UKC Forums - Garmin Astro GPS Dog tracking system

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- UKC Coonhounds (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=4)
-- Garmin Astro GPS Dog tracking system (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=167557)

Posted by Kenny Gates on 01-23-2008 03:41 PM:

FYI

Comm Settings & Frequency breakdown:

Freq. 1 151.820 MHz - Comm. Settings 0 thru 9
Freq. 2 151.880 MHz - Comm. Settings 10 thru 19
Freq. 3 151.940 MHz - Comm. Settings 20 thru 29
Freq. 4 154.570 MHz - Comm. Settings 30 thru 39
Freq. 5 154.600 MHz - Comm. Settings 40 thru 49

Freq. 4 and 5 are part of the business band which may cause additional interference with tracking.

KG

Posted by Qball on 01-23-2008 03:47 PM:

Just think about it >>> WORLD HUNT Final each dog is wearing one of these unit and the judge holds the receiver. This sure would tell the truth of where everyones' dogs are when treed...

Posted by Kenny Gates on 01-23-2008 03:58 PM:

Here is what Garmin has to say about using the power cord plugged into the Astro and charging rechargeable batteries in the unit (not designed for that):

FYI- ONLY

Dear Kenny Gates,

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

You would want the 12v adapter: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1148

Unfortunately, the Astro isn't designed to charge the batteries. Once external power is connected, power is routed away from the batteries.

With Best Regards,

Steven W

Product Support Specialist

2nd Shift Outdoor/Fitness Team

Garmin International

913-397-8200

800-800-1020

913-397-8282 (fax) Att: Steven W

www.garmin.com

Original Message Follows: ------------------------

I see Garmin sales a 12V DC power cable for most GPS. Can I use this same cable to power my Astro while in my truck and Will it also charge the NiMH batteries you sale as well?

Thanks,
KG

Posted by LABlues on 01-23-2008 05:29 PM:

I've tried to use the maps with google earth. The View menu on the mapsource shows the option to view in google earth but it is not active. Can someone tell me if I have to subscribe to google earth or am I misssing a step somewhere?

Posted by Kenny Gates on 01-23-2008 06:22 PM:

I bought Google Earth but my brother down loaded for free.

Also Check the time line between google and track made because if they are not the same it won't show.

KG

Posted by bigdavidbeebe on 01-23-2008 06:52 PM:

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Posted by Tainted Waters on 01-23-2008 09:23 PM:

....

Maybe this was covered in the many pages of this post but can someone tell me how long the return policy is on this system? Im asking because we are in the deep freeze right now and i wont be able to use it to hunt for a while yet. was thinking of waiting until spring when the leaves are on to make sure i got good tracking in dense cover but not sure i can wait that long. If its only 30 days (as most stores are with electronics) i will have to wait cause I dont hunt in these subzero temps will hold off hunting until it thaws and the coon get moving good.

Thanks in advance!

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Posted by Dan Dogs on 01-24-2008 12:57 AM:

i seen a ad on the astro in bloodlines. sold with a count R weight collar. also said it had a 5 mile range.. has anyone ever got that good of range with it??

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Posted by Kenny Gates on 01-24-2008 02:23 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by Dan Dogs
i seen a ad on the astro in bloodlines. sold with a count R weight collar. also said it had a 5 mile range.. has anyone ever got that good of range with it??

I field tested (for me only)this unit in a 10,000 acre rice field where the grass is knee high with tree lines and thin patches of woods. I sat on a hill in the rain and got 4.23 miles and even left my dog hunting on the lease one night (family emergency) and came back the next day and picked her up three miles away. Used the TOPO map and learned that she was near a road, drove around and she was laying on someones porch steps.

Took this system to the forest:

Hunted in small rolling hill country, with steep creek banks (3-8ft both sides) and thick cover where I sometimes have to crawl. I lost signal consistently at 960 yds but using the external mount antenna I have picked them up as far as 1.89 miles.

In the last week:

I’m only getting 200 yds of range in wide open country (fence post standing on a road) and 29 yds in thick cover so I think my DC 20 is bad.

Posted by Dan Dogs on 01-24-2008 02:53 AM:

i would send it back to see what the problem is. sounds like it worked good at the start. what exactly is a dc20 is it a charger?

Posted by Kenny Gates on 01-24-2008 11:45 AM:

It’s the transmitter (DC 20)and I just bought a second one. I have no problem pick it up and I’m going to send the other one in just haven’t got a round to it.

In rollin hills, thick cover and ect your range will very from .52 miles thru 2.2 miles(flat wide open woods).

If you go back a few pages you'll see the conditions and range.
I bought another tracker classic and I'll mount the DC 20'S on the strike collars because it doesn't get the range I need in rough terrain.

