New GPS tracking system on the market

[BlacktailStalker]

I just broke mine too.. I might try that flexible one of the Smiley Antenna site.

[Mr.pacojack]

I just broke mine too.. I might try that flexible one of the Smiley Antenna site.

I got 2 of them and I didn't notice that much more range.

[Steve White]

Thought maybe someone would like to see this.





Oh and this was the result of that.






Devin- There are others that do hunt in those states. They can get more than 1 mile at times. Although I can see dog being under one of those ledges. In a place like that I think only dynamite would get a signal out.

I was asked in a PM about the boosters that are used with the icoms. So I figured better post this. DO NOT USE THEM!!!!! They are designed for analog signals. So they will harm the Garmin with all the white noise. Not the same as maxima saying that, then coming out with one. You would need a digital signal booster. I have yet to find one of those.

[Mr.pacojack]

Steve, You make alot of excuses for garmin and do a big song and dance for them. Point is there is alot of things wrong with this system, 2 major ones are distance and battery life and in the what 2 years or so that they have been out, garmin has not done anything about it. the big problem is there costumer service on these issues. They need to address them and be concerned about them, they need to quit making accusses and start making a better system that works. If they would work with us and ask questions and be concerned with the product they have put out, I know I would be a little bit more understanding on the long delays. At least I would feel like they are working on it. As of right now I have sent in my one system 5 times and not one of them has ever got more than a mile line of sight. My other one is going to go back to them next week and it has never got more than a mile.
Just in case you missed the point, here it is again. Quit making excusses and make the nessisary improvements on the system, that will work for us in the feild.

[jasonrinebold]

Ok I have 3 questions I didn't see an answer to.

1 I see the tinyloc has no screen just a direction but does it give any distance to the direction like a atennuater? Or the long, medium, and short on my QTR100?

2 Can I read there collars with a normal telemetry beeper since it sends both signals?

3. Does anyone no of anything coming out that could be better? I've seen Marshell and Tracker Systems both mentioned? In my mind either company will probably be the way to go but how long will we have to wait?

Thank You

[Mr.pacojack]

Marshall said they are in discusion with different companies on the gps part of it and they don't want to use garmin. I think that is all they are waitng for. It is too bad that garmin didn't go to bed with someone that knew what they were doing and stick with just the gps part of it.

[Ike]

ike

[Steve White]

Ok I have 3 questions I didn't see an answer to.

1 I see the tinyloc has no screen just a direction but does it give any distance to the direction like a atennuater? Or the long, medium, and short on my QTR100?

2 Can I read there collars with a normal telemetry beeper since it sends both signals?

3. Does anyone no of anything coming out that could be better? I've seen Marshell and Tracker Systems both mentioned? In my mind either company will probably be the way to go but how long will we have to wait?

Thank You

Jason- Here are the answers to the best of my knowledge.

1- No distance given, but does give a lat/long so you could carry a topo map and plot the point on the map. Or carry a laptop with you and upload it.

2- In theory yes. If your normal tracing box has the frquencies needed. On the beep beep side would be more like normal. On the GPS. The digitla signal is sent out only so often. It also sounds a bit different. A series of beeps. SO only every 10 secs with Tinloc, or 5,10, 30 with Garmin will you get a signal. Also with it being a digital signal. The range would be much less using an analog reciever. Also only a scanner type unit is going to be able to recieve the digital signal worth a darn.

3- Yes- there is lots of talk out there. Things may be being worked on by several companies. Yet, there are many hurdles for them to go over before anything will come of it. Big money to implement, Usage rights, patents, etc. Also right now anything coming out is going to be restricted by the FCC on what they can use. That is why both Garmin and Tinyloc are using the murs band. It is a free public radio service. VHF CB.

[newby]

How is it possible that some people in JUST as rugged country like Ike's can get 7 miles and some don't get more than 800yds.? Is it possible that the guys that aren't getting more range have some other variables at play than terrain? What about other types of interference (ie: machinery, geology (types of rock, minerals, or ore present in the soil), etc...)? I don't know about any of these topics, just wondering if they might have something to do with the problems.

