garmin vs. regular tracking system

[levibarcus]

I'm looking at getting a finished dog and with that investment I would like to get a tracking system. I don't know whether to get a garmin or regular tracking system. The garmin is more $$ but would be really nice. The only thing I'm worried about with it is losing signal when I need it most. I guess the best of both worlds would be to run both at the same time on my dogs, but I can't really afford one let alone two systems. Last week I had pups cover a lot of ground on a track and if it weren't for one of them being open I wouldn't have known even what direction they were. What is ya'lls opinion?

[Circle C]

My opinion is to buy the Garmin and a radio collar in the 217.xxx range. If something goes wrong with the Garmin, you still have time to locate the dog with the radio collar. Just post up a message on ETHD that you need help tracking a dog in your area and I am sure someone would come help out. You should probably be able to get a radio collar for less than $100.00.  Or if you want, I have a Tracker Intello collar that needs to be sent in for service. You can have the radio collar for free, and it will probably cost you 50 bucks or so to have it serviced.

PM me if you are interested in the radio collar.

[Mike]

If had to choose one or the other... it would be a radio collar.

I can always track my dogs and other's when the Garmin fails.

[Boar Collector]

Get a garmin. I've had mine pick up a dog 2.2 miles away. And if you do lose communication you can almost always pick em back up. Once you see how a Garmin works you realize how rediculous(even though reliable) those darn beeping systems are.

[Nickjones]

There has been many times i have lost communication with my dog at 800 yards. Now i do have a long range for it but i have lost communication with the long range before. I run radio collars with my garmin so when that happens i can still find them. I have had no probs finding dogs with my radio collars.

[bghogdogtx]

Get a radio, Yes Garmins are nice but loose signal alot, expecaly if you hunt alot of hills and hallows, If you use a radio you will just about always know where your dogs are, and if you loose signal with a radio it dosent take near as long to pick them back up.

[BIG BEN]

 Get a radio. There cheaper, more reliable, and a whole lot less complicated. When the garmin becomes a true gps tracker Ill get one of them but until they do Ill stick with my Quick Track.

[sp]

I used a buddy's long range antennae for the Garmin the other day.  We had lost signal at 1.6 miles.  Plugged in the long range and immediately picked them up at 2.1 miles.  Had 3 dogs together, and had to drive out to the highway to go get them.  At one point we were 4.1 miles away, and still tracking 2 of the three dogs.  The long range antennae is a great investment for the Garmin users.  I think they are about $40.00   

[Bo Pugh]

get a quicktrack, garmins are nice but the only real downfall i see with them if the collar goes under water you loose signal, and you can find that alligator with a quick track not with the garmin.

[M Bennet]

use old faith ful wildlife 10 miles to 1 1/2

[TexasHogDogs]

Wildlife!

[hoghunter_1985]

well in my opinion its garmin hands down. i have one with 4 collars and i have lost signal but pick them back up quick. our country is full of hills,valleys,dense woods, and canyons. i bought a long range antenna ($40) and havent lost a signal since i have picked dogs up with it over 4 miles away. plus u can see what direction exactly how far and what your dog is doing. instead of listening to a beep to see witch direction your dog is and dont know for sure how far or what its doin.

[HogzgoneWild]

IMO it depends on the areas you hunt. I use a Garmin and love it, but I hunt palmetto thickets and relatively flat terrain with dense brush. But have been in areas with lots of hills, slews, gulleys, draws and the Garmin loses connection more than its connected.

[JDJP]

When i first started hunting with friends we had nothing but wait and listen.
So a garmin was a huge step up for me. I have hunted with guys who had radio, and you have to stop get out oof the truck, unfold the antenna, play with the nobs then get back in he truck and go.

where as with a garmin you could be watching the screen in the truck and getting in a good position.

radio seems better if you like to use it after you havn't seen or heard the dog in a while.

If you want to stay up to speed and be able to glance at a screen the garmin is best.

But both would be the way to go if you could afford it.

With my dogs and the areas I get to hunt, I don't need the super long range.


Its funny how many times my garmin has said treed quarry(bayed or cought) and I couldn't hear anything till we got close.

[bignasty]

are any of them beeper tv antenna trackers waterproof?

[catch-n-tie]

to me the garmin is easier to use. you do lose signal from time to time. but that is greatly improved with the long range antennae. but even if it does it tells you where the dog was at last signal. just head to that spot and you will pick them up on the way. and you know if your dog is heading out or coming back in. if hes coming back in just sit and wait. the garmin almost tells you what the dog is thinking.

[Jacob]

looking for another Garmin collar now....I love how convenient it is but for some reason the plastic housing on the collar broke leaving me thinkin I had a dead dog in the water...was it the water or a broken casing or both....Ive used both and Im still Garmin Faithful!

[bignasty]

My opinion is to buy the Garmin and a radio collar in the 217.xxx range. If something goes wrong with the Garmin, you still have time to locate the dog with the radio collar. Just post up a message on ETHD that you need help tracking a dog in your area and I am sure someone would come help out. You should probably be able to get a radio collar for less than $100.00.  Or if you want, I have a Tracker Intello collar that needs to be sent in for service. You can have the radio collar for free, and it will probably cost you 50 bucks or so to have it serviced.

PM me if you are interested in the radio collar.

does the 217 freq have an advantage over 216/219/220/221?

[chainrated]

big nasty I think the only advantage would be that the 217 freq. is what more people have so he would have a better chance of finding someone who could track his collar..
The telemetry systems are more reliable when you get out to distances of 3 or 4 miles and I used to say that if I could only have one it would be a telemetry system but I have changed my mind. The garmin is just so much easier and tells you so much more that If I could only have one I would just take my chances with the garmin. But Circle C has a good idea with just getting you one telemetry collar and using it just in case..

[Circle C]

BIGNASTY,

    Matt/ Chainrated is correct, the reason I stated a 217.xxx is that 217 happens to be the most common frequency used. So in theory it should be easier to find someone that can track 217.xxx than one of the other frequencies.  I keep a Quick Track 6000 with me, so that I can track any collar if the need arises. I also know that I would get out of bed in the middle of the night to track any one of my friends dogs if they should the need should arise. I personally have only needed the radio a couple of times when the dogs got out of range of the garmin. I was thankful to have a radio collar on the dog, and a receiver on my Mule with me.