"Little L" vs the "Tracker"

Started by whatevah, May 19, 2005, 02:14:29 AM

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sardak

QuoteHmm, I wonder what the states think about the AFRCC bypassing them and sending alerts about SAR events to a private company?
AFRCC doesn't bypass the states.  The system bypasses AFRCC.  This is by signed contract between PROCON, NOAA and USAF.

PROCON PLB activation ->Sarsat ->USMCC ->PROCON ->State, if distress
Other PLBs, ELTs activation ->Sarsat ->USMCC ->AFRCC ->State, as required

Mike

calguy

and Mike...if you were missing and deployed a 406 beacon, which system would be faster?

SJESOFFICER

I personally love the new lper, works great on hangers (especially t-hangers) and really active airports like San Francisco when you may not have to much room to work in the vincinity.  Oh and that digital signal strength readout is like winning the lottery hit the money everytime. If you learn how to read the digital strength numbers you can interpet the distance. Its almost like TomTom, it will take you right there. I'd buy another one no questions asked... If you havent tried the new cheese bar l-per boy your missing out...
1 LT Brendan Gadd
San Jose Sqd 80, CAWG
Emergency Services Officer

SDF_Specialist

If the "Tracker" is the newer orange L-Per, I'm not a fan of it. That's only because when I was taught to use it, I didn't understand, and never got answers to my questions. Nothing against it if it does its job, but I'd rather walk around with the Little L-Per instead. Call me old fashioned.
SDF_Specialist

TankerT

Quote from: SJESOFFICER on September 19, 2007, 04:11:45 PM
I personally love the new lper, works great on hangers (especially t-hangers) and really active airports like San Francisco when you may not have to much room to work in the vincinity.  Oh and that digital signal strength readout is like winning the lottery hit the money everytime. If you learn how to read the digital strength numbers you can interpet the distance. Its almost like TomTom, it will take you right there. I'd buy another one no questions asked... If you havent tried the new cheese bar l-per boy your missing out...

Yes... but... you're in California.

Take it anywhere COLD (I.E. like in Wisconsin) and the display dies, and it doesn't detect anything unless you're 3 feet from the ELT.  If it is warm, it is OK.  But, anything below 35 degrees, (which is a good chunk of the year here) and you're better off using a cadet with braces and some tin-foil to pick up the signal.

Definitely a warm weather piece of equipment.  Now... the Old Little L-Per can handle the sub-zero temps just fine.

New orange Little L-Per = big waste of money if you're not in the tropics.

/Insert Snappy Comment Here

SJESOFFICER

sounds like it needs some love and a coat... that kinda sucks...maybe in the car but I guess outside kinda too cold... does your cell phone display do that too in the cold or anyother electronic equipment?
1 LT Brendan Gadd
San Jose Sqd 80, CAWG
Emergency Services Officer

sardak

Quote from: ♠♠Recruiter♠♠ on September 19, 2007, 06:17:28 PM
If the "Tracker" is the newer orange L-Per...
Between this thread and the "The new yellow tracker/L-Per" thread, there are four DF units that CAP has being discussed.

*L-Tronics L-Per LH-16 - the "classic" DF unit - blue/white box with wood antenna frame
*L-Tronics "new" L-Per - the wide yellow/orange, all digital DF, "cheese bar"
*Seimac Pro-Find - yellow/orange handheld unit with black antennas sticking out the sides
*Tracker Radio Systems Tracker FTV - small, black/gray DF with fold-out "circuit board" antennas

Mike

drcomm

I like the Lil' L-Per but I REALLY like the Tracker.  I have found that if you use it in the "auto" mode it does not seem to work too well.  Might as well go back to the L-Per.    Though, in the "Manual" mode I have found the Tracker to be far superior to the L-Per. 

Just my opinion! :)

David Romere, Maj, CAP
Starbase Composite Squadron, SWR-OK-151
Oil Well 767
Mitchell Award #2536 (May 1981)
Amateur Radio Call Sign: KA5OWI

TankerT

Quote from: SJESOFFICER on September 19, 2007, 07:21:02 PM
sounds like it needs some love and a coat... that kinda sucks...maybe in the car but I guess outside kinda too cold... does your cell phone display do that too in the cold or anyother electronic equipment?


Lol... and a cup of hot chocolate.

I have used my hand held GPS and Cell Phone with no issues (display, function, etc) in conditions that basically shut the L-Tronics Block 'O Cheese down.

/Insert Snappy Comment Here

SJESOFFICER

#49
sounds like they need to make an model for cold weather...but I think the lper company is based out of CA so I think they are a little biased...

*Written on Mobile PDA Sorry for All and Any Mistakes of Spelling/Punctuation etc.*
1 LT Brendan Gadd
San Jose Sqd 80, CAWG
Emergency Services Officer

Matt

Quote from: TankerT on September 19, 2007, 08:23:00 PM
Quote from: SJESOFFICER on September 19, 2007, 07:21:02 PM
sounds like it needs some love and a coat... that kinda sucks...maybe in the car but I guess outside kinda too cold... does your cell phone display do that too in the cold or anyother electronic equipment?


