The Fat Bird, Ugly Dog Podcast

23. Kevin Harcourt of Marshall Radio Telemetry (Part 2)

February 09, 2024 Al Franke Season 2 Episode 23
23. Kevin Harcourt of Marshall Radio Telemetry (Part 2)
The Fat Bird, Ugly Dog Podcast
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The Fat Bird, Ugly Dog Podcast
23. Kevin Harcourt of Marshall Radio Telemetry (Part 2)
Feb 09, 2024 Season 2 Episode 23
Al Franke

Kevin Harcourt of Marshall Radio Telemetry and I continue our discussion on the Marshall GPS system. We turn our attention from what Kevin refers as the user-selectable modes (HD, ECO, EXT, and SLEEP) to the two automatic modes that users do not have direct control over, those being Turbo mode and Reserve mode.  We talk in detail about the factory settings associated with Reserve mode, including the implications associated with battery longevity in the event that the factory settings are modified.  We conclude our discussion on the system with a brief reminder that the GPS transmitter also houses an RDF beeping module, and we discuss the temptation to forgo use of a backup transmitter. Before turning our attention to various field scenarios,we go over the system start-up sequence (start AV, then power-up the PL, followed by the transmitter, then allowing a 5 minute soak time, starting record, and then releasing the bird); I ask whether the start-up sequence critical, and if not, why should falconers still follow the recommendation? We close out the episode discussing several field scenarios that encompass varying degrees of uncertainty ranging from a typical straightforward flight with low uncertainty to an extended chase where uncertainty is high. 

Show Notes

Kevin Harcourt of Marshall Radio Telemetry and I continue our discussion on the Marshall GPS system. We turn our attention from what Kevin refers as the user-selectable modes (HD, ECO, EXT, and SLEEP) to the two automatic modes that users do not have direct control over, those being Turbo mode and Reserve mode.  We talk in detail about the factory settings associated with Reserve mode, including the implications associated with battery longevity in the event that the factory settings are modified.  We conclude our discussion on the system with a brief reminder that the GPS transmitter also houses an RDF beeping module, and we discuss the temptation to forgo use of a backup transmitter. Before turning our attention to various field scenarios,we go over the system start-up sequence (start AV, then power-up the PL, followed by the transmitter, then allowing a 5 minute soak time, starting record, and then releasing the bird); I ask whether the start-up sequence critical, and if not, why should falconers still follow the recommendation? We close out the episode discussing several field scenarios that encompass varying degrees of uncertainty ranging from a typical straightforward flight with low uncertainty to an extended chase where uncertainty is high.