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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for Lotek VHF
- Page 1 VHF Collars USER MANUAL REVISION 02 18 JUL 2019 #MVHF16...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
OPERATING CONDITIONS ........................4 1.5. VHF RECEIVERS ............................. 5 1.6. VHF ANTENNAS ............................. 5 2. TURNING THE VHF TRANSMITTER ON AND OFF..............6 2.1. BEFORE YOU BEGIN ........................... 6 2.2. TO TURN THE VHF TRANSMITTER ON ..................7 2.2.1. WHAT CAN I DO IF I CAN’T PICK UP A SIGNAL? ............7 2.3. - Page 3 4.5.2. LATCHING MORTALITY MODE ....................19 4.5.3. NON-LATCHING MORTALITY MODE ................19 4.6. TIME SINCE DEATH ........................... 20 4.6.1. DECIPHERING THE CODE ....................20 4.6.2. TIME COLLAR-RELEASE MECHANISM ................21 APPENDIX A: TESTING THE VHF TRANSMITTER’S RANGE ............22 APPENDIX B: TIPS AND TROUBLESHOOTING .................. 24...
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Page 4: Introduction
VHF Transmitter’s Range’) 1.2. Before Deployment Well before deploying your VHF collar, please read this user guide. If the VHF collar has been programmed with behaviours, it may have to be turned on hours or days before deployment. This is to ensure that the VHF transmitter broadcasts its signal at the required time each day. -
Page 5: Order Summary
1.2.1. Order Summary The order summary contains important information about the configuration of the collar’s VHF Transmitter. This will include, where relevant, information about: Pulse rates Behaviours Mortality rate and mode Frequencies, and Calculated life. ... -
Page 6: Vhf Receivers
IMPORTANT: If storing a VHF collar for a long period of time, turn it on for 12 to 24 hours once every four months. This will exercise the battery and minimize passivation. Water resistance: VHF collars are designed for terrestrial mammals. VHF collars are waterproof and have been tested in water to a depth of two metres for 24 hours. -
Page 7: Turning The Vhf Transmitter On And Off
Turning the VHF Transmitter On and Off The steps involved in turning a collar’s VHF transmitter on and off may differ from other VHF transmitters. IMPORTANT: Unlike some VHF transmitters, the magnet must not be attached to a VHF collar when not in use. -
Page 8: To Turn The Vhf Transmitter On
Ensure the VHF transmitter, VHF receiver and antenna all operate in the same frequency band Adjust the VHF receiver’s sensitivity (gain) Fine tune the VHF receiver’s frequency 1 to 3 kHz either side of the listed frequency Check the VHF receiver’s batteries and replace if necessary ... -
Page 9: To Turn The Vhf Transmitter Off
IMPORTANT: To preserve the battery’s charge, ensure that the VHF collar is switched off when not in use and placed away from any magnetic fields. To avoid a VHF collar being turned on accidentally, take care not to place the transmitter unit on or near any magnet. -
Page 10: Fitting The Collar
NOTE: If programmed with behaviours, turning a VHF transmitter off and on will reset its behaviours. If the VHF transmitter you are about to fit was turned on at the required time, e.g., a couple of days ago, turning it off and on now may... -
Page 11: Fasteners
The VHF transmitter is turned on in advance and it was set in the factory to latching mortality mode, gently shake the VHF transmitter periodically to avoid activation of the mortality timeout period. -
Page 12: Before You Begin
Before fitting the collar, ensure that: The VHF transmitter is on. NOTE: To do this, turn on the VHF receiver and tune it to the VHF transmitter’s frequency. If the VHF transmitter was programmed with behaviours and turned on earlier, it may not be broadcasting any pulses at this time. -
Page 13: To Fit A Collar That Has Nyloc Nuts And Bolts
3.6. To Fit a Collar that has Nyloc Nuts and Bolts Undo the nuts and remove the cover plate A fastening tool is supplied by Lotek with each order Fit the collar around the animal’s neck Ensure that the collar is oriented correctly. For more information, see the diagram (above). -
Page 14: To Fit A Collar That Has A Nylon Nut And Bolt
3.7. To Fit a Collar that has a Nylon Nut and Bolt Undo the nut The nylon nut can be loosened with finger and thumb Place the collar around the animal’s neck Ensure the collar is oriented correctly. For more information, see the diagram (previous page). -
