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September 2013
 Bumble Bees, Beetles, Crayfish, Dragonflies, and Bats...
What do these small animals all have in common?

They've all had the super-lightweight ATS model A2412 VHF Transmitter attached to them and have been tracked by researchers.

Our popular 0.20 gram transmitter is easy to use because there is no soldering needed to activate it. Just remove the magnet and it starts up. Plus we've measured the range and it's over 500 meters.

The transmitter comes standard with the high reliability and performance that all ATS equipment is known for.
To learn more about our lightweight transmitters and how they can help you track the tiniest of animals, call your ATS Consultant, or go to the ATS website and request a same day quote today!
 Application Note: ATS Transmitters Help Drexel University Track Northern Pine Snakes
The Northern pine snake is a state threatened species in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The Laboratory of Pinelands Research, under the direction of Dr. Walter F. Bien at Drexel University, has been studying the Northern pine snake for over a decade now.

Under his direction, and as part of student Kevin Smith's doctoral thesis, the first surgical transmitter implantation of eight neonates with six model ATS R1635 and two model A2414 transmitters was accomplished.

Both models were successful in tracking pine snakes in the first stages of life. Due to the success of this season's tracking, an additional ten neonates will be implanted with ATS transmitters.

Thanks to the Lab's efforts and to ATS telemetry equipment, each day of new data has helped fill in vital gaps of the life history of this threatened species.

Kevin Smith authored a complete write-up on this study; it's available on ATS' Tracking Points BLOG. Check it out!
photo credit: Kevin Smith
 What’s the Range on These Transmitters?
We get asked that a lot, and for good reason. Everyone wants to find their animal, and they want to know how close they need to be to it before they can find it on frequency. The answer confounds us - there are many variables, and the variables are always changing!

Let’s start by saying that VHF tracking is line-of-sight: the receiving antenna has to “see” the transmitting antenna before a signal can be heard, and vice versa. Anything that is in the way of that line-of-sight path will attenuate, or degrade, the signal. This includes light or heavy brush, trees, and most definitely, mountains. Should the animal meander behind a crop of rocks or decide to lay down, there goes your range.

Many times, the easiest way to increase range is to hold the antenna higher up off of the ground. To really increase range, get in an airplane and track – you’ll have excellent line-of-sight and very good range, many miles in fact.
Another simple way to increase range is by using an antenna with more elements on it, e.g. a four element antenna instead of a three element one.

A directional yagi antenna will provide better range than a dipole antenna, which only has one element. Also, using a low noise, narrow band telemetry receiver designed for telemetry will increase range, especially one that includes digital signal processing (DSP) capability.  The ATS R4500 series is a good example. It has a narrow band width and a DSP chipset, so it's field performance and range will beat a receiver designed for simple voice reception and lacking DSP.

Finally, the transmitter design itself influences reception range. A longer transmitter antenna will increase range, and use of a three stage circuit will too. ATS offers the option to include a three stage circuit in some models. This will provide you with a stronger signal than a standard transmitter circuit, but at the expense of battery life, since the power output is higher. Look for the models with a "B" after them, e.g. M2240B, designating a three stage, high-output model.

Contact us and we'll give you all of the details.
 Visit with ATS at these Conferences...
Here’s where we’ll be in the coming months. We look forward to seeing you.
Contact a Consultant at 763-444-9267, or E-mail: contact@ATStrack.com




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