Use of the transponders is straightforward. A transponder is active as soon as the battery is inserted. So, there is no chance of forgetting to activate or switch failure. A transponder self test can be initiated at any time by knocking against the transponder with a pen or a wrench three times in 5 second intervals. The transponder will reply with a beep pattern indicating its status and the remaining battery life.

The torpedo transponders (TLT-46, TLT-48 and TLT-50) fit readily into standard mounting holes on the torpedos, where they replace the mini pinger. The TLT-40 is designed for mounting on a ROV or instrument package. It can be mounted externally using a bracket. For better protection, it can be sunk into a hole cut into the vehicle’s syntactic foam.

The long life transponders can be tracked from surface vessels with either our PILOT™ system or the O.R.E. Trackpoint™ 2 or LXT system. Desert Star also offers equipment for underwater tracking of the transponders. Use the DS-1 diver station for diver operations or model VLT-3 for transponder tracking from a ROV. Using "interrogate interval coding," it is possible to selectively track up to ten transponders. Interrogate interval coding can also be used to prevent interference between the long life transponder and other transponders operating on the same frequency.

The transponders are factory configured, sealed, tested and documented to meet your needs. Field re-configuration is possible, however, through internal switches and serial data download.