What is the MUSTARD Man Tracker?
The MUSTARD Man Tracker system is an easy-to-use, discrete, disposable, lightweight, radio beacon that has a wide variety of tracking, listening and locating uses based on your needs. MUSTARD leverages commercially available radio listening devices to provide a consistent radio beacon and real time tactical audio surveillance of the target. With the inclusion of a simple radio controlled relays the runtime of the MUSTARD can be extended along with bug sweeps failing to detect the transmitter. In field testing in various locations including the Direct Resource Action Center (DARC) , MUSTARD has proven highly effective in both gathering intelligence and providing realtime target tracking. MUSTARD has been successfully emplaced via sUAS (drone) and left behind by teams moving through a known area of traffic.
The MUSTARD system utilizes no existing infrastructure such as cell networks, WiFi, or SATCOM, making it ideal for austere conditions and disaster scenarios.
The MUSTARD systems can be monitored and radio located with common off the shelf UHF Radios or dedicated SDRs such as an RTL-SDR. The consistent waveform of the audio transmission provides an optimal stable signal to aid in direction finding during short windows of RDF operation.
Black Hills Designs is making the MUSTARD Man Tracker available free and open-source as series of products designed for boosting end-user capabilities regardless of funding levels.
How it works-
Potential applications-
Target Tracking
Approach Coverage
Real-Time tactical audio
Concealed bugging of dropped objects
Assembly-
Components-
- UHF FM “bug” transmitter: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005006344438814.html
- ISM radio remote controlled relay: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/4001035558756.html
- LIPO MICRO JST Battery: https://www.amazon.com/250mAh-Battery-Inductrix-Connector-Kingkong/dp/B09GKDZ5YX/ or https://www.amazon.com/Batteries-Rechargeable-Ecologic-Mart-Replacement/dp/B088MHZL5H/
- Battery Charger: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charger-Channel-Inductrix-Connectors/dp/B074M77J5M
Email us or Instagram DM us photos of your MUSTARD Man Tracker in use!
Questions? Feedback? Ideas? Additional inputs? Concerns? Melted electronics stuck in candy bar? – Please reach out to us at help [ a t ] blackhillsdesigns.net
