Australian Rocketry

Hi all.

I am doing some research into GPS systems and wanted to utilise your collective wisdom.

I am looking for a simple-to-use GPS system that we will make available at our club launches for members to borrow and use.

It will be used in high power rockets to help locate them, but also in mid power rockets for fun and educational purposes.

Ideally we want a system that comes with it's own handheld receiver so that people don't need to download apps.
If we have to go down the app path then it would need to be available for both Android and IOS. Mobile reception is a bit sketchy at our high power launch site, so it would need to work without a strong mobile signal.

We don't want to get involve with Ham radio licenses.

The transmitter needs to be as small as possible to fit a wide range of body tube diameters.

A transmitter that comes in some sort of protective case would be great, but I can make a case for it if required (either cardboard tube or 3d printed). The case would have an attachment point so that it can be secured to a shock cord (making it easy to switch from one rocket to another).

I know very little about GPS systems, but Apogee's Simple Tracker GPS seems to tick lots of boxes.
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Electronics-Payloads/Rocket-Locators/Simple-GPS-Tracker

I am keen to hear of other solutions or ideas that I should consider.

Thanks.

Derek

An eggtiimer mini and the lcd receiver box with GPS add on would be an option. I assembled both as my first ever eggtiimer project with no issues. The receiver can be supplied with a jaycar style hobby box so it’s self contained and gives walking directions as well as the gps coordinates. The mini transmitter can be screwed to a sled or simply tied to a shock cord and wrapped in a burrito. It’s the system I’m using for Havic this weekend


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You also have the Bluetooth option on the Eggfinder receivers if you do want to use the apps. LabRat Rocketry have some good sleds for the Mini GPS.

I have installed the Bluetooth module, but it’s not super straight forward to get it to communicate with your device. It definitely doesn’t work with iPhones.


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Legendontour wrote:I have installed the Bluetooth module, but it’s not super straight forward to get it to communicate with your device. It definitely doesn’t work with iPhones.


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This is one of my concerns.

We really need a system that club members can borrow and use after 2 minutes of "training".

The stand alone controller spits out GPS co ords that you can plug into Google Maps or Apple Maps. It’s pretty straight forward.


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The BigRedBee 900MHz tracker ticks all of your boxes.

Thanks all for your responses.

I have lots of research to do now.