These problems can make research results inaccurate. The researcher must be very careful while working in the field. In the early days, one of the biggest problems was the size of the transmitters. Early radio transmitters were bulky and the batteries lasted for only a short time. Over the last thirty years, the improvement in miniaturization of electrical equipment has shrunk the transmitters.
Batteries are smaller and now last for weeks and months instead of just a few days.
Even now, with all the improvements in the radios and batteries, the biologist is still frustrated by equipment failures. An animal might appear to have settled, so the researcher sets off to investigate. Most researchers have spent many frustrating hours tracking down an animal through thick brush only to discover the radio transmitter lying on the ground. Animals have the amazing ability to get the most secure radio collar off of their necks. Another problem that occurs is that the animal might move before the biologist can take a second fix.