Get a Motus station
By installing a Motus station, you’re not just supporting a collaborative global initiative for migratory animal conservation science and research – you’re actively participating in it! With a station at your home, school, research site, or organization, you can support and engage in ongoing research, access data visualizations, and promote education on animal migration and monitoring technology. It fosters community engagement and outreach opportunities. Take a glimpse at the movement tracks of some incredible migratory animals through our Explore Dashboard.
What is a Motus station?
At the basic level, a Motus station is comprised of one or more antenna that detects radio signals from tags, a receiver that interprets radio signals, a power source, and a structure that everything is affixed to. The setup of a station can be flexible and adapted to meet the needs of the host and site. Below are some examples of station installations at various locations around the world.Examples of Motus stations
Find more detailed information about Motus stations here: Motus Station Guide
What makes a site suitable?
Key factors for site suitability include unobstructed views for antennas, usually the highest point on the surrounding landscape. This may be a hill or other prominent feature, shoreline, a station attached to an existing building, or a standalone station that exceeds the height of any nearby trees or features. Along with the strictly necessary, there are some other features that make some sites better than others:- Unobstructed line-of-sight for the antennas is essential
- Fills a gap in the network (20 km or more away from the next nearest station)
- AC power adds reliability and reduces cost compared to solar and battery setup
- Internet (WiFi or hard wired) allows regular data uploads and quicker identification of issues
- Existing structures to attach the antennas to (like an unused TV or communications tower) can lower the cost of installation and increase long term durability
- Ease of access keeps time and travel costs down for installation and maintenance
Motus staff are happy to discuss whether your site is suitable: Contact us
Responsibilities of a station host
Ultimately, the station owner is responsible for arranging the necessary station checks and maintenance. At minimum, it is appreciated when the host lets the station owner know if something appears wrong with the station. The host can get more involved in maintaining the station if they choose. Hosts can volunteer to check their station to ensure it is functioning properly, download data, and/or provide maintenance when necessary.What does a station cost?
If you’re looking to host a station without any particular Motus tagging project in mind, it’s possible there are researchers in your area that would have equipment for you. See our page on Regional Coordination Groups to find your regional coordinator and let them know about your interest in hosting a station.
The cost of a station varies widely depending on the configuration of the station, number of antennas, needs for power, ease of access of the station, etc. We generally offer an estimate of roughly $7.5-10K as a ballpark for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of a “typical” station. In some cases, where existing infrastructure is already in place and can be used, the cost can be significantly lower. For installations in remote areas, or which require specialized contactors to install, the cost could be higher. See Table 1, Table 2., and Table 3 below to estimate station costs.
Cost of annual visits
Each station should be visited at least once a year, or twice if data must be downloaded manually. Station visits consume a considerable amount of resources; our estimates place each station visit at $500 each, based on cost of travel, employee hours, lodging, and food. For this reason, having stations on the internet, either with Wi-Fi, Cellular, or Satellite data, allows you to remotely monitor the station and reduces the total cost of maintaining your station over the long term.Table 1. Motus station base cost and setup time
| Part | Equipment Cost | Setup time |
|---|---|---|
| Receiver | $1500 | 1 hour |
| Antennas | $2500 | 2 hours |
| Total | $4000 | 3 hours |
Table 2. Motus station structure equipment costs and setup time
| Station type | Equipment cost | Setup time | Example image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bracket to a building (heavy duty) | $1000 | 3 hours | |
| Bracket to a building (light duty) | $250 | 2 hours | |
| Pre-existing tower | $0 | 0 hours |
|
| Standalone light duty (up to 50 ft) | $2000 | 5 hours | |
| Standalone heavy duty (up to 70 ft) | $5000 | 5 hours | |
| Standalone rock-anchored (up to 20 ft) | $2000 | 4 hours | |
| Non-penetrating Roof-mounted | $600 | 2 hours | |
| Temporary standalone | $1000 | 3 hours | |
| Temporary standalone mini | $250 | 1 hours | |
Table 3. Add-on costs and setup time
| Part | Equipment Cost | Installation time | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular data | $150 | 0.5 hours | $350 |
| Satellite data | $750 | 0.5 hours | $800 |
| Solar power | $1500 | 1.5 hours | $0 |
| Solar power for cold weather | $2000 | 1.5 hours | $0 |