I too have been waiting to see how these garmins are going to pan out and have almost pulled the trigger a few times...is it likely their will be viable competition for the garmin systems this year? Thanks.

[Steve White]

How is it possible that some people in JUST as rugged country like Ike's can get 7 miles and some don't get more than 800yds.? Is it possible that the guys that aren't getting more range have some other variables at play than terrain? What about other types of interference (ie: machinery, geology (types of rock, minerals, or ore present in the soil), etc...)? I don't know about any of these topics, just wondering if they might have something to do with the problems.

I too have been waiting to see how these garmins are going to pan out and have almost pulled the trigger a few times...is it likely their will be viable competition for the garmin systems this year? Thanks.

Yes, there are many things that can affect any radio signal. Sitting in the truck, house, rocks, other signals, etc...


It is possible something else may come along in the next year. Nobody really knows. When they do there will be growing pains. As there is no possible way anyone can release something without one. Especially ones with software. Just ask Bill Gates.

There are people all over the US that are using them without the range problems that some speak of on net. In the same states and terrain as the ones that say they have problems. Sometimes I wonder if it is not operator error, or something that is causing the problem in that area.

[jasonrinebold]

I've hunted around a few garmins in diffrent country. On the coast of Oregon and California they seem pretty useless. Here where I live in Idaho we have some brush and timber and they work so so depending on where your at on any given day. But they don't seem to good in timber or any canopy. In more high country in open canyons and more high desert/juniper country they work way better. Just my observation. But if a guy wants to stay up on a race here to keep from feeding the wolves GPS would really really help. I used to turn on old snowed in cougar tracks and sometimes not find the dogs for hours or even the next day. If we did that now they'd be eaten by the wolves before we found them. I still can get on a runnin bear and loose them for half a day at a time so far I've been lucky. I think I'll wait for the marshell or tracker. My dogs need longer necks. after putting on a garmin collar tritronics collar and johnson collar they look pretty goofy. My biggest dog only wieghs 50 pounds!

[BlacktailStalker]

Sounds like you should piggy back your tritronics with your telemetry to eliminate a collar.

[larry]

Sounds like you should piggy back your tritronics with your telemetry to eliminate a collar.

that won't work with a johnson collar.

[Steve White]

Sounds like you should piggy back your tritronics with your telemetry to eliminate a collar.

that won't work with a johnson collar.

Sure it will!! just have to either trim the collar or put holes in it depending on the age of your tt. Does not matter what part of the body the TT is touching it will still zap you.

[Ike]

How is it possible that some people in JUST as rugged country like Ike's can get 7 miles and some don't get more than 800yds.? Is it possible that the guys that aren't getting more range have some other variables at play than terrain? What about other types of interference (ie: machinery, geology (types of rock, minerals, or ore present in the soil), etc...)? I don't know about any of these topics, just wondering if they might have something to do with the problems.

I too have been waiting to see how these garmins are going to pan out and have almost pulled the trigger a few times...is it likely their will be viable competition for the garmin systems this year? Thanks.

I live in open country unless I get into the canyons and/or mountains, and the test I did was here in the basin where the topography doesn't change alot. A couple friends have been running this Garmin system for six months, and they have used their old tracking collars and the GPS collars and swear by the GPS collars. They do have long range antennas and told me line of sight they get a whole lot more distance than I mentioned in my little test. One of them also told me I'd save enough gas money to pay for the unit in no time.

And example: My plott dog quit a tough track a few weeks back and was trailing out down his backtrail. It was late and I was trying to call him to the road. He was on medium range on my quick track and I had trouble telling if he was getting closer or paralleling the road and I bout left him overnight. Just as I was about to give him up he popped into sight. This Garmin distance would have clearly told me he was getting closer and I'd known he was coming in...and that's worth alot as night falls and I wonder whether I'm wasting my time or whether the dog is coming out or not.

ike