NARCON GPS Systems for Sport Rockets

While there are many commercial (see the end of this page for a link to a spreadsheet of current systems) and home-built tracking systems the vNARCON 2023 presentation will focus on three options to narrow the discussion. These are:

  1. Expanding the "make it, take it" Arduino based altimeter system described at vNARCON 2022 to include an onboard GPS receiver and a ground station.
  2. Altus Metrum Telemetrum dual-deploy altimeter with GPS telemetry and their TeleBT Bluetooth enable ground terminal that interfaces to display software in an Android, iOS, or laptop device.
  3. Apogee Components Simple GPS Tracker

References

GPS article at Wikipedia.

Adafruit Feather line of Arduino boards. The Snapino and Sparkfun Inventor's Kit are a fun way to get started with Arduino.

Some APRS references:

Remember that not all radios will be compatible with all transmitters! Carefully consider the frequency bands used by the various products.

All-in-one handheld APRS radios currently in production in alphabetical order:

There are lots of options for used radios. Look for: And very cheap ground systems can be configured if you're willing to do some of the work.

Some APRS capable tracking transmitters that are currently in production in alphabetical order:

Do a web search for "aprs tracking transmitter" to find *lots* of build-it-yourself options.

Here is a list of GPS enabled altimeters that Tripoli allows for record certification.

A spreadsheet of rocketry specific commercial systems that include tracking capability is here. Use/purchase at your own risk. Please carefully review the vendor's page as specifications can change!

Here is a set of the vNARCON 2021 presentation slides in Adobe-Acrobat format.

Here is a set of the vNARCON 2023 presentation slides in Adobe-Acrobat format.

For further information contact Will Marchant via email via marchant at novaar.org

Return to my NARCON presentation list here.