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Rainier-S20

The Rainier-S20 is a solar-powered, GPS-equipped Argos transmitter (PTT) tag specifically designed for birds. The Rainier-S20 is suitable for birds weighing as little as 650 grams to be tracked with GPS precision and accuracy over land and sea for multiple seasons.
The Rainier-S20 has a very low profile and sports a powerful and flexible antenna, smooth surfaces, and rounded edges with no sharp/cutting finishes. The design helps minimize mass, drag, and risk of injury to the bird.

The tag’s intelligent, low-power design incorporates our latest Argos-certified transmitter, a 48-channel GPS receiver, temperature, battery voltage, tilt, and accelerometer sensors. A non-volatile memory with the capacity to store up to 58,000 locations (about 6.5 years of GPS locations based on one location per hour). The small, solid cast 20 g package is waterproof and tested to 100 m depth.

Want free tags? Learn more about our Early Adopter Program

Below are the physical specifications of the Rainier-S20.
Dimensions(LxWxH) 56 mm x 18 mm x 14 mm
Tag weight (excluding neoprene) 20 grams
Construction Solid cast/hermetically sealed in biologically inert epoxy resin
Antenna GPS patch antenna embedded. Argos antenna 200 mm. Protrudes from back edge of transmitter at 30° to the horizontal
Pressure Rating Tested to 100 m depth
Memory/Archive Approximately 58,000 GPS locations timestamped to the nearest second
Operating Frequency 401.678 MHz
Operating Life Solar tags >3 years
Sensors GPS, temperature, battery voltage, accelerometer, tilt
GPS Accuracy Coordinate positions are recorded to four decimal places yielding accuracy to +/- 11 m
GPS Channels 48
GPS Datum WGS84
Operating Temperature Range Range: 0° C to 65° C as specified by the battery manufacturer
Communications Via USB port and Tag Agent user interface software
Battery Charging Solar or USB
Recovery Pinger Optional in future designs, not currently activated
Battery Lithium polymer rechargeable battery
RF Power Output Maximum 500 mW, typically 200 mW when deployed
Tag On/Off Protocol Using a magnet cover
Supply Voltage 3.0 to 4.0 volts
Here are some of the key features of the Rainier-S20.
  • Specific avian design—the “smaller is better” approach to design means there is no need for a bigger tag on a bigger bird. The rounded edges of the tag allow for streamlined aerodynamics while preventing any bird damage from sharp cutting finishes. We also offer either harness loops or holes for attachment depending on your preference.
  • Argos antenna—minimally intrusive, low-lying antenna exiting the rear of the tag is lightweight, highly robust yet super flexible. The antenna is securely anchored in epoxy resin and withstands over 100 pounds of tensile force ensuring it will stand up to abuse from birds.
  • Solar cells and power—solar cell design and circuitry efficiencies allow for improved charging in low light conditions and partial feather coverage.
  • Flexible calendar scheduling—hundreds of duty cycles if required, not limited to just five.
  • Smart algorithms differentiate shifts in day length and times of civil sunrise and sunset—Rainier-S20 tags’ smart day/night algorithms accurately calculate civil sunrise and civil sunset to the minute for any location on the globe. The algorithms are integrated within the scheduling and automatically and dynamically control the scheduling which is particularly impressive on migratory birds crossing multiple time zones or on resident birds as the seasons change.
  • External communications port with multiple benefits including:
    • Administer your own tag setting through Wildlife Computers Tag Agent Software
    • Charge your tags indoors with visual LED feedback
    • Download the entire tag archive if it is located after deployment (it does not need to come back to Wildlife Computers)
  • Transmitted locations and status messages—the Rainier-S20 method of sending GPS locations and other data through Argos builds on Wildlife Computers more than 20 years of experience of sending information via satellite in the most challenging marine environments and time stamps each to within two minutes of the actual fix. Status messages and cumulative status data sent can be used to infer the basic health of the tag.
Rainier-S20 Quick Start Guide
This document guides you through interacting with, and deploying, the Rainier-S20.

Tag Agent only works on Windows XP or higher.

