ROCKET
HUNTER |
| Since we often feel the need to
put the biggest motor that will fit into our rockets, finding the rocket
after the flight can be a problem. Rocket
Hunter makes a very small radio tracking system that helps solve the
problem. Joe Mullin fixed us up with a tiny transmitter, an antennae and
a 100 channel receiver for around $600.00. Now we spend a lot less time
searching for our rockets. |
Transmitter taped to Firefly shroud 
|
The transmitter is very small
and can fit into a 29 mm body tube. Most of our rockets have ample room
in the cargo bay and we just pack the transmitter in a little foam. In
our smaller rockets, we just tape it to one of the shock cords. |
Rocket Hunter folded for travel
 |
The antennae folds up so the
whole rig doesn't take up much space when you're traveling. We couldn't
leave "well enough alone" so we modified ours. By adding a
threaded insert in the antennae handle and a bracket on the receiver, we
changed ours to provide "one handed" operation. That way you
have the other hand free to carry the rocket after you find it, or to
carry refreshment for the long hike. |
Single-handed Rocket Hunter
 |
| You can get your transmitter in
one of 999 different channels in the 219 MHz band. Our is 219.656. This
gives you pretty good separation from the 217 MHz Walston units
and the 999 channels gives you enough choices to avoid conflicts with
other people that you fly with frequently. Check with your local club
members before you specify the frequency. |
Pretty small transmitter
|
Like most things, the Rocket
Hunter needs you to develop a technique to get the most out of it. You
need to practice some "fox and hound" searches in the
neighborhood before you can expect to walk up to your missing rocket in
the woods. Signal strength goes down when the rocket is on the
ground, so you quickly learn to get the receiver higher (like on the
roof of the car). |
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Another thing you learn
quickly is to turn off your transmitter after you find your rocket. Your
signal is picked up by other receivers even from 217 to 219 MHz. I went
on a long search at Snow Ranch for two rockets, mine and a friends
Walston. After quickly finding mine, we wasted 15 min. on a very
confusing search for the Walston signal before we realized he was
tracking the rocket on my shoulder. |
During the ensuing conversation,
it occurred to us that a 217/219 MHz band switch would be a nice feature
so we could help search for each others signal. Joe tells me he will
have a 400 channel receiver 216/217/218/219 MHz sometime early
summer 05. Guess we need to find more $. |
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