Post your Garmin Astro 220 review

[Budd Denny]

Hey Budd Denny,

The reason you don't have a problem is that a regular GPS is not picking up radio frequencies. The ASTRO is a GPS and radio receiver.

I was planning on using it as a standard GPS also and loosing the Lowrance. Or would I be better off just using the Astro for the dog tracking, and keeping the Lowrance? That would probably be the safest solution.

[tman308]

Budd Denny, you answered your own question. the problem with the Astro is that even if you have the dog tracking feature turned off it still receives the radio waves. I too carry a seperate GPS for use in the truck. Once out of the truck on the ATV, Horse or on foot I no longer have to worry about the radio thing since my handheld only puts out 5 watts.

Good luck

[Bearkiller]

Would any of you smart people tell me if something like the magnetic 2/3 of the way down would work with my astro? If so, would it work better than the small magnetic mount external antenna I bought with my astro?


http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_murs.html

[tman308]

Bearkiller,
That antenna will work but you will need an adapter to plug into the Garmin. Just get the antenna and then take it and your Garmin into a radio shop and tell them you need an SMA connector and adapter.

Hope that helps

[Bearkiller]

Doesn't the garmin have a bnc connector? If so it has the right connection. If not it says you can order it with whatever connection you want.


Is anyone using any other antenna? I'd like to find a long one for added range at the truck. Not complaining but anything little thing helps. I'd prefer something thats not magnetic but the only other thing I could find was a firestyk with out a wire.

[BIG J]

i tried a magnetic marine ant w/ the sma connector and. had signal for a solid 3 miles in heavy cover. Then about 3-6 in was in and out when i got on the hills, then when i finnally got to the top of a large highground hill i got reception, that was 8.7 miles. this was just recently with the leaves on the trees. Still trying to get more info from garmin on what a guy can get away with 12 calls in the last 2 months and 3 people new that there was a problem. I found out that radios that are under 50 watts "shouldnt"? be a problem Stay at least 10-12 feet away from the base when you talk. They wouldnt say yes or no on putting the astro in the center counsel if it would be ok. At least it links up faster after the 1st time when you shut it off to talk. Oh buy the way more great news. lets say i have # 45 id and i want to add in another collar that is 35 id. u cant! all the ids that end in a 5 are gone. neat HUH!

[tman308]

Bearkiller,

It is a sma connector the BNC is like the one on the wildlife box or a cb.

[Jason Waterhouse]

This has been a good thread.I just bought a garmin a few days ago Glad to see alot of tips on this thread.

[Jason Waterhouse]

I have a question regarding the re-charging of the collars?

Say you hunt for 6-7 hours one day and get home; can you just plug it in and re-charge it back to full? Or do these batteries have memory like a lot of the hand-held walkie talkies, where if you charge it at half power then the battery life is cut in half.....


Basically I'm asking does the battery have to be dead in order to charge it?


Thanks,
-Hounder

I would like to no the answer to this question also??

[tman308]

Garmin says that the batteries don't have memory but I am skeptical about that. I usually wait until my batteries are at least half power or less before recharging. Once every three months I leave the collars on until completely dead and then recharge. I do charge them up everytime before hunting though but I keep mine on the 10 second upload so they last about 30 hours.

Hope that helps

[Jason Waterhouse]

ok thank you Another question for you guys how do i change the collars from 30 seconds to 10 or 5 seconds cant seem to find it in the garmin book.

[beardog-treed]

Jason, you change each collar individually. Go to the dog list, and Enter dog1, so that you have the stats for that collar, (Thats where it shows you the battery meter) then hit menu and it will ask you if you want to edit the collar. I think its the second entry, I do not have the unit in front of me, so I might be a little off. If you want I can walk you through it after I get home from work, say 8PM. look for me on Yahoo messenger