Lol... and a cup of hot chocolate.

I have used my hand held GPS and Cell Phone with no issues (display, function, etc) in conditions that basically shut the L-Tronics Block 'O Cheese down.

Perhaps some resewing of the "self heated" battery-powered socks?
<a href=mailto:mkopp@ncr.cap.gov> Matthew Kopp</a>, Maj, CAP
Director of Information Technology
<a href=https://www.ncrcap.us.org> North Central Region</a>

ES forever!

I know that there is a new device coming for CAP members designed for ES work that is a phased array versus yagi antenna system like the tracker and L-tronics df devices. The sensitivity is awesome. The first production models is coming out in Mid Oct 2007, it is called the Tigerstrike. My experience with it has been outstanding.

jeders

Quote from: sark9s on September 30, 2007, 06:39:58 PM
I know that there is a new device coming for CAP members designed for ES work that is a phased array versus yagi antenna system like the tracker and L-tronics df devices. The sensitivity is awesome. The first production models is coming out in Mid Oct 2007, it is called the Tigerstrike. My experience with it has been outstanding.

Do you have a link to any info about this Tigerstrike?
If you are confident in you abilities and experience, whether someone else is impressed is irrelevant. - Eclipse

isuhawkeye

I dont believe anything has been published yet

Johnny Yuma

Quote from: SarDragon on July 11, 2007, 12:27:10 AM
I have neither seen nor heard of any of these units in CAWG. I guess FL and TX got them all.  ;)

KSWG got 3 of them, all are deployed to squadrons.
"And Saint Attila raised the Holy Hand Grenade up on high saying, "Oh Lord, Bless us this Holy Hand Grenade, and with it smash our enemies to tiny bits. And the Lord did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs, and stoats, and orangutans, and breakfast cereals, and lima bean-"

" Skip a bit, brother."

"And then the Lord spake, saying: "First, shalt thou take out the holy pin. Then shalt thou count to three. No more, no less. "Three" shall be the number of the counting, and the number of the counting shall be three. "Four" shalt thou not count, and neither count thou two, execpting that thou then goest on to three. Five is RIGHT OUT. Once the number three, being the third number be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade to-wards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuffit. Amen."

Armaments Chapter One, verses nine through twenty-seven:

LtCol Hooligan

Does anyone have anything new on the "Tigerstrike" people are referring to.  We are equiping a new unit and I want to get the best I can.  Also wanted to compare prices!!  Internet link would be sweet.
ERIK C. LUDLOW, Lt Col, CAP
Director of IT; Director of Cadet Programs
North Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol
http://www.ndcap.us

isuhawkeye

The tiger strike is not on the market yet.  the desing, and demo units are being worked through.  I would expect a beta release on a limited scale early 2008

jeders

So I was out on a mission the other day and we had a guy from another squadron go  out with us. We brought our L-Per and a handheld scanner and he brought his Tracker. Once we finally got an ELT signal we went out and DF'd it. With my handheld Radio Shack scanner, I was able to go directly to the source with no problems, whereas the guy with the Tracker headed off in the other direction because that's where his Tracker told him to go. So once again, I'll choose my basic scanner with body blocking over a fancy new DF unit. And since we were in a town, we didn't even bother with the L-Per which probably would've been useless with all the reflections.
If you are confident in you abilities and experience, whether someone else is impressed is irrelevant. - Eclipse

wingnut

Here is the web site for what the USCG uses on many of the boats

http://www.dopsys.com/index.htm

I want one

Major Lord

You really cannot compare a system for use at sea with terrsestrial DF system. The sea, is,  as we scientists say, mostly flat. The man overboard systems using crappy Yagi antenna designs can work reasonably well at sea, but are nearly worthless on land, due to multipath signals, source and detection being at widely different altitudes, phase products induced by intervening objects, and basically, not having line of sight.

The time distance of arrival system can be very very accurate, and gain antennae can be used. Further, the antennae should be spaced as widely as is practical to provide the largest degree of phase shift. The Good old-fashioned L-per does a great job in this regard. Experienced users can quickly distinguish multipath signals from direct signals by the quality of the received signal, and there is no fore-and-aft ambiguity. I think that most of the DF systems out there we have played with to "replace" the L-per are suitable for ramp checks, and you are less likely to put your eyes out with the antennae, but they are suitable primarily for ocean direction finding.

Doppler systems are wonderful. Expensive and complicated, but wonderful. They are also non-existant for hand-held use. ( Actually,, L-pers are kind of Doppler systems) The PIN diode switching between all those antennae at such a fast rate contribute to incomplete on-times, resulting in lower antenna efficiency. Since Doppler antennae are usually just a broad-band whip, they are not particularly good receive antennae anyway. They work best for transmitters whose receivers antennae are in the same orientation, so please tell pilots to try and keep their planes right side up when they crash. Also, Doppler systems use FM receivers, and it is a bit harder to make sensitive FM receiver than an AM receiver.

Other than a rotating gain antenna, like a Yagi or a Cube, nothing outperforms the basic L-Per design for sensitivity, bearing resolution, and cost.

Just my 2C

Major Lord
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."