Remote download
Remote download options
Our picoFix® technology minimises the amount of power tags need to obtain GPS data, and as a result allows them to operate with ultra small batteries and, where applicable, ultra small solar panels. Adding wireless communications capability to such physically small and power-limited devices is a significant engineering challenge. The optimal solution requires maximising data download range and throughput whilst minimising power consumption and also keeping the electronics as physically small as possible. At Pathtrack we identified the importance of developing low power wireless communications solutions at an early stage in our product development cycle. Our custom UHF download tags are some of the smallest and lightest weight solutions on the market. We have also developed a range of GSM enabled tags for use with species that do not regularly return to a site to download their data to one of our custom UHF base stations. A small number of examples of our remote download tags, that also include a variety of solar and sensor options are provided below
UHF download
Currently our lightest GPS tag with UHF download at 2.0g. This tag has been successfully deployed on a variety of species including Baillon’s crakes, common terns, crakes, least terns, and pygmy owls. It measures 34x12x6mm plus ~50mm external whip antenna. It can provide up to 700 GPS location attempts depending on species. Burst or VeDBA accelerometer data capture are available at a range of sample rates.
Our lightest solarPlus picoFix® tag with UHF download weighs in at just 2.4g. It has been successfully deployed on a variety of species such as choughs, common terns, lapwings and whiskered terns. It measures 34x12x7mm plus ~50mm external whip antenna. This tag has a battery that can provide 700 GPS location attempts including regular UHF download attempts depending on species, and a solarPlus solar panel that can provide an additional 360 GPS attempts per day in UK summertime conditions depending on species. Burst or VeDBA accelerometer data capture are available at a range of sample rates.
Our lightest solarPlus picoFix® tag with depth sensing and UHF download weighs in at just 2.6g. This tag has been successfully deployed on diving petrels. It measures 34×12.5x8mm plus ~50mm external whip antenna. The tag has a battery that can provide up to 700 GPS location attempts including regular UHF download attempts, but with no depth data. See Table A for illustrations of the impact depth data transmission would have on the battery capacity of this tag (excluding solar). This tag utilises our new solarPlus technology and therefore can provide up to 360 GPS location attempts per day in UK summertime conditions. The daily volume of depth data to be wirelessly transmitted will impact this capacity – please contact us for more details. This tag is depth proof to 30m. Burst or VeDBA accelerometer data capture are available at a range of sample rates.
A picoFix® 28g GPS depth with UHF download tag. This tag has also been deployed on penguins: gentoo penguins, king penguins and macaroni penguins. It measures 53x24x17mm plus ~50mm external whip antenna (length includes 4mm depth sensor). It can provide up to 20000 GPS location attempts including regular UHF download attempts, but with no depth data. See Table F for illustrations of the impact depth data transmission would have on the battery capacity of this tag. This tag is depth proof to 400m. Burst or continuous accelerometer data capture is available at rates of 1Hz, 12.5Hz, 25Hz or 50Hz.
GSM download
Our lightest solarPlus tag with GPS plus GSM download weighs just 7.5g. This tag has successfully been deployed on curlews. It measures 38x17x12mm plus ~50mm external whip antenna. It has a battery capacity of 1500 GPS location attempts excluding GSM. 2G and 4G options are available. This tag provides up to 300 GPS location attempts per day from solar, excluding GSM. It can provide up to 144 GPS location attempts per day from solar with twice daily GSM upload attempts. Solar figures are based on UK summertime conditions. Burst or VeDBA accelerometer data capture options are available with this tag.
Technology
Our Products
We have a wide variety of devices available, all of which have unique capabilities and characteristics. Please click on the variants below for detailed technical specifications.
