The American Beagler Forum

I'm going to save up and get one. I lost two out of three dogs yesterday which rarely happens. Found them, but one was dead. Hit by a car. Needless to say I'm gutted. I'm wondering what the best system out there is?

Depends what your willing to spend.

The Garmin Alpha is the "latest and greatest" allows you to track & shock dogs all in one collar. About $1100 for unit with two collars.

I have a MN-20 with Johnson ultralight collars. It's 20 years old and works great. Those can be purchased used really cheap because people are buying the Garmin. $200-$300 should get you a good used outfit.

I won't buy new until the Alpha comes out in a smaller unit that small dogs can wear.

Try to run dogs with someone that has the different styles. Everyone seems to think the setup they have is the "best". Maybe to help convince themselves they didn't just waste $2000...lol

I only know one person that uses GPS tracking systems. Maybe another if I ask them. No one hardly uses them where I live cause they are expensive.

Sorry about dog getting hit by car, been there, it sucks.
As far as gps collar, im in same boat as you, did alot of research, alpha is the way to go, gps and shocker in 1, cant beat it. Other than the price tag. But it will give you full control of dogs up to 9 miles (give or take)

bigcfromrbc wrote:I'm going to save up and get one. I lost two out of three dogs yesterday which rarely happens. Found them, but one was dead. Hit by a car. Needless to say I'm gutted. I'm wondering what the best system out there is?

sorry about you loosing your dog to the road . the gps system that would have helped you the most there would have been the alpha, on the map you would have seen they were on the road and shocked them back to you

The Nine mile thing is a myth how many out there have
proven they can shock with the alpha at nine miles in hunting situation????

Well all six dogs we had took off over the hill. I hunt in a really hilly area. I do live in WV. After a bit we found four of them. One of mine was with that group. No clue where the other two went. Figure they got lost some where and finally found the drop off point where one got hit. Blows my mind cause the beagle that got hit was over 14 inches with two orange collars. That part of the road as zero speed limit signs. I know people fly on it.

fulcount wrote:The Nine mile thing is a myth how many out there have
proven they can shock with the alpha at nine miles in hunting situation????

Great question. Per garmin in ideal terrian. But, like you fulcount, I would like to hear back from real situations, espeically here in the northeast.

Somebody will post they get 9 miles....I know guys that claim 7-9 miles tracking range with Johnson collars.

Good rule of thumb is 40-50% of what manufacturer claims. Only reason they get away with such irronious claims must be the fact they ALL do it. Not many would buy the stuff if the claimed 500 yards in dense hunting cover/hills.

I doubt one will reach over the first hill to shock. My collars are Sportdog and have a two mile range. Works fine till they top a hill or head around a point.

Garmin Alpha have two dog system and really
like it. Blinking and flashing light mode is a feature.

Sorry about the loss of your dog. I have a Garmin 320 and it has worked well in the hills of southeast ohio and the rough terrain of Maine for the 3 seasons I've used it. It's the only system I've ever had, so I have limited experience with gps systems.

save up for the alpha. i've had them ALL and the garmin is BY FAR the best. as for the 9 mile range, i don't know. the point of a tracking and training system like the garmin is they don't get out 9 miles in the first place but according to garmin if you can get them on the gps you can shock them.

Def get Garmin. Sorry for your loss.
They are worth the money.
I have had the astro220 and 320
And now the alpha!!
All great!!
I ran one dog without 2 years ago, and she got run over and killed too!!
Never again!!

Anthony

The Alpha is very nice