Glossary of terms and concepts used in location tracking for wildlife and stock

Argos (CLS France) is a global saellite system that collects, processes and disseminates data from fixed (buoys) or mobile platfomrs (wildife tags) world wide. Packet size is limitted to a maximum of 6-8 locaions per upload although serval uplods can be acheievd in a day.  It provides NEAR real-time connectivity.

Bluetooth is a short range wireless technology used for exchanging data betweeen devices up to 10m apart.  Essentially, the collar and tag can communicate with either your phone of a spcicif peice of hardware for setup and data download. - ieadl when am animal is close by and you do not need to take off the tag or collar.

However, with the BlueTooth Generation 5 technolgoy and the use of our Bluetooth Hub, we can significantly increase the range of this connectivity up to 800m or so.

Cellular connectivity covers all manner of cellphone, mobile phone, cellular connectivty that you use on your normal mobile phone handset.

Four services are generally avilable - 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G.  However, 3G is slowly being turned off worldwide (sun-setting) and consequently, we do not offer any products with 3G connectivity.  The differences between the other three comms are as follows.

2G. Conectivity between the tag/collar and you is primarily via SMS or text message to a web page.  2G has a limitted capacity and is expensive. However, it has by far the greatest coverage worldwide.

4G and 5G.  Connectivity between the tag/collar and you is primarily via DATA (similar to WiFI in your home) transfer to a web page.  This method can carry far greater quantities of data than 2G, but there are caveats.  4G has better coverage than 5G which can be restricted to the cities - please check your area.  5G although faster than 4G uses far more power and therefore this can be limitting.

2G

2G (Second generation mobile phone connectivity).

Conectivity between the tag/collar and you is primarily via SMS or text message to a web page.  2G has a limited data transfer capacity and is expensive. However, it has by far the greatest coverage worldwide.

4G

4G (Fourth Generation) and 5G (Fifth Generation) mobile phone connectivity.  

Connectivity between the tag/collar and you is primarily via DATA (similar to WiFI in your home) transfer to a web page.  This method can carry far greater quantities of data than 2G, but there are caveats.  4G has better coverage than 5G which can be restricted to the cities - please check your area.  5G although faster than 4G uses far more power and therefore this can be limitting.

5G

5G (Fifth Generation) and 4G (Fourth Generation) mobile phone connectivity.  

Connectivity between the tag/collar and you is primarily via DATA (similar to WiFI in your home) transfer to a web page.  This method can carry far greater quantities of data than 2G, but there are caveats.  4G has better coverage than 5G which can be restricted to the cities - please check your area.  5G although faster than 4G uses far more power and therefore this can be limitting.

This covers all collars and tags that acquire the GPS data from the GPS satellites and then transmits that data back to a different satellite constelation - either GlobalStar or Iridium.  In turn both GlobalStar and Iridium then transmit that data back to earth though a gateway and then onto a dedicated webpage we provide to you.

Globalstar

Globalstar tags collect and send data in real time to the Globalstar satellite constelation and then on to your dedicated web page.  This happens in less than 1 minute from data aquisition to you getting the data.  

This is a SIMPLEX system - ie data only travels from the tag to the satelite - new settings cannot be provided to the tag.  

Iridium

Iridium collars collect data and then once per day connect to the Iridium satleilte network to oofload data which is then sent to your dedicated webpage.  The data is not transmitted in real time.

This is a DUPLEX system - ie data travels both ways beteeen the collar and the satelite - new settings can be provided to the tag.  

UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) Radio communicaion operates between 300MHz to 3 GHz range and includes TV remotes, WiFi and two way radios etc.  For wildife tags and collars, UHF is used to set up and download data from a collar using a handehled receiver and Yagi antenna.  UHF offere strong signal clairty and longer range (tytpically 5-10km, but upt to 100km) comunicaion than VHF (Very-High Frequecny).  VHF is generally only used in the tracking beacon.

Solar cells provide power to a small onboard battery.  However, without solar gain the tag will eventiually loose power and then not collect data.  However, some tags are better than others in storing energy for later use.

Primary batteries cannot be recharged via solar cells or induction charging.  Once depleted a primary battery needs to be replaced.  However, primary battereis can provide extremely large amounts of energy and can last 2-3 years for some of the larger collars.

Combined solar/battery collars have both solar powered batteries and primary batteries.  THese try to get the best of both worlds.

FliteTrax are generally avian backpack tags.

CellTraX are generaly collar applications that use cellular/cellphone/mobile phone connectivity.

RadioTraX are generally collars and tags that use Bluetooth or UHF only connectivity.

SatTraX are generally collars that use satellite phone connectivity.

EarTraX are small tags fitted to an animals ear.  

MicroTraX are generally small mamalian tags less than 10g in weight.

VHF Beacons generally opperate between 120-210 MHz and transmit a pulse every 1-2 seconds.  This pulse can be tracked down using a hand held receiver and Yagi antenna to locate or get clsoe to an animal fitted with a tag or collar.

A "Drop-Off" can be added to a collar or tag to allow for the timed or remote release of the tag of collar from the animal.  SOmetime the action is remotely triggered or can be timed.  Sometimes the drop-off can be a weak link that either breaks or rots in time, thereby releasing the tag or collar from the animal.

Accelerometers are often fitted in a tag or collar to determine movement of the bird or animal.  This movement can sometimes be used calibrate different activities/behaviours or if a lack of movement can be used to trigger an alert that the bird or nimal is dead.

Mortality Alert - if there is no perceievd activity (from acceleromter data) for a predetermined period of time, then the tag or collar will send an alert that the animal is possibly dead.

Fully Field Programmable includes all tags that be programed (and data downloaded) remotely in the field either through UHF, cellphone or satellite connectivity.  As opposed to only being able to to setup the tag or collar  or download data in the lab or at very close range.

A Geo-Fence ia virtual boundary defined for a real world geographic area which can be dynamically generated or pre-defined.  It is used to monitor the entry or exit of an animal into the defined area triggering alerts or actions such as sending messages or location data.