Garmin Astro Review

[Darvin Ecklund]

Mutt-

To answer your question, I would NOT turn my dogs loose at this time solely with the gps. So if you really like your dogs, I would make sure you have a wildlife tracking system w/Westcoast collars or Johnson collars and then add the gps. The gps is great, but will not give you a signal for days if you really loose your hound. Just my thoughts. Good luck !

[mutt_walker]

Darv-
What receiver do you recommend to use? I see there are a few options on the West Coast site. And what hour collar?

[BigGameHunter]

Catdogs,

My version is at 2.80 so there may be another update out there.Just an FYI.

My experience is so far that this unit saves TONS of time finding dogs. I just got the long range antenna today so we will see what kind of a difference it makes this weekend. I had mine in an area where I have had cats before in the bottom of a canyon surrounded by ledges. Anyone who hunts out west has, at one time or another, been there and done that. No matter where you point it, that old tracker it tells you that your dog is that direction. I know if you know your tracker well enough and have enough experience with it then you can finally get a direction but it takes a while and if your like me then you still make mistakes. This thing tells you EXACTLY where they are at. All you do is have to walk into them. I still run my old collars but since getting the astro, I have yet to use them.

[broncobilly]

My version is at 2.80 so there may be another update out there.Just an FYI.

Where did you get the version 2.8, did it come on a new astro 220 or did you download it from their website.

I still run my old collars but since getting the astro, I have yet to use them.

Boy, I hope you didn't just jinx yourself, less than 24 hrs after makeing an identical statement I had a dog get out of range of the gps and I had to use the old tracking system to get to within about a half a mile of him, then, he was in one of those rock canyons you were talking about and if I hadn't had the gps unit I would have been unable to find him untill it was to late.

Bill

[Bigbear]

Ive put my shockers on the dc20 instead of the dummy collars that come with it and it has worked so far. But i had one problem on an elk run when i shocked one dog wearing the dc20 with shocker it froze the collar saying the dog was in one place,later finding it down the road about 3 miles.But i also still run my johnson collars just in case i have to leave them overnite.

[BigGameHunter]

Yeah bronco I just got another collar last week from Cabela's and it is version 2.80. Is there a version on the receiver firmware?

I hope I havn't jinxed myself......i'll let you know tomorrow....

Actually I havn't had any problems with the collars. Oh, and by the way, yes; I am knocking on wood right now!!!

[Darvin Ecklund]

Mutt-

I use the 1600 hour collars (those with the D batteries). I also use the blue box wildlife 1000 or 2000 box. The 1000 picks up one frequency i.e. 217 where the 2000 can pick up 217 and 216 or a combination of any two by flipping an A/B switch. I have used these for many years, so this is what I am comfortable with. Tried the Maxima 5000 but found in the cold temp. the digital readings failed. Not sure why, but that put a stop to using it.

[tman308]

As far as the software versions are concerned all you need to do is plug the Astro into the computer and go to Garmin website. Under the support and Downloads you can check if your software is up to date. After doing the astro you can do the same thing for the collars. You might need your owners manual the first time around though. When I talked to Garmin they told me that if I checked my software immediately after buying a Astro that checking once a year is plenty. They just basically are updating functions and features. You can also update your copy of the Mapsource if you have an older version like I did.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Got mine in the woods the last week or so and have some thoughts about them.

The DC20 collar with the upgrade did poorly in the rough stuff. We lost signal and never regained it on the old style collar with the upgraded antenna. The DC30 collar worked flawlessly. The handheld is a piece of cake to figure out. I think I'll get another DC30 and get rid of the old style.

The software for maps is expensive. i got it from a friend for free, but to buy the maps it's $120 ish. Try to find a friend with the mapping software!

[Grizzlydog]

Here are a couple of things I have learned about the GPS system. When you are out with buddies that also use the GPS wait untill the dogs are a good ways out before adding dogs to your GPS. I have had issues when adding dogs before you dump and what happens is that if there is a collar interfernece with your own collar someone else's GPS will inavertantly change the ID code on your collar and you won't know it. You go to track your dog and he no longer exsists and that can and has become extremely frustrating till you figure out the problem. I make a habit of not adding anyones dogs unless it is nesessary. At the end of the day you need to help a buddy find his dog, turn all the collars to Stop tracking mode and then add the missing dog. Up here in Canada the terrain is as rugged as it gets and I quit running both wildlife and gps collars and use strictly the GPS. There are pletenty of RF sites on the internet where you can buy high preformace antennas and adapters that increase reception 10 fold.

[jimmyd]

How do the alternate antennas connect to the gps?

[Grizzlydog]

The GPS requires a SMA end on the antenna. I have also bought SMA/BNC adapters so you can attach the telescopic antenna direct to the GPS. But There are telescopic long range antenna's available with the SMA ends so you dont need the adapter, which I prefer.

[sheimer]

Guys- I just went through the garmin website and am now thouroughly confused. I updated the astro to version 2.70 and updated my ol dc20 collar to version 2.40. I checked my new dc20 collar and it is version 2.70. I saw back a few posts that someone has version 2.80. I can not find that version available on the Garmin website. My main issue is the track length is only 620 points. I thought that somewhere in one of the other posts about the astro someone said that there was an update to allow 3000 points. I appreciate your help.

scott

[tman308]

The 2.8 version doesn't exist yet. The 3000 track log is in reference to the actual Astro Unit. Garmin has not fixed the 620 on the dogs yet so you will have to lengthen your up load time.


On a late note about the antennae, Previously I posted that I would find the information in regards to the antennae I use. I haven't experimented with it fully. I just know that one day I was hunting and the unit advised that it had lost communication. I took this high gain antennae off my handheld radio and put it on the Astro and immediately regained communication. I haven't taken it off since and have only lost communication when I was at the bottom of a canyon and the dogs went up over the mountain back in the next canyon over. So here is the info on the High Gain Antennae: Vertex in California, the antennae is a brown dot high gain, sma connector for the 150-160 band width. It costs about 30 dollars and is a rigid about 14inch antennae. Phone order 714-827-7600

Hope that helps sorry it took so long had to track down the receipt from 4 years ago.

[Grizzlydog]

In one of the recent post someone said they updated the Astro 220 and the dog collar. I am aware of the updates for the GPS but I do not see listed anywhere about the DC 30 collar. Is it possible to update the software of the collar as well? And what cord are you supposed to have?