Garmin DC 40 collar

[T Hynes]

My buddy I went running with today just got the dc40 and same thing, he kept loseing the signal

[crossfire731]

Has anybody talked to garmin? I got three collars ordered, hate to spend that money for something that don't work.

[DEA]

I tried yesterday, im in the same boat 3 ordered and no answers from garmin. After I was on hold for 45min.
Those of you that already have yours, please keep us posted on what you find out and the problems you are having. Doesnt sound like to me garmin is even saying there is a problem.

Shoot Straight
DEA

[purepatchshiloh]

I just bought a 3 dog setup with the DC40 collar and it says i keep losing signal but it took the dogs being about .5 mile away. This is the first tracking system i've owned and it may not be perfect but it sure helped me get my dogs back this morning (a lot easier than it would've been otherwise) after an off-game run.

[crossfire731]

I talked to the guy I ordered them from and he said that if I wasn't happy that there was a 30 day trial and I could get my money back or replaced ar repaired up to a year. he also said that when the DC30's came out that there were more problems with them. He said that they do lose siganal when they get wet but only a couple minutes. so I'll dang sure try is when they get here.

[kokomo kennels]

does anyone have the dc 40's in stock . i already have 6 of the dc 30s i would like to buy 4 dc 40s . hadnt had any problems with the 30s

[birmi1nr]

While on the phone w/ the garmin rep he had me take my collar apart and uplug some of thw wires inside the unit and let is sit for 5 min then put it all back togethor. Apparently this is supposed to reset the the colllar. After doing all of this i'm still having the same connectivity issues as before. The rep told me that I was the 1st person that has called having any issues w/ the DC 40; told him that there's a handful of other people out there that are having the same issue. I'm sending mine back in for a replacement.

[Bryan]

I have been using mine every day, sometimes it works fine, other times it has some issues like losing signal after the dog swims the creek and never picking up signal again or tracking the dog with a ? and not showing the line on the map. I told the garmin rep I wasn't buying another one until they learned to make them smaller. Also they have been called by several people about them. The coon hound guys will love the fact they lose signal when a dog goes for a swim.

[Buckshot101]

August 30, 2010

To: Astro Dealers
From: Garmin International
1-800-800-1020

***ASTRO DC 40 FIRST-TIME USE ADVISORY***


It has come to our attention that a small number of customers who have purchased Garmin’s new DC 40
GPS tracking collar have experienced issues with acquiring and maintaing a good GPS satellite fix. There
are a few simple steps that users can take to ensure their equipment is performing optimally.


• Acquire a solid satellite signal with the DC 40 before attaching the collar to a dog.

To ensure the DC 40 is properly acquired, turn it on and place it in an open area with a clear
view of the sky for approximately 15 minutes. This process allows the GPS receiver to download
data that will accurately calculate the location of a GPS satellite at a particular point in time.
After this procedure, the DC 40 should lock onto satellites within seconds. If users haven’t
turned on their unit in a week or more, or have traveled at least 200 miles from their last use,
they should repeat the above procedure for best results.

• Update the Astro 220’s firmware.

From time to time, Garmin will make improvements to the way the Astro GPS Dog Tracking
System performs. It’s always a good idea to ensure that the unit has the latest version of
software, but it is critical if a customer is upgrading to the DC 40 from an earlier collar version
(DC 20 or DC 30). Among other improvements, the new software update lets DC 40 customers
take advantage of Garmin’s new Collar Lock feature that, when activated, prevents others from
seeing your dog’s whereabouts. The new firmware also enables a two-minute update rate,
which allows users to maximize battery life of the collar.


The process is easy – go to http://www8.garmin.com/products/webupdater/ and download the
latest version of WebUpdater for the PC or Mac. This application communicates with the
Garmin server over the Internet and updates the Garmin GPS with the most current software
version available. It’s easy and it’s automatic – just run WebUpdater after you’ve installed it on
your computer and follow the instructions.


There are a few additional considerations that you might want to make your customers aware of when
using the Astro GPS Dog Tracking System:

• Make sure the DC 40’s GPS receiver is not obstructed.

