SPOT tags are highly versatile, cost-effective satellite transmitting tags designed for tracking horizontal movements of free-ranging marine animals.
When at the surface, SPOT tags send out short transmissions to the Argos satellite system. Consecutive transmissions received in a single satellite pass are used to calculate the location of the transmitter. Locations are available in near-real-time with accuracies as high as 250 meters. Global coverage by the Argos system allows animals to be tracked over long distances and in remote areas. Wildlife Computers SPOT tags are widely used and are one of the most published-on marine satellite tracking tags on the market.
A SPOT tag works best for marine animals that routinely spend time at the surface like sharks, albatross, penguins, sea turtles, pinnipeds, and cetaceans.
SPOT tags come in a variety of shapes and sizes for a variety of attachments. We have, or can create, a solution that works best for your research animal.
This user guide gives you all the essential information needed for interacting with, configuring, and deploying this tag.
USB Communications Cable Driver – 29-March 2023
Driver for the Wildlife Computers USB Communications cable.
Administer settings to your tag.
Below are the physical specifications of the SPOT. Numerous shapes are available with the same feature-set technology.
Model | Taxa | Tracking | Sensors | Transmitted Data Products | Life (days) | L x W x H (mm) | Weight (g) | |||||
Time Series | Dive Behavior | Haulout Behavior | Temperature | Mortality | ||||||||
Histos | Profiles | |||||||||||
SPOT-177R | Cetacean | Argos | Temp | ✓ | 130 | 98 (L) x 22 (D) | 140 | |||||
SPOT-177S | Cetacean | Argos | Temp | ✓ | 130 | 145 (L) x 22 (D) | 180 | |||||
SPOT-196 | Shark | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 130 | 82 x 19 x 52 | 55 | ||||
SPOT-203 | Penguin | Argos | Temp | 1490 | 129 x 36 x 32 | 192 | ||||||
SPOT-365 | Cetacean | Argos | Temp | ✓ | 340 | 57 x 48 x 24 | 57 | |||||
SPOT-257 | Shark | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 1290 | 162 x 57 x 20 | 160 | ||||
SPOT-275 | Penguin | Argos | Temp | ✓ | 170 | 86 X 17 X 18 | 40 | |||||
SPOT-287 | Hard-Shell Turtle | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 540 | 70 X 41 X 23 | 72 | ||||
SPOT-293 | Pinniped | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 915 | 72 x 56 x 24 | 119 | ||||
SPOT-399 | Cetacean | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 130 | 180 x 19 x 26 | 65 | ||||
SPOT-303 | Cetacean | Argos | Temp, Light | ✓ | 540 | 300 (L) x 24 (D) | 390 | |||||
SPOT-310 | Leatherback Turtle | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 1,490 | 86 x 86 x 21 | 169 | ||||
SPOT-317 | Leatherback Turtle | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 1,490 | 128 x 72 x 21 | 180 | ||||
SPOT-352 | Hard-Shell Turtle | Argos | Temp, Light | ✓ | ✓ | 920 | 72 x 56 x 22 | 129 | ||||
SPOT-363 | Asset Recovery | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 170 | 57 x 27 x 21 | 43 | ||||
SPOT-364 | Shark | Argos | Temp | 130 | 122 x 47 x 19 | 53 | ||||||
SPOT-367 | Penguin | Argos | Temp | ✓ | 300 | 107 x 18 x 21 | 45 | |||||
SPOT-372 | Cetacean | Argos | Temp, Light | ✓ | 540 | 293 (L) x 24 (D) | 390 | |||||
SPOT-375 | Hard-Shell Turtle | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 915 | 99 x 55 x 21 | 152 | ||||
SPOT-380 | Shark | Argos | Temp | 170 | 87 x 37 x 23 | 62 | ||||||
SPOT-387 | Hard-Shell Turtle | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 170 | 59 x 29 x 23 | 39 | ||||
SPOT-395 | Hard-Shell Turtle | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 740 | 75 x 40 x 19 | 86 | ||||
SPOT-420 | Shark | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 370 | 111 x 44 x 20 | 62 | ||||
SPOT-424 | Asset Recovery | Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 370 | 111 x 21 x 20 | 57 | ||||
SPOT-425 | Shark | Argos | Temp | ✓ | 370 | 187 x 64 x 50 (with fins) | 108 | |||||
SPOT-426 | Shark | Argos | Temp | ✓ | 170 | 145 x 37 x 38 (with fins) | 77 | |||||
SPOT-F-398 | Cetacean | Fastloc, Argos | Temp | ✓ | ✓ | 130 | 180 x 19 x 26 | 68 | ||||
Model | Taxa | Tracking | Sensors | Transmitted Data Products | Life (days) | L x W x H (mm) | Weight (g) | |||||
Time Series | Dive Behavior | Haulout Behavior | Temperature | Mortality | ||||||||
Histos | Profiles |
* Conductivity Operational Limits can be customized for freshwater applications. Please contact Wildlife Computers to
learn more.
** Specification is dependent upon the configuration model. You can see different SPOT configurations here.
For more information, visit our website at www. wildlifecomputers.com, send an email to tags@ wildlifecomputers.com, or call (425) 881-3048.
Tag features and specifications subject to change without notice
Antenna length not to scale