Who makes the better gps collar, Garmin or SportDog and why?

Garmin still has it's problems. Buy a sport dog and let us know.

I've had horrible customer service from sport dog. Will never buy any of heir products again. I know of others that have had the same issues with them

Own a Garmin and the issues I've had I think are myself. Customer service was always helpful. My experince with Garmin product and customer srevice is very positive.
Never owned Sport dog, but know of guys that had issues with both the product and customer srevice.

Had issues with sportdog product; i'm searching for one too.

Bought a SD TEK 1 when they first came out. It gave me a little trouble when I first got it so I called their customer support and they sent me a brand new one FedEx priority, no charge. Have had no trouble since and this season bought a second collar and have had no issues whatsoever. If all you need to know is where your dog is and what he is up to the TEK 1 GPS should be fine and the e-collar is quite versatile. Garmin has some features that are not available on the Sportdog and if these features are important then get a Garmin. I just want to know where my dogs are and if on point so the TEK 1 is perfect for me.
I might add, the early problem might have been more operator than equipment. Since I really learned how to use it properly I have had zero trouble. No matter who makes it, user knowledge is big.

I've had a Garmin with 2 collars for 2 seasons, bought from LCS. Never had a problem, and the cust service was great when I had questions. Now, where's some wood I can knock on? Hopefully I'm not jinxing my Garmin.

All I use is yards and direction on my garmin. The yards are always right on but not the direction.

Same experience as Bill, in the course of the day the direction on my Garmin will be dead on for an hour, and then the next turn it will be about 30 degrees off, then the next turn it will be dead on and rinse and repeat. Its fine except in tall bluestem in Kansas, then it matters when you have a dog down

I mainly use only the compass screen as well. I have found that the compass goes squirrelly when the batteries need changing (whether the battery indicator say so or not). So the first thing I do, when the direction starts reading off, is to recalibrate the compass. If that doesn't work, then changing batteries will.

If I am not mistaken, Garmin recommends calibrating the compass every time you change batteries, and when you have changed locations by more than a few miles. I've had my present handheld since shortly after Garmin came out with the Astro 220 system. I have upgraded collars, but not the handheld. Other than what is noted above, I have had no real problems.

Like Pointer stated, had problems with the direction off about 15 minutes last hunt. Recalibrated still a issue. Then low battery light popped on. Changed batteries and issues disappeared. One of the units has been under water for 20 minute give or take a few minutes and still performs fine. Mainly use the compass, dog screen, and we mark alot of items. I recalibrate each time we start a new hunt.

I have the older Garmin Astro 220 with the older DC 30 collars. I have had no problems with anything. The only time I called garmin was to see if they had any updates and how to add another collar. The customer service department was kind and they knew there stuff well. You guys that are having the arrow pointing in the wrong direction it maybe that it to close to some type of metal. I use to have my Garmin mounted on my atv rack and it would sometimes give you a false reading. If you are holding it it may be having some interference with metal on you whistle landyard or something on your hunting vest. Also the older garmins are real picky about keeping it level. If the garmin is not level it can give you a false reading. I understand that the new astro 320 don't have to be level to work.
I always leave my garmin pluged in to the mule so I can't tell you about the battery life.

I am new to the forum and I hope I helped
Tyler

Tyler, you did mention what I forgot...the old Astro handheld must be held level to get a good direction from it. Very important. Battery life is much longer with lithium batteries rather than alkaline. Plenty worth the difference in price in my book.

Love my SD. I read above where their CS was poor, they were spectacular for me on a radio only collar, that's why I went to a GPS for hunting and bought theirs

Miracles still happen. It's good that there is competion.