Page 15: To Fit A Collar That Has A Belt Buckle
3.8. To Fit a Collar that has a Belt Buckle Undo the collar’s buckle Place the collar around the animal’s neck Ensure the collar is oriented correctly. For more information, see the diagram (previous page). If you need to punch a new hole in the strap, ensure they are not too close to existing holes or edges. -
Page 16: To Fit A Cable-Tie Collar
3.9. To Fit a Cable-Tie Collar IMPORTANT: The following information is intended for single-use transmitters. For re-useable transmitters such as LiteTrack 20, please follow the Quick Start Guide provided with the collar. Place the collar around the animal’s neck Ensure the collar is oriented correctly. For more information, see the diagram (previous page). -
Page 17: Removing The Collar
3.10. Removing the Collar Should and when you decide to remove the collar, keep in mind VHF collars are not designed to be refurbished. However, you can reuse VHF collars on another animal if they are in good working order and you expect the batteries to last. -
Page 18: Pulse Rates And Patterns When Tracking
4.1. Nominal Pulse Rate The nominal pulse rate is the pulse pattern that was broadcast soon after the VHF transmitter was turned on. It is the pulse rate that is used to track the animal most of the time. 4.2. Other Pulse Rates... -
Page 19: Vhf Receivers And Antennas
4.3. VHF Receivers and Antennas Refer to the user guides that came with your VHF receiver and antenna to ensure that you understand: How to optimise sensitivity (gain) The direction the antenna is polarised; and The implications of polarisation to tracking ... -
Page 20: Mortality Modes
NOTE: To stop the mortality pulse pattern from being broadcast, retrieve the host animal and turn the VHF transmitter off. On turning the VHF transmitter on, the VHF transmitter’s mortality feature will be reset and the VHF transmitter will begin broadcasting its nominal pulse pattern. -
Page 21: Time Since Death
4.6. Time Since Death Some VHF transmitters are programmed to broadcast a time-since-death code. The code identifies the amount of time that has elapsed since death. Depending on factory settings, the amount of elapsed time is broadcast: As either hours or minutes; and ... -
Page 22: Time Collar-Release Mechanism
Two quick pulses will be broadcast Example: Let’s assume that the VHF transmitter has been set to record the time since death in hours. The following diagram shows the pulses immediately before, during and after a data minute. If the number of pulses between the pairs of quick pulses is zero, zero, two and four, then the number of hours that have elapsed since death is 24. -
Page 23: Appendix A: Testing The Vhf Transmitter's Range
APPENDIX A: Testing the VHF Transmitter’s Range A VHF transmitter’s range will vary depending on a combination of factors. These factors may include, but are not limited to: The type and brand of VHF receiver and antenna The animal’s mass and orientation ... - Page 24 If driving a car, turn the engine off before attempting to pick up the signal. The car itself, may also affect reception. NOTE: If you are testing the VHF transmitter on an animal, e.g., a pet dog, the orientation of the collar may be changing constantly. Vary the orientation of the antenna (vertical/horizontal) to maximise reception.
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Page 25: Appendix B: Tips And Troubleshooting
APPENDIX B: Tips and Troubleshooting Most problems can be solved quickly and easily by following the tips below. Problem I know the VHF transmitter is within range and it should be broadcasting its signal, but I can’t detect it. Possible Scenario... - Page 26 VHF receiver. condition of the antenna cable. The VHF transmitter, along with its host may have been removed from its habitat or destroyed. For example, its host may have been eaten by a predator, succumbed to the forces of nature, e.g. swept away in a flood or removed by a hunter.
- Page 27 Danger: When wearing headphones, stay alert for approaching predators. Problem The direction of the VHF signal is hard to determine. Possible Scenario Solution The VHF signal is bouncing off the local Climb to the nearest ridge to pick up a terrain, e.g.
- Page 28 If there is no signal, the collar may have been released into a cave, crevice or river that is blocking the signal. If the VHF transmitter’s signal is weak but still on the move, it may have been released into a river or swallowed (along with the animal) by a larger predator.