HERNDON, Virginia USA — Pratt Hobbies has introduced The MicroBeacon, a tiny device intended to help you find a rocket in tall grass, weeds, or even corn fields. How many times have you watched a model come down, walked to the area where you thought it was, and spent the next hour beating the bushes? The MicroBeacon can help.

Measuring only 15mm in diameter and weighing less than an ounce (without battery), the MicroBeacon is intended to fit in any model powered by conventional 18mm motors or larger. The Kevlar loop at the top of the MicroBeacon allows it to be attached easily to any nose cone eye or a loop in the shock cord.

Activate the MicroBeacon by inserting a 12v battery (readily available at Radio Shack, Sears Hardware and many other stores), and insert it on top of your parachute when you prep your model. At ejection, you will be able to hear the distinctive warbling tone produced by the MicroBeacon's piezo transducer.

Our tests show that constant tones, such as those produced by buzzers, tend to blend into ambient noise and be harder to pinpoint. The MicroBeacon uses a blinking LED and some internal circuitry to produce its distinctive warble. Although the LED's primary job is to make the circuit change tone, it is quite bright and can help you spot your model after the sun goes down.

The MicroBeacon came about because of a message posted on the Rocketry message board at eHobbies.com. A user told a sad, familiar story of launching his son's model and losing it in the weeds. Several users suggested ways of using commonly available parts to make a locator buzzer. We experimented with several different designs, sent some out for beta test, incorporated user suggestions, and came up with the MicroBeacon.

The best part is the price: only $9.95 for each MicroBeacon. The battery is not included, but each unit has a lifetime warranty. Internal circuitry is potted for strength, and the unit is sealed with a thick outer liner. Your MicroBeacon should give you years of service. We're sure you're not going to lose it!

For more information see our web site at http://www.pratthobbies.com. A secure ordering system is available on the site. We do not keep databases with customer information on any Web-accessible computer.