They did it!! the new Garmin Alpha

[T LEE]

We use touch screens here at work . If the units work anything like ours ...it's only a matter of seconds to select events from the menu. No toggle switch needed. You would just select collar color ( or you can have individual dog names pre-entered) and correction level needed. To light up another just select color and correction level. I can't see it taking too long. The great thing is not having to worry about a dog getting out of shock range (like with standard shock collars) before it's determined off game. If you have him on the tracker ....you still have the ability to light him up.

[Smoke'n Mack]

I read in gun dog supply review that the screen works with gloves too.

[PREACHERS KENNEL]

how much does it cosr for an extra collar

[nchunter102]

It looks like $300 per collar..

[Budd]

I have heard that first shipments was supposed to be out mid August and they have already pushed that back two weeks. Also they are only releasing 200 units with first shipment. So another words if you weren't one of the first 200 to order your looking at the beginning of Oct to receive yours. I think I will wait till late next spring when they are hopefully caught up and I can get some reviews from others.

[Chip E]

Here is what I have found out about the new Garmin Alpha IT WILL NOT WORK WITH THE OLD GARMIN DC-40 OR DC-30 COLLARS. They are going to still make the Garmin Astro 320, the new Alpha will be shipped out very slow just like the New 320 when they first came out. Below is a Video from Garmin about the Garmin Alpha it is about 4 minutes long http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_cV-pRdkc watch it and you can learn some stuff about the Unit. It will track up to 20 Dogs unlike the 320 which will Track only 10 Dogs, you can also track other Alpha handhelds in your Hunting Group so you will know where they are at. More information on this Unit at a Later time the cost will be for the Combo is $799.99 and for the Extra Collars $299.99. I have talk with one person that has had there hands on one and compared it to the Sport Dog TEK Unit as about the same size. Again this is the Video from Garmin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_cV-pRdkc

[Owl Creek]

i can bearly work the 220...LOL
i will be in the market for some DC 30 or 40 this fall.
pretty neat tho.

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

Ya, I bet I can score a couple dc40's from the coon dog sights real soon!

The shocker part looks like it would be easy enough to zap em when you got used to it. Especially since you can name the dogs on it.. I couldn't ever justify spending 800 on it though plus 300 per collar. My feelings are that the next model may be worth getting once they figure out what works and doesn't work with this system.

Also it makes it illegal to use in some types of field trials because of the shocker part...

An awesome invention to say the least!!!

[fasttrackpa]

Says you can track up to three dogs on Birds Eye maps; can anybody provide the limit on the 320 receiver?

It is 3 on the map at time also.

I checked it today and it will work with gloves on, leather or cloth. It is hard to hit the right spot tho. lol There is no doubt about it, the Alpha is a seriously cool piece of equipment.

[golden acres]

I have already had calls and probably will not be able to get them until late Sept or October, because they will very limited in August. Price $799 one dog and $300 each additional collar. I have had the 220 and now the 320, but I think I like the Dc40 with the sportdog collar. I LIKE the idea of of having a back up transmitter. If one system acts up I have the 2nd one to back it up. And can not use the new collar in a field trial.

[fasttrackpa]

It comes with a cover for the holes when you screw out the contact points, wonder would it still be "illegal" for trialing? I know the Bird dog trialers will be wanting to use them. Lion Country Supply is expecting to be shipping whatever we get around August 22nd. No telling how many we will get but the calls are coming in.

[cris axtell/coal hill ken]

It seems to me that if you can see what dog is in the lead on a trash run you could shock that one first. that way it might stop the ones behind it.

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

Chris- I don't know, whenever I shock my dogs the other ones pay it no attention... plus if you have it transmitting every ten or twenty seconds you may not be able to tell which ones in the lead before its too late.

What would be cool is if on the back it had buttons and a toggle switch to shock em.

[Spruce Ridge Beagler]

Hard to tell from the video but it looks to be about the same size as a DC40?
I will be ready to try one, I have a dog that beats his legs up with the DC40 and Trashbreaker on one collar.
Gonna have a 6 dog trashbreaker and a 6mo. old 320 with 2 40s' for sale as soon as I can get my hands on one.

[jimb1069]

How does the Sportdog combo unit handle the shocking problems that are being discussed?