Thoughts on 320 vs 220 or waiting for new systems

[mofo21]

hmmm maybe i should try the always north deal i have mine set up so its the direction im heading. i use the compass screen when the dogs are pretty close and i just want a direction and how far away they are but have had issues with the compass not showing true north all the time. my friend just bought dc 30's and just using my astro but now he wants one so i was thinking about selling him mine and just upgrading but now having second thoughts might just tell him to buy his own.

[not color blind]

hmmm maybe i should try the always north deal i have mine set up so its the direction im heading.

IMO the "north up" is the only way to use the Astro...

[Bearkiller]

For the record, I done sell them. I am just a guy using the astro.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

[sheimer]

For the record, I done sell them. I am just a guy using the astro.

CJC, I too was a tester for the 320. I don't recall any conference calls, meetings or even a manual for the primary testing. Please keep in mind I don't have a preference as to which unit you buy, wether it's a Garmin or some other brand if and when they come out. I am just offering my opinion here. I would wait to buy a 320 when they hit production. I am confident that Garmin will hold production until we get a chance to get all the bugs out of the software. Once the bugs are gone, they are far superior to the 220. Please make no mistake, the 220's revolutionized our hobby or profession and are not to be discounted by an improved model. As Tman mentioned, the future software upgrades will be directed at the 320 and DC40 collar. There are many upgrades coming for the 320 that the 220 will not be included in. Think about how far the 220 is now from when it came out.

The compass issue is not applicable while moving over whatever spped you set it to change from magnetic to movement on the 220. However it is a single axis compas and the 320 has a 3 axis compas so it does not matter what angle it is at while stationary. I always run my 220 on "track up" not "north up" and just have to give it a second sometimes to orient itself when I'm not moving.

I am almost always more comfortable with what is familiar and am not too fond of change, but I am more than willing to invest in the future in this case and would recommend it to anyone.

Please keep in mind that this is my opinion only.

Scott

[Dads dogboy]

Scott, Thanks for your post.

I have been on the phone with another Tester this evening who pointed out what you have, about the Compass being single axis on the 220. We talked about the fact that we are moving most of the time and that Garmin has a built in fix for the Compass which is why we have been pleased and have had few problems…it is the way we use our system.

Also I too keep my unit on track up, both testers tell me that the 320 will keep the track up much more consistently than the 220, however it only takes a moment before the 220 corrects itself. I understand that the 320 does have a bigger and more efficient Computer than the 220, but then I do not need an Elephant Gun to kill a Whitetail Deer.

The curser moving across the page faster is just not a great thing for me. The pages coming up faster is nice but not a deal maker.

I am disturbed that Garmin failed to give some testers training (the man on the phone said that he had about the same interaction with Garmin as well as many email exchanges , as the tester who was here) and told others to sink or swim. This was kind of like their Customer service, I have never had a problem other than waiting a long time to get some one on the phone, yet other folks have HORROR stories to tell.



My big disappointment is having to use both the TOPO and the Sat. imagery. I was hoping that once you subscribed to the service that you could download all the Imagery that you needed then update it once or twice a year

I am glad that you do not think that Garmin is going to release them anytime soon…I also hear that they are not releasing DC 40s anymore. Perhaps they plan on “Getting it Right” this time…I hope so!

As too the other systems out there unless they are like the mythical Bigfoot, or 100 lb Bobcats, I wish some Spokesperson for their companies would come forth with more than “We are in Development”. If not, and Garmin works the kinks out of their products the “Train will have left the Station”. With the hard work and feedback that Hunters like you, our Yankee friend, Bearkiller, and others are giving Garmin; the Engine is building up a head of steam, and the Conductor is about to shout “All Aboard”!

C. John Clay

[sheimer]

I am disturbed that Garmin failed to give some testers training (the man on the phone said that he had about the same interaction with Garmin as well as many email exchanges , as the tester who was here) and told others to sink or swim. This was kind of like their Customer service, I have never had a problem other than waiting a long time to get some one on the phone, yet other folks have HORROR stories to tell.

CJC, There were some e-mail exchanges as needed. I think I got all the instruction I needed and I'm sure that if I needed more help, I would have received it.

Scott

[Bearkiller]

CJC, There were some e-mail exchanges as needed. I think I got all the instruction I needed and I'm sure that if I needed more help, I would have received it.

Scott

I think most of the testers were people who knew the 220 pretty decent. Since, operationally, there isn't a big difference between the 2 units. I don't think alot of training was needed. I certainly wasn't complaining. What they did with the testers is the same thing 80+% of their customers would be doing. Learning on the fly. When we first got our units there wasn't an manual to be had. I can assure you that I learned more about the 320 by having it in my hands then I would have had I waited for a manual. There was an area for us to go and discuss issues we were having and we got help there. I already stated that I am in no way a dealer. And these are my honest opinions. I have nothing to gain or lose by stating what I have. If you don't like the new unit don't buy one but it's your loss. Most people will like the 320 better.

[bearcat]

While I check semi regularly at the Marshall site to see if they have anything new on their GPS system this is the first I have heard of Wildlife coming out with one. And there is nothing on their website about it. Where could I find any information on it?

[tman308]

I also didn't receive any manuals or DVD training. They basically sent you a unit and as you had issues you contacted them through the forum they set up for us. Since the group was as diverse as it was there were several different stages of the 320 that were sent out to us. As the first group of testers discovered bugs they were fixed and then sent out units to the next group. All in all I didn't ever get the sink or swim feeling from this experience. My only wish is that they keep Mapsource cause i like that program.

[not color blind]

Does anyone think that someone is going to come out with a GPS system that is better than the Garmin (a non GPS company)? I just don't see a non GPS company coming out with something better than the Garmin.

I hope I'm wrong, because I too want something that's 'perfect'.

[Cooch]

Speaking of the compass feature, I've observed that wearing a radio in a chest harness and holding the 220 directly in front of you - as is natural - adversely affects the compass.

Can anyone else comment?

Peter

[South Texan]

Speaking of the compass feature, I've observed that wearing a radio in a chest harness and holding the 220 directly in front of you - as is natural - adversely affects the compass.

Can anyone else comment?

Peter

Peter,
The radio sure might be interfering with the compass, I don't know, I do not carry a radio. But I do know that you have to recalibrate the compass on the Astro 220 quite often. If you don't you will get a false reading. You might have already known about this, but if you didn't recalibrate your compass and see if that will fix your problem. Hope it works.
Robbie

[alphaknl]

Can anyone say if the durability issues with the 220 have been corrected?

Will the 320 maintain sensitivity and range or "burn up" like the 220 is prone to?

[Trailhound]

Did any one get a chance to try out the new long range antenna with the 320. If so how much extra range where you getting over the stock antenna.

[CatCrazed]

So do you have to have both the topo and the Sat img maps on it? Do they over lay or are they on differant pages? I'm thinking upgrade but If im forced to have the sat img i'm not sure. Do they slow down alot with all the memory used up? Thanks