Registered: Nov 2013
Location: Bruington,VA
Posts: 47

dose everyone's astro 320 and dc 40 collars lose signal at 3 to 400 yards sometimes less?

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Mercer PA
Posts: 4837

I had a big issue with mine and found out it was my LED head. If I used a regular head or different light my signal distance at least doubled.

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Registered: Nov 2013
Location: Bruington,VA
Posts: 47

Mine dose it sittin in the truck with the antena hooked up

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: West Plains, MO
Posts: 778

Yes, mine is getting very annoying. The other night I had one hound and for half the hunt the garmin showed a question mark? I was thinking maybe my long distant antenna was coming loose. Is there any other cures. Would retrofitting long distance antennas on the garmin help you think?

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Registered: Nov 2013
Location: Bruington,VA
Posts: 47

I have no clue bc i have a long range antenna still nothing lost two dogs at 50 yard last hunt things junk to me about to go back to my qt beep beep garmin gets negative review from me

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: airville pa
Posts: 586

i have regular antennas on dc 40 and the 320 mine will start to loose signal at 800 yards at this time of year

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Registered: Aug 2012
Location: MO
Posts: 284

I have 320 with 40's and I get close to a half mile then it will go in and out. I have had problems in the past with antennas on the collar going bad that is where I would check first.

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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: palatka,fl
Posts: 63

Sounds like a antenna problem. The 40 collars were the worst for that. Put a tough skin antenna on it and that should fix the problem. Maybe clean the antenna connection also. If that don't work upgrade to a Dc 50 collar you will be amazed at the difference.

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Registered: Feb 2014
Location: Western NY
Posts: 895

Check and see if that threaded copper piece that your antenna screws onto is snug.


Mine worked loose to the point where I could wiggle the antenna back and forth. That's when I noticed I was loosing signal the most

DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN!!!! Grab onto it with a set of vice grips and turn it until it gets snug. If you want to be that person and tighten it a little extra, you could break the wiring inside the garmin and then it's gunna cost $$$ to fix

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Registered: Jan 2012
Location: Goshen,Ohio
Posts: 2679

I've had problems with my 320 handheld since it was new.They said I could send mine in and get a refurbished one for $180 bucks.I don't have the extra money so I just deal with it.You would think the first $800 bucks I spent with them would get a good warranty!

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Registered: Nov 2013
Location: Bruington,VA
Posts: 47

Mine is forsale now what a waste of money

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: KY
Posts: 644

quote:

---

Originally posted by WoodsALLBlue
dose everyone's astro 320 and dc 40 collars lose signal at 3 to 400 yards sometimes less?

---

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Registered: Aug 2014
Location: swmo
Posts: 8

I've got a 220 nothing but trouble had it a year quit using it no signal new antena you name it I've had moretrouble with it in a month than iI've had with a beep beep in 20 years

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 4312

your biggest problem is running a 40 collar,they are junk.But to be helpful,take the collars out of the unit and re add them.Also might try a reset of the handheld.Also are all (unit and collars)current on updates?If not update them, Garmin products are like anything else you buy there can be some bad ones.

As to the Sportdog Trex I sure hope they work better than their E collars.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: East central Illinois.
Posts: 1702

I have the 220 handheld with a fold down metal antenna. Use the DC30 collars (stock antenna). No complaints after 4 years. Love the system, will not turn loose without it. Range is fine. At 800 plus yards will loose signal off and on, but if I move to high ground and extend the antenna I can pick them up "off and on for 2 miles". Then I drive closer. 95 nights out of 100 dogs are inside of a mile, so having the accurate location of them is far better than a beep beep. I have a good old reliable beep beep stored away, it has not been turned on in 3+ years.
This Garmin system is the best money I have spent on hunting gear in 28 years. This system has allowed me to get lots more sleep than I use to.

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Registered: Not Yet
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Posts: N/A

The Garmins are not junk. Some of you may feel that way but the bottom line is if you take a little time and learn about them and when something starts to go wrong you understand what it is, a simple fix can be made.

First when you purchase one you have a years warranty. All to often I talk to people that say they didn't work from the beginning and they just put up with issues and now they won't work at all and the warranty is out.
That is really not Garmins problem. You are the one that accepted something not working and let the warranty run out.
Here is my solution to that. If you have a system and something is wrong contact the dealer you purchased it from. If they are actually a dealer they should be able to replace the unit for you. If not Garmin can still help and replace it for you. What I am saying is get it fixed, don't accept it not working. The blame might be yours if you do.

Most of the time I find that something goes wrong and no correction to that problem was made. Then something else goes wrong or was messed up trying to fix the first problem. Then it gets real complicated to straighten out.

