New Quick Start "Roadmap" available
January 2010 - We have produced a Quick Start Guide which provides an overview of the process that begins when you receive your new tags. From setting up the tags to analyzing the data, this brief document shows the steps you will follow. It is especially useful for those who are new to tagging. This does not replace the User's Manual, which contains detailed information on this process.
To view a .pdf document of the Quick Start Guide, please click here.
New labeling required for domestic and international shipments
April 2009 - Beginning in January 2009, new labeling requirements for domestic and international shipments went into effect. As a result, we have added the required label to all Wildlife Computers shipments. Since we have received some inquiries about these labels, we wanted to reassure our customers that nothing has changed in our instruments, packaging or shipping process other than the addition of this label and a required warning sheet insert.
Shown here for your reference are the external label and warning insert.
Towed Mk10-PATF meets tough challenge
February 2009 - Following requests by our users, we have designed a new towed tag based on the well-established Mk10-PAT. The Mk10-PATF offers the same sensors as a regular Mk10-PAT, but also incorporates FastlocTM GPS technology for finer scale location data.
While initially intended for slower moving species, the tag was tested on fast-swimming, briefly-surfacing swordfish, known to be a difficult species to track. The tests, concluded over the past year, produced results that met this difficult challenge. Please contact us for further information.
USB Connection now available
November 2008 - A USB connection for communicating with Wildlife Computers tags is now available. The USB-Blue replaces the Cable Comm, which required a serial port. The USB-Blue connects the tags to the USB port without any additional adapters.
Please contact us if you need a USB-Blue to replace an older Cable Comm. Each new tag order includes a USB-Blue gratis, when requested.
The USB-Blue driver is available on the Downloads page of the website.
Updated Avian Cricket tag available for summer 2008
April 2008 - We are pleased to report that orders are again being accepted for the AC1, the Avian Cricket Argos tag. While the initial release of the AC1 worked well, we decided to further refine the design and packaging of the tag, and opted not to offer the tag for sale until those refinements were complete. This improved AC1 has been out for field testing recently and is performing very nicely. Based on these field results, the AC1 is back in production. If you are looking for a very compact and light-weight tag for avian applications, you should consider the AC1.
New generation Cricket transmitter certification complete
February 2008 - The newest generation of the Wildlife Computers Cricket transmitter was recently certified for use with the Argos system by CLS in Toulouse, France. The Cricket sailed through the process and excelled in tests of both stability and efficiency.
An outstanding new feature incorporated into this transmitter allows variable output power from 1/8 to 1.0W, enabling you to choose the most appropriate output power for your study area. For example, if you are deploying tags in the Mediterranean, you have the option to increase your Argos tag's output power to 1.0W.
We are well pleased with the newest Cricket’s test performance, and over time it will be phased into all of our transmitting tags.
Roger Hill featured in IEEE Spectrum article
February 2008 - Roger Hill, Chief Engineer and President at Wildlife Computers, is one of those featured in the "Dream Jobs" section of the IEEE Spectrum publication for this month. The article outlines Roger's progression from designing equipment for pulmonary artery function in humans to producing high tech tags for ecological research. Roger's sense of humor was evident during the photo shoot for the article. To see for yourself, take a look.
Older announcements available in archive
February 2008 - We have recently established an archive for announcements posted prior to the last six months. The archived items are available via the permanent link near the bottom of this page. If you have not been to our website in a while, you may want to browse the archive to catch up on any items you may have missed.
Easier-to-use WC-DAP data analysis package released
December 2007 - Good news for users with data to analyze! The Wildlife Computers Data Analysis Programs (WC-DAP) package is now available for download from our website, along with a comprehensive manual on how to use these utilities. WC-DAP is used to collect, organize and analyze data collected and/or transmitted by most Wildlife Computers instruments, including many of the earlier tags such as the Mk7.
This package of programs includes Instrument Helper, Fast-GPS Location Solver, Argos Message Retriever, Argos Message Decoder, Argos Project Editor, and Command Line Utilities for three of these included programs for users who want to process data via scripting. The programs were written for use with Wildlife Computers instruments only, and are not recommended for any other use.
The goal for WC-DAP is to provide our users with analysis tools with simplified installation and an improved user experience. We invite you to download and use these programs, and then email us with constructive feedback to consider for the next version release.
Price reductions on select shapes - Mk9 archival tag is now $950, SPOT tag is $1350
October 2007 - We are pleased to announce an adjustment to our prices for selected Mk9 and SPOT5 configurations. You can now purchase an archival tag for $950, or an Argos tag for $1350.
The Mk9 and SPOT5 are mature product lines, with no changes expected to their operating features. This gives us the opportunity to respond to user community requests to provide lower-cost tags, in order to enable higher numbers of tags to be deployed. We hope that this will subsequently allow for additional statistical analyses of data.
