A “flyaway” occurs when your drone loses signal and simply keeps flying in a random direction. This situation doesn’t happen very often, but it’s one of the quickest ways to lose your drone.
Once a drone is lost, it can be nearly impossible to find. That’s why we’ve gathered a list of the three best drone trackers to make sure that your drone is always easy to locate.
Weight and Size
The weight of a drone has a direct impact on its flying capabilities. Heavier drones fly slower and have shorter battery lives. Most drones are carefully engineered to be a specific weight; if you add too much extra weight, you might change the speed or maneuverability.
Because of this, most drone trackers are designed to be as small as possible. In addition to being lightweight, the tracker will also have an aerodynamic design. Consider the shape and size of the drone you plan on using, and choose a tracker that will be easy to attach.
Weather Resistance
Most pilots only take their drones out in ideal conditions. You wouldn’t want to fly an expensive piece of equipment in heavy wind or rain. However, flyaways are never planned, and there’s no telling where your drone might end up.
Trackers are typically made to be water-resistant. Even if your drone ends up in a stream or a puddle, you should still be able to get a signal. Of course, water-resistant doesn’t always mean waterproof; if your drone goes down in a lake, you might lose track of it anyway.
In general, look for a tracker with a sturdy external casing. Never choose a tracker with exposed wires as they’ll get damaged immediately if something happens.
Communication Method
Once the tracker is attached to your drone, it needs a way to communicate with you. This is typically accomplished either through a GPS system or with radio frequency transmission.
GPS trackers are by far the most popular on the market. These tracking devices use the same satellite networks that provide cellphone coverage. If you choose a GPS tracker, you may need to pay a subscription fee to keep it activated. In exchange, you’ll be able to find your drone anywhere that has regular cellphone service.
RF trackers don’t use a satellite network. Instead, they emit a steady frequency that you can track with your phone or an accompanying device. RF trackers are a great choice if you’re going outside of normal satellite range. However, the signal can get blocked, so they aren’t always as reliable as GPS tracking.
While you’re choosing a tracker, remember to consider how you’ll receive the communication. GPS trackers typically connect with an app on your cellphone. RF trackers may require that you carry a transmitter to pick up the radio waves.
Active vs. Passive Tracking
There are two types of tracking devices available on the market: active trackers and passive trackers. Active tracking devices send out a constant signal to let you know where they are located. Passive tracking devices continually record location information to a log; accessing this log can help you find out where your drone was most recently.
For the sake of preventing flyaways, you’ll probably want an active tracking device. Both GPS and radio frequency trackers are usually active. Passive logs can be helpful if something happens to the tracking device, but they aren’t perfectly reliable. Some trackers have both active and passive capabilities, giving you the best of both worlds.
Additional Features
All drone trackers do one thing: alert you to the current position of the tracker and the drone that’s attached to it. Depending on the price and quality of the device, though, there may be additional features to help you keep tabs on your favorite drone.
Many trackers provide a steady stream of telemetry details to your smartphone. Information like altitude, speed, and distance can all help you get more out of your piloting experience.
Some trackers come with a geofence. This alert feature lets you know when the drone has left a certain area. If your controller has a limited range, a geofence will help you stay within an acceptable radius.
Because trackers are meant to be small, you won’t find too many extra features; any more technology will simply add extra weight. However, between telemetry data, geofences, and a steady signal, you should have everything you need to recover your lost drone.
The 3 Best Drone Trackers
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1. Trackimo
Trackimo is a full-featured GPS tracking device. Although it wasn’t designed with drones in mind, it’s small enough to work with drones of nearly any shape or size.
Trackimo isn’t the cheapest tracker on the market, but it makes up for the price with a slew of great features. Once you sign up for a Trackimo account, you can check your tracker’s location from a smartphone app or your online account. You can also view telemetry data and set a geofence for the area you’d like your drone to stay in. The price tag includes a full year of service; after that, you’ll be charged a surprisingly affordable monthly subscription fee.
