GPS/E Collar Combos

What are the best options? What has been you're experience with your unit?

Garmin Alpha. Been using them for two years and they have worked great.

I still use two different collars. Cracker is my last dog. My friend has the combo and seems to have some trouble getting to the shock feature. He has a double and seems to have trouble getting to the right dog. I'd still go to the Alpha if I planned to continue hunting.

Alpha all the way

After doing some research it appears Garmin Alpha is the way to go, but they sure are proud of them. Dogtra has one but it does not look user friendly at all and you have to pair your phone to the device.

I have the garmin alpha and like it most of the time. The main issue is the accidently hitting the screen so it changes to a different screen all the time.

A friend of mine has the sport dog one and he likes it.

All I want out of my GPS is direction and distance. I plan to give my current one away when I'm done. My biggest complaint is the AA batteries rather than the rechargeable one in my handheld whatever.

You can lock the screen on the alpha. The alpha could be a little user friendly but I really like it. Thought I wouldn't use the shocking feature but I set up the buttons near the top for different dogs so all I have to do is remember which buttons go to which dog. I think right now garmin has a rebate going on.

Alpha
Been using 1 since 2013

Alpha all the way...but spring for the watch too. My wife got me one for Christmas and it has totally changed my view of Garmin.

It is so much easier to read, even with three dogs out. No more need for bifocals in the field. (YMMV) No need to shift your gun around and fumble with getting back to the right screen. No more beeping from the screen lock every time the Alpha bumps your chest or pocket.

[quote=bill oxner]All I want out of my GPS is direction and distance. I agree with this. I could care less about anything that does not pertain to where the dog is and what it is doing. That is why I use and prefer Sportdog equipment over Garmin. I hunt with people regularly who use Garmin equipment and I can see no advantage. I find that the track and train feature on the Sportdog TEK1 much easier to use as well. Sportdog is coming out with a new handheld that is supposed to be an improvement that will use the newer TEK2 collars but still be a basic unit that tells you location, distance, how fast the dog is traveling, and on point. That's enough for me.

I recently purchased the Dogtra Pathfinder gps/ e collar and have only used it on a 2 day hunt. I like it so far. My main concern going in was the battery life on my phone while using it but it didn't end up being an issue. It used about 50% battery for a half day hunt, charge during lunch and good to go for the afternoon. I only use 1 collar with it but could see how using multiple collars could be an issue when using the e collar.This is my first gps unit so I don't know how it compares to the others.It sure makes the hunt much more pleasant. I've been quail hunting for 25 years and don't know how i ever lived without one.

Thae comment about having a time getting to the shock feature of Alpha is not valid if you set it up right. I keep mine set where the button on the left bumps the dog wearing the black collar. The button on the right always bumps the dog wearing the red collar.
I only use the compass display, because, like Bill, I only care about what direction is the dog, and the distance to him. Everything else is fluff as far as I am concerned. It always has worked great for me.

I own an Alpha, it's been good. I only have one dog and usually just need to vibrate her to come around or at least she will look back and I can direct her when I want to change direction or hit a sliver of cover she missed... my old pro trainer collar has a much better vibrate. The alpha is a little weak. I like vibrate cause I prefer to stay quite.

I use the middle button with the bump on it for vibrate. Left is for her warning...a weak momentary and right is continuos high shock.


I like looking at the map to see how we did covering the field. It's paid for itself twice when I went back and hit a corner or some cover and the birds were there.
I also like the map for when I'm in thick cover cause I can see where she is and be confident in not going to miss her on point. No more bells.
I don't have anything to compare it to but the alpha is good. I like the lights as well when we take her for late walks in town

Ok. Here is a dumb question....I've looked at the tracking collars from bass pro and like places....soooo expensive...all I need a tracking collar for is to find a lost dog, so why would a pet tracker from amazon not work? They have one that will go world wide for 79 bucks! Waterproof even.would that not work to find a lost dog?

You are going to be disappointed with that junk. You can buy a Sportdog TEK1 tracking unit for one dog from Chewey.com for $399.95. It will do what you say you need and more. I don't think you can get in business with decent equipment for less than that. I just bought one from them couple weeks ago and it works good.

I'm sure it is prolly junk. But if it is sold for kids?.........

I love my garmin alpha. I just wish there was a way to install a plug over the antena plug for stand alone use.

Hey guys, I've been following this thread because I have been looking for a solution to keeping track of and training my Catahoula. The Alpha looks like a great possible option. Here's my question, for those that have one can you set up boundaries on the unit that will correct the dog if they cross? Like an invisible fence type setting but on a much larger scale? Pepper likes crossing fences at my ranch. If so take my money now. I tried finding this answer on the Garmin site but am having trouble locating an answer. Thanks in advance! John

I've never run coon or hog dogs but I've always been told don't correct a dog if they don't know what they are doing wrong. it doesn't seem like a good idea to be correcting a dog when he is just running or trailing a scent and you're not around.

I like the Astro for tracking only. And a separate e collar. My ecollar transmitter hangs off my belt so I can get to it right now. Timing is everything on the ecollar. Fumbling around from a tracking screen to a correction means your too late

I was going to say the same but held back. I have the Alpha. It is a good piece of gear. I also have an Astro and a TT/Garmin ecollar. I prefer the function of the dedicated ecollar remote for both training and hunting and it is what I run. My Alpha is now a high dollar backup. It works fine but compared to having a dedicated ecollar remote, it is cumbersome. The only advantage for me was having only one collar and remote. I settled on the two collar setup after running both. I did install grommets on my vest to hang both remotes from so they are handy. For a while I threaded the TT collar unit onto the Astro collar but now I just put two collars on the dog. For those that prefer the Alpha, even though pricey, they are less $ than the Astro 430 and a quality ecollar.

http://www.strohmanenterprise.com/

This is a good source of Garmin products if you are current LEO or military. I'm not sure if the prices apply to veterans or former military. Worth checking on though!

I had the same question. I fear the Alpha is not for you. It does have distance alerts, but it does not automatically correct like an invisible fence. Its features basically work while you are paying attention. It is not something you would put on your dog and then go to work.
It has two features: 1) Distant alert. 2) Geofence. The distant alert beeps on your handheld to alert you that your dog has gone beyond whatever distance you have set from the handheld (100 yards, 1/2 mile, whatever). Geofence works by walking the edge of your property with the GPS handheld and setting that as the boundary. That SOUNDS like what you want, but I haven't used it. Here again, it is not automatic. You have to have the handheld on and in reach. It beeps to tell you dog has crossed line. You have to respond with tone, correction, whatever. Also, I think I recall reading somewhere that Garmin says it works best with a small area, an acre or something.
Gundog supply has an explainer of the geofence. http://www.gundogsupply.com/garmin-alpha-15.html

Thanks for the explanation ! I appreciate the feedback.

I don't have any problems getting to the e collar buttons on my alpha. Can get to them and change dogs as fast I can with any other remote. If I'm training i've usually only got one dog out or at least only one dog that is likely to need correction. The buttons are right up top ready to use at all times. Doesn't get much simpler. Just be prepared. I had my e collars and dc 40's on the same collar for years but had carry two remotes. never again.

I use my Alpha for hunting or just letting the dogs run, when letting dogs run I use the geofence on 3 to 50 acre tract depending on where I am.