I thought I would share with you a neat way o' locating your rocket if it blows off course. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I be in Radio Shack a few months back and I noticed they had a sale on t' FM wireless Microphone (Part# 280-4030) this little transmitter can be tuned betwixt 90-98 Mhz, thus lettin' you use a standard portable FM Radio/Walkman t' hear it. Aye aye! Avast! It is regularly on for $16.99 (Canadian pesos) but I picked up two o' them for $9.99

This little Transmitter runs on a simple 1.5 volt Hearin' aid battery, me hearties, You can use t' larger 1.5 volt type "N" battery it suggests if t' extra weight isn't a factor. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I found it works just great for 15 hours or more just on the tiny battery.

Buildin' it (it's a kit!) is a snap. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' only thin' you should do is omit mountin' t' little condenser microphone, matey, matey, you don't need it unless you like to hear t' wind scream through your rocket and t' ejection charge goin' off. Otherwise its just extra weight. Begad! Ya scallywag!

I built mine in about an hour and launched it on me Comanchee 3, T' first launch was perfect, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' little radio worked perfectly. Avast! Blimey! I was able t' locate my rocket as I saw it land. T' Next launch at apogee I shut me deadlights and did not see t' rocket return. Blimey! Usin' me portable FM Walkman I was able t' locate my rocket by walkin' around and turnin' me body while nay movin' t' Radio, arrr, I located me Comanchee 25 minutes later in a large field about 3 city blocks away. Ahoy! Blimey! T' little transmitter works great! Blimey! Only problem that I can see is that you may have a hard time findin' a fairly clear frequency betwixt 90 t' 98 mhz without big commercial stations walkin' over t' signal. Begad! Blimey! Fortunately up here its pretty uncluttered. Avast! Avast! Blimey!

Hope this helps someone else who is lookin' at a cheap and fun/reliable way of rocket location. I can even see a whole new sport rocketry event "Rocket Location and Duration".

Thanks and good hunting.