Radio Tracking

Once you have all the needed parts of your radio tracking system, it's time to test it out. Connect your transmitter to your PC via the usb connection and open up the BRB program. Set the transmitter to a frequency of your choice in the 440 MHz range. You can adjust a few other settings, such as power and customized actions, while you are inside the program. After you have everything the way you like, click 'Write' and disconnect the transmitter. Go ahead and plug the battery in to the transmitter and tune your receiver to the frequency you set - you should hear the beeping tones (or your call sign string). You'll grow familiar with that sound so you may as well get used to it with some practice.

Take the transmitter somewhere outside and set it down, anywhere you like, and go back to get your receiver/antenna (note: it helps to have a big back yard or a field in which to practice). Most likely no matter what direction you are facing, you will pick up the signal. If you set the transmitter power high (say anything over +5 dB) that is a problem for some, but if you have the attenuator, you're in the clear. Turn around in a circle with your antenna and notice the difference in sound/strength. This is where I would recommend a strength meter because it is usually much more responsive and accurate than your ear, especially when you hear beeps in every direction you are turned.

Follow the strength meter (or signal quality) until it is at its best. Once you found that direction, walk towards it a few hundred feet or so, then stop and do it again. Did the signal strength gain? Repeat the process - look/listen for the best signal strength and follow its vector. If you get within a distance where no matter what you do it is at full strength and everywhere you turn, turn on your attenuator enough to where the signal is at maybe 25% and continue your search like usual (remember if you have an offset attenuator, you will need to re-tune your receiver to +/- 4 MHz of where it is set at). If everything is right, you should walk right to your transmitter. Do this a few times to familiarize yourself with your equipment and the process.

I practiced in my back yard and a corn field and was able to find the transmitter every time. I even genuinely lost the transmitter in the corn field when it fell out of the nosecone I had put it in while carrying it back to my car. I had no idea where it was and it was only my 3rd time practicing. Still, I followed the receiver and found it. Once you gain enough trust in your equipment and your skill with it, you wont hold back from flying those minimum diameter flights again...

A few circumstances to note involve when the rocket lands in trees. I have heard that changing your antenna from being held horizontally to vertically can tell you the orientation of the transmitter, but when I try it I do not see any difference. Still, I have had some odd things happen when the rocket was in a tree. One time I flew a rocket to 8,500 feet at my house and tracked it to a small "forest" of trees 1.15 miles away. After about 2 hours of frustration following around my receiver, I was ready to give up. It was leading me around in circles - one way I pointed would be strong, then I would turn to find another strong signal. I walked and walked, using different methods (attenuator, no attenuator, no antenna and body shielding) all of which didn't give me any indication where my rocket was, but I knew it had to be close. I was about two minutes from giving up when a glimmer caught my eye about 60 feet up - and there it was. I will spare you the recovery story, but one thing to note was how the transmitter acted in this situation. I concluded that because I was under a "cone" from where the rocket was, my antenna picked up the signal at every location, even with my back to the tree with the rocket. If this happens, I don't know what to tell you except look skyward because your rocket is in a tree.

For more information on radio tracking, check out the following links and files:

• Walston Tips and Tricks - PDF written by Sue McMurray. Describes the Walston system but most of it applies to the Beeline series as well. A very informative document that is a must read.