Hi Everyone
We'd like to do some pet dog tracking but are having a hard time finding a good tag. We used to use i-got-U's but they don't seem to be available. There are a ton of new pet dog trackers but they all seem to be networked, so they can charge you for the live data. We don't need live data, would like a unit to last a few weeks, ideally, then take it off, get the data, recharge the battery, and send it off on another dog. I've been looking around for other small GPS loggers that are less expensive than the fully-engineered widllife tags (which also usually don't have replacable batteries) without much luck. Anyone have any suggestions?
thanks
Roland
14 January 2022 11:46am
Hi Roland,
Yes, i-gotUs being discontinued is a huge pain! I've struggled to find a simple data logger too. Almost everything 'similar' nowadays has bluetooth, Wifi or cellular etc., rather than just storing data onboard. The closest I've found (but not used myself) is something like the SparkFun OpenLog Artemis (which I notice is on backorder): https://www.sparkfun.com/products/16832, along with one of their compatible GPS units -
ZED-F9P 1cm High Precision GPS
NEO-M8P-2 2.5cm High Precision GPS
SAM-M8Q 1.5m 72 Channel GPS
ZOE-M8Q 1.5m Compact GPS
NEO-M9N 1.5m GPS
SparkFun has a great tutorial on using the Artemis here: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/openlog-artemis-hookup-guide/all
It looks pretty configurable and has reasonable sleep current draw on paper. There's some good tips on configuring throughout the hookup guid (e.g. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/openlog-artemis-hookup-guide/all#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20using%20long,up%20delay%20using%20Option%203. and https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/openlog-artemis-hookup-guide/all#:~:text=ARTEMIS%20UPGRADE%20INSTRUCTIONS-,Low%20Power%20Considerations,-Ambiq%2C%20the%20manufacturer).
I'd be very interested to other suggestios myself!
All the best,
Rob
Rob Appleby
Wild Spy
14 January 2022 12:16pm
oh and I just saw this: https://github.com/sparkfun/OpenLog_Artemis_GNSS_Logger
14 January 2022 1:10pm
Thanks, looks proming, wonder when they will be back in stock... let me know if you get to try one out.
Rob Appleby
Wild Spy
14 January 2022 2:05pm
If it helps, Mouser is reporting stock: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/SparkFun/DEV-16832?qs=sGAEpiMZZMv0NwlthflBi4Bkt46E%252BjQUbQ2%2F%2FYSlakQ%3D
And Pimoroni has four left apparently: https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/sparkfun-openlog-artemis and four M8Qs https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/sparkfun-gps-breakout-zoe-m8q-qwiic
If you do these, please let us know how it all goes.
Cheers,
Rob
Rob Appleby
Wild Spy