RT Standard Transmitter – Marshall Radio Telemetry

Owner's manual. Transmitters

How to use the RT Standard transmitter

Use full power while you hunt. If the bird is lost for a long time, the transmitter slows its pulses to save the battery. Total life is more than 7 days. The light on the side shows the battery.

More than 7 daysTested past 120 kilometers, line of sightTap on and tap offRechargeable batteries from 2018

Getting started

Read the light

The light uses less than 1 percent of the power.

Green. Normal. The battery is good.

Yellow, and a double beep. Change the battery. About 2 to 3 days remain.

Red, and a triple beep. Less than 1 day remains.

Turn it on and off

Tap the case with the magnetic wand. The light color confirms the state. If you lose the magnet, take the battery out to turn it off.

Marshall magnetic wand on its keyring — The magnetic wand ships with the transmitter. Spare wands are in the store.

Install the battery

The RT Standard uses a 1/3N lithium photo battery. Marshall recommends the Duracell DL1/3N. Put the positive side toward the lid. The positive side is marked with a plus sign. Screw the lid on with your fingers. The round battery spring pushes back on the lid so it does not unscrew. The transmitter starts as soon as the battery is in.

Positive side toward the lid. Finger tight. It starts at once.

If a new battery is in and the light does not start blinking, tap the case with the magnetic wand to turn it on.

2018 and newer RT transmitters also work with Marshall rechargeable batteries. They give more power and work better below freezing. Start each flight with a full charge. Charger kits and extra batteries are sold separately.

Check it before you fly

Look over the case for wear.
Look at the antenna, especially the tip. Replace it as soon as you see a crack or bare wire.
Make sure the antenna protector is tight.

Replace the antenna

The antenna is 7 inches for ultra high frequency, and 13.25 inches for very high frequency. Use only a genuine Marshall antenna with Power Line Static Protection.

Unscrew the antenna protector.
Unscrew the old antenna with your fingers.
Screw the new antenna on hand tight. A small bead of quick-drying epoxy at the base is fine.
Put the protector back on.

Unscrew the protector, unscrew the old antenna, fit the new one by hand, then put the protector back.

Do not use liquid super glue or a thread locker. Super glue runs up the threads and bonds to the antenna stud. Unscrew the old antenna with your fingers only. Pliers can damage the transmitter.

What range to expect

Tested past 120 kilometers, line of sight. In hunting country the range changes with terrain. Hunts have run from 6 to 60 kilometers, depending on the height of the transmitter and the receiver, the ground, obstacles, and radio noise.

How it mounts on the bird

Match the photo to the hardware you ordered. The bird photos show the leg and tail methods. They use a GPS transmitter so you can see where the hardware sits.

Close view of a leg mount on a bird. — Leg mount on a bird. The transmitter in this photo is a GPS unit. The bewit sits beside the foot and the antenna points back.

A peregrine with a tail-mounted transmitter under the tail. — Tail mount on a bird. The transmitter in this photo is a GPS unit. It hangs under the tail and the antenna points down.

Point the receiver

The signal from the RT Standard is strongest when the receiver antenna lines up with the transmitter antenna.
A bird on a perch holds its tail nearly straight up. Hold the receiver elements straight up.
A bird on the ground can leave the antenna nearly flat. Turn the elements flat and listen again.
If you can hear the signal both ways, use the flat position to pinpoint the bird.

Receiver with a three-element antenna, elements held flat — The receiver with its three-element antenna. The elements in this photo are flat, the position for a bird on the ground. Turn them straight up for a bird on a perch.

Warranty

Marshall Radio Telemetry warrants that the RT transmitter will be free from defects of workmanship and materials for three (3) years from the date of purchase by the end user. Return a defective transmitter directly to Marshall Radio Telemetry and we will repair or replace it and return it free of charge. Damage from misuse or normal wear and tear is not covered, and the warranty is void if a non-Marshall antenna has been used. Marshall Radio is not responsible for damages or loss beyond the value of the transmitter itself, including but not limited to the loss of a bird or lost time.

This device does not interfere with television reception or Federal Government radar.

Troubleshooting

Work down this list before you change anything else.

A new battery is in and the light does not blink. Tap the case with the magnetic wand to turn it on.
The light is yellow and you hear a double beep. About 2 to 3 days remain. Change the battery.
The light is red and you hear a triple beep. Less than 1 day remains. Change the battery before you fly.
You lost the magnet. Take the battery out to turn the transmitter off.
A rechargeable pack seems weak in the cold. Start the flight with a full charge. Marshall rechargeable batteries, on 2018 and newer units, work better below freezing than a photo cell.
The range is short. Hold the receiver elements straight up for a bird on a perch, and flat if the bird is on the ground. If you hear both, use the flat position to pinpoint. Check the antenna for cracks or bare wire.