A bench-grade commercial reader resolves tags at ranges and read-rates StreamTrack does not claim to match. That is the wrong comparison. The right one is a culvert with no reader at all versus a culvert with a $700 node logging passage events around the clock.
StreamTrack exists to fill the long tail of undermonitored sites — the barriers, road crossings, and tributary mouths where the commercial price-per-site has always meant zero coverage. It complements an agency's existing antennas; it does not pretend to replace them.
| Subsystem | Part / approach | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MCU + radio | nRF52840 + SX1262 (RAK4631) | BLE provisioning, 915 MHz LoRaWAN uplink |
| Tag reader | 134.2 kHz FDX-B front-end | ISO 11784/11785, compatible with deployed tags |
| Power | 6V/5W solar → BQ24650 MPPT → 2× LiFePO4 | charge floor near −20 °C for winter |
| Timekeeping | DS3231 TCXO RTC | timestamps survive uplink gaps |
| Buffering | on-node store-and-forward | 100% retention without gateway coverage |
| Enclosure | Polycase WC-24F, IP68 | copper mesh anti-fouling on wetted parts |
| Sleep current | ≤15 µA | duty-cycled wake on detection window |
In-stream deployment is anticipated under USACE Nationwide Permit 5 (minor discharges). No permit has been filed; this reflects the intended pathway, not a granted authorization.
Core reader and LoRaWAN path bench-tested. No field deployment yet; no validation against a commercial reference reader has been completed.
A single bench prototype with a live Grafana feed — the one artifact every funder and partner conversation depends on.
Hardware, firmware, and calibration procedures are planned for public release. Repositories are in preparation, not yet published.