Recently, ICBM and ROSCO purchased Walston radio tracking gear to be made available for flyers to rent. You don't need to pay hundreds of dollars for your own radio gear and you don't have to risk losing your rocket equipment unnecessarily.

We have one tracking receiver/antenna set and several transmitters. If you think your flight may go out-of-sight high (but within the waiver, of course) or you are afraid the wind might carry it to the trees, rent a transmitter and put it in your rocket. For just $10.00 per flight, you increase your rocket retrieval chances hundred-fold or more. Of course, if you still lose the rocket, you will need to reimburse the club for the lost transmitter just like you would if you borrowed it from a friend (replacement cost is roughly $165.00 plus shipping). That is still a great deal compared to buying all the radio gear yourself.

You may also want to order your own transmitter from Walston and just use the clubs' receiver/antenna. Some club members have already done this. That gives you more flexibility in designing your rocket to contain the tiny apparatus. Our receiver operates in the 217MHZ range from 217.010 thru 217.160. That would be channels 1 thru 16 for Walston equipment.

To rent the equipment or get more info, just ask someone at the RSO/Registration table at the next launch.