Now that I may have seem harsh and I apologize, let me offer this. If you have a Garmin and I don't care where you purchased it. You have a problem call me. I spend have my day on the phone working with people and their garmin problems and most of the time the fix is an easy one. If it isn't I will tell you the most economical way to get it repaired. Most cases that is through Garmin unless it is just an antenna problem. These things are great with a little understanding of how they work.
Call the store 9-5 eastern time. There are three people there that can help you. Myself (Bruce), John or Corey. If your talking to anyone of us and we don't have the answer we discuss it as a group. So just don't think you have to talk to me. I am actually the most grumpy of the bunch. lol
904-692-1568
Next week I will be at Autumn Oaks and John and Corey will be with me. The following week we will be back and ready to answer your questions. Actually the bottom line is I learn so much from your questions, I appreciate them. Your questions make us a better business.
I also appreciate you as a coonhunter and if we do something to help you just pay it forward and help a young hunter. We all win.

Last edited by on 08-24-2014 at 02:29 PM

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Registered: Aug 2011
Location: Fraziers Bottom, WV
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Bruce is the man when it comes to Garmin!!
After several long conversations with Garmin they could not fix an issue I was having and their only solution was to mail it back in with $130 more dollars to get a refurbished unit. I didn't even talk to Bruce to explain everything that had been done to mine and he got on my post on here and told me what to do and it worked. My unit is fixed and works great!!!!

Give Bruce your business His customer service and knowledge on the subject are second to none!!!!!!!!!

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Registered: Jul 2010
Location:
Posts: 58

Thank you! you are one hell of a nice guy to offer that to everyone, makes me wish when I bought my alpha it was from you. Sorry it wasn't.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bruce M. Conkey
The Garmins are not junk. Some of you may feel that way but the bottom line is if you take a little time and learn about them and when something starts to go wrong you understand what it is, a simple fix can be made.

First when you purchase one you have a years warranty. All to often I talk to people that say they didn't work from the beginning and they just put up with issues and now they won't work at all and the warranty is out.
That is really not Garmins problem. You are the one that accepted something not working and let the warranty run out.
Here is my solution to that. If you have a system and something is wrong contact the dealer you purchased it from. If they are actually a dealer they should be able to replace the unit for you. If not Garmin can still help and replace it for you. What I am saying is get it fixed, don't accept it not working. The blame might be yours if you do.

Most of the time I find that something goes wrong and no correction to that problem was made. Then something else goes wrong or was messed up trying to fix the first problem. Then it gets real complicated to straighten out.

Now that I may have seem harsh and I apologize, let me offer this. If you have a Garmin and I don't care where you purchased it. You have a problem call me. I spend have my day on the phone working with people and their garmin problems and most of the time the fix is an easy one. If it isn't I will tell you the most economical way to get it repaired. Most cases that is through Garmin unless it is just an antenna problem. These things are great with a little understanding of how they work.
Call the store 9-5 eastern time. There are three people there that can help you. Myself (Bruce), John or Corey. If your talking to anyone of us and we don't have the answer we discuss it as a group. So just don't think you have to talk to me. I am actually the most grumpy of the bunch. lol
904-692-1568
Next week I will be at Autumn Oaks and John and Corey will be with me. The following week we will be back and ready to answer your questions. Actually the bottom line is I learn so much from your questions, I appreciate them. Your questions make us a better business.
I also appreciate you as a coonhunter and if we do something to help you just play it forward and help a young hunter. We all win.

---

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Registered: Jul 2012
Location: Fayetteville, Tn
Posts: 86

I've got nothing but good things to say about Garmin. I've had one issue with a new dc 50 and they sent me a new one with no hassle. I squashed my 320 and they replaced it at no charge. They get 2 thumbs up from me.

BTW. My 40 has a stronger signal than my 50 most of the time.

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Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1443

What antena would u suggest putting on dc 40s and where's a good place to get it?thanks

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Registered: Jan 2004
Location: North MO
Posts: 2353

Update it. Takes five minutes

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: KY
Posts: 644

quote:

---

Originally posted by WVHUNTER24.7
Bruce is the man when it comes to Garmin!!
After several long conversations with Garmin they could not fix an issue I was having and their only solution was to mail it back in with $130 more dollars to get a refurbished unit. I didn't even talk to Bruce to explain everything that had been done to mine and he got on my post on here and told me what to do and it worked. My unit is fixed and works great!!!!

Give Bruce your business His customer service and knowledge on the subject are second to none!!!!!!!!!

---

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Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Mr. Blues you have some of your numbers wrong.

Here are what the current prices are

DC 30-----$130 exchange
DC 40---$120 to replace with DC 40---$99 if you replace with DC 50
DC 50 is $99 exchange

Astro 220 $150
Astro 320 $130
ALPHA $110

The DC 50 list for $229.99

If you have a DC 40 and having problems then swapping it in for a DC 50 sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Last edited by on 08-25-2014 at 08:11 PM

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Registered: Jan 2004
Location: North MO
Posts: 2353

I have found most coonhunters are so technologically challenged it amazes me there are so many on the internet. Garmins are great, and single most significant invention in the world of coonhunting since the wheat light. You just have to know how to use it

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Registered: Jul 2012
Location: Fayetteville, Tn
Posts: 86

quote:

---

Originally posted by Josh Michaelis
I have found most coonhunters are so technologically challenged it amazes me there are so many on the internet. Garmins are great, and single most significant invention in the world of coonhunting since the wheat light. You just have to know how to use it

---

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