New Garmin Alpha? Plans or Release Date?

[Crow]

You definitely can set each of the 3 buttons at the top for individual dogs giving you the ability to correct 3 dogs without switching anything. You can also program those 3 buttons for 3 more dogs so it is similar to the TT EXP where 3 buttons are colored then flip the toggle switch for 3 more colors. With the alpha instead of a toggle switch you touch the screen and select the other 3 dogs. It is as quick and maybe a little quicker even to hit 6 dogs with the alpha as with the other TT stuff. Best of all each dog can have a preselected level of stimulation. Example dogs 1, 2, & 3 are running. Dog 1 is a knot head that takes a little more juice so you select a higher level. Dog 2 is very sensitive so you select a lower level. Dog 3 is your "go to" dog you've had forever and rarely if ever requires the juice, just an occasional tone now and then so you select tone. Now when you press the button for dog 1, 2, or 3 it will receive the level of correction you selected regardless of what level the others are set at. To ramp it up to max or whatever is as simple as touching the screen, faster than the dial actually. I really like this because lets be honest, who hasn't had to bump a dog on 2 or 3 or higher for whatever reason and forget to return the dial to "T", then 30 minutes later zap ole blue that wasn't really doing anything wrong just needed a tone to get his attention to come your direction. I know I have

[2TONE]

Thinking about buying the Alpha, from you all who have experience with the unit, what distance have you been able to reach out and correct and how far have you been able to track......................... thanks

[Crow]

If you have signal on your hand held unit from your collar you can correct a dog. Signal between collar and hand held IS NOT by satellite, it is by VHF radio frequency, like a walkie talkie sort of. The hand held and the collar "talk" to satellites to figure out where they are then the hand held and collar "talk" to each other and swap information if you will by VHF to tell each other where the satellites say they are. Hope that wasn't to confusing. Anyway, back to your question, here in North East Tennessee we are in a very wooded and mountainous area. They're getting about a mile to mile and a half in pretty rough country, I've heard of folks using the extended range antenna on the hand held and getting 3+ miles in the same terrain but I have not used an extended range myself. To put that into perspective I have a Trashbreaker (2 mile) that in these same areas would not correct a dog running a deer once at 850 yards. Yes my Trashbreaker is working properly, the terrain around here easily cuts ranges by half or more. The old "beep beep" trackers are 9 to 12 miles and 3 to 4 miles was the most I ever heard about around here and that was under ideal circumstances. Sorry so long winded but hope that helps.

[DIXIEDOG]

I have 2+ mile range through moderate cover. I've tested it at those distances using a vehicle not on a dog...my beagles rarely get over 700 yards away and that's more than I like to have them.

[jimd]

I have the alpha and live in Michigan.Hunting in the U.P. I get around 1 mile is very heavy cover here.

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

I have 2+ mile range through moderate cover. I've tested it at those distances using a vehicle not on a dog...my beagles rarely get over 700 yards away and that's more than I like to have them.

I start getting scared when my dogs hit the 300 yard mark.. Of course I haven't ran many hares or swampers so that would probably come into play.

[DIXIEDOG]

I have 2+ mile range through moderate cover. I've tested it at those distances using a vehicle not on a dog...my beagles rarely get over 700 yards away and that's more than I like to have them.

I start getting scared when my dogs hit the 300 yard mark.. Of course I haven't ran many hares or swampers so that would probably come into play.

500 yds isn't uncommon on hare...they can cover that extremely quickly too.

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

I have 2+ mile range through moderate cover. I've tested it at those distances using a vehicle not on a dog...my beagles rarely get over 700 yards away and that's more than I like to have them.

I start getting scared when my dogs hit the 300 yard mark.. Of course I haven't ran many hares or swampers so that would probably come into play.

500 yds isn't uncommon on hare...they can cover that extremely quickly too.

I ran some jack rabbits one time. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THEY GET OUT OF RANGE QUICK.

[Bull_357]

500 yards out on a hare can be a joke I have seen way further then that and I have only ever hunted them a few times.