Tag Agent administers the following tags:

BathyGraph, DSA, mrPAT, PTR, SPOT5, SPOT6, SPOT6-F, MiniPAT

The following are required: By installing Tag Agent, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

General Terms Agreement

This agreement relates to software provided free of charge for the purposes of managing Wildlife Computer tags (“Software”).

  1. Acceptance of Terms
    • By using the Software of Wildlife Computers in any way, including using, transmitting, downloading or uploading the Software, you agree to these General Terms.
    • You may not use the Software, or accept the General Terms, if (i) you are not of legal age to form a binding contract with Wildlife Computers, or (ii) you are prohibited by law from receiving or using the Software, or (iii) you are using it in conjunction with data generated from any other manufacturer’s tags.
  2. Use of Software
    • You agree to not use this Software for any commercial purpose, or to transfer it to anyone who intends to use it for a commercial purpose, without written permission from Wildlife Computers. For the purposes of this section, “commercial purpose” means the use of the software for a fee, charge or other consideration, or directly or indirectly in connection with any business, or other undertaking intended for profit.
    • You agree to adhere to all limitations on dissemination, use and reproduction of any Software that you download, access, or receive from Wildlife Computers, regardless of whether there is any monetary amount paid for the Software.
    • Unless expressly agreed to by Wildlife Computers in writing elsewhere, Wildlife Computers has no obligation to store any materials that you upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available through your use of the Software. Wildlife Computers has no responsibility or liability for the deletion or accuracy of any materials, including your content, the failure to store, transmit or receive transmission of materials, or the security, privacy, storage or transmission of other communications originating with or involving use of the Software.
    • You agree to use the Software only for purposes that are permitted by the General Terms and any applicable law, regulation, or generally accepted practices or guidelines in any applicable jurisdiction (including any laws regarding the export of data or Software to and from the United States or other applicable countries) ("Law"). These General Terms specifically prohibit use of this Software in analyzing data from tags made by other manufacturers.
    • You agree not to access or attempt to access the Software by any means other than the interface provided by Wildlife Computers.
  3. Ownership
    • The Software may be protected by copyright, trademark, trade dress, patent, trade secret, unfair competition, and/or other intellectual and proprietary rights (the "Intellectual Property Rights"). Except as expressly provided in the General Terms, Wildlife Computers does not grant any express or implied right to use the Software.
  4. Use of Software
    • Any Software that is made available is the property of Wildlife Computers. You shall not use, download or install any Software unless you agree to the terms of this agreement.
  5. User Conduct
    • You agree that you, not Wildlife Computers, are entirely responsible for all of your data that you compile, upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available to others including the public, whether publicly posted or privately transmitted. You assume all risks associated with use of your data, including any reliance on its accuracy, completeness or usefulness.
  6. Disclaimer of Warranties. You expressly understand and agree that:
    • The Software is provided by Wildlife Computers "as is," without warranty of any kind, expressed, implied, statutory or otherwise. All potential legal claims against Wildlife Computers arising from the use of the software are waived.
    • Wildlife Computers, specifically disclaims any liability with regard to any actions resulting from your use of the Software, you acknowledge use at your own discretion and risk, and you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from the download of any such material. Wildlife Computers assumes no liability for any computer virus or similar code that is downloaded to your computer from the Software.
    • Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, the limitation or exclusion of implied warranties, or limitations on how long an implied warranty may last, so the above limitations may not apply to you.
  7. Limitation of Liability
    • In no event shall Wildlife Computers, its officers, directors, employees, partners or suppliers be liable to you or any third party for any special, incidental, indirect, consequential or punitive damages whatsoever, including those resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether or not foreseeable or if Wildlife Computers has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or based on any theory of liability, including breach of contract or warranty, negligence or other tortious action, or any other claim arising out of or in connection with your use of or access to the site, services or materials.
    • Some jurisdictions prohibit the exclusion or limitation of liability for incidental, consequential or punitive damages. Accordingly, the limitations and exclusions set forth above shall not apply in the event they are prohibited in the jurisdiction to which Wildlife Computers transacts business.

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