In the Fall Semester of 1997, three students in Dr. Ken Hoover's Vertebrate Zoology class undertook this project. The basic idea of radio racking is to attach a transmitter to an animal. The transmitter emits a signal that can be picked up by a receiver. When a directional antenna is plugged into the receiver and pointed directly at the transmitter, a strong signal is received. As the antenna is pointed away from the transmitter, the signal fades.
Studies aimed at determining aspects of movement mostly use portable equipment.
When several animals within the same area all carry transmitters, each has a different frequency allowing individuals to be identified. The animals weight, shape and behavior determine the weight, life and shape of the transmitter package it can carry and how it will be attached. The former consists of just an oscillator whereas the latter consists of an oscillator and an amplifier stage. The single stage transmitters have a shorter range and are used when the species is too small to carry a two-stage transmitter. A transmitter has an antenna which is either loop or whip.