The GPS receiver on the DC 40 is located on the opposite end of the power button (see photos
below). Users should ensure that this area is not blocked or covered by e-collars or other
objects that might affect a reliable GPS signal.


• The GPS signal of the DC 40 will be significantly degraded in water.


Because the GPS receiver is integrated into the main housing that sits below the dogs’ neck, if
the unit is submerged in water, it is likely that the collar will lose a GPS signal. If a customer’s
dog spends a large amount of time in the water, the DC 30 will offer better reception, because
the GPS receiver is on top of the dog’s neck.

• High-powered marine VHF radios will significantly and permanently degrade the Astro’s
performance.

Some hunters use these radios to communicate with one another. If the radios are used within
close proximity to the Astro GPS Dog Tracking System (within a few feet of antennas), it is
possible that the VHF signal will permanently damage the Astro’s ability to receive a signal from
a GPS tracking collar.

It is very likely that by following these simple steps, any perceived issues with the DC 40 will be resolved.
If you have any customers that continue to encounter issues with the new DC 40, please collect as much
information as possible about the specifics of their problems, including the environment and manner in
which the Astro was used. As always, please forward their contact information to your Garmin sales
representative so that we might address their concerns.

We thank you for your continued support and we anticipate another very successful launch of the latest
improvements to the Astro GPS Dog Tracking System.

[birmi1nr]

I did all of the above w/ mine and still had issues. Ended up sending my collar back for a replacement, I'll have to wait and see if I have the same issues when my new collar arrives.

[Ohiohntr]

LOL

So basically Garmin is saying

1. You must stand in an open field for 15min before releasing your dogs

2. You can't use an e-collar with their collar

3. You can't allow your dogs to get in creeks, swamps, etc....

4. You can't use radio signals around their equipment

What a JOKE!!!! hmmmm.....did they design these things for yard dogs.

I think I will keep my $$....that is a terrible response to what seems to me is an absolute design flaw.

[Buckshot101]

Yea, basically release yesterday is putting the issue on the users end, not their product end.........same company just recalled how many regular GPS units?????? LOL

[Ohiohntr]

I just read the statement again...."perceived issues"....WOW , talk about a CYA letter...Ouch for DC40 owners!!!

[L.Waalkens]

I had the same issues with the DC40 collar as everyone else. After getting the runaround with Garmin on the phone I e-mailed them and got the response posted bellow. Needless to say my DC 40 was sent back for a refund and I am sticking with the DC30 until they actually make a better one, the DC 40 is not it.....

L.Waalkens


The new DC 40 design utilizes certain design features found in the DC 20 and the DC 30 to provide a more effective collar.

The new, simplistic design:

Allows you to easily switch out an old collar with a new collar
Allows you to easily add an e-collar without the need of two collars
Decreases the risk of damage
Due to the fact that the GPS antenna is located in the body of the DC 40, to provide the above benefits, and not on top of the collar, like the DC 30, the DC 30 may perform better in water or heavy cover.

With Best Regards,


Shawn V

Product Support Specialist

2nd Shift Outdoor/Fitness Team

Garmin International

913-397-8200

800-800-1020

913-440-8280 (fax) Att: Shawn V, Associate #6004

http://www.garmin.com





Original Message Follows: ------------------------
Escalation from KANA On Demand Self Service
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Subject: Astro 220 constantly looses contact with dc40
Message: My newly purchased dc 40 constantly looses cotact with the hand held astro. Dc30 collar rarelly did this. After looking at several of the hunting websites that I visit almost everyone is haveing this problem. I am returning my unit to Cabelas for exchange but am concerned that I should just go back to the dc30 and get a refund for the dc40. Is this a problem that Garmin is going to adrress or just keep selling faulty units?Even when the unit says that I am getting a signal I get a much different looking record on the mapping page than I did with the dc30 leading me to believe that it is not really working even when it says that it is. I have aso downloaded the newest software to my handheld.

[Bryan]

Thanks for the info Buckshot.
I have lost signal at least 3 times in a weeks use when the dogs have swam a creek and the collar lost signal and never picked up the signal again for over 2 hours until I caught the dog and turned the collar off and back on. I will be calling Garmin tomorrow to see if they want it back.