Top to Bottom: 6.5g Flicker GPS grouse collar with embedded HybridTag for ground tracking. 6g Flicker GPS backpack, 7g Turtle Puck potted Flicker GPS, 3.5g Flicker GPS backpack
Top to Bottom: 6.5g Flicker GPS grouse collar with embedded HybridTag for ground tracking. 6g Flicker GPS backpack, 7g Turtle Puck potted Flicker GPS, 3.5g Flicker GPS backpack

1 Overview

The new Flicker GPS transmitters are the first of their kind to use both celluar location and GPS location technology. By leveraging the global cell network as a means of data transmission and for estimating the location of your tagged animal you can save battery life while still keeping track of your species. The GPS can be independently programmed to collect and store GPS fixes at a rate that allows you to answer your research questions, while not overtaxing the power budget of a light transmitter. The Flicker GPS is capable of storing up to 420 GPS fixes as its lightest weight (~3.5g), and transmitting these when in cell range, freeing up the space to again collect and store more GPS fixes until the next cellular connection.

2 Introducing Cellular Locations

In addition to the on-board GPS, your Flicker device can provide generalized locations based simply on the available cellular network. To do so, the device’s location is determined by first collecting information about one or more cell towers in the communication range. This information is then immediately transmitted to our data servers using the LTE-M1 cellular network. Finally, our servers generate a location estimate from our extensive tower database. The accuracy of cellular localization is ultimately determined by the geometry of the antenna coverage areas. Some coverage areas will be much smaller, leading to improved accuracy. We provide an uncertainty value with each location, which approximates the size of the coverage area.

Each cell tower can have multiple highly directional antennas that provide coverage for specific regions around the tower. The geometry of these regions is dependent on many factors such as antenna height relative to ground, antenna type, population density, and obstructions (trees, mountains, buildings .. etc). At the time of antenna installation, a fixed location (representative of the antenna region) is paired with the antenna. Our device interrogates the tower for its unique identifier and antenna, then our servers look up the area location from the tower parameters.

An example of the above description can be found in the following figure: The actual location of the device is represented as an American Robin. The cell tower can be found in the center of the multi-colored hexagon. Each of the three quadrilaterals within the hexagon are hypothetical coverage areas of three antennas belonging to the same tower. If the robin falls within one of the areas, the fixed location will be reported as the device’s location. From the figure below, the robin fell in the “upper” area (quadrilateral “B”), so the location reported will correspond to the red marker.

3 Technical Specs for Flicker GPS

* battery-dependent configs only available on solar-rechargeable models


4 Interacting with your Flicker Devices

Interaction with your transmitter is done via the companion app or via the CTT Portal (https://portal.ctt-iow.com). To download the app follow the links below:

From the app and the portal you can:

Flicker GPS Config Builder: Daily Scheduler. One connection and GPS fix can be assigned to a specific time of each day. Flicker GPS Config Builder: Cell Connection Scheduler. Multiple schedules can be created here based on battery level and day/night or both. Flicker GPS Config Builder: GPS Scheduler. Multiple schedules can be created here based on battery level and day/night or both.

5 Preparing Your Unit for Deployment

Your Flicker unit will arrive with a magnet attached. We recommend keeping the magnet on the unit until you are ready for testing and/or deployment. For non-solar units, follow all of the below recommendations for testing configs, and simply ignore the information regarding solar recharging.

For solar-rechargeable Flicker devices, we always recommended to fully charge and test your device before deployment. Small devices should not be left out unattended as they can blow away, and potentially overheat.

DO NOT:

DO:

6 Final Thoughts

This User Guide is a living document. Your experiences and input are greatly appreciated so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us regarding what you’d like to see included here. You can submit your suggestions and any errors to our Customer Service Desk here and we will work to incorporate them in future revisions. All material © Cellular Tracking Technologies, 2023.

Flicker GPS deployed on an American Robin
Flicker GPS deployed on an American Robin