Garmin’s Out for a Run with Updated Astro GPS Dog Tracking Collar

[3MTA3]

Garmin’s Out for a Run with Updated Astro GPS Dog Tracking Collar

* By: Geoff Duncan • * June 11, 2010

What's that Lassie? Timmy's fallen down a well? Go find him, and we'll use GPS tracking to get some helicopter rescue out there right away!

GPS maker Garmin International (http://www.garmin.com/) has announced its DC 40 tracking collar, an update to its Astro Dog Tracking Collar popular amongst hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and dog trainers. The new DC40 is mounted on an orange polyurethane collar strap, and the GPS “puck” that used to be on top of the collar is now integrated into the collar’s housing, which means the system can be used with most e-collar receivers on the market without requiring two collars. The new DC 40 also features a PIN-based collar lock—so other people can’t easily track your dogs—and support for up to ten dogs per receiver.

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“The refinements that are found in the new DC 40 are the result of feedback from hunters and trainers,” said Garmin worldwide sales (http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets/garmins-out-for-a-run-with-updated-astro-gps-dog-tracking-collar/?news=123#) VP Dan Bartel, in a statement (http://garmin.blogs.com/pr/2010/06/garmin-unleashes-next-generation-astro-gps-dog-tracking-collar.html). “The new collar is more convenient and more durable than ever.”

The DC40 is intended to enable owners to monitor a dog’s location and activity—even in dense growth—at distances up to seven miles. The system is simple to set up—the collar and receiver just need to acquire a GPS signal and they’re good to go—and do not require a subscription plan or any additional setup. Each receiver can track up to 10 dogs; the DC 40 collar runs on a rechargeable battery that should last for 17 to 48 hours, while they receiver runs on two AA batteries. Both the collars and the receivers are waterproof; the collars now feature a smooth design that doesn’t have nooks and recesses where mud and gunk can accumulate, and the collars also have an LED (http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets/garmins-out-for-a-run-with-updated-astro-gps-dog-tracking-collar/?news=123#) charge indicator that blinks when the collar battery is running low. Both the collar and the receiver are waterproof.

Owners can load maps into the Astro receiver using a microSD slot, enabling to see where dogs have been. Hunters will also appreciate the ability to note locations and times where dogs found game. Detailed 24K topographic maps are available, and optional road map data can provide directions to motels (http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets/garmins-out-for-a-run-with-updated-astro-gps-dog-tracking-collar/?news=123#), gas stations, eateries…and vets.

The Astro dog tracking system comes with an Astro receiver and a DC 40 wireless (http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets/garmins-out-for-a-run-with-updated-astro-gps-dog-tracking-collar/?news=123#) transmitter collar for $599.99. Additional collars (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=68084) are available for $249.99.

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Garmins Out for a Run with Updated Astro GPS Dog Tracking Collar (http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets/garmins-out-for-a-run-with-updated-astro-gps-dog-tracking-collar/?news=123)

[Southern Inferno]

This a great system. Haven't seen the DC-40 in action, but the DC30 works great from what I have seen. We used them down in South Ga this past weekend hunting some plantation corn fields and pines; they didn't miss a beat. The only complaint I have heard is they don't do well with drastic elevation changes. I have some buddies that hunt up in the SC mountains and they just don't work that well there. Gives you a lot more information about your dog and how he hunts then other trackers though.

[Gxkon]

i didn't even know they made collars like that for dogs

[pitbullgirl]

Dang look at that price tag!!

[...Sydney...]

that is awesome I wish I had a use for such a gadget!:)

[chris mercer]

Sydney, their are about a hundred places in NC to buy one. You can get a better price than that. For your use I'd think you'd be happy with the DC-30.
I don't have one yet but I have been hunting with my friends who had them on their dog. I am still using a wildlife telemetry system. It gets you close but nothing like the GPS system. It was able to show us the shortest route to the dogs,streams and where each dog with these collars was. I don't have one for two reasons, one I can' afford it until I sell my old system. Which , by the way is very reliable and stays charged for 1200 hrs. The second one is until the Garmins have a longer battery life I don't want to have to run two collars. The DC-30 last 30 hrs, it is rechargeable but that won't help you if you haven't recovered your dogs when the battery goes dead. If in my case my dog was running a bear I might not get him before it goes dead.

Chris Mercer

[SMThe]

Cool gadget ! Certainly better than my idea of tying a balloon to their collar :-)

[chris mercer]

Sian Min, that made my morning at least. Balloon tied to collar, that's great. As someone that hunted for years with out even the old tracking systems I was always trying to come up with a method of tracking them. I think this deserves an award. Though one has to be careful not to over fill the balloon with helium or the dog may float away.
I would love to have a Garmin, my friends love theirs and the fellows I know from the NC Mts ( Franlin/Cowee Creek) say they are the wave of the future and obsolete the radio systems. They say they have no problems with loosing the signal. I don't know but these are guys in their late sixties and seventies that have been doing this for fifty years and aren't prone to buy a new gadget.
Chris Mercer