Well,
I got creative and took apart a DC20 collar, you can get it down to a 1-3/4" diameter unit using the original battery and changing the angle on the antenna. I think in this configuration you could put it in a pretty small cone. I don't know that much about how you gurus do it, so this is my back woods creativity. If it helps give someone an idea, even just for a laugh, then it was worth the cell phone pictures. 😆
I managed to make a crude version of Mike B's cool ring cutter for the router table, so the outer bulkhead bolts to a 1/2" plywood ring that is epoxied in the cone.
Waiting to go in.
All buttoned up.
what is the over all length in this configuration?
One key thing to keep in mind is the position of the actual GPS antenna. The rubber ducky whip provided with the DC is the communications antenna back to the handheld, not the GPS antenna. The GPS antenna is a square "patch" antenna. In the case of the DC20, it looks like it is a part of the GPS chipset itself and is mounted on the pc board just below the SMA connector for the rubber ducky antenna.
This pretty much needs to be horizontal to the ground during the period you want a good GPS lock - in flight and especially once the chute is out.
Warren
If the cone is laying on the ground, then it's horizontal.
I guess if it's a lawn dart, I'll be in trouble. 😳
I tested it today and got about 2 miles away with only minor hills in the way, after about 2 miles it got a little too weak. For comparison, I had the unmodified DC20 sitting about 35' away. It had only slightly better signal with the receiver.
James,
I'm going to estimate that it's about 6" tall, but am sitting here typing this on my center console in my truck and the wireless modem is barely getting a signal. So, I don't want to move much. I'll bring it with me this week when I get back.
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