Give Trackimo a look before you keep shopping; you won’t be disappointed.
Trackimo Specifications:
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Tracking style: GPS • Range: Unlimited • Weight: 1.4 ounces • Battery life: Three days • Communication: Smartphone app, text message, email • Telemetry: Yes • Geofence: Yes • Subscription: Yes (first year free) |
Trackimo Pros
• Extremely small and lightweight; can be attached to even small drones
• Comes with multiple attachment options to suit your favorite drone
• Tracking information can be accessed through your Trackimo account
• SOS button sends immediate location data to your communication method of choice
Trackimo Cons
• Requires a monthly service fee after the first year of use
• Location data isn’t as precise as it could be
• Older models may eventually go out of service
What Do Other Reviews Say?
Gadget John notes that although Trackimo is a comprehensive tracker, it’s accuracy is only around 20-100 feet.
2. Marco Polo
If you don’t want to pay a monthly subscription, you should probably use an RF tracker for your drone. The Marco Polo is a classic RF tracking system that can attach to nearly any device. It also weighs only 12 grams, which is perfect for even the smallest quadcopters.
Every Marco Polo kit comes with a tracker and a hand-held homing device. The homing device is a little on the bulky side, but it includes a large screen that points exactly at your drone’s location. A Marco Polo tracker can send a signal from up to 2 miles away, which is greater than the range of most drones.
Check out the Marco Polo on Amazon; as far as RF trackers go, it’s one of the best.
Marco Polo Specifications:
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Tracking style: Radio frequency • Range: 2 miles • Weight: 12 grams • Battery life: 15 days • Communication: Homing device • Telemetry: No • Geofence: No • Subscription: No |
Marco Polo Pros
• Doesn’t interfere with drone controllers; frequency only transmits when requested
• No monthly subscription needed, making this tracker more affordable than others
• Works in areas without cellphone service
• Contains an internal audible alarm for easy location
Marco Polo Cons
• Homing device is rather bulky
• Tracker attachment isn’t as secure as it could be
• 2-mile range only applies to line of sight; terrain may reduce to 1 mile
What Do Other Reviews Say?
The engineers at UAV America are fond of the Marco Polo and add it to most of their builds.
3. Loc8tor
The Loc8tor is a little different from the other trackers on this list. It doesn’t have a long range, and it can’t connect to your smartphone. What the Loc8tor does have, though, is a unique tracking system that works perfectly for casual drone flight.
Weighing only 6 grams, the Loc8tor is the smallest tracker on this list. You can track your Loc8tor by using the included homing device; the lights will flash, and the device will beep when you’re getting close to your drone. Multiple Loc8tor trackers can be attached to the same homing device.
If you need a simple tracking option, take a look at the Loc8tor. It’s a flexible device that doesn’t require a monthly subscription.
Loc8tor Specifications:
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Tracking style: Radio frequency • Range: 400 feet • Weight: 6 grams • Battery life: 1 year • Communication: Homing unit • Telemetry: No • Geofence: No • Subscription: No |
Loc8tor Pros
• Doesn’t need cellphone service to work
• Makes a beeping sound when tracking is turned on
• Lighter than any other tracking option on this list
• Multiple tags can be attached to the same homing unit
Loc8tor Cons
• No additional features like telemetry or geofencing
• Cannot communicate with your smartphone
• Only has a range of 400 feet
• Uses adhesive squares, which are not waterproof
What Do Other Reviews Say?
Ian in London likes the Loc8tor because it is easy to use and doesn’t have a subscription fee.
Each of these drone trackers serves a different purpose. The Marco Polo is one of the best RF trackers on the market, and the Loc8tor is a great choice for micro drones. If you’re looking for a full-featured GPS tracking system, though, Trackimo really is the best choice available.
Conclusion
Take a look at Trackimo on Amazon; it’s a great GPS tracker that will help you find your drone no matter where it lands.
If you like to take your drone for wild adventures, you should check out our pick for the best long-distance drone. Come back sometime and check out some more of our product reviews and best-in-class lists.