Welcome to Service Argos, Inc.

A Global Data Telemetry and Geo-positioning Services Company for North America

Argos is a satellite-based location and data collection system dedicated to monitoring and protecting the environment.

Argos lets you locate any platform equipped with a suitable transmitter, anywhere in the world, to within 150 to 1000 meters (using Doppler effect).  You can also collect data from sensors connected to the transmitter.  Over 10 thousand Argos transmitters are now operating around the world.

For a more detailed technical description of Argos, you may download the Basic System Description (about 830K in Acrobat Reader format).

The Argos system has been operational since 1978.  It was established under an agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, USA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, USA) and the French Space Agency (CNES).

Argos is operated and managed by Collecte, Localisation, Satellites (CLS), a CNES subsidiary in Toulouse, France and Service Argos, Inc., a CLS North American subsidiary, in Largo, Maryland, near Washington, DC, USA.

Argos is easy to use.  Your transmitter starts sending signals as soon as you switch it on.  The satellites collect the data and retransmit it to the Argos centers for processing.  Accessing your data is just as easy.  You can retrieve your results from anywhere in the world by public data networks, often within 20 minutes of transmission.

Another attractive feature of the Argos system is the small transmitters: 
-average daily power consumption is as low as a few milliamps, 
-miniaturized models can be as compact as a small matchbox, weighing as little as 15 g.
These features mean that Argos can be used to track small animals, such as birds.

The Argos receivers are carried on-board NOAA series satellites. At least two satellites are simultaneously in service (currently 6 NOAA satellites are in service with Argos instruments) on polar, sun-synchronous, circular orbits at 850 km altitude, providing full global coverage. You also have the possibility to receive your data in real-time due to our network of Local User Terminals/Receivers (see our Real-time Coverage Map). 

The success of the Argos system is largely due to its responsiveness to users' changing needs.  For example: 
-since 1989 CLS has set up regional processing centers in Australia, Japan and the United States to provide you with local points of contact and local access to your data, 
-in 1993 we set up a sub-system for sending users' meteorological and oceanographic data directly onto the Global Telecommunication System. 

The many exciting changes still to come include forward messaging to transmitters; in addition to the conventional inbound link from your transmitters in the field, you'll be able to send messages out to them.  This is scheduled for 2005, when the European Space Agency's METOP series joins the NOAA satellites in orbit.  The new satellites will also increase system capacity, supplying you more data more often.

General information to info@argosinc.com   Customer support to DUS@argosinc.com

Send mail to webmaster@argosinc.com with questions or comments about this web site.

Copyright © 2001 Service Argos Inc.
Last modified: August 25, 2005