Amateur Radio and Rocketry

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...

There's a pretty well-known connection between Model Rocketry and Amateur Radio (also known as Ham Radio for short)...and it stems from a very simple problem.

When launching model rockets, (and even more-so, High Powered Rockets) you want to get them back. Most of the time, you can see the ejection event, watch the rocket drift back to earth, and have an eyeball on where they land.

But all too frequently, something go arey and you loose track of your rocket... either a cloud gets in the way, or it veers off course, or a parachute deploy fails.

To locate your rocket, it would be nice if it called to you  electronically or by audio.


Some manufacturers will sell an audio beeper, or siren that will sound and direct you to the device, if you can hear it.  Others sell an electronic transmitter or tracker that sends a signal on frequencies that can be heard with a hand-held radio receiver.  Usually, these frequencies are in the Amateur Radio bands, and the federal radio regulations require the operator of any such transmitter to hold a Federal Amateur Radio license.

At this time, there is no fee for applying for such a license***, but you DO have to pass a test, administered by various Ham Radio clubs or volunteer examiners, before you can operate a transmitter.

Note that I said a transmitter, not a receiver.  There is no restriction to owning or operating a receiver, because it does not generate a signal, and therefore does not create problems or interference.

The FCC has the responsibility to police the airwaves to assure that various public interests are not interfered with...and so, they can restrict access to transmitters and establish bands, standards and operational guidelines to that end.

The basic training required for licensing concentrates on basic electronics and radio theory, regulations, frequencies authorized for use, and safety.  With some study and memorization, you can get a license.  And this allows you to operate a small transmitter with your rocket to hear it call to you for as long as the on-board battery lasts (usually 3 days or so).


Now, the cost of foreign Chinese hand-held receivers have dropped so much, that the current spate of Beafung radios are almost as handy as the old-style walkie-talkies.  However,  you are not allowed to transmit without a license.  This may seem like a fine line, but the point is the barrier to getting onto Ham frequencies has been lowered, and a lot of untrained people have flooded into the airwaves.  The best bet is to became licensed.

Most vendors of these hand-held transceivers will warn their customers that they need a license to operate them, but there is no restrictions to sell or purchase them.

The retailers of the small transmitters that ride in the rocket are a bit more careful, some requiring proof of FCC licensing before selling such a device.  Others will not worry, other than to inform the buyer in writing that a license is required.


The cost of these little transmitters can vary a great deal, from a small electronic circuit board to a more engineered unit for several dozen dollars.  My experience is anyone who builds and sells a small device is frequently sold-out or retires from the business, as they are so cheap, you can't make a lot of money off them.  But the larger, more expensive units are reliable and stay in business.

It's been my experience that I have never needed or used such a tracking device, cause the shock of impact with the earth is likely to jar or disable one.  But the more money you invest in the rocket, the more you invest in the electronics bay, and the more insurance you'll want to get your rocket back again.

So, get licensed and buy a unit once you've done the research to understand the capabilities of such a radio device.

And I'll see you on the air.  (Please look for part 2... "Can-Can"...)


(***At the present time, there is no fee to apply for such a license, once the test has been passed.  However, there has been a recent proposal for the FCC to charge a $50 fee for each application or renewal of a license.  This is being resisted among Hams, but it still could happen.)

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