new alpha

[dmorty]

Thinking about getting the new alpha,just wanted a little feedback before I sell my astro 320 and collars.Are they getting the bugs worked out?What do you guys who have them think so far?

[plottncedarnutz]

I had thought about buying it but like the very first Garmin GPS it took a while for them to figure out the collars were not made for hounds. Im glad to see they have better straps on the alpha. Dont get me wrong I like my 220 astro but I have burned two units up due to our fm radios. Im wondering if they have done anything to enhance the GPS from being burned up from the fm signal. Im excited to hunt with the GPS its great for training pups and seeing what dogs are doing the most work.

[Unreal_tk]

Plott I believe the fixed that with the 320s but im no expert. I think after this season ill be buying another 220 or 320 second hand to have as a spare.

[s_parks]

i have the alpha now and love it. i have no complaints on it i keep great service between the collars and hand held. the other day i had some dogs drop out the bottom of a canyon and never lost service even for a second and they were 1.96 miles so for me i love it and would never go back to the astro. with the astro i would always start dropping and picking up dogs at 6-800 yards. i think its a great new product! with the alpha and the fender mount antenna from buddy you will get some massive range.. hope this helps a bit. take care!

[dmorty]

I appreciate that,my daughter lost control to my shock collars so I figured rather than reinvest in that I'd go ahead and get the system with both track and train as long as most people seem reasonably happy with theirs. Have a couple shock collars and charger,sportdog houndhunter 3200 I'd take fifty apiece for.pm me if interested.Hey Buddy what do you get for two dog alpha setup?

[Dads dogboy]

This what I wrote to Black Mountain about the ALPHA:

Let me start by saying Thank You to Buddyw and his Trade In Program which allowed me to upgrade to the ALPHA.

Now I was a doubter as to the new system being as good as was being touted. I had private conversations with Testers and knew of the faults croping up with the ALPHA. There were several things not being tested, more than a handful of Hounds being the main problem for me.

As the ALPHA began to hit the field, the reports I was getting began to get better. A friend took advantage of DU Supply's Trade In offer and went to the ALPHA. He loved it, so I called Buddyw and swapped as well.

Now the ALPHA is not the IS ALL to END ALL in Hound Tracking...the 320 with the DC 30's is a darn fine system, and is all that some Folks will need. The real good news is that Garmin will continue to support and up grade the Astro Platform.

Now the two biggest advantages the ALPHA has over the Astro for us is the # of Hounds it will hold and the MUCH longer range at which you are able to shock a Hound.

Another thing we have found is more Consistant FM com between the Collar and the APLHA Unit. Even with a DC 30 we would see ? appear on the screen when the Hound was in HEAVY cover or deep water. With the TT collars this very seldom happens.

Now if you get an ALPHA System be sure and get Buddyw to add one of his Ram Suction Window mount holders. They are SOOOOO much better than any thing else out there. They stay attached and hold it much tighter!

The ALPHA is being updated frequently so that is a bit of a chore, but well worth the effort!

These are just my thoughts from what we have found!

Now I would add that the High Watt FM radios will still COOK any Garmin unit. Turn the Radios down to 5 watts or turn the Garmins off.

Also like I said on another thread I hear Garmin might be coming out with a new Collar for the Astro Platform.

Call Buddyw or email to DU Supply as he is so busy he is not over here often!

[dmorty]

Thanks again for the feedback guys,I've got a buyer for the astro so I think I will be going to the alpha!

[Steve White]

There has only been 2 updates since it's release. I would not call that frequently, or much of a pain.

As far as burning them up using a fm radio. Yes, improvements were made for that all the way back to the astro. But it in the end it comes down to one simple thing. YOU CAN"T FIX STUPID! Why folks believe they can transmit on or near the same channels without harming something is beyond me. It's common sense. Heck, most guys dont even know what they are running on. They will tell me we are using marine band. Ok, that's illegal. But what frequency do you use. Oh, we are on 151.xxx. Hmmm, when did that become part of the marine band? Ohh, and that is most likely illegal as well. Or, it will be we are using 146.xxx. Oh, what's your call sign? HUH, WHAT. Well your using the ham band, dont you have a ham license? Expecting Garmin to condone illegal radio, and make the units able to take power overload from illegal operation. Is about the same as buying into Guns kill people thought process.

It's been several years now since the problem came up, and has been dealt with. If you continue to use high power radios in the 151-154 area. Well, not only is it most likely illegal, but you need to remind yourself of those 4 words!

I run the max power allowed by law, on the private channel I purchased. Never have had a problem.

[blackpaws]

Steve,

my radio frequency is 156.575 and i have fried 2 units using them close to my radio. others in our same group using the same frequency have fried units. before we knew what the problem was, we would send them in to be repaired, and have always gotten a refurbished unit that works great. after a couple times of doing this, garmin asked if we were using them in close proximity of a high wattage radio. we said yes but they never asked what frequency. now that i knew what was causing it, i have started turning my radio to low power when using the garmin in my truck by the radio on frequency 156.575 and have had this unit for a couple years now and still get real good range. i am not arguing the fact that using them close to the 151-154 range will burn them up but 156.575 should be far enough away to not burn them up. what i am saying is that i believe it doesn't matter the frequency, if on high watt output, it will burn the unit to some extent as was stated to me by Garmin.

Joe

[Steve White]

There are some other possible things in that statement.

I cannot say what the issues were with your units. However, it has been my experience. That any time a unit fails it is automatically burned up by a radio. For a long time when the issue was prevalent. This would only really be the case 50% of the time. Now with the changes made. It is less than 10% of the time. More often than not it was a case of a broken antenna connection. Many do not look for this, or even bother. I know that Garmin does not tell you what the problem was.

The next issue with it. Was placement of antennas. Many many people put the radio antenna right next to the Garmin antenna or in close proximity. This results in blasting the Garmin antenna with high power. Simply moving the antenna corrects this issue. But, then again it might not look as cool.

But then again this really is beating the dust of what was a dead horse. It's been gone over so many times it's not even funny. Funny thing of it is. It's pretty much just the 220's that still have any issue at all. There has been very few issues at all with the 320. Have not seen one with a broken antenna connector, or burned up by a radio. Better equipment, and maybe just more educated users. The Alpha I would expect to have fewer issues yet.

I ran 156, and 157 for years. Breaking the law on the marine band with not one burned unit as a result. Finally decided the possible fine was not worth it.

[blackpaws]

Steve,

all i have is a 220 with the rubber duckie antenna as my mag mount antenna was ripped off my truck and lost my other aftermarket long range antenna. both untis that i fried were fried using the little rubber duckie antenna so no reason to have to look cool. both started losing range slowly then down to nothing. not trying to beat the dust off of anything just stating what happen to me and what was told to me by garmin. i was just stating that it is not only the 151-154 frequencies that will burn these things up. 220, 320, or Alpha doesn't matter none of them are bullet proof to these High wattage radios.