GPS Collar ??

[MuleShack]

I have 2 sets of Dogtra Ecollars - The 2502 T&B and the 2302NCP obviously both 2 dog systems for my 2 GSP's.

The 2302 is used around the yard and at the game farms, and the 2502 T&B is used in the field to locate the dogs being they range and in the cattails so I can know where they are. The buttons on the 2502 control are not consistent for some reason where the beeper doesn't go off when pressed regularly.

So was looking at getting a GPS collar to replace the T&B collar for the field and was looking at Garmin. They have a straight GPS collar that seems like the cats meow but it is only GPS, so I would need to have 2 collars on the dog. Is that decent for the dog to carry 2 collars?

Garmin has another 2 dog collar out with the GPS and the Tritronics Ecollar combined. This seems like it would be the way to go...

Any other good GPS - Ecollar combinations out there?

[stretch]

I have the dogtra 2502 t&b collar and i also have the garmin astro tracking collor and i use them both when i am out hunting. The garmin is the cats meow! Its well worth the investment. I also use my garmin with my buddies coyote hunting dogs and we can track the dogs up to 9 miles away. you wont be disappointed.

[B-man715]

I know several guys with the Alpha, and it is definitely the best out there IME (the only one real combo competition being the Sportdog).

One friend has the SportDog, it's a nice unit too, but doesn't have maps, which is incredibly helpful when running hounds. But for a trash free bird dog, it shouldn't be a deal breaker either.

If you can swing the Alpha, go for it

Keep in mind no matter what brand or type you go with, they all can and do have problems. I've never heard of anything being bulletproof.

As for running two collars, I do it all the time on my beagles (Astro and Sportdog 3200 hound Hunter)

If they don't have any issues with both, your dog certainly will not either.

[rundrave]

The buttons on the 2502 control are not consistent for some reason where the beeper doesn't go off when pressed regularly.

Can you elaborate on this? On mine I don't have this issue but I have found that sometimes if you have the hand remote currently set to beep the orange collar and you want to switch it to the green collar and manually beep it there may be a very small lag after it is switched on the hand remote but after that it works fine.

I could see the advantages of GPS collars for coon dogs etc, but I am not sure I see it being practical for upland.

[MuleShack]

Its not just a delay, its like worn out or loose connections on the beeper bitton.

Sometimes it works fine, other times you have to grind on it to get a tone.

I use these on our dogs in the yard also on acreage so I can locate quickly if they are out of sight. That also is where a gps collar would be useful.

[rundrave]

have you tried contacting dogtra? I have had good luck with them standing behind or servicing their products. I havent had any defects, but I did have one fall off the dog in the kennel and that collar and beeper became a very expensive chew toy and they got it back up and running in no time. Sure beat buying a new collar.

[MuleShack]

Sending it in was always on the agenda, but never got around to it.

Still debating whether to sell the T&B (after getting it fixed) and get the GPS & Ecollar combo from Garmin or just get the GPS collar and add it to the 2302 for the correction / recall ability.

Does Dogtra need a RMA before sending it in or do you just mail it off and see what they charge ya?