Winter is a difficult time. As well for the Nature, as for advanced technology. Most devices fitted on animals which naturally do not follow the sun, stop operating. Fewer news on their movements can be found. Full of hope awaiting spring and sun stories fill up the media. Aquila devices are an interesting exception. The reason is simple - for us winter is a particularly busy time.
From the beginning one of our datalogger production's objective was durability within harsh conditions - weak light and low temperatures. This premise remains valid also today, when with the experience gathered throughout the years, obtaining hundreds of datasets during sunny and warm days makes no challenge at all. Almost every logger can that. Survive real winter can only few. Deliver research data throughout winter remains quite of a challenge. The past experience has proven that in this aspect Aquila solutions stand out on the market. Neither due to implementing out-of-space technology. Nor costly solutions. But due to long-term harsh-condition testing. During most unsuitable winter time. We perform various configuration', size', dimensions' adjustments. We come up with new ideas. And before offering them to the market, there come long-time testing phases during winter time. For a simple reason - if they pass the tests now, they will as well prove its worth on researched animals.
How do we perform tests? An example in the attached photo. This particular model was designed in autumn and after fine tuning was set outside on 20th November. With only half-charged battery. The temperatures outside have been from +10 to -5° Celsius. Maybe 2 sunny days so far. Apart from them, grey and gloomy 5-hour days with rain (or even snow) breaks. Despite such circumstances, the logger delivers every 1-2 days some 2-4 datasets. Yesterday, after a sunny winter day (-4° Celcius), the battery load showed higher values than while when it was set outside over one month ago. Weights only 16 grams and is designed for falcons which migrate for winter to warmer zones anyway.
And some words about prices - 800 euro for a device is the lowest I could find for such a unit on the net. Despite it, and without problems, you will find manufacturer's pages stating their products are "the cheapest in the world". It is called "the magic of marketing".