When selecting fish tracking equipment, you must choose the best hardware and programming options for your focus species and study objectives. All MTI fish tags provide depth and ambient temperature data in a time-series format. Use this flowchart and consider the following while choosing your PSAT model.

Hardware: PSAT PTT-100 versus X-Tag

X-Tags are 43% smaller in volume than PSAT PTT-100s, making the former a more appropriate tool for tracking smaller species. X-Tags also archive two-minute depth and temperature readings that can be extracted if the tag is physically recovered (see Data: Tag Recovery). However, PSAT PTT-100s have a larger battery, allowing for longer transmission periods and consequently higher percentage data returns. Additionally, they can be programmed for use on species that dive to depths beyond 1250 m.

PSAT PTT-100
Dimensions: 1.6 in (4.06 cm) max diameter  x  6.6 in (16.76 cm) length  +  7.0 in (17.78 cm) antenna
Weight (in air): ~78 g

X-Tag
Dimensions: 1.3 in (3.30 cm) max diameter  x  4.8 in (12.19 cm) length  +  7.3 in (18.54 cm) antenna
Weight (in air): ~45 g

Programming: High Rate (HR) versus Standard Rate (SR)

HR tags record frequent pressure (depth) and temperature measurements for short-duration deployments (up to 30 days) — a great tool for post-release behavior and mortality studies. No geolocation is possible with HR programming. SR tags record data at wider intervals, making them ideal for significantly longer deployments. SR tags also use light-level records to determine daily geolocation estimates, allowing for possible track reconstruction.

	PSAT PTT-100		X-Tag
Key Features & Options	Standard Rate (SR)	High Rate (HR)	Standard Rate (SR)	High Rate (HR)
Depth data resolution	5.4 m	1.34 m	0.34–5.4 m*	1.34 m*
Temperature data resolution	0.16–0.23°C	0.16–0.23°C	0.16–0.23°C	0.16–0.23°C
Light-level data	**		***
Daily light-based geolocations
Transmitted time-series data sampling rate (minutes)	15–60†	<1–5†	15–60†	<1–5†
Recovered tag data sampling rate (minutes)	15–60†	<1–5†	2	<1–5†
Deployment duration	1–12 months	<1–30 days	1–12 months	<1–30 days
Pressure sensor capable of recording depths >1250 m
Adjustable Constant Pressure Release
Delay Constant Pressure Release
Dual band constant pressure programming

PLEASE CONTACT US IF:

• You are tracking an anadromous or catadromous species — MTI tags must be in salt water in order to detach properly.
• You suspect your study species dives below 1200 m — tags are programmed for marine species generally residing in the upper 1200 m of the water column.