How much does the upload interval really buy you
A tracker that dies mid-walk stops being a tracker. This calculator takes only four numbers from the product manual, the battery capacity, the standby current draw, the charge used by one location upload and the upload interval, works out the uploads per hour and the average current draw, and reports how long a full charge lasts. Change the interval alone and you can see exactly how much longer a slower upload rate buys you.
Radios and power management differ so much between devices that no published table of run times by model could be verified. All four values are therefore yours to enter, and the formula used is printed with the result. Run time is worked out from the unrounded average draw and shown to one decimal; the average draw itself is only rounded to two decimals for display. Current as of October 2026.
Capacity fading with charge cycles, weaker output in the cold and retries in poor coverage are not modeled here. Real run time lands below the calculated figure, so leave yourself margin. Fit the collar or harness loose enough for two fingers underneath so it does not chafe, and take it off to check the skin if anything looks sore. This tool is for reference only and does not replace veterinary care. Contact your veterinarian right away if you notice symptoms or suspect a problem.
Frequently asked questions
The maker's support team or the spec table on the product page often has it. If it is nowhere, do not invent a figure: charge the unit fully and time how long it actually lasts.
Only by as much as it trims the current the uploads add. On a device with a heavy standby draw the gain is small, and the result line shows that difference plainly.
Cold weather and weak signal push the real draw above the printed figure. Work backwards from your measured run time and enter that as the average draw to match your conditions.