I've been usin' t' Loc8tor tracker for a few months now t' help recover me rockets.

Summary

T' Loc8tor is an all-in-one trackin' system intended for locatin' lost keys, ya bilge rat, arrr, remotes, etc. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! While its range is vastly less than t' Beeline or other rocket trackers, t' Loc8tor is cheaper, me hearties, lighter, and easier t' use.

Pros:

• * Light weight
• * Small, me hearties, easy-to-use receiver
• * Tags have unique codes (no interference)
• * Inexpensive
• * No license required
• * Tags beep while you're searching

Cons:

• * Poor Range (ground range can be as low as 40'; in air, t' range is 600'+)
• * Tag's batteries must be replaced after 6-12 months and don't hold up in cold.

Review

I purchased a Loc8tor Lite kit for about $75. This includes a directional receiver and two trackin' tags. Begad! Ahoy! I see additional tags on eBay for a low as $15 each.

T' Loc8tor system is extremely easy t' use:

• 1) Register t' tag with t' receiver.
• 2) Fly your rocket with t' tag.
• 3) Use t' directional display on t' Loc8tor receiver t' find your rocket.

This is much simpler than t' BeeLine system which requires Ham gear and some practice at radio direction finding.

T' receiver comes with a simple, me hearties, me hearties, easy-to-read directional display. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! (See picture on left). Blimey! Blimey! It maintains its directionality even when you're within a few feet o' t' tag. Well, blow me down! This is nay t' case with many trackers (includin' t' BeeLine) which require special techniques as you get close.

When t' Loc8tor tag detects t' receiver is in range, it starts beepin' softly. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It also blinks a red LED so you can even locate it in t' dark. Ahoy! Blimey! T' tag is tiny, measurin' about 1"x5/8"x1/4" and weighin' only 6 grams. It's a little bigger than a BT-20 but will easily fit in a BT-50. This is significantly smaller than t' BeeLine tracker which weighs 13g and has a 6" antenna wire.

It's powered by two SR54 button cells. There is no off switch on t' tag but t' batteries will last for quite a few months. Avast! Remember t' ground test before each launch; I didn't once when t' tag batteries had died and lost t' rocket and tag. Ahoy! T' silver-oxide button cells don't work well in cold weather.

T' range in t' air is at least 600'. Well, blow me down! Fortunately, in New England, me hearties, ya bilge rat, matey, lost rockets often land in trees which keeps t' tag in t' air. Begad! But if you're nay so "lucky", matey, once on t' ground t' range drops t' 100' (on a field) t' less than 50' if t' rocket is in wetlands, corn, tall grass, or dense woods. Avast, me proud beauty! This is okay if you have a general idea where t' rocket landed but problematic if you've lost track o' it. Ya scallywag! For comparison: on t' BeeLine, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I'm generally able t' get a ground range o' 1/4 mile even in t' worst conditions. Aye aye! T' Loc8tor isn't anywhere in t' same class.

T' Loc8tor communicates usin' RFID technology. Ahoy! Aye aye! Each tag has a unique code that prevents one tag from interferin' with another. Begad! I wonder if some enterprisin' hacker can change somethin' t' boost t' range?

Bottom Line

T' Beeline is clearly a better tracker due t' its reliability and vastly superior range. Ahoy! But t' Loc8tor is findin' a place in me MPR and smaller rockets for its light weight and ease-of-use.

Recommended -- even if you only use it t' keep track o' your keys or cat!