Hi Yvan,

Steph directed me to this awesome resource. These units look so well made! Are you potting in the solar panels? Also, if you are interested, we've been working on a timed drop-off for avian tracking devices similar to this, which I am happy to share details about. 

Anyway, in the spirit of your efforts, we've uploaded some collar housing designs and associated .stl files to our Website here: https://www.wildspy.com.au/resources.php

Shall add more as we design more. 

Great initiative Yvan!

Cheers,

Rob

I'd be happy to chat with you if you wanted! My expertise is within passive acoustic monitoring particularly. The Conservation Tech Directory might be useful for you in identifying relevant actors within the space.

Happy to contribute [email protected] 

My original background is in ecology and conservation, and am now in the elected leadership of the Gathering for Open Science Hardware which convenes researchers developing open source tech for science. I am not working on a specific piece of technology right now, but am happy to contribute some higher-level views for your interview if that helps.

Hi Peter, we manufacture solar powered Iridium trackers for birds, crocs/alligators and collars for various species. Our longest standing unit is a 55g unit on a Vulture and has been going for 4 years, providing data on an hourly basis. Our croc units include a pressure/depth sensor and provide details of depth and time at depth. Most of our devices include a VHF transmitter which is fully configurable over the air (you can change frequency, pulse duration, pulse interval and operation times - good for security).

Hi Chris,

I can say I've had some good experience with the Lotek Pinpoint tags that Rob mentioned.

You could also get in touch with ICARUS program at Max Planck (https://www.icarus.mpg.de/en).  They've developed a new tracking system, with their own first reciever on the ISS.  I think there are some limitations on the availability of their tags now as they're still ramping up their program.

Kyler

Hi all! Just wanted to add in that @gracieermi and I maintain a conservation tech directory that includes all the tracking/telemetry companies we've come across so far - conservationtech.directory. 

Currently listed doing a search of the directory - 

Cellular Tracking Technologies - https://celltracktech.com/ 

Advanced Telemetry Systems (ATS) - ​​https://atstrack.com/index.html

Ecotone Telemetry - http://www.ecotone-telemetry.com/index.php/en/oferta/obroze-telemetryczne

GPS Collars - https://www.gps-collars.com/ 

Lotek - https://www.lotek.com/

Microwave Telemetry - https://www.microwavetelemetry.com/

Milsar - https://milsar.com/

Technosmart Europe - https://www.technosmart.eu/

Telemetry Solutions - https://www.telemetrysolutions.com/

Telenax - https://telenax.com/

Telonics - https://www.telonics.com/index.php

Tigrinus - https://www.tigrinus.com.br/

Titley Scientific - https://www.titley-scientific.com/us/products/wildlife-tracking

Wildlife Computers - https://wildlifecomputers.com/

Xerius Tracking - http://www.xeriustracking.fr/

North Star - http://www.northstarst.com/

Migrate Tech - http://www.migratetech.co.uk/ 

e-obs GmbH - https://e-obs.de/

Africa Wildlife Tracking - https://awt.co.za/ 

Holohil - https://www.holohil.com/

Wildlife Materials - https://wildlifematerials.com/

Vectronic Aerospace/Vectronics - https://www.vectronic-aerospace.com/

Kiwi Track - https://kiwitrack.weebly.com/

We were the world first commercial direct to satellite ear tag. There are collar base solutions that work direct to satellite. 

Hi everyone, I’m not sure if this thread is still active, but i recently had a few clients asking for VHF trackers for assets being transported, I’ve created a few micro transmitters the last few weeks, extremely lightweight, steady & strong signal, variable pulse options, using a .3mm Nitinol wire for antenna, as well as the smallest discrete smd components on the market, but best of all the transmitter is able to steadily pulse for approximately 310 days using a silver oxide 1.5V button cell battery (imagine the transmission time with a few thousand mAh battery if size/weight wasn’t too critical), with a 20ms pulse every 1.2 seconds, I’ve attached pics to show size. if anyone is interested in making your own just message me please, I’d be happy to share build schematics and BOM, I have also made gerber files for anyone that wants them manufactured!

The transmitter should of course be incapsulated but here’s a PCB-less version to show you just how small it is.

I'll add -  avoid fast curing resins/epoxies for, at least, two reasons: 

1. The exothermic reaction between the two compounds can cause sensor issues (ie: heat).

2. Air bubbles will form (and cure) more easily in fast curing compounds.

Hi Roland,

This is really amazing, great to hear about your set-up! I'm just wondering what the overall cost was to set up this system? Just thinking in terms of setting up something similar in other parks and what they should expect with regard to price. Would also be great to hear about the overall effort, e.g., hours/team members required. It would be great to have this act as a blueprint for other organizations/research stations wishing to deploy a similar system within their respective national parks/areas/etc.! 

Hi Rolland,

Interested too, but why did you choose SigFox (a private network) rather than LoRa (open network)? 

Sigfox currently has some financial troubles that, don't know what it will become in the long term.

Is there any sort of automatic drop-off mechanism for the tags? Or does the animal need to be re-captured to take the tag off?

Hi Carly,

There are no built in automatic drop-off mechanism for the tags. We do have customers that have purchased and incorporated the tag into different types of harness and collars. 

Happy to discuss further with you to understand your use case. Head over to www.cerestag.com and there is a "let's talk" button.