By selecting popular configurations of these two tags and optimizing their manufacturing procedures, we can now offer a selection of “standard” shapes. The streamlined processes for these tags, from the initial order-taking through user support, allow us to pass on the savings to our users.
Standard configuration price reductions (in US dollars) are as follows.
- Implantable Mk9 with “L” configuration sensor stalk (as pictured here) – $950, reduced by $400
- Externally-attached Mk9 with external fast-response thermistor – $950, reduced by $300
- Externally-attached Mk9 in standard elongated rectangle – $950, reduced $250
- SPOT5 compact 3 x AA backmount – $1350, reduced by $350
For our customers who utilize tag configurations with metal housings, we’re pleased to also be able to reduce some of those custom housing surcharges. We have dropped some of the battery surcharges previously added to certain configurations, as well.
All of these changes were made with an eye to our goal of better meeting user needs by providing high-quality, innovative tags at competitive prices. Our current price list is available by email.
For pricing on a particular non-standard configuration, please complete a Tag Request Form for a more detailed quote.
On-line form for Technical Support Requests available
August 2007 - Some of you have already noticed that our website has an easy, on-line form for requesting technical support by email. This form eliminates some of the initial to-and-fro emails typical of tech support. The simple form gathers basic information that allows us to get on with answering your question more quickly. Just "Click HERE" under the "How to get help" section of the "Tech Support - Tips & Troubleshooting" page.
In addition, the "How to get help" section lists suggestions on what kind of information you may need to provide when you contact us, based on the type of question or problem you are experiencing. Having this information readily available also speeds up the technical support process.
While we hope that your experience with Wildilfe Computers tags goes smoothly, we know that questions arise. Having easy access to technical support is our goal, and we hope this tool accomplishes that. We welcome user input, should you have suggestions on how to improve this process.
Acquistion of OceanTouch Instrumentation, Ltd.
June 2007 - Wildlife Computers is pleased to announce the acquisition of OceanTouch Instrumentation Ltd., a Canadian company based in St. John's, Newfoundland. The focus at OceanTouch is the research and development of new marine sensors and instrumentation systems. This acquisition will enhance current product development and technical support capabilities at Wildlife Computers. It will allow us to offer additional advanced products to help provide answers to a greater variety of ecological and management questions.
We are also delighted to welcome Todd Lindstrom, Executive Director of OceanTouch, to Wildlife Computers as our Vice President, Technology. Todd and his team are valuable additions to our talented staff. They bring with them over 20 years of experience in the marine telemetry and biotelemetry fields. We look forward to working together to produce creative and innovative tags that will survive the challenges of deployment in the harsh marine environment.
Orders/Inquiries feature streamlines tag request process
11 June, 2007 - You may have noticed we now have an Orders/Inquiries page on our website. Several of you have already made use of the Tag Request Form available there. Whether you know exactly what you want (or need) for your project, or whether this is your first forray into tagging, you can use the Tag Request Form to place an order or request detailed information about your options. We hope this on-line form proves to be helpful and convenient for you. We welcome feedback, so feel free to let us know how it works for you!
Welcome, Rachel and family!
We were delighted to welcome whale shark researcher Dr. Rachel Graham and her family to our facility on 5 June, 2007. Over the last several years, Rachel's work has provided us with some excellent field testing opportunities, including tests in Silk Cay, Belize, for one of our very early versions of the PAT tag. Her feedback following deployments and data processing has been insightful and has helped us to further improve our family of tags.
During Rachel's visit, she showed us her "boomerang" tag, which is actually a very old version of a towed SPOT tag that just keeps coming back for more. This tag has been deployed and refitted with new batteries, and recovered multiple times now, and it just keeps on giving excellent tracking data. It was a great story (and a testament to the tag's endurance)!
Rachel is one of several researchers who have paid us a visit in recent months. We welcome the opportunity to meet our customers in person to discuss their work and to see how we might help to meet their needs, and while meeting our goal to promote good science at the same time. Sometimes we get together at one of the many workshops, symposiums, and conferences we attend each year. However, we particularly enjoy the opportunity to spend time personally with our customers when they are in the Seattle area.
New web features
17 May, 2007 - With the redesign of our website, we have added initial FAQ and Tech Support information. We invite our users to review both of these areas of our website to find information about subjects such as standard lead times, warranty information, payment methods, return shipping instructions, and options for technical support.
We will be adding to both the FAQs and Tech Support-Tips and Troubleshooting pages as time goes on, so you may wish to periodically browse for new entries.
Tiger Shark tag still reporting after 13 months at sea
As of 12 January, 2007, a tiger shark, named Adam by the researchers who tagged him, was still reporting in via the Wildlife Computers Argos-linked satellite tag mounted on his fin. The shark, which was tagged 10 December, 2005, is the seventh tiger shark tagged during this project. The 5-year-old project is a collaboration between Digital Dimensions, CSIRO, and Undersea Explorer. For further details on the project, check it out at http://www.sharkresearch.com/adam_track.htm.