Disc Tracker

[nygfaninva]

Is there, or was there ever, a device for sale that would send off a sound, like a beeper, or anything like that....that would help you find or locate an errant disc in the woods or tall leaves. I know they attach LED lights small enough to not mess up the disc flight for night tournaments and special theme nights, any luck on traking inventions?

[splash_4]

RFID might be an interesting answer. Radio Shack has a hobbyist kit that might be interesting.. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2906723

[DWill]

What about those greeting cards that have a sound chip in them. Could you take that chip off the card and secure it to the top or bottom of your disc? Not sure how long the battery life is on one of those, but it might be something to use only on certain holes.

[gcoghill]

I think we discussed this on a thread a while back, but I was thinking there has to be some short-range transmitter that could be in a think sticker format. The greeting cards with sound chips is exctly along the lines of what I am thinking. Battery could be an issue though I suppose.

RFID is a good thought as well.

[gcoghill]

Here's another RFID kit: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/907a/?cpg=froogle

[gcoghill]

Or maybe crack open a transmitter on a key finder: http://www.keyringer.com/

[garublador]

Here's another RFID kit: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/907a/?cpg=frooglePerhaps it's just me, but once I get within 4" of a disc, I've probably already found it. If the range were 10' you might have something there. If you're good enough to make some sort of signal booster and integrate that board into something that would work with a PDA sized computer then you might be able to pull it off.

It would be an awesome way to verify that you have all of your discs with you, too. Just get close to your bag and all of the discs in there could pop up on your screen.

[splash_4]

On one of the sites I was perusing regarding this idea, they have a directional RFID reader. The chip required on the disc weights less than .8 grams and could easily be placed in the center of the disc. The reader is the expensive part, the ones I looked at were in the neighborhood of $250, but had a range of 25-60 feet.

Of course, RFID is still in it's infancy and I expect the prices will continue to drop. I wonder how long it will be before Innova and Discraft embeds these chips as part of their manufacturing process.

[taxman]

i just emailed a company for a cost quote on their RFID-radar. it has a range of 100 meters. it looks portable. they had no costs in their catalog so i sent an inquiry.

[nygfaninva]

Perhaps it's just me, but once I get within 4" of a disc, I've probably already found it. If the range were 10' you might have something there. If you're good enough to make some sort of signal booster and integrate that board into something that would work with a PDA sized computer then you might be able to pull it off.

It would be an awesome way to verify that you have all of your discs with you, too. Just get close to your bag and all of the discs in there could pop up on your screen.


Maybe its just you, LOL, or just me but I seem to get worse and worse when it comes to finding an errant disc. I feel like Mr. Magoo out there most times. Any help would be cool.

[gcoghill]

I feel like Mr. Magoo out there most times.

LOL, sounds like a good slang term for someone searching for a lost disc that you can't find it after 5 minutes of search!

"Where's George? Didn't his disc go in right next to that pine tree?"

"Thought so, but looks like he's Magooed."

[sidewinding]

You could bore a small hole in your disc and tie the end of a fishing pole line to it. If you lose the disc you just follow the line as you're reeling it in. If you want a do-over, don't follow the line but just reel it back in from where you're standing. This would be great for water hazards also. I would also be good if you throw too hard and the disc is going to fly past the basket you can stop the flight just at the right time.

[cydisc]

Where am I going to get 600' of fishing line?

[sidewinding]

This reel holes 600 yards of line.

http://www.alltackle.com/shimano_tld.htm

[gcoghill]

I assume you're thinking about attaching the fishing line to the center of the disc? Still, it would seem it would get tangled.

Kind of an outrageous solution either way ;)