New PIT-tag Technologies

Presenter: Sandra Downing

Ideas and information supplied by numerous people

(fortunately, I am sure there are a lot more new technologies that I am not aware of)

COMPETITION IS A GOOD THING

Tags

Transceivers

Antennas

Little bit of introduction and history

Computer programs

Outline of Presentation

Examples of future applications

PIT-tag Systems Consist of

Tags Transceivers Antennas

2001: BE ISO tags FS1001A 2’ x 6’

2008: SST ISO tags FS1001M 3’ x 20’first 9-mm tag Corner collector 17’ x 17’

2005: ST ISO tags FS1001M (multiplexing) 2.5’ x 12’

Future: 16-msec tags Spillway-Ogee ogee-passby, 5’ x 25’ or 5’ x 50’(2011) New PIT tags New multiplexing larger / more antennas shorter/thinner tags Replacement dam transceiver (2020)

New Allflex and New TI-HDX

1999: 400-kHz tags 400-kHz 12” pipe

2010: SST-1 ISO tags no new Destron 4’ x 25’ 13-mm HDX Allflex-low power, FDX&HDX 3’ x 10’

great 9-mm tag

Tags

BPA – New tag contract for different sized PIT tags

Received tags and offer sheets from different vendors in December

PSMFC and NOAA Fisheries are evaluating the tags with laboratory and field tests

Decision on 12-mm tags expected by June 2011

Potentially several vendors will have tags that perform acceptably

9-mm tag

16-msec tags

Tags

Additional new PIT tags

New 12-mm HDX tags (improvement to 13-mm)

7-mm x 1.25-mm tags

21% volume

22% weight at .023g

Future for Tags

I think we will see anti-collision firmware that will make it possible to detect multiple tags that are in an antenna’s field simultaneously.

9-mm tags replacing 12.3-mm tags as standard size

Ability to kill or temporarily disable tags (for evaluations of avian predation)

Transceivers

Destron Fearing

Allflex Corporation

Ogee transceiver

2020 transceiver – replacement for transceivers at dams, ISO

New ACN multiplexing transceiver

More powerful board – ISO and still low power

On-going Developments

Ogee transceiver

Powerful - capable of creating field 5-6’ deep in passby mode

Possible replacement for corner-collector transceiver (i.e., it will be able to operate very large single antennas)

Can detect the 16-msec tags

2020 transceiver

Designed to replace the FS1001J, FS1001A, and FS1001AB at the mainstem dam sites with a single transceiver model

Auto tuning

Diagnostics needed to help PSMFC maintain its high operational standards

Several communication ports (ethernet, fiber optic, USB)

ISO transceiver, so reads both FDX and HDX

Will be installed and tested in 2011

New ACN multiplexing transceiver

Auto tuning

Substantially better read range Can sync master controllers

Same power consumption as MUX for 6 antennas Up to 12 antennas

Allflex Fisheries Board

ISO board, so reads both FDX and HDX

Higher power consumption than old board, but still lower than Destron’s

Low Q system and so does not need to auto tune

Critical diagnostics, but no real time clock on board

They are designing software for a companion data-logging component

Can install any number of continuously operating antennas end-to-end without interference

Unknown what size of antenna the board will support, but maybe in the 20’ by 3’ range.

Each board controls a single antenna

Biomark

Texas Instrument for HDX tags

New handheld reader

Transceivers

Future Developments

Low cost multiplexing transceiver

Destron Fearing

Low cost multiplexing transceiver

New portable reader

Antennas

As in the past, I expect once we have new transceivers, we will learn how to push them to maximize antenna size and learn how to use them for new applications.

For example, new ACN multiplexing transceiver will require less of an air gap in its antennas than the MUX.

Tests of a 50’ long antenna with prototype ACN transceiver

(new meaning to it’s in the back of the truck)

Future Applications

30 ft

11 ft

Support cable anchored on the shore and fixed to the piling. Antennas will be clipped to this for suspension and orientation.

15 to 20ft

4 ftCable straps, wood screws or ratchet straps fix the PVC knuckles to the piling

C-shaped aluminum bar is secured to the piling and, with rope straps, prevents side to side movement of antenna during tidal changes

Flow

Pelican case to house transceiver, batteries and radio link and solar panel for continuous power supply

Juvenile lamprey

Computer Programs

M4 program for interrogation data

More incorporation of meta data into fisheries database(s)

Better web-based tools that allow for more complicated and faster analyses

M4 program for performing separation-by-code

What tools do researchers or managers want to see

in the future to improve management of the resource?