http://eurekaproducts.com/shop/marco-polo-rc-recovery-system/
How is the reception when tracking it? The included instructions indicate to have the antenna in a vertical position for the best reception.
...No telling what position the quad will be in when lost so I don't think it matters which direction the antenna is pointed.
Aircraft ok?I had to use my Marco Polo today actually. But don't rule out pet tag. I have both rc and pet and almost like pet version better as the battery life is much better.
Well, dang programming, they want to go in a straight line. Or, dang river for not going in a straight line. Land recovery is definitely better than a water recovery. Don't know how the Marco Polo would fare in the water. Don't want to find out.Aircraft is fine. Pilot is an idiot.
You can send the pet units back and he will convert them to RC for around $25.00. The RC antenna is better range. I am honestly probably going to do as you said and cut it open and get big battery and better antenna. Have best of both.
I think its time to open mine up !
With all of the turns in it, that antenna looks longer than the RC version. And the battery looks huge to what might be under the shrink tubing on the RC tracker. You may be on to something there.Wish I had done this sooner. 4 screws under label.
BIG battery. The unit operates at 902 to 906 mhz. A 1/4 wave dipole is 234/ f in mhz. The antenna is just a wire that is 3.1" long. The dog tracker power switch and charging port are just like the RC version.
Shrink rap and you are good to go. This will be my new 3DR Solo tracker
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Yes. My concern is that they are LiPo batteries that need more attention to a storage charge in the 50/60% range, whereas the Li-ion that comes on the Marco Polo tag are not so temperamental about that. Those can be left at full charge without issues.One more thing. 600mah 3.7 volt LiPo batteries are common on ebay. All shapes and sizes. They have RC versions that are flat with wiring pigtails on them too.
Excellent info. Thanks for posting.If you change from the internal helical antenna on the pet version to the 3.1" wire antenna there is a tuning component on the circuit board that should be changed to match the impedance. It is the component that is directly in series with the antenna on the battery side of the board. In the pet version it is a 2.5 pF capacitor, for the RC antenna it should be a 10 nH inductor (both 0603 size). We have detailed instructions available for anyone wishing to convert a pet tag. Just drop an email to the contact form on www.eurekaproducts.com
If you change from the internal helical antenna on the pet version to the 3.1" wire antenna there is a tuning component on the circuit board that should be changed to match the impedance. It is the component that is directly in series with the antenna on the battery side of the board. In the pet version it is a 2.5 pF capacitor, for the RC antenna it should be a 10 nH inductor (both 0603 size). We have detailed instructions available for anyone wishing to convert a pet tag. Just drop an email to the contact form on www.eurekaproducts.com