KG

Posted by josh on 01-24-2008 01:04 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Kenny Gates
I'll mount the DC 20'S on the strike collars because it doesn't get the range I need in rough terrain.

KG

If you hunt rough terrain, the strike collars probably arent going to be much better than the DC 20.

Posted by Kenny Gates on 01-24-2008 01:48 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by josh
If you hunt rough terrain, the strike collars probably arent going to be much better than the DC 20.

Had a system just like this for over 3 years with no problems.
Even found collars that fell off my dogs.

I was being cheap and traded it in for Astro and now I will have both.

KG

Posted by LABlues on 01-24-2008 02:42 PM:

Kenny G.....Sorry to ask dumb questions but I'm real good at it. I looked for some way to set the time lines in both google earth and the mapping software...with no luck. Could it be that that is only on a "pay for" version of GE ?

Has anyone used the free version of GE?

Posted by coondogless on 01-24-2008 02:53 PM:

There are some discussions on Astro and GE on the Trackmydog website that may help. http://www.trackmydog.bravehost.com/

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Posted by LABlues on 01-25-2008 04:47 PM:

Thanks.....I had to update the software and it works fine.

Posted by walkerman04 on 01-25-2008 07:29 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Dan Dogs
i seen a ad on the astro in bloodlines. sold with a count R weight collar. also said it had a 5 mile range.. has anyone ever got that good of range with it??

I had my on a beagle the other day (stupid a@@ beagle too) and i couldnt catch him. Decided to go home and get something to eat and i got 4 miles easily and then it would go in and out of signal for about another mile or mile and a half and then finaly lost signal all together. Yesterday i deleated the old hunt and it erased the collar imfo. somehow then last night turned the hounds loose and it was blank on the dog screen. I figured out if you know the # on the collar then you can manually put it in the gps or you have to have the collar right next to the reciever. Still trying to learn this system but i now know the # of my collar.

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Posted by GA DAWG on 01-25-2008 10:11 PM:

By grannys mine want get no where near 5 miles.Maybe a mile on flat open hardwoods!!!!! Called Garmin and they said one mile was average.Which is bull crap on what they advertise.. You need to make sure your 2 are picking each other up before turning out. I didnt the other night and it never did start working untill I got em back close together. I was hunting a pup and even at 10 or 12 feet it would not start working.

Posted by John D on 01-25-2008 10:17 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by GA DAWG
You need to make sure your 2 are picking each other up before turning out. I didnt the other night and it never did start working untill I got em back close together. I was hunting a pup and even at 10 or 12 feet it would not start working.

Thats what I've seen too. But last night I turned both off and on several times and every single time the receiver picked up the collar within a minute. I don't know what I've done different but its working better that way, here lately.

One thing that I found that I th ink makes a difference is to make sure your receiver is set for the kind of batteries you have in it. I was usuing NiMh rechargable and it was set on alkaline, for awhile.

I also noticed my collar plate is cracked. I got some thin steel and will be spending some time at the workbench this weekend, making a better one (hopefully).

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Posted by Outback1 on 01-28-2008 10:02 PM:

Posted by FSA46 on 02-02-2008 04:29 PM:

I talked with a Garmin Rep yesterday and have 2 new regular antennas and one stubby coming ( all for free ).

I spoke with the Rep at length about the problems with the transmitter and can asure you that they have heard all the complaints.

The up side is that with ALL this input coming from the field they will have a new transmitter that is designed from the people that are actually using them instead of the engineers.

I also mentioned that when the new transmitter comes out that all the owners of the DC20 should be able to swap them in for the new design at no cost or at very least a substantial reduced price.

If everyone that owns these units ( even if you are NOT having any problems )contactsGarmin we would have a better chance of getting better results.I know from my conversation with them that they are doing everything to accommodate the owners of these units.The call is free so take a minute to call.

With all this said,you still have to admit that these are still the way to go and are only going to improve over time.

Posted by swamphound on 02-02-2008 11:43 PM:

I agree if you ever used one of these I dont think you would ever use anything else

Posted by z sinnwell on 02-03-2008 02:22 AM:

Garmin, I called a Gramin Rep 2 days ago and he said that they had no plans of making a new collar right now. That is the second Rep that I have talked to and both said that they are happy with their product for right now. Also I asked both if they ever did come out with a new collar if an owner of a old collar could exchange it for a new one and both Rep's told me no. They said because it is a new technology they would not take back the older technology. I agree though that these are the way to go, when they are working there is nothing better than these things. Hope they get this collar thing figured out and a guy can exchange an old one.

John D- that plastic back piece of mine was always getting cracked until it finally broke, I had a friend use a cnc machine and made me an exact copy only out of aluminum. Lightweight and it will never break. Maybe try a machine shop, not sure what they would charge a guy though.

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