a sizeable hill or in an area covered in thick foilage. A falcon tracking beacon is by far the easiest solution. The beacons cost between $100 and $150. The reciever cost about $300 with yagi. The good news is that with a little practive you will always find your rocket.

A simple GPS system would be the Garmin Rinos. You can disassemble one and they will fit into some very small airframes. The nice part is that they querry each other and you can see exactly where the unit is relative to your position with a map to guide you. The 110 units are cheap. I use 110s for throwaway and the 120s for the tracking unit.

Arnold

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C

This will most likely be my choice, but it is still expensive. We lost another rocket today (no suprise, the math I worked out put the rocket at a maximum height of 2900 feet...), and we thought we lost a small one to the north, when it was found by some kids to the south.

snipped-for-privacy@verizon.net (Arnold Roquerre) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

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A

Yes, it can be expensive, but their is a positive. You can have a lot of fun tracking down the rocket. If you use a little trig at the start out point, a compass and a map, you will find yourself almost on top of it in a very short time. If you let the kids do it, they can learn a lot about RF, triangulation, patience and still have a lot of fun. Best, you will get your rocket back even if it lands in water. Note: seal the beacon and batteries in a plastic bag.

Check out ebay. There may be some used models out there.

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C

Thanks for the hint. Now we will have a fun way of learning trig.

snipped-for-privacy@verizon.net (Arnold Roquerre) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

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