BigGameHoundsmen.com

Just curious how far do your guys garmins work in mountain country. Mine seems to only be workinking good out to about a mile and then its hit and miss

Get yourself the long range antenna for the garmin and that will increase your range quite a bit. You won't loose contact much, and didn't loose contact at all this lion season. 2.5 miles is about as far away as i had it this year. (Just be very careful with the antanna).

alright thanks. So a mile is kinda normal with out that antenna

The best money spent is the tuff skin antennas for the collars.

Double U graphics sponsor here has a replacment long range antenna that is much more durable than the stock Garmin one. You still need the Garmin handle. Worth the money for sure.

So your just replacing the stock antennas on the collers and increasing your range. I had a friend here tell me you are supposed to reprogram your garmins after six months. I thought maybe thats why I was only getting about a mile . Do you guys know anything about that

they also make a big roof top antenna. when I plug mine in I have read my dogs up to 30 miles away when they are on high points. matter of fact one time this year when my wife had to work I left dogs runnin and came home to tend the kids and watched the chase all night from my house!

Ringo,
There has been several updates from Garmin for the Astro unit as well as the collars. Perhaps that is what your friend is refering to. Some of theses updates has helped the overall performance of the Garmin and collars.

Ringo,

If you are getting a mile in the mountains here in MT you are doing pretty good. The sheer steepness cutsoff the signal significantly. The aftermarket antennaes definately help but don't expect to double your range. Garmin through the webupdater puts out updates for both the collars and the Astro. I would at least plug in and check if you have the most up to date software. The updates usually are fixing bugs and really don't affect your range.

I personally just get up to a high point and can generally pick the dogs up again.

Ya I have had mine for about three years maybe four,but Ive never plugged mine into the computer. I never asked my buddy how his did for range so I didnt know if a mile was good. Figured I would see what most people were getting for distance. I am not really very sharp at running these things but whats the deal when it takes a real long time to pick up a collar? It doesnt do all the time just every once in awhile.

The Astro uses a Ping signal not GPS to locate your dogs. The Ping is converted to GPS. The Garmins are very limited in distance, and a mile or so is common in hilly terrain. That is from my usage.

I am working on a true satellite tracking device. No ping signals. Your dogs can be in the mountains of Tennessee and you in the mountains California with out any service and you will know where each other is.

I am working on a true satellite tracking device. No ping signals. Your dogs can be in the mountains of Tennessee and you in the mountains California with out any service and you will know where each other is.[/quote]

If you can make a true satellite tracking device that people can afford you will be rich but more than that you will be appreciated beyond measure.