T-Border
The compact high-performance GPS collar, in 4G or LoRa. A position every 10 minutes, up to 12 months of battery life, under 100 g. Sold at cost price.
The T-Border was born from a simple observation: in the field, more than 60 % of needs come down to three words, position, movement, crossing alert. We built the device that does exactly that, with nothing superfluous, and we pushed it further than anything in its category.
It does not do everything. It does what matters, better than the others.
Where consumer GPS trackers last 15 days and agricultural GPS trackers exceed 200 g, the T-Border transmits every 10 minutes for months, weighs 36 or 81 g depending on the version, and fits any collar. It comes in two networks, 4G LTE-M where mobile coverage exists, LoRaWAN where it does not, and that is what makes it universal. Same Alpes-éco firmware, same batteries you swap on site with a simple tool.
And because the economic situation is hitting farms, we sell it at cost price: 140 CHF, first year of service included. It is the écho Essentiel range, every farm's way into the system, without waiting for better days.
Against the market
The figures that matter for an entry-level GPS collar, side by side.
| Consumer GPS trackers | Agricultural GPS trackers | T-Border | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 30 to 60 g | over 200 g | 36 g or 81 g |
| Battery life | 2 to 15 days, to recharge | a few months | 4 to 12 months, batteries replaceable on site |
| Rate | adjustable, at the cost of battery life | 1 every 20 to 180 minutes | 1 every 10, 15 or 20 minutes |
| Network | 4G, SIM card to manage | 4G or LoRa | 4G LTE-M or LoRaWAN, connectivity included |
| Price | 50 to 150 CHF plus monthly subscription | 200 to 400 CHF plus subscription | 140 CHF, first year included, then 56 CHF per year |
Market values taken from manufacturers' public data sheets, orders of magnitude. T-Border values are from our measurements in clear sky, with the recommended batteries.
How many devices do you really need?
Equipping 10 % of the herd, or any other percentage, is a sales promise, not a result. A figure without context means nothing.
In most cases, one device is enough. If your herd stays together, one equipped animal tells you where all the others are. 3 devices at most, and only if you want analyses and reports, because a statistic needs several measurement points. If your herd splits into groups, count 1 device per sub-group.
You equip what you want. We tell you what each setup lets you see.
The device
A compact GPS tracker, in 4G LTE-M or LoRaWAN, accurate to under 25 m, with an internal memory that keeps every position when the network is missing and sends it as soon as it returns. It does the essentials of animal monitoring, location, movement detection, crossing alerts, and does it for months without being touched.
Two networks to choose from, 4G or LoRa, and two formats, same electronics, same Alpes-éco firmware, same C format fixing: the C-S on AAA cells for light animals, the C-M on AA cells for the best battery life. The transmission rate is chosen, 10, 15 or 20 minutes, and it sets the battery life, identical in 4G and LoRa.
4G LTE-M or LoRaWAN, Alpes-éco firmware- A position every 10, 15 or 20 minutes, 72 to 144 messages a day
- GPS accuracy under 25 m
- Up to 12 months of battery life in the C-M version, up to 6 months in the C-S, depending on the rate
- Internal memory, no data lost off network
- Replaceable batteries in the field, with a simple tool
- Two activity levels, rest and ordinary
- Crossing and incursion alerts for the Geo-Zone
- 36 g or 81 g, injection-moulded IP67 housing, waterproof to one metre
- Two networks, 4G LTE-M or LoRaWAN, chosen according to your pasture's coverage
Battery life by rate and version
Measured in clear sky with the recommended batteries, identical in the 4G and LoRa versions. The longer the interval, the longer the device lasts.
| Transmission rate | C-S version, 36 g, AAA cells | C-M version, 81 g, AA cells |
|---|---|---|
| Every 10 minutes, 144 positions a day | 4 months | 8 months |
| Every 15 minutes, 96 positions a day | about 5 months | about 10 months |
| Every 20 minutes, 72 positions a day | 6 months | over 12 months |
The 15-minute rate is an estimated intermediate value. Actual battery life varies with network coverage, temperature and the batteries used: any cell other than the recommended model cuts it by 30 to 40 %.
Data collected, every 10 to 20 minutes
Here is a real transmission, as it appears in your app, once processed by our calculators.
Last connection
Battery level
Signal quality
Activity
Altitude
GPS distance
Elevation
DDL
Weather temp.
Hygrometry
Pressure
THI index
ConditionsWhat the T-Border makes possible
The App-écho modules this device gives access to, and the one that stays out of its reach.
Crossing and incursion
Alerts when leaving a Geo-Zone and entering a forbidden Geo-Zone, with a record of every episode.
Locomotor energy cost
The CEL is computed from distance, duration and elevation, so without an accelerometer. The module is available.
Prevention system
The device feeds the prevention system and the signalling of the herd's presence in the field.
The one thing it lacks is activity analysis. With no accelerometer, the T-Border tells rest from movement, but measures neither intensity nor behaviour. For that you need the Tracking Prime or the Kraftleben LoRa.
Two networks, two formats
Each format comes in 4G LTE-M and in LoRaWAN, with the same battery life and the same price. Injection-moulded housings, IP67 certified, waterproof to one metre. Unlike the Alpes-éco solid-machined POM housings, they are moulded, so less resistant to bites and horn blows. Not recommended for cattle and guardian dogs.
C-S version, compact
For young animals, lambs, guardian dog puppies and calves, anything that should not carry more than a few dozen grams. Lateral or under-neck mounting, clamp fixing, collars 30 to 50 mm horizontally. Battery life of 4 months at a position every 10 minutes, 6 months every 20 minutes.
C-M version, large format
The full-season version, for sheep, goats, horses and herding dogs. AA 1.5 V Energizer Ultimate Lithium cells required. Lateral or under-neck mounting, clamp fixing, collars 30 to 60 mm horizontally. Battery life of 8 months at a position every 10 minutes, over 12 months every 20 minutes: a whole summer season, and the winter with it.
Mounting guidance, format C
The C format fits under the animal's neck or on the side. Collars are 30 mm minimum and 60 mm maximum in horizontal mounting. In vertical mounting there is no width limit. Dedicated brackets are available.
- Under the neck, écho logo up, cover down
- On the side, cover against the animal, the bell acts as a counterweight
- Collars from 30 mm, 60 mm maximum horizontally, no limit vertically
These moulded housings stand up to bites and horn blows less well than solid-machined POM. For cattle and guardian dogs, we recommend the Tracking Prime or the Kraftleben, with their IP69 certified housings.
Compatible animals
Assembled in the Canton of Geneva
