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Yes there is a 12V plug in for the handheld. It doesnt charge your batteries but your unit will run off the 12v power instead of your batteries.
Just dont try to plug it in on a real bumpy road like I did and bend/bust one of the 5 little pins in the usb port and wreck that feature

The 12v plug is the only way to go and while you are at it get a cradle for your windsheild so you can just look up on the dash and not reck trying to hold the Garmin. I also put my antenna on the hood to keep it from getting knocked off. (you then look like a rino going through the woods)

Here is a link to garmin for the cable and Mount https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID ... cessoryTab

also alot of people where i hunt use the phone charger for nextel. I dont i am scared it will hurt my unit but they dont seem to have any problems.

Oh almost forgot dont order the $40 one from garmin, just use a blackberry phone charger, $10 or w/e.
I use the bean bag dash mount with adjustable cradle for the handheld.

I have about ten of the nextel chargers laying around here. I knew the plug looked the same, I was just a little scared to try it. I bought a dash mount made by Rock Mount the first day I had my GPS. I would have saved enough money on AA batteries to buy another Astro if I knew the phone charger would work!

Houndnem-We do agree on alot of things. I have a real good buddy that is as bull headed as they come. Him and I can go back and forth for hours and never get anywhere. He looked at some of the posts on here and said it reminds him of us drinking beer around the garage. Then he went and sided with my old lady that this forum is a big waste of time. I also appreciate the different perspectives and experiences that are found on this forum. It is what keeps me coming back.

Don't know if it's just me, but for some reason I don't seem to get as good of range when my astro is plugged in with the phone charger?

it all depends on terrain. the places i go i usually get atleast a mile out of it. i know people complain about the range alot but the unit itself makes things alot easier. as long as ur not lazy and stay up on a ridge u pretty much always have signal.

anyone get a chance to use the dc 40 yet.... I broke my roof mount antenna this weekend and had to use the shorty and I could only track about 900 yards.

I was in the truck and had no batteries so it was hooked up to the cig lighter and i think that hurt my tracking range but it still SUCKED!!!!!!

I have now replaced all my quick track with Marshall and have a full system of Garmin. Someone will probably come out with another tracking system now. that is always my luck.

Mine was updating the dogs at 3.4 miles away.. I burned thru 2 sets of batteries in about 12 hours.. I did get about 28 hours out of the collars with a 10 second update on the dogs..

My biggest problem was- the batteries in the Garmin itself.. and it telling me the dogs were 245 yards away then 830 the next update.. and they really weren't moving.. but I think it was MY error from not holding the Garmin perfectly flat..

My dogs will not get turned out without their beep beep collars.. But.. dang.. I sure did like that Garmin.. saved me HOURS of searching and narrowing down..

ms hampton that is some good range. is that what you can count on.

so far it looks like over 75% can not count on over 2 miles and about half of those can not count on over about 1 mile.


I may just use the garmin for tranning because hunting season is almost here and I Know I will be sending my unit back as soon as other hunters get in the woods because it will be fried and my range will then be line of actual site.

doghunter wrote:ms hampton that is some good range. is that what you can count on.

I've only been out with it in that area.. and just a couple times.. so far yes.. Will is stay like that in all the areas I hunt.. I really don't know.. I do know a few more people who have them and are getting about the same..

yesterday with a front comming through and the low cloud cover i was able to track 3 miles with the signal comming and going but this morning we are back to clear skys and it is back to about 1.2 miles.

Melanie Hampton wrote:Mine was updating the dogs at 3.4 miles away.. I burned thru 2 sets of batteries in about 12 hours.. I did get about 28 hours out of the collars with a 10 second update on the dogs..

My biggest problem was- the batteries in the Garmin itself.. and it telling me the dogs were 245 yards away then 830 the next update.. and they really weren't moving.. but I think it was MY error from not holding the Garmin perfectly flat..

My dogs will not get turned out without their beep beep collars.. But.. dang.. I sure did like that Garmin.. saved me HOURS of searching and narrowing down..

try the energizer ultimate lithium, they are spendy but worth it. i have used the same batteries for four to five days with out changing them, havnt seen any other batteries that even come close.
as far as range, with the long range magnetic ant. i normally pick up my dogs at 3-4 miles depending on cloud cover and how thick the timber is.

i find it hard to believe that most of you are only picking up between 1-2 miles, what are you guys not using the long range antenea? i live in the thick mountainous region of idaho and receive signals up to two miles before having to change out anteneas to the magnetic. after doing that it easily picks up 3-4 miles. it will drop signal occasionally but always picks it back up. it picks up better if you get away from the truck or fourwheeler.

I will tell you all this, i will be surprised if the garmin is not outlawed in the next 5 years in most states! so i won't be selling my telemetry!

i doubt they will outlaw them here in idaho, mainly because it helps protect your dogs from wolves. why would they outlaw them anyway?, because they work? nothing would surprise me though, the game department would rather you have to do it cave man style, so much for advances in technology. look at idahos muzzle loader laws and try to figure there reasoning for those, a inline muzzle loader is almost useless here, you cant use pellets, you cant use saboted bullets, you cant have a scope, you cant use 209 primers. WTF!!!!