Garmin DC-30

[MikeSModerator]

It slides into a three inch coupler with plenty of room
to spare. As-Is

https://picasaweb.google.com/mshinn2001/DC30#5572789593765658034

[Steve JensenParticipant]

Fully assembled, w/o collar , will fit in a 54mm G10 coupler. It’s tight, but using the screws (beware, they’re metric) to hold it in place is easy.

I’ve drilled holes big enough to accommodate the screw heads in the 54mm coupler portion of a nosecone and held it in place successfully by just tightening them enough to trap the DC-30 as there’s no lateral room for it to travel. I’ve used this technique up through the biggest 38mm Cessaroni motors EXCEPTING the white thunders/vmax. It’s survived a few crashes this way too.

For larger diameter rockets, I’ve used 3 inch or 54mm phenolic tube with a G-10 backer plate on the DC-30 that’s glued to the inside of the tube and drilled for the mounting screws. This has survived some rough landings and up through large K motors. I mount the little receiver unit on a small piece of G-10 in all applications.

I’ve never had it work loose. I have really thumped it too. Great unit! It will pay for itself immediately. I chased half of my Little Dog Dual deploy about 4 miles out with it. I know John W. has chased his birds even further.

It’s really a great little rocket tracking tool!

[greywolves]

They do indeed seem pretty durable, on my little blue dawg, i just crammed it into the nose cone no support at all, its a tight fit in a 54mm cone, gotta spiral curl the antenna little bit, not like it has any room to move, at least that’s what i figure.

[MikeSModerator]

So I do not even have to have the antenna exposed?

Wow.

Fore some reason I thought the antenna had to be
exposed somewhat.

That even makes it better.

[Dreasher]

Mike, you shouldn’t need an exposed antenna unless you’re putting it into a carbon fiber nosecone or something else that’s acting as a shield.

Ron

[greywolves]

Here’s a couple pictures.
54mm nose cone, just stuffed inside with bulk plate on end. How about those nut marks in the end of the unit.

2 1/2″ nose cone, with bulk plate and L-bracket attachment.

From this picture you can also see I contained the unit to a strip of G10, wrapped with electrical tape.

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Nice work! Just remember who brought this to rocketry, Mike Konshak, ol’ Slipstick! I remember Jon Scuba saying after bringing his successful L3 back, saying, “This is too easy.” 😉

[Warren B. MusselmanModerator]

Quite frankly, traipsing about the prairie searching for rockets has never been high on my list of enjoyable activities. GPS saved the hobby for me.

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Nicely said, Warren. Who couldn’t agree? 😉

[Author]

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