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Has anyone tried the new Johnson 'long range' collars? How do they compare to Magnum and Quick Track collars?

I have two of Johnson's Long Range Collars. They seem to have much better range in steep country than the normal Johnson Collars (I only run Johnson collar so I don't know how they compare to others). Its rare that I can't get a signal off the long range collar even when I can't get anything out of the standard ones. The long range ones have saved me quite a few hikes to the top of hills. I run 4 standard and 2 long range collars. The long range ones are a tad bit hard to directionalize sometimes and will swamp out other collars if they are close to the same frequency. With 2 long range and 4 standard, I can almost always get a reading on the pack but also directionalize when needed. I like them and would buy them again.

Thanks, sounds like they may be similar to Magnum as thats how my Magnums are to my regular Johnson's. I like the Magnums but it took me almost 7 months to get the last collar I ordered from them and have heard other people have similar problems.

I taked to Johnson and they said it get out 20 to 30 % more but the C battery only last about 5000hrs and the D battery about 10,000 hour. A guy I hunt with has them I get a beep on the Magnum when I can't beep his. I to am not happy with magnum I have two collars go dead on me one a year old the other two years old. Thinking about tring a WCT collar. Has anyone ran them?

WCT = West Coast Telemetry? I have had a couple of theirs, one beeps funny and has always seemed weaker the other is just like a regular Johnson collar. I wish he would make the hole for square magnets instead of round ones. I do send most of my repairs to him as he's close and has a quick turn around time.

My brother and I have, and have had several of the West Coast collars in the short time we have owned hounds. I have hunted hounds only six or seven years now, and I decided about three years ago I was done buying the WCT collars. We were always having trouble with switches and such. Collars that wouldn't shut off when we stick a magnet in. Ya wanna know how frustrating that is when you are trying to beep dogs that are out, but there is a collar in the box that ya can't shut off and is bleeding everything else out!!!! At times we would stash the bad collar in a culvert or hole so we could beep dogs.
I have more Johnsons now then West Coast. And it has always pleased me how little bleed over I get from the Johnson collars as compared to the WCT collars.

Currently we have one WCT collar that won't shut off, so one day it will be dead and we can either send it in for repair, or replace it with a Johnson. I also have a collar that I put on a dog the other day and it was dead. Again, I haven't decided if I will send it in for repair, or just replace it with a Johnson.

Nothing against Gary, like Liz said, he gets stuff back to ya in short order. But I don't want headaches when I got dogs on the ground.

ph

Poundhound wrote:My brother and I have, and have had several of the West Coast collars in the short time we have owned hounds. I have hunted hounds only six or seven years now, and I decided about three years ago I was done buying the WCT collars. We were always having trouble with switches and such. Collars that wouldn't shut off when we stick a magnet in. Ya wanna know how frustrating that is when you are trying to beep dogs that are out, but there is a collar in the box that ya can't shut off and is bleeding everything else out!!!! At times we would stash the bad collar in a culvert or hole so we could beep dogs.
I have more Johnsons now then West Coast. And it has always pleased me how little bleed over I get from the Johnson collars as compared to the WCT collars.

Currently we have one WCT collar that won't shut off, so one day it will be dead and we can either send it in for repair, or replace it with a Johnson. I also have a collar that I put on a dog the other day and it was dead. Again, I haven't decided if I will send it in for repair, or just replace it with a Johnson.

Nothing against Gary, like Liz said, he gets stuff back to ya in short order. But I don't want headaches when I got dogs on the ground.

ph

Gary won't fix the collar that won't shut off? (For free)

If I remember correctly, Gary repaired the switch that wouldn't shut off for free, but still charged for the battery replacement. We could have hunted it without replacing the battery and just used up what was left, but when you have no idea how much battery is left, and it is at the shop anyway, may as well change the battery.

But who wants all the trouble of having to send a collar back? Or having to stash it in a culvert so we can track other dogs? Eventually (after having 3 different collars that have done this now) we started looking for a better collar. We found it with the Johnson Collars. We have not had switch problems, and as a bonus we get less bleed over from one collar to the next, and a nice crisp and clear beep.

I still use Gary for service to the collars I have of his, as well as buying name plate collars and other supplies like scents and antenna's. I just won't buy any more tracking collars that aren't Johnson collars. If Johnson is making a Long Range collar, I will own a couple of them in the very near future.

Sorry Liz, almost seems like this should have had its own post, rather then turning a post about Johnson collars into talking West Coast collars. My apoligies. It sounds like we see some of the same things with WCT collars, with funny or weaker beeps, bleed over and the like.

ph

I have a wildlife collar that's about three years old. I havnt had a problem with it yet. When I have had to beep my dog. But I did just buy a johnson collar for my pup. And like it a lot. I get bout the same range and strength out of it as wct. But I like how I can get a longer lasting collar for a lot cheeper. That being said ill probally keep buying johnsons. Because you get the most bang for your buck outta them. And you can get them even cheeper when you get a refurbished one from magnum telemtry