Rocket Tracking

Rocket Tracking Using Radio “Stuff”

As more and more flyers are using trackers, beacons, and radio telemetry, we are publishing this information to help prevent conflicts on the various radio frequencies used. Please submit any frequencies/radio equipment you will be using at ROC launches using the form at the bottom of this page.

Starting with the June 2021 ROCstock we will be trying out a frequency board near registration or the pad Manager area so people can post the frequencies they will be using.

If you are interested in rocket tracking, but don’t know where to start, please check out this article in the Learn section.

To help prevent interference from, and to, other spectrum users, there is information lower on this page on how to select an appropriate frequency and avoid inappropriate frequencies.

Avionics Frequencies Used by ROC Flyers

If you want your frequency listed here, please use the comment form at the bottom of this page to let us know what you use. Include frequency, type of system (beacon, GPS tracker, etc.), and your callsign, if applicable. We can’t guarantee there will be no conflicts, but it can’t hurt to let everyone know what you are using.

146.050 MHz, W6DPS, Dave Smith, Beacon
219.083 MHz, Chris Feenstra, Beacon
219.521 MHz, Chris Feenstra, Beacon
222.490 MHz, Kurt Gugisberg, Beacon
222.530 MHz, AG6VQ, Mike Klett, Beacon
222.670 MHz, KM6TCY, Mike Ostby, Beacon
222.690 MHz, K6NOM, Greg Smith, Beacon
222.810 MHz, K6NOM, Greg Smith, Beacon
223.110 MHz, Chris Feenstra, Beacon
223.170 MHz, Kurt Gugisberg, Beacon
224.490 MHz, KN6CJE, Richard Dierking, Beacon
433.920 MHz, A bunch of stuff by a bunch of people. This is a shared frequency among hams and non-licensed radio services, and should be avoided if possible.
434.700 MHz, KM6ZFL, Chris Erving, Eggtimer TRS
434.950 MHz, KM6SZC, John Lees/KK6TNG Robert Lees, Telemetrum
435.150 MHz, KM6SZC, John Lees/KK6TNG Robert Lees, Telemetrum
443.500 MHz, K6NOM, Greg Smith, Beeline APRS
444.080 MHz, KK9MSO, Bryan Langholz, Altus Metrum TeleGPS
444.550 MHz, K6AHF, Allen Farrington, Beeline APRS (-1 and -2 SSID’s)
444.650 MHz, KM6TCY, Mike Ostby, Beeline APRS
444.915 MHz, W6DPS, Dave Smith, Beacon
445.925 MHz, N6RTD, Rick Dickenson, Beeline APRS
449.000 MHz, W6DPS, Dave Smith, APRS (-2, -3 and -4 SSID’s, Time Slots 1, 3, and 5)
900MHz spread spectrum, Greg Lyzenga, BRB 900 Tracker.
913.75 MHz, Gregory Wardlow, Apogee Simple Transmitter
915.6 MHz, Jim Wold, Eggfinder
915.800 MHz, FWGPS-17A, Neal Hunstein, Featherweight Tracker
918.250 MHz, CH/ID 917/5, Chris Erving, Eggfinder
918.750 MHz, CH/ID 917/7, Bryan Langholz, Eggfinder
919.000 MHz, FWGPS-21A, Kurt Gugisberg, Featherweight Tracker
919.500 MHz, CH/ID 919/2, Mike Swanson, Eggfinder
919.800 MHz, FWGPS-22A, Mike Swanson, Featherweight Tracker
920.000 MHz, CH/ID 919/4, Chris Erving, Eggfinder
921.25 MHz, Robert Wieting, Eggfinder
921.400 MHz, FWGPS-24A, Greg Lyzenga, Featherweight Tracker
922.25 MHz, CH/ID 921/5, Phil Bahorich, Eggfinder
923.8 MHz, Nathan Mazelin, FWGPS 27B
924.600 MHz, FWGPS-28A, Allen Farrington, Featherweight Tracker
925.5 MHz, CH/ID 925/2, Chris Erving, Eggfinder
925.5 MHz, CH/ID 925/2, Karl Wittnebel, TRS

Guidance to Prevent Interference From, and To, other Spectrum Users

Please note! These suggestions are based on evaluations of radio band usage at the Lucerne Valley launch site, and may not work out at other locations. If you fly with a different club, ask them about recommended frequencies. These are suggested frequencies that should minimize interference to and from other radio systems, but no guarantee is offered.

2 Meter Band, 144 to 148 MHz, Amateur (Ham) Only

For APRS use 145.01, 145.03, 145.05, 145.07, or 145.09. Most of the 2 meter band uses 15 KHz spacing, but these are digital (packet) frequencies still set aside, but with little use.

Beacons should be on an FM simplex frequency including: 146.49, 146.505, 146.55, 146.58, 147.525, or 147.54.

You should AVOID:

144.390 MHz, National APRS Frequency
146.520 MHz, National Calling Frequency
146.535 MHz, Used by ROC on the lakebed
146.430 MHz, ATV talk back frequency
146.565 MHz, Set aside for Foxhunts and frequently busy on weekends

1-1/4 Meter Band, 222 to 225 MHz, Amateur (Ham) Only

APRS rocket trackers should be on 223.46 or 223.48 MHz.

For beacons avoid frequencies below 222.130 MHz. Use 10KHz buffer frequencies between the FM voice frequencies.

70 Centimeter Band, 420 to 450 MHz

APRS should be between 431.00 to 431.60 MHz or 448.94 to 449.98 MHz, even 20KHz spacing.

Beacons should be above 444.15, and use even 10KHz buffer frequencies.

The bandwidth from 434.00MHz to 440.00MHz should be avoided, as this is the input for a nearby Amateur Television repeater.

33 Centimeter Band, 902 to 928 MHz

For Licensed Amateur Radio Operation

APRS should be on simplex frequencies, 927.600, 927.700, and 927.800 MHz.

Beacons should be between 903 and 904.875 MHz or 925 to 926.875 MHz.

For Unlicensed Low Power Operation (ISM, LoRa, etc.)

Use 918 to 926.875 MHz

Eggfinder GPS set to Frequency 917 ID 4 or higher, or Frequency 919 and above with any ID
Featherweight GPS channels 20A to 28A
For any other device consult your manual or contact the manufacturer for frequency information

Frequencies to avoid:

Rocket users must avoid the FCC 902.100 MHz the weak signal allocation!

The band segments from 902 to 903 MHz and 927 to 928 MHz have ham voice repeater traffic.

The band segment from 906 to 918 MHz has Ham Radio television repeaters.

These band segments with high power voice and television repeaters are the most likely to cause interference to low power systems.