Tracking system quality & quanity VS PRICE . Help !!!

[JUDE]

Here's the deal I currently own a 10 channel F&L Electronics system 217.00-217.100 with 4-3850 Wildlife changable battery collars $150.00 each and 1-Johnson Telementary Ultra light 2,000 hr collar $125.00 . The collars are all 5 barely used with the Johnson collar only being used once and the other 4 barely being used . All the straps are in perfect condition . The system has served it's purpose very well but with the Garmin being the new kid on the block I can't help but want one . However here's my question .

Would it be worth me selling my system and paying the $1300.00 price it would cost to replace my 5 dog system iyo ?

Thanks for reading ,
Buddy

[dingo]

Buddy

I bear hunted for years and have had every type of trackers ever made including a Garmin Gps system.
If I had it to over again it would be Johnson collars and a Tracker handheld.
The GPS is fun gives a ton of information most of which is not all that useful and for sure it does not have the range as my other choice.
They are good but like I said I would go the other way.
If your a data guy then the GPS will give you tons of that but if you just want to go home with your dogs then Tracker/Johnson.
Bear dogs cover big miles and if beagles are not trashing they usually do not go all that far. I run where there is only hare and 99% of the time I can hear my beagles.
I sometimes wonder why I get new stuff when what I already have works just fine!
Find a friend that has a GPS system and look it over close before you buy one. Get as much knowledge about them first as you can before you change and then make your decision on knowledge rather impulse.
Good luck in your decision making.

Dingo

[T LEE]

Buddy , I've owned Wildlife , Icom and Tracker but the Garmin would be my choice. You won't regret it. We used them on our Hare trip this year. It with tell you distance, direction, if the dog is stopped or running. Can't go wrong with the Garmin. The roof top antenna will reach out there too. Alot longer range than just the antenna that comes with the Garmin. I think I got the roof top for something like $32. It's worth it. The Garmin tells Exact distance (yards from you and direction). The Other's gave me a "Beep". Can Anyone tell me Exactly how far a dog is away from a "Beep"???

IMO ...the Garmin is the only way to go.Best of luck with your choice.

[Big-E-Beagles]

Buddy, being a newer beagler, I have never owned anything but the Garmin. That being said, it does everything I need it to do. I really like the map feature, you can zoom in and see what the dogs are doing in the check. If there is a loss, you can walk to the point of loss and look for a hole or the reason for loss. It will also help you figure out if you have a dog backtracking from the check. I have a young dog that was doing this. When I caught her, I was ready with my Tri-tronics. It only took one time to fix the problem. Best of luck with your decision.
Big E.

[Mapel Valley Kennels LLC.]

Buddy, U have been around junk as long as me. I will sell a hub for a truck from napa for 150.00 before i sell a gm for 500.00 somethings and sometimes i will opt to go cheap but, i do not own a tracking system of any type basically i just dont need one. But everyone that has a garmin seems to love em. I am to stupid to turn one on. But i believe dingo brings a good point on distance.....At least if one does cut a trail on off game i want to be able to track over a mountain. I keep thinking tri-tronics and garmin may merge and make a collar. I dont like all the collars around a dogs neck.just saying . Good luck.

[Duke]

Ive got Tracker hand held with 7 collars. Once you learn how to use one you can tell distances and of course direction by using the strength dials. I also have the xtennae and it gives me a lot of range.....in fact it is documented that out west it has tracked over 40 miles. Of course those are optimal conditions.

I have no problem