X-Tag
Tiny Next Generation Archival Pop-up Tag
In 1997 we introduced the world’s first pop-up satellite tag for tracking fish. Since then thousands of these tags have been used to reveal the ocean wide movements of large pelagic fish. Over the last ten years we have continually developed the tag, adding new features such as our unique SiV ™ technology and new data compression techniques with the ability to correct bit errors in the raw Argos messages.
Over the last two years we have been testing many new ideas on variants of the original tag. These have now been brought together in this new next generation archival pop-up tag. This tag addresses the main request from researchers “ Do you have a smaller tag ? “ - it is much smaller, roughly half the size of the original tag, and hence is suitable for use on much smaller species than have been tracked with pop-up tags before now. It is also a direct, lower drag, replacement tag for use in studies already using larger tags.
It retains all of the features of the original tag:
- SiV™ Satellite-in-View transmission protocol
- ARGOS II transmission frequency
- Emergency Pop-off when depth limit exceeded
- Constant Pressure Pop-off
- Temperature compensated real time clock
- Embedded checksum with bit error correction capability
- Very simple deployment
- Very strong Carbon Fiber housing
- Strong tether attachment point
Plus many new enhancements and features:
- Lower hydrodynamic drag
- Smaller physical size
- Lighter weight ( 40g in air )
- 15,000 Argos message transmission capability
- 64Mb non volatile archival memory
- Longer shelf life
- Higher pressure rating >3600psi ( 2500m )
Like the original tag this tag collects data from the sensors and stores them on board as individual readings of temperature and pressure, it does not “Bin” the measurements, so the data received via Argos can be reconstructed to show a time sequence of the parameter over time. Light levels are analyzed on board the tag with our “Fuzzy Logic” algorithm to determine the time of sunrise and sunset each day. The raw sensor readings are archived at two minute intervals in the non volatile memory. A subset of this huge data set is transmitted through Argos, for deployments up to 4 months readings at 15 minute intervals are transmitted. For deployments exceeding 4 months but less than 8 months these 15 minute points are replaced with 30 minute points. Similarly for deployments over 8 months but less than 16 months the points are replaced with hourly points. In each case only the number of data points needed to maintain a full transmission buffer will be replaced. The buffer is transmitted on a pseudo-random schedule to ensure equal distribution of the received data points over the deployment period.
The price of the tag includes decompression and parsing of the data. Simply send us the complete Argos data set in DS and DIAG format, together with the pre-deployment test and calibration data and we will extract the sensor readings from it for you. We will then send this back to you in spreadsheet files together with a preliminary analysis. This frees up much of the user’s valuable time and allows you to concentrate on interpreting the scientific data. You can even arrange with Argos to have the data sent to us directly via their ADS distribution system.
© Copyright 2001-2006 Microwave Telemetry, Inc. All rights reserved.
Microwave Telemetry, Inc.
8835 Columbia 100 Parkway, Suites K&L
Columbia, MD 21045
410.715.5292
