New Product Announcement: GPS

[Tanner]

Ha ha- Robert, you cant lay a landmine like that last sentence and not follow up. Indeed!! Can you imagine what that does for a hack if the lifetime can extend to say a month? Imagine trapping the bird of your dreams (as far as lineage is concerned) as a passage bird. Mind bomb.

[RLBagley]

Ha ha- Robert, you cant lay a landmine like that last sentence and not follow up. Indeed!! Can you imagine what that does for a hack if the lifetime can extend to say a month? Imagine trapping the bird of your dreams (as far as lineage is concerned) as a passage bird. Mind bomb.

To me that has been the impossible dream out there for some time: a true passage hybrid of your choice? What a concept, yes.

[BestBeagler]

Couldn't you just pay a couple of thousand and get a transmitter like that? Just like Island Girl has. Put a Holohill on it as well for close up tracking.

[rkumetz]

Couldn't you just pay a couple of thousand and get a transmitter like that? Just like Island Girl has. Put a Holohill on it as well for close up tracking.

Her transmitter sends its data through a satellite that you can't use.

[BestBeagler]

Her transmitter sends its data through a satellite that you can't use.

So this wouldn't work?
http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/bi...gosGPS_17g.cfm

If i understand this you pay a $30 a month data fee click on the "price" link on this page to see more http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/bird/GSM.cfm

[rkumetz]

So this wouldn't work?
http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/bi...gosGPS_17g.cfm

If i understand this you pay a $30 a month data fee click on the "price" link on this page to see more http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/bird/GSM.cfm

That does what you think it does however the Argos satellite is not for private use. It is a research program and you can only use it for approved purposes:

The Argos Operations Committee will check that your program is compatible with the environmental mission of the Argos system. After acceptation of your request, we will send you a Purchase Order (equivalent to argos services contracts)

The purchase order part sort of indicates that it is not FREE so there is that issue as well.

http://www.argos-system.org/web/en/2...ome-a-user.php

[Captain Gizmo]

So this wouldn't work?
http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/bi...gosGPS_17g.cfm

If i understand this you pay a $30 a month data fee click on the "price" link on this page to see more http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/bird/GSM.cfm

Isaac,

Basically--NO.

Read the acronyms. GSM is Group Special Mobile' (it's actually in French). This just means European cell phone system. Put a solar charged tag on your study animal. The tag determines and records it's position every so often from GPS (Global Positioning System). Every so often when it is in the coverage area of a GSM cell tower it downloads it's recorded position list to a central facility. The central facility then sends your computer the data file of where the animal has been for the last days or weeks. The GSM data files can also be downloaded to AT&T or T-Mobile in North America and to a patchwork of other systems worldwide.

This is a research tool intended to tell you where your study animal has been, not where it is.

For a version of this type of tool for falconry any of the GSM based falconry locator tags strive for close to real time position transfer. It is often possible to get a position in less than 10 minutes from placing a request and the data will usually include a fresh position when delivered.

[rkumetz]

Isaac,

Basically--NO.

Read the acronyms. GSM is Group Special Mobile' (it's actually in French). This just means European cell phone system. Put a solar charged tag on your study animal. The tag determines and records it's position every so often from GPS (Global Positioning System). Every so often when it is in the coverage area of a GSM cell tower it downloads it's recorded position list to a central facility. The central facility then sends your computer the data file of where the animal has been for the last days or weeks. The GSM data files can also be downloaded to AT&T or T-Mobile in North America and to a patchwork of other systems worldwide.

This is a research tool intended to tell you where your study animal has been, not where it is.

For a version of this type of tool for falconry any of the GSM based falconry locator tags strive for close to real time position transfer. It is often possible to get a position in less than 10 minutes from placing a request and the data will usually include a fresh position when delivered.

I thought the one he linked to was an Argos PTT. Is it GSM?

[Captain Gizmo]

If you want an ONGOING view of where your falcon is RIGHT NOW you have to use a Direct Radio Link (Direct Connect Design as MRT calls it). I call this the "Convenience Mode". Direct radio link also works for short and medium range "Recovery Mode", keeping in mind that this is a radio signal just like a Beep and has all the same problems with dropping behind a hill, down in a canyon, etc. Note:reflections are not a problem, the location is in the data and the receiver does not care what direction it came from. I agree with MRT's choice that all methods should be backed up by a standard Beep. A Beep will go 2 to 3 times as far as data on the same transmitter power. Follow the beep on a medium range recovery until you are close enough to get a data signal and then use the GPS to close in.

MRT has chosen to go with the direct radio link to give the falconer the RIGHT NOW of where their falcon IS, with the convenience and utility of this mode.

The cell phone based tags shine in the long range Recovery Mode (if you have cell coverage at BOTH the falcon and the falconer). They do the Convenience Mode poorly.

[rkumetz]

Couldn't you just pay a couple of thousand and get a transmitter like that? Just like Island Girl has. Put a Holohill on it as well for close up tracking.

For those who are curious here is a link to the Argos system web page:

http://www.argos-system.org