Accuracy: The accuracy of locations depends on the accuracy of bearings and on the arrangement of receivers relative to the transmitter. The ARTS receivers have a raw accuracy of about 15o, but this can be improved to <8o with intelligent filtering of spurious data and averaging of good data. This translates to an average accuracy of 70m in the center of BCI and 150m in the periphery.

Range: Stronger transmitters will be detected by more receivers at one place allowing better triangulation. We tested the range of the ARTS by carrying transmitters around the island and recording the strength at which each tower detected them. We then used these data to build a model of predictive signal strength based on the strength of the transmitter, the distance from the tower, elevation, line-of-site, and relative hill aspect. The resulting maps, shown below, can help biologists plan their precise study site and order the appropriate transmitters. Custom maps can be made upon request for other transmitter types. The power of the transmitters used in this test were:
Rat Tx= -15 dBm
Agouti Tx = -12.75 dBm
Monkey Tx = -8.72 dBm (added 4dBm to prediction for when in trees)
Puma Tx = -4.71 dBm
Peccary tx = 1.30 dBm

 

Rat


rat

Agouti

Monkey on ground

Monkey in tree


Peccary

Puma