Eggtimer Quasar vs Featherweight Blue Raven: GPS Flight Computer Comparison (2026)

#flight-computers#GPS#gear-review#avionics#dual-deploy

Once you move past basic dual-deploy altimeters, you hit the real decision: how much avionics capability do you actually need, and how much are you willing to spend (or solder) to get it?

The Eggtimer Quasar and Featherweight Blue Raven represent two fundamentally different philosophies. The Quasar is an all-in-one flight computer and GPS tracker sold as a kit you assemble yourself. The Blue Raven is a premium, pre-assembled flight computer with advanced inertial navigation — but no GPS, requiring a separate tracker for recovery.

This guide breaks down what matters for each, who each one is actually for, and the real total cost once you factor in the ground equipment you need for a complete system.

Quick Comparison

| Feature | Eggtimer Quasar | Featherweight Blue Raven | |---------|----------------|--------------------------| | Price | $100 (kit) | $175 / $195 (1" form factor) | | GPS included? | Yes — integrated | No — needs separate tracker | | Total system cost | ~$155 (with LCD receiver) | ~$345–$370 (with Swift GPS) | | Assembly | Required (SMT soldering, difficulty 5/5) | Pre-assembled, ready to fly | | Deployment outputs | 3 (Drogue, Main, AUX) | 4 (all 25A capable) | | Configuration | WiFi + browser (no app) | Bluetooth phone app (iOS/Android) | | Sensors | Barometric pressure | Barometric + 6DOF inertial (3-axis accel + 3-axis gyro) | | Data recording | Flight data via WiFi download | 500 Hz high-rate + 50 Hz low-rate | | Max altitude | 60,000 ft | Not specified (barometric + inertial) | | Size | 140mm × 27.7mm × 12.5mm | 46mm × 20mm × 12mm (1.8" × 0.8") | | Weight | ~28–30g | ~6.8g (0.24 oz) | | Min airframe diameter | 29mm (tight fit with battery) | 24mm | | Power | 2S/7.4V LiPo (500+ mAh) | 3.7V (1S LiPo) to 16V | | Telemetry | Real-time GPS + altitude to ground receiver | None built-in (separate GPS handles this) |

The Core Difference: All-In-One vs. Modular

This is the decision that matters most, and everything else flows from it.

Eggtimer Quasar: One board does everything

The Quasar combines a 3-output barometric flight computer with a GPS transmitter on a single PCB. During flight, it streams GPS coordinates and altitude data once per second to an Eggfinder LCD ground receiver.

This means one board, one battery, one power switch handles both deployment and tracking. For a typical L2 dual-deploy rocket, the Quasar might be the only electronics you need.

The tradeoff: it's a kit. You're soldering SMT components (rated difficulty 5/5 by Eggtimer themselves). If you've never done surface-mount work, this is not a beginner project. You'll want a temperature-controlled iron, a lighted magnifier, and patience.

Blue Raven: Flight computer perfection, GPS sold separately

The Blue Raven is purely a flight computer — arguably the most capable one in hobby rocketry. Its 6-axis accelerometers and 3-axis gyroscopes calculate a full 3D flight path including horizontal velocity at apogee, tilt losses during motor burn, roll rate, and angle.

But it has no GPS. For recovery tracking, you need a separate Featherweight GPS tracker (original: ~$160 on sale) or the newer Featherweight Swift ($170). That's a second board, second battery, and second power switch in your av bay.

The upside: the Blue Raven arrives ready to fly. Configuration is through a polished phone app (iOS and Android) via Bluetooth. No soldering, no browser hacks, no assembly. Connect, set your deployment altitudes, arm at the pad, fly.

Total System Cost (Honest Numbers)

This is where the comparison gets real. The sticker price is misleading for both units.

Quasar: Budget king if you can solder

| Component | Price | Notes | |-----------|-------|-------| | Eggtimer Quasar kit | $100 | Assembly required | | Eggfinder LCD receiver kit | $55 | Also requires assembly | | LCD-GPS module (optional) | $40 | Adds walk-to-rocket navigation | | Voice module (optional) | $20 | Speaks altitude/bearing aloud | | Minimum viable system | $155 | Quasar + LCD receiver | | Full-featured system | $215 | Quasar + LCD + GPS module + voice |

All prices are for kits requiring assembly. Available in 900 MHz (North America), 900 MHz (Australia/NZ), 869 MHz (EU/UK), and 70cm Ham band.

