Most transceivers in use today have the ability to fire virtual tag codes on a schedule to ensure that the equipment is capable of detecting a tag when it is in the field. Before these were widely available, PTAGIS used external timer tags to do the same thing. The terms Virtual Test Tags (VTTs) and timer tags are often used interchangeably.

 

Virtual test tag codes must be registered with PTAGIS so that they can be identified and automatically filtered out of interrogation reports after data submission. PTAGIS uses a report like one shown below to monitor individual antennas. A timer tag report is also available in Advanced Reporting - Shared Reports - QA/QC for site stewards interested in monitoring the success/failure of timer tags at their sites.