Dog tracking GPS

ErikD · 09-23-2009, 01:38 PM

I bought a Garmin Astro dog tracking gps a couple of weeks ago: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=209&pID=8576

I'll be using it when we start moose hunting in about a week. The nice thing with these is that compared to other systems we've used which are gsm based, and which send you a position when you request for one, is that this will give us continuous realtime info of the dogs whereabouts via the vhf receiver.

A more detailed report will follow when I've tried it out more.

Pogo · 09-23-2009, 01:51 PM

That's neat. I might get one for my dawgs when I take them running.

The bear hunters in the Michigan UP use radio collars. I see them up there looking for their dogs with a tracking device. Well, maybe that's what they are using too.

ErikD · 09-23-2009, 02:14 PM

PoGo,

Radio collars have also been used extensively over here. But they don't give you a position, just a direction, and estimated distance depending on how strong the signal is. With a topographical map in the hand unit, this Garmin tracker can show you exactly where the dog is in relation to yourself. It really is pretty neat.

I don't think I'd personally get one just to walk my dogs, but for hunting moose with a Norwegian moose hound, it's as near perfect as possible at the moment.

aviator · 09-23-2009, 02:21 PM

I could have used that while my kids were growing up.

ErikD · 09-23-2009, 03:06 PM

Considering that I've been awol from the DDb for a while, perhaps I should put the collar on myself, and send you guys the hand unit?

gunkgy · 09-23-2009, 04:16 PM

get one and put it in my wifes car

DorGunR · 09-23-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikD

Considering that I've been awol from the DDb for a while, perhaps I should put the collar on myself, and send you guys the hand unit?

I had already started to wonder if you was OK.

aviator · 09-23-2009, 04:40 PM

I'll say you are one of the posters I look forward to reading Erik. Just don't go AWOL on us for that long...

gravedigger · 09-23-2009, 06:43 PM

How do we get these things implanted into the necks of liberals ... you know ... so we can locate them when it becomes necessary?

ErikD · 10-09-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikD

it's as near perfect as possible at the moment.

Hmm. Or not.

I've been using it for a week now and there are some pretty major problems with it. First of all, it seems like there's some software trouble, which results in it "crashing". I've had several instances where I've been following the dogs movement, with good gps and communication coverage, but then all of a sudden it will stop keeping track. Even if the dog is visible, so there is obviously no reason for the vhf transmissions to not reach the hand unit. I then restart the hand unit, and it picks up the dog again.

Also, the version we get over here has 10 channels to choose from, which now during the moose hunt has turned out to be way too few, as other collar units within several kilometers (up to 12 km if I'm high up in the forest) interfere. As far as I know the US version has 60 or so channels to choose from, so you are more likely to be able to avoid the same channel as other nearby users.

In fact, sometimes it will prefer to show a dog that's many kilometers away, rather than our dog which is nearer! I think it should have an option to choose which dog you want to keep track of, or at least show both so that you can keep track of you dog and ignore the other one.

It also lacks a key pad lock, so buttons can get pressed while it's in a pocket. Since this can do all sorts of things such as mark a new waypoint or change the settings, I find this very irritating.

I'd think the software problem mentioned should be possible to fix by Garmin, but it's certainly frustrating when it happens while the dog is chasing a moose a km or more away, and you're not sure where it's headed...

Garmin needs to get it's head out of it's ass when it comes to this product, and should have tried it out for real in harder conditions than they clearly have before putting it out on the market.

ErikD · 10-09-2009, 10:52 AM

I forgot to mention that I shot a nice male yearling yesterday.

(without the help of the Astro.

)

10 Bears · 10-09-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

a Norwegian moose hound

Okay, okay, I guess I need to see a pic.
Don't believe Ive ever seen a Norwegian Moose Hound.

Is it any different from a Norwegian Elk Hound?

Czubek · 10-09-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Bears

Okay, okay, I guess I need to see a pic.
Don't believe Ive ever seen a Norwegian Moose Hound.

Is it any different from a Norwegian Elk Hound?

They have a lot bigger...

...sniffer.

???

Brian

ErikD · 10-09-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Bears

Okay, okay, I guess I need to see a pic.
Don't believe Ive ever seen a Norwegian Moose Hound.

Is it any different from a Norwegian Elk Hound?

You are of course correct. It was just me fucking up the translation...

Wikipedia (Thumbnails)
Wikipedia (Thumbnails)

ErikD · 10-09-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Bears

Okay, okay, I guess I need to see a pic.

A picture from an injured moose I tracked down with our dog last year:

09-23-2009, 01:38 PM	#1
ErikD Mzungu Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the land of socialist nepotism and corruption. Posts: 6,342	Dog tracking GPS I bought a Garmin Astro dog tracking gps a couple of weeks ago: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=209&pID=8576 I'll be using it when we start moose hunting in about a week. The nice thing with these is that compared to other systems we've used which are gsm based, and which send you a position when you request for one, is that this will give us continuous realtime info of the dogs whereabouts via the vhf receiver. A more detailed report will follow when I've tried it out more. __________________ ------------------------------------------- Cut along dotted line, discard top part.

09-23-2009, 01:51 PM	#2
Pogo Mystic Knight of the Sea Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great Swamp Posts: 81,980	That's neat. I might get one for my dawgs when I take them running. The bear hunters in the Michigan UP use radio collars. I see them up there looking for their dogs with a tracking device. Well, maybe that's what they are using too. __________________ .................................................. ....................................… *We have met the enemy, and he is us!*

09-23-2009, 02:21 PM	#4
aviator unum de multis Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bunker's Headquarters. Posts: 52,452	I could have used that while my kids were growing up. __________________ "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." Pesident Ronald Reagan

09-23-2009, 04:16 PM	#6
gunkgy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Now, North Carolina Posts: 6,594	get one and put it in my wifes car __________________

09-23-2009, 06:43 PM	#9
gravedigger Never "P.C." Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Free America! (Kentucky) Posts: 1,654	How do we get these things implanted into the necks of liberals ... you know ... so we can locate them when it becomes necessary? __________________ Too many people make the mistake of counting liberals among the human race. 3

09-23-2009, 02:14 PM	#3
ErikD Mzungu Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the land of socialist nepotism and corruption. Posts: 6,342	PoGo, Radio collars have also been used extensively over here. But they don't give you a position, just a direction, and estimated distance depending on how strong the signal is. With a topographical map in the hand unit, this Garmin tracker can show you exactly where the dog is in relation to yourself. It really is pretty neat. I don't think I'd personally get one just to walk my dogs, but for hunting moose with a Norwegian moose hound, it's as near perfect as possible at the moment.

09-23-2009, 03:06 PM	#5
ErikD Mzungu Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the land of socialist nepotism and corruption. Posts: 6,342	Considering that I've been awol from the DDb for a while, perhaps I should put the collar on myself, and send you guys the hand unit?

09-23-2009, 04:40 PM	#8
aviator unum de multis Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bunker's Headquarters. Posts: 52,452	I'll say you are one of the posters I look forward to reading Erik. Just don't go AWOL on us for that long...

10-09-2009, 10:52 AM	#11
ErikD Mzungu Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the land of socialist nepotism and corruption. Posts: 6,342	I forgot to mention that I shot a nice male yearling yesterday. (without the help of the Astro. )