GPS Dog Tracking - Garmin Astro combo
Hey all,
Kuma, my shikoku, is 8mo old and we are starting to do more wilderness hikes. I'm going to be taking him mtbiking a lot when he is older including long alpine rides. all off leash obviously. He's been pretty good at recall so far but one never knows what will happen when a deer crosses our path....
I've been considering a gps collar (esp the bright orange version - Kuma looks too much like a coyote in colour) and it looks like the Garmin Astro 320/220 receiver and DC 30/40 collar/transmitter are the way to go (can't really find much else!) but are pretty pricey at ~$600.
- anyone tried this combo or other combos? thoughts?
- anyone selling a used set?
- anyone know of a good online seller with lower prices?
- if there is enough interest, perhaps some store/site will give a group buy? @jikjak @dlroberts @BradnJess @hondru and any others interested?
if you know anyone else on the forum who may have some input, please wrap them into the conversation.
Tx!
Kuma, my shikoku, is 8mo old and we are starting to do more wilderness hikes. I'm going to be taking him mtbiking a lot when he is older including long alpine rides. all off leash obviously. He's been pretty good at recall so far but one never knows what will happen when a deer crosses our path....
I've been considering a gps collar (esp the bright orange version - Kuma looks too much like a coyote in colour) and it looks like the Garmin Astro 320/220 receiver and DC 30/40 collar/transmitter are the way to go (can't really find much else!) but are pretty pricey at ~$600.
- anyone tried this combo or other combos? thoughts?
- anyone selling a used set?
- anyone know of a good online seller with lower prices?
- if there is enough interest, perhaps some store/site will give a group buy? @jikjak @dlroberts @BradnJess @hondru and any others interested?
if you know anyone else on the forum who may have some input, please wrap them into the conversation.
Tx!
Comments
Best place to buy a good used set right now is eBay. There's also new one at a unbeatable price on there also. Also try lion country dog supplies.
@Eljefespeaks - I'm actually more interested in the Sportdog Tek 1.0 right now. It tends to be slightly cheaper than the Astro. From what I've read, it's less GPS focused and more dog tracking focused. The difference is subtle. The Astro is a full featured GPS with maps that localizes you and your dog(s) on those maps. The Sportdog simply gives you direction and distance to your dog(s). But, it also combines an e-collar which I find to be an invaluable safety tool when you've got a high-drive dog off leash.
@Eljefespeaks Brad and I have been discussing a tracking collar for a while. He found a GREAT (but $$$) one from the UK, I'll have to ask him and post about it later. It's not bright orange, but we were considering sewing some reflectors on his harness so he doesn't get mistaken. It's excellent anti-theft, too. Its got an "uncuttable, untamperable" lock and collar that sends out an emergency signal if anyone tries to remove it. Great consideration for us because we want to go hiking with him and I am very very uptight about him getting away AND dog thefts are a scary reality in this neck of the woods.
I would be interested in a group buy on another collar, though*. But I'll get the name of the other collar we were looking at and see if maybe we would be more interested in that?
*A group buy may need to wait until May or so, we'll be graduating this April (TWO MORE WEEKS!!!!!), and may have good summer jobs lined up, but finances are slim ATM.
Edit: Found the website, they're "Retrieva Collars": http://www.retrievatracking.com/
it looks like it will also be good to use for hunting.
what are the best prices you guys have found?
its also easy to ship to pt. roberts,wa if some places wont ship to canada as well.
Only problem with the Sportdog brand is its not a map based tracking system, it will only point to where the dog is located and from what I have heard the signal is not as strong as the Garmin. It would be a good first step tracking system for just walks but if you track in a area with steep terrain and hills the signal may not be good enough to track.
@BradnJess - that Retrieva collar system from the UK is useless here as it doesn't work if there is no cel reception. Fine for the UK or any area where there is (near) full cover. I had a number of email exchanges with them and they would have made a custom one for Canada (way too expensive at 800) and then I realized that it only works if there is cel reception (and they confirmed it).
is it easy and handy to use? does it work well?