Inexpensive can be difficult to do with GPS tracking.  One solution has been worked out by some wildlife researchers in Australia at CSIRO.  Please see below their youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaSvS0grVjw .  This group used a VHS transmitter which increased expense by a factor of 6 and decreased battery life.  Using a data logger version of the GPS receiver the battery life would be increased and cost reduced.  

Most of the details are contained in their paper in which is available from Research Gate.  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Euan_Ritchie/publication/277385807_A_cost-effective_and_informative_method_of_GPS_tracking_wildlife/links/558340f108ae89172b85d911.pdf

If you contacted the authors directly they may be able to help you with additional techniques for your tracker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaSvS0grVjw

Article A cost-effective and informative method of GPS tracking wildlife

Hi Zara, building collars for < $200 USD that'll last months and do 30 min to hourly fixes should be easy enough. Feel free to email me directly

Hello Zara - hope you are well and having lots of adventures.

It might be useful to know exactly what you require from your GPS trackers.

Do you need to find the animals position in real time?

What sort of GPS accuracy do you require?

Do the need the collars to have a remote drop off device?

Do you need to be able the find the collar (ie with a VHS system/) or will the goats be herded back in for collection?

Most of the cheap pet trackers you refer to use mobile phone networks and sms so not suitable for your needs.

We have a project in Bangor that is currently using a version of the daily diaries pioneered by Prof Rory Wilson at Swansea

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/texas-showcase/showcasespeakers/rorywilson/

Might be worth investigating - I'm sure he would be interested in your project

Good luck

Rory

Hi Zara

A cheap option is a Track Stick GPS, which is about the size of the lartge memory stick. It will be easy to fit on a collar for a goat. Depending on factors and settings you can get fairly detailed data for about six weeks from two AAA batteries. Their website link below.

There are similar products from other companies.

Regards

Christiaan

 Hi all,

Thanks very much for your responses! I have sent enquiries out to the various companies/individuals suggested. With regards to my requirements, here's a bit more detail:

• Around 6-8 fixes a day minimum (more the better, but obviously a power constraint)
• Record during day only (to save power)
• Battery life of several months (minimum)
• Store on board data (real time tracking not required, and there’s no cellphone coverage in the study area)
• GPS accuracy of approx 10m
• Can withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to +35 degrees celcius
• Goat attachable and 'goat-proof' (though this probably applies more to the attachment system, be it a collar or a harness)
• Waterproof (not much rain but it does happen, plus the goats stick their heads in water troughs)
• No drop off function needed (goats are herded daily and devices can be removed by the herder/researcher)
• Doesn’t require VHS functionality (doesn’t work in the study area)

Upon further investigation it looks like a simple datalogger is what I'm after...but one that matches the above requirements might take a bit more hunting!

Thanks again.

yo, you could try an i-gotu GT-120 or GT-600, although not sure how the battery life is. It might pay to contact Yolanda van Heezik ([email protected]) she had a student GPS tracking Royal Albatross and I think they utilized an i-gotu.  

Thanks Damian! I'll get in touch with her now. 

We are also planning to deploy GPS loggers to livestock and looking for a cheap and reliable option. 

i-gotu GT-120 or GT-600 sounds like a good option, but I wonder if there has been any new device with better energy efficiency. Any insight on the battery capacity for an i-gotu  to record at hour intervals for over one year?

Zara, what system did you decide to go for?

Thanks!

 Hi, Zara Morris-Trainor,

Did you find any of good solution for your job?

Also i looking for gps (with collar) for goat in southern Mongolia?

If you have good idea please share?

i have found one video it may helpful :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaSvS0grVjw

Thanks, 

Boogie

Hi Boogie, 

That's my video and research. If you need any further information, please feel free to email me at [email protected] 

Cheers

Blake

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay...I haven't checked this website in many months! I field-trialled a device from Catnip Technologies (http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/) at the end of last year and first impressions were very positive. They now offer customised scientific devices. We were only able to deploy the two devices for two days but both achieved fixes whilst attached to the goats. They even tracked our position on our 7 drive back to the Gobi capital when they were packed into a rucksack at the bottom of a luggage pile. They cost USD90 each and will apparently last around 6 months (taking 6 fixes a day, but they can be programmed to take more). They have a lithium battery for withstanding cold temps and come in a watertight PVC tube. They're light (100-200g) and small and easily attached to goats using a simple collar (see the pics attached). I'm going to order more for this November's field trip. 

Let me know if you have any further questions!

Cheers,

Zara