E-Collar GPS with Beeper?

[SLE]

Starting to consider a new E-collar. I have been running a Dogtra 2000 T&B for the last 13 years and have been extremely pleased with it. It's been super durable and reliable. I'm on my second set of batteries and don't plan to send it in for a third set, the entire unit has seen it's better days. I like the idea of the GPS Trackers however I don't want to have to be looking at the screen when walking into heavy cover to flush a bird. Not sure if anyone makes a GPS unit that also has an integrated beeper? I haven't seen any yet but thought I'd see what everyone is using. I have a pointing dog and we hunt a lot of cattails and heavy cover especially late in the season. Most of the time I just run my current collar on point mode or manually beep it, once the dog locks up on a bird, the beeper starts. There are a lot of instances where I get within feet of the dog while he's on point and I still can't see him. This is where my reticence to a GPS collar comes in. I can't be looking at a screen to see exactly where the dog is and walking in to flush a bird. 80% of the time, a good E-Collar with and integrated beeper that can be ran in a few modes, is more than adequate. The other 20% of the time I feel like a GPS would be kind of useful, around the house, windy days working CRP where I can't hear the beeper well, etc.

Any words of wisdom from those that have used both types and or if there is a combo GPS/beeper collar out there? I don't want separate units and want to be able to control the beeper remotely.

Thanks for any help

 

[Duckslayer100]

I'm not sure they have an integrated system, but you can by stand-alone beepers for reasonable price and just add it to the collar. I think Tri-Tronics had their Upland Beeper that I once found for $99. Had it and it worked great. Only inconvenience is you wouldn't be able to control it by your remote. But at least you'd have the sound.

I have a SportDOG Tek 2.0 GPS collar that I run on my pointers. I personally haven't found it very inconvenient to quick glance down at the GPS hanging from my vest. Most of the time you get your bearings and just go in where it says to go. I'm usually have a decent idea of where the dogs are anyway, and the GPS just validates it (or proves it wrong). This is my third season using it, and so far I haven't missed a flush because I was looking at the screen. If that makes sense.

 

[SerchforPerch]

DS and others chimed in on this topic within the Dog Forums a couple weeks ago.. I'm still doing research and shopping around, but seem to be leaning towards the Dogtra units as well.. One thing I do like is that the GPS units will let notify you when the dog stops moving, goes on point, etc..

However, I'm still trying to decide on whether I want just the GPS or GPS w/ Training capabilities as there is quite the jump in cost b/w the two units..

 

[Allen]

Garmin Alpha user here. Really like the collar, remote ain't difficult to use, but no beeper. Guess I have never needed the beeper though as noted above, the split second it takes to look down at the remote hasn't been a negative.

That long antenna on the collar though is annoying. I put a few wraps of tape on it so I can tuck it into the buckle of the collar. Otherwise it's long enough to get in the way of the dog. It does also come with a shorter antenna, but I haven't tried it.

 

[Duckslayer100]

DS and others chimed in on this topic within the Dog Forums a couple weeks ago.. I'm still doing research and shopping around, but seem to be leaning towards the Dogtra units as well.. One thing I do like is that the GPS units will let notify you when the dog stops moving, goes on point, etc..

However, I'm still trying to decide on whether I want just the GPS or GPS w/ Training capabilities as there is quite the jump in cost b/w the two units..

Personal preference: Keep them separate. I like a training collar for training and a GPS collar for tracking. I tried a full season with the Alpha and never was able to issue a timely command when a correction was needed. For me (because old habits die hard) I can reach down to my hip and issue a command instinctively with my TT trainer, and still have the GPS collar for the tracking on my left shoulder (within easy glancing distance). Running a dog with two collars isn't that cumbersome and they don't seem to notice it.

 

[Allen]

Duck,

I had heard that as well with the original Alpha, a delay in issuing a correction to the dog.

I have not run into that issue with the newer version of the remote and collar setup.

 

[SLE]

Yeh, a delayed response on the training side wouldn't be any good. Hadn't heard that one before but maybe should be something I look into. kind of surprised in todays technological world that one of the companies hasn't integrated all of the these features into a single unit. I spoke with a few folks that had GPS collars (different brands) and it sounded like once within about 10 yards they were kind of pointless as that's about the level of accuracy depending on the day. This was exactly what my concern was, hunting heavy cattails being 10-20 ft from the dog locked up on point and having to search a bit for him, this is where the beeper shines. sure wish someone would make an all in one collar. Looks like if I want a beeper collar I have two options, buy the TT or Dogtra beeper and training collar or get a GPS unit and then ad a secondary beeper however it wouldn't be controllable from the remote.