Looking for a long range RF for GPS tracking

Wireless & IoT
1

Hi,

I want to build a GPS tracker for a model plane; The idea is that the plane will have a GPS module and an RF (possibly only a transmitter) and it will transmit the location to a PDA based GPS with the receiver.

For this thing to work I need a range of about 5-10-20km (these are free flight model planes and they sometimes tend to go far), I can see that most of the RF modules here will not go much more then 250m. Any ideas of simple, cheap, low bandwidth RF modules I can use?

Thanks in advance,

Idan

2

Couple of options:

GSM phone modem would garauntee that you’d get the message. Issue? Cost of phone service.

A 900Mhz RF modem from either Maxtream or Aerocomm (easier to get a hold of, http://www.mouser.com/aerocomm/ ). These can reach 20km IF you’re using a good directional antenna.

Last option is a Ham RF modem. You will need your amateur license for this one! These can reach hundreds of miles if you’re lucky, and have the lowest baud rate (2400 bps). they operate on a much lower freqency than the above.