Blue Raven: Premium price, premium experience

| Component | Price | Notes | |-----------|-------|-------| | Blue Raven (original form) | $175 | Pre-assembled | | Blue Raven (1" diameter) | $195 | Built-in magnetic switch | | Featherweight Swift tracker | $170 | Tracker unit only | | Swift full system | $370 | Tracker + ground station + tracker battery | | Minimum system (flight computer only) | $175 | No GPS tracking | | Full system (flight + GPS) | $345–$545 | Depends on GPS option chosen |

If you already own a Featherweight GPS system from a previous Raven4 setup, the Blue Raven is a direct drop-in upgrade — same mounting holes, same accessories. Your existing GPS tracker keeps working.

When to Pick the Quasar

  • You're budget-conscious and want flight computer + GPS in one package under $200 total
  • You enjoy building electronics or want to learn SMT soldering
  • You want everything on one board to minimise av-bay complexity
  • You fly in areas with long recoveries where real-time GPS telemetry during flight is critical
  • You're comfortable with WiFi/browser-based configuration rather than needing an app

The Quasar excels when simplicity and cost matter more than data richness. One board, one battery, full deployment control and GPS recovery.

When to Pick the Blue Raven

  • You want the best flight data available — 3D trajectory, tilt analysis, 500 Hz recording
  • You fly complex configurations — staging, airstarts, or multi-event deployments that benefit from 4 outputs and inertial sensing
  • You value plug-and-play reliability over build-it-yourself cost savings
  • You're already in the Featherweight ecosystem with existing GPS hardware
  • You teach or mentor — the phone app makes setup and data review dramatically easier for students

The Blue Raven is the choice when flight analysis and deployment sophistication matter more than GPS economy. It's a flight computer that happens to be tiny, not a GPS tracker that happens to deploy chutes.

What About the Blue Raven 2?

The current Blue Raven being sold is the Blue Raven 2 — it features upgraded inertial sensors with lower noise in the 32–320G range and a hardware safety feature that disables all outputs when microcontroller voltage drops below 2.7V (protecting against brownout firing).

If you see "Blue Raven" for sale at any major retailer, you're getting the Blue Raven 2 hardware. The original Blue Raven (pre-upgrade) is no longer manufactured.

Practical Considerations

Assembly reality check (Quasar)

Eggtimer rates the Quasar assembly at 5/5 difficulty. The board has SMT components including SOIC packages. You'll need:

  • Temperature-controlled soldering station
  • Lighted magnifier or ring light
  • Fine solder (included in kit)
  • 2–3 hours for an experienced solderer

If you've built other Eggtimer SMT kits (Quantum, Proton), the Quasar is the same difficulty but more parts. If this is your first SMT project, consider building an Eggtimer Quark first to test your skills.

Some community members offer build services for a fee if you want the Quasar without the soldering.

Av-bay space

The Quasar fits a 29mm motor mount tube but it's tight — the main challenge is finding a battery that fits alongside it. At 38mm or larger, space isn't an issue.

The Blue Raven fits a 24mm coupler comfortably. The 1" diameter version is even more compact and can stack two units on the same threaded rods for redundancy.

Telemetry during flight

The Quasar sends real-time altitude and GPS data to your ground station during flight. You see your rocket's position as it flies. This is genuinely useful for high-altitude flights where visual tracking is impossible.

The Blue Raven has no telemetry. You get your data after landing via Bluetooth download. GPS tracking (if you have a Featherweight tracker) is handled independently of the flight computer.

My Recommendation

If you're choosing your first "real" avionics system after L1:

Get the Quasar if you can solder and want the best value all-in-one package. You'll spend $155 total and have deployment + GPS tracking handled by one board. The WiFi interface works fine, and the Eggfinder ecosystem is proven and well-supported.

Get the Blue Raven if you want the best flight data, the easiest setup experience, and you don't mind spending 2–3× more for the full system. The phone app and 6DOF data are genuinely ahead of everything else in the hobby.

If you're flying L3 or complex projects:

The Blue Raven's inertial navigation and 4 configurable outputs make it the clear choice for staging, airstarts, and flights where you need to know exactly what your rocket was doing in 3D. Pair it with a Swift tracker and you have the most capable avionics stack available in hobby rocketry — at a price that reflects it.

Where to Buy

Already choosing your first altimeter? Start with our Best Altimeter for L1 Certification guide. Setting up dual deploy for the first time? See the Dual Deployment Wiring Guide.