EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Whats everyones thoughts on this new system? 
http://www.dusupply.com/garmin-alpha-combo.html

Looks bada$$ I'm assuming it'll take dc 40 and dc 30 collars as well?

Hoping one day i'll be able to fill the 20 dog capacity  >:D

I'm not sure it says track up to 20 dogs with "TT units or Alpha units".  Also at the bottom it says "Frequency band: MURS (not compatible with Astro)".  Which is really gonna suck if it can't, espically at $300 a collar.

Agreed and at the price you would think they d make it capable of reading the other collars because I really don't need the shock collar on there. 300 a collar is pricey

I dont know about all of you but my money is limited and I cant see how are why anybody would need a unit that does anything more than the 220 are 320.  All I need is to know were my dog is what he is doing and how far he is away from me.  These two units do a excellent job of that and I perfer the 220 .  The shock thing might be nice but I aint got to have it and for the money I will just keep my old shocker I got.  Everything else is just bells and whistles and them trying to get that money but then again aint that what its all about in this world these days.  They wont get my money my unit does all I need and more .  They have done gone a little over kill now .

It's a good idea and all, but I'm with Jimmy on this one! Once I upgrade to the 320 that's all I'll need... that and another 4-6 collars... lol!  ;D

I in the market for a gps tracking system. What do y'all prefer? Garmin or another brand? Also if garmin which one 220 or 320?

I like my 220 never used a 320 but know a ton that have and most will tell you stick with the 220.

Yeah RyanTBH  I would rather just spend my money on some extra collars.

New one won't track DC30 or DC40.

If you hunt with others stay with a Astro 320 and DC40 collars.

If I hunted by myself I would buy the new system. It has got a lot of perks I would enjoy. If it tracked DC40 collars I would be ordering one.

I'll be keeping my current garmin system. I might upgrade to the 320 but I can't afford the cost of the new system and additional collars.

Where Is the best place and price for a new astro and collar and also which topo map did y'all get for your gps?

the best price I found on the 320 is sears on line , they had it for 450 with one dc40 collar , 150 dollars cheaper than most places , my buddy had a 320 and I had a 220 , he loaded my dogs in his and when I lost them on the 220 he would pick them up a lot sooner than I would as we went to the last place they where so I upgraded to the 320

Where did you end up going to get your map?

I'm confused why is the 320 cheaper than the 220?

The sport dog tek 1.0 does the same thing as this garmin dies and is 200$ cheaper and extra collars are cheaper to

I have a 220 as well and a buddy of mine had a 320 when he lost his dogs I was still picking them up on the 220 at 1.02 miles I guess it just depends

     
         the sport dog does not have the map functions of the garmin  .

It will not accept the dc40s or dc30s. I've already called garmin and they said it won't. If it would I'd prolly buy one because I'm fixing to buy a new shock system. It really ain't that bad of a deal if it works good. If you go buy a tri tronics and and garmin 320 you will spend more $. How much is a 1 year old 320 worth?

X's 2, if it tracked the dc collars i would seriously consider it but unless i win the lotto im stickin with the astro. 300$ a collar is stupid expensive!!!


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

Do you have one for sale? I'm lookin

Lacy man, I have a 320 and 3 dc40s with the cable antennas. I changed the collars to day glow collars so the are all different colors and have a long range antenna for the receiver and also have the little metal one that folds down and all the chargers. What's the whole bundle worth to you?

The collars being to much is really not a good argument seeing how if you buy a new dc 40 and a new shock collar your going to spend at least $300 and probably more. If your not upgrading for the all in one system theres really no need to upgrade.

Ethunters, its 135$ for a tri tronics collar and 200 for a dc40 and you have to buy two different hand helds.

 Not saying I'm going to run out and buy one immediatly, but I really do like the fact that the handhelds can communicate and track one another. Not only to know exactly where a buddy is if you split up, but also to locate and recover a lost unit. I can recall a few times that this feature would have definitely came in handy. I also like that the handheld is rechargable. I know I go threw AA's like crazy!  However, who in the world needs to track up to 20 dogs at one time??? And for all you guys who say your sticking with your 220s or 320s, eventually I'm sure they will become obsolete. Just like trying to find a basic cell phone these days and all they have are these freakin smart phones. Next thing you know, when the Alpha 200 comes out, Garmin will make us to pay 30 bucks a month for internet service!!

I think they will have to improve the range to do any good, the range advertised is a far cry from the range actually experienced, and the new one doesn't have enough of a jump in range to justify buying it. Another 2 miles advertised probably equates to another 400 yards in the brush, not worth it to me to spend another $1,000 to get that little of an increase. The shock collar feature is neat, but all my dogs are trash broke so it wouldn't get used much, if at all. 
Anthony

When they start incorporating a live feed camera relay from the collar to the handheld ill upgrade, until then my astro suits me just fine!!


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

It doesn't make sense that it wouldn't track the dc collars. The e collar feature is nice but even still there's nothing wrong with just putting a dc collar and e collar on at the same time. My prediction is that the high money bird hunters will jump on the new deal and you may start to see more used 220-320 units and collars on eBay.

I agree plp, the reasons they stated for not bein able to use the DC collars seems kinda dumb to me but who knows.


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

What was the reason they stated?

Because the new update rate was 2.5 seconds and they couldn't offer it with the dc collars and because the dc collars wouldn't offer the shock system.......seems like it would have been an easy enough option to add to the system.......


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

The alpha tracks on a different frequency than the astro. Something about a MURS frequency  ???

I didn't see that but I believe it, this is what I read off of gundogsupply

(http://img.tapatalk.com/aefd75b2-960e-2924.jpg)


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

Kinda makes me wonder if the e collar feature has a 2.5 second delay.........that'd suck for sure LOL

I dont see noting wrong with the 5 sec update and the 10 dogs tracking !   Hell if anything increase the range big time the hell with the other its fine the way it is .  Who runs 10-20 dogs at a time anyway really .

I often wonder why people would be shocking thier dogs several miles out. Unless you are a 100% sure that your dog is trashing, you run the risk of breaking your dogs off good game

The sport dog tek 1.0 is working on the mapping problem