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Wmwendler
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« on: October 13, 2009, 07:21:15 pm » |
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Everyone please list the average distance they get with thier long range antenna, as well as the longest maximum distance you have achieved with it and what type of canopy you usually hunt in. I for one was dissapointed on the Garmins performance in thick canopy which in the Brazos bottom in some spots you have the trees and then you have grape vines in the tree tops that make it that much thicker. My range with the regular antenna is about .50-.60 miles and when they are under a thick canopy the range is more like 400-600 yards(in which case I dont really need help finding the dogs)  . Range with the magnetic long range antenna is 1 1/2-1 3/4 miles and I have achieved 2 1/2 miles playing around in town with the Collar under a meduim canopy in my side yard. Funny thing is I lost the actual long range antenna part in a hay field before I ever even used it and ended up using a radio antenna from a chevy Suburban that i had lying around, which is a good bit longer. I Just screwed it on the magnetic base and works like a charm but I don't have anything to compare to the original. So that got me thinking........a radio antenna is a radio antenna and because the Garmin does not need a directional antenna any non directional radio antena should work? Why could I not get on of those big CB antennas and somehow hook it up the the Astro reciever If I could get the right wiring and fittings to make it connect it should work and might extend the range. Then again I dont really know if the problem is the radio signal between the transmitter and reciever or the GPS signal between the Collar and Satelite. In the latter case it won't matter how big of an antenna I have. Ok I am through rambling. Please give the range you are achieving. Thanks. Waylon |
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matt_aggie04
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« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2009, 07:33:02 pm » |
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Waylon Chris had one for a little while before it broke and I have seen it pick up at 2 miles by that time I am heading that way. The farthest I have seen mine pick up all factory is 1.17 miles. I have been wanting to buy a long range antenna I just haven't done it yet..
Matt
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"No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session" - Mark Twain (1866)
"I hate rude behavior in a man, I won't tolerate it"~Woodrow F. Call
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."~Thomas Jefferson
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Bryant
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« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2009, 08:15:55 am » |
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a radio antenna is a radio antenna and because the Garmin does not need a directional antenna any non directional radio antena should work? It will work, but a radio antenna is NOT just a radio antenna. An antenna is tuned for a specific frequency (or range of frequencies) and that is determined by the length of the antenna. To achieve the maximum range, you should determine the operating frequency of the receiver (I don't have mine with me, but it should probably say on the back) and get an antenna specifically tuned for that frequency. Lot's of people probably don't realize that on the regular radio collars, the antenna coming out of the collar is a very specific length. I learned about this from Quick Track. They use a plain piece of braided wire cable for their antenna's. Before they started soldering the ends to keep the cable from fraying, I had one that I cut an inch or so off because of that reason. Collar lost a LOT of range and when I called, I learned how I had screwed up. (As typical of their GREAT service, Quick Track DID drop me a new antenna in the mail...no charge) |
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A truly rich man is one whose children rush to fill his arms even though his hands are empty.
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USHOG
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« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2009, 09:33:15 am » |
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It works about the same as the short antena, but when you extend it all the way out you can normally pick them up at a little over a mile. This is thick oaks in river bottom land.
On open feilds with no trees straight line to the dog I have picked up signal at 13.5 miles.
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Wmwendler
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« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2009, 08:48:27 pm » |
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Thanks for the info Bryant, and I did not know that.
Waylon
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Bump
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« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2009, 09:45:46 pm » |
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I have the roof mounted antenna....Consistantly picks up between 1.5-2 miles....has gone as far as 2.5 miles that I can remember. The regular antenna on the astro varies but around 1 mile.
I live in central Texas and can usually get to a high position, if I lose signal.
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Rex Bumpus
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mporter
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« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2009, 09:37:16 pm » |
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FYI .... don't over tightin the antennas when you change them out. The antenna is soldered from the backing nut to the circuit board and will break easy. It will have to be sent to Garmin for repairs.
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LionandBoarHunter
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« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2009, 01:23:18 pm » |
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waylon i have a garmin and i have been getting good range out of mine here in the hill country in deep canyons thick cedar i have been getting up to 2 mile range out of mine. but the first one i had would only go out to about 900yds and that is with out the big antenna
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They Call It The Hill Country I Call It Home !
The more people I'm around the more I like my dogs !!
ROOT HOG OR DIE
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Wmwendler
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« Reply #8 on: November 15, 2009, 07:22:35 pm » |
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waylon i have a garmin and i have been getting good range out of mine here in the hill country in deep canyons thick cedar i have been getting up to 2 mile range out of mine. but the first one i had would only go out to about 900yds and that is with out the big antenna
Did you have to buy a new one? mporter what happens when the solder breaks? Waylon |
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LionandBoarHunter
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« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2009, 08:22:02 pm » |
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yea i bought another one the first one i had wasnt workin right so i got pissed off and sent it all back and one of my buddys came down and hunted with me and his worked great so i got another one and it has work really good like i said i got 2 to 3 miles out of my new one with out the big antenna and if it looses signal it picks it right back up quick
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They Call It The Hill Country I Call It Home !
The more people I'm around the more I like my dogs !!
ROOT HOG OR DIE
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mporter
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« Reply #10 on: November 15, 2009, 09:00:16 pm » |
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mporter what happens when the solder breaks?
The hand held wont pick up a collar past 75 yards....Did have good luck working with Garmin to get it fixed although I was with out a tracking system for 2 weeks. |
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Wmwendler
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« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2009, 09:36:42 am » |
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Mporter......I am glad you said that because I think thats what wrong with mine right now...
also Lionandboarhunter I always though that my garming did not quite stack up to what everyone else was getting with thiers which was the reason for me posting this originally.
Waylon
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Dirtydog
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« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2009, 10:16:05 pm » |
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I HAVE ONE OF THE OLDER UNITS AND I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SHORT RANGES ALSO . LOOSE SIGNAL ABOUT 900 YRDS. HOW IS GARMINS CUSTOMER SERVICE ?
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Danged ole dirtydog !
LIVING THA DREAM !!!
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ETHHunters
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« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2009, 09:03:18 am » |
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I know if your going to call them call them early in the morning soon as they start taking calls.
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BULLMASTER
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« Reply #14 on: November 29, 2009, 01:05:55 pm » |
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I got 1.5 to 2 miles depending on what type of terrain I was hunting on.I made one trip in the Panhandle with it and lost the dogs in less than 30 minutes.It am glad to see Lion had good luck with his in the canyons but mine was useless up there.I sold it as soon as I got back.For southeast Tx they work great but not around the Childress area unless I got a lemon.There isnt alot of hog doggers up there like there is down south but the few I have met warned me not to cut the dogs loose with that system but I did anyways and spent 2 days looking for dogs,never again.
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Florida Curdog
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« Reply #15 on: November 30, 2009, 06:29:56 pm » |
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If you are on a hunt with this system will it pick up somebody else's collars that might be in the area with a Garmin ? I don't own one but plan on getting one and was thinking about this.
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Smiling like a killer
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LionandBoarHunter
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« Reply #17 on: December 02, 2009, 04:00:01 pm » |
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I got 1.5 to 2 miles depending on what type of terrain I was hunting on.I made one trip in the Panhandle with it and lost the dogs in less than 30 minutes.It am glad to see Lion had good luck with his in the canyons but mine was useless up there.I sold it as soon as I got back.For southeast Tx they work great but not around the Childress area unless I got a lemon.There isnt alot of hog doggers up there like there is down south but the few I have met warned me not to cut the dogs loose with that system but I did anyways and spent 2 days looking for dogs,never again.
the first one i bought wasnt worth a crap iwent to ok. to hunt and it kept loosing signal as soon as i got home i sent it back and then bought another later on and it works great so you may of had one that was a lemon i think idid |
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They Call It The Hill Country I Call It Home !
The more people I'm around the more I like my dogs !!
ROOT HOG OR DIE
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coach
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« Reply #18 on: December 03, 2009, 10:17:49 am » |
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I found that the other one that magnetic mounts to the truck gets better performance.
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"You don't need more dogs, just better one's.!!!" --- my Dad lol
"Life is tough, it's even tougher when your stupid!!!." The John Wayne
"Be good, or be good at it!!!"
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aricb
Hog Dog Pup
 Offline
Posts: 13
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« Reply #19 on: February 03, 2010, 10:37:40 pm » |
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I have picked them up 5 miles in the absolute best conditions with the magnetic mount antenna from on top of a hill in the truck. The dogs were in the same place as they were when I lost them at .7 miles with the regular antenna. All depends on terrain and brush thickness. If you know how to run it, it is hands down better than the telemetry system, it will pick up dogs good when the old ones won't beep.
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