Tracking an errant eagle, at a price
As someone that tries to keep a weather station “on the air”, I am aware of data flow. Every two or three minutes, every day, my various sensors send out data bursts that happily are captured locally. If things “go down” (which they do), I get caught up eventually. Kind of fun to watch how the system keeps track of things that no longer matter.
But, to get back on track, I read a story today about some eagles. There are data sensors attached to the birds, and like my weather station, telemetry is sent out regularly. Except, it requires access to a cellular phone system to do so. And there’s the catch. According to the report, some of the eagles went wandering… across international borders. And we realize that cellphone systems just love to apply that roaming charge. In this case, one of the birds spent the whole budget for the department, and then some.
The telephone carrier (in this case, based in Russia) agreed to reduce charges because the birds really don’t have any way to pay (like their scientist friends). There’s talk of a preferential tariff, etc. I’m left wondering just how often this sort of thing happens. Is science in need of handouts, or can’t the various governments come to an understanding?
My own telemetry costs are covered by regular payments to our local internet provider (far too much money, but there is no other option). I have other data-creation ideas, but am too frugal to move beyond the borders of my own back yard. Perhaps with a short wave radio? Testing to commence, sooner or later.
