© Dominik Behr – University of Zurich
VERTEX Lite Collars
Based on our long-term experience in developing and manufacturing GPS collars and inspired by our customer’s projects, we have designed the VERTEX Lite collar. This reliable and efficient GPS collar combines all basic features regarding collar programming, battery size and Drop Off option to meet your requirements for GPS monitoring for all mammals starting at 15 kg body weight. For long-range communication you can choose either 2-way IoT communication or satellite communication (2-way Iridium or 1-way Globalstar). Also, you can choose your field replaceable battery from 1C cell up to 7D cells depending on your animal species and required project period.
Other important collar characteristics are the smaller housing, the lower weight (minimum 300g) and the wireless communication interface via USB Remote Stick or USB Bluetooth Stick.
- Communication Options
- Standard features
- Integrated Sensor Package
- Collar Shape and Batteries
- VERTEX Lite IoT
- VERTEX Lite SoB
- Datasheet
- Iridium
- Globalstar
- IoT
- Basic 3-Axis Activity Sensor recording pre-processed data
- Mortality Sensor
- Temperature Sensor
The VERTEX Lite collar is available in three collar shapes to ensure an optimal fit across a range of species:
- Round: primarily designed for carnivores
- Oval: primarily designed for herbivores
- Oval-Round (oval top, round bottom): suited for species such as equids and wild boar
To accommodate different study species and deployment requirements, VERTEX Lite collars are available with a range of interchangeable battery sizes:
- 1C battery for small species (collar weight starting at 300 g)
- 1D-5D battery for medium to large species
- 7D battery for large species, such as buffalo, and for extended deployment periods
An optional Drop Off can be integrated into the battery, enabling non-invasive collar release and retrieval. Both standard battery housings and battery housings with an internal Drop Off can be easily exchanged by the user, even in the field.
VERTEX Lite IoT combines the proven features of our VERTEX Lite GPS collars with energy-efficient IoT communication based on NB-IoT and LTE-M networks. For more information about IoT communication, coverage requirements, and data transmission, please visit our IoT Technology page.
- Extended battery life: Energy-efficient IoT communication and flexible scheduling help minimize power consumption and support long deployment periods.
- Long-term monitoring: Regular transmission of collar data, combined with energy-efficient IoT communication and flexible scheduling, supports extended deployment periods and long-term wildlife studies.
- Large-volume data transmission: Supports larger data packets, enabling the transmission of up to 59 GPS positions per message, basic activity data, and temperature information.
- Included data package: Each collar includes a VECTRONIC Aerospace SIM card and a 500 MB IoT data package. Depending on the transmission schedule and amount of data used, this can support up to 10 years of operation. Additional data packages are available for approximately $15 if the included data package is exhausted.
- Easy setup: Connectivity is included, reducing the administrative effort required before deployment.
- Remote two-way communication: Adjust VHF beacon, GPS, and data transmission schedules without retrieving the collar.
- Integrated VHF beacon: Supports on-site animal tracking.
- Mortality notifications: Notifications can be sent by email and, optionally, SMS when a mortality event is detected provided the collar is inside network coverage.
- Flexible scheduling: Advanced GPS and data transmission scheduling provides a high degree of programming flexibility.
- Data storage outside coverage areas: Data remain stored on the collar and are marked as unsent when network coverage is unavailable and are transmitted automatically once connectivity is restored.
- Lightweight design: Despite a slightly larger housing for the IoT electronics, VERTEX Lite IoT is approximately 15 g lighter than VERTEX Lite Iridium and VERTEX Lite Globalstar.
- Wide collar size adjustment range: Accommodates a wide range of neck sizes and study species.
The VERTEX Lite Store On Board collar is a data logger without remote communication options. It is equipped with the same high sensitive GPS device as the whole VERTEX Lite series and uses the same durable and animal-friendly materials. Data can be downloaded wireless via UHF Remote Stick or Bluetooth Stick. It is a suitable solution for livestock applications, but also for wildlife studies with high recapture rates.
| battery type |
Globalstar 1 position send per message |
IRIDUM 12 positions send per message |
GSM 8 positions send per message |
no data communication | weight (without Drop Off) |
| 1C | 120 – 178 days | 150 – 253 days | 179 – 349 days | 225 – 576 days | starting with 250 g** |
| 1D | 120 – 445 days | 376 – 634 days | 449 – 874 days | 563 – 1440 days | starting with 450 g** |
| 2D | 632 – 936 days | 790 – 1331 days | 944 – 1835 days | > 3 years | starting with 610 g** |
| 3D | 993 – 1471 days | 1242 – 2093 days | > 4 years | > 5 years | starting with 810 g** |
| 4D | 1384 – 2051 days | > 5 years | > 5 years | > 7 years | starting with 1010 g** |
| 5D | > 5 years | > 6 years | > 7 years | > 8 years | starting with 1180 g** |
| 7D | > 7 years | > 8 years | > 8 years | > 8 years | starting with 1480 g** |
| *example calculation for following settings: GPS schedule with one GPS position every 2 hours, the VHF beacon active for 12 hours per day with Pulse Length 20ms, Period Length 1500ms, Output Power +10 dBm and no additional features running in 0°C ambient temperature **weight varies depending on belt configuration and communication type, add 70 gram for collar with Drop Off |
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