Suggestion: methods and tools to find a lost model

[Talsharf]

Hi

I would like to suggest an idea for a show. This is a subject that we are all dealing with sooner or or later, which is: how to find a lost model.
There are several tools and methods out there, I am sure people will be happy to know about.
For example:
In devices, there are the GPS trackers (I use RF-V16) that can help recover a model that was lost in any distance. It just uses a regular SIM card, and on demand, will send you back a text message with the location (link to google maps).
In methods, I can suggest a method that helped me recover one my model once, as it crashed in the woods like 300 away from me. I managed to find it using the video signal, and my directional video antenna. Just scan with the antenna around you and see in which direction do you get a video, and advance few meters in that direction, and do it again.
I saw a similar method in an article here, proposing doing the same this, only with the radio RSSI. That's a good one too.
I bet people here have all kind of other methods that helped them recuperate a lost model. It would be nice if we could share those in the thread, and also have an apisode on that subject

Thanks,
Tal

 

[Revere]

Low battery buzzer. In the mourne mountains, quad went down and I had no idea where it was (it went down over the crest of a hill lots of heather and bracken). just waited around till the low battery buzzer went off and followed it. YMMV, it's very quiet in the mournes so I could easily follow it for about 150 feet. In a built up area with traffic nearby..... maybe not as good.

Also, if your gonna crash, heather and bracken is awesome. Makes things difficult to find sure but damage is nonexistent, cushions the fall perfectly.

 

[William A]

just waited around till the low battery buzzer went off

With motors not running there is almost no draw on battery, how long did it take to set off alarm ?

 

[Revere]

Probably around 10-15 minutes, half hour at most. I didn't time it, I just sat down enjoyed a cigarette and took in the view, not too long as it had already been airborne for maybe 5-6 minutes (I was actually returning to land and change batteries when it crashed). It went down because of a faulty battery connection in my transmitter, so onboard electricals were all still running including FPV cam. Unfortunately the FPV cam was just showing a close-up of bracken so was useless for trying to figure out the location.

 

[PsyBorg]

I like tall grasses as well. There are many times I landed in the field I fly over and took well over an hour to find my model when I had.t had a lost model beeper on it.

Here over the field I don't crash I just make crop circles as it goes in

I have used the monitor twice with the signal for the vtx as a guide. walk a few steps turn and find strongest signal.. walk a few more, repeat. I use an alarm on a switch now most times but not always like on a new build. I need to get one on my alien as I most certainly do not want to lose that one. I have also used the FPV dvr to re find a general crash location when I got di oriented on a SAR mission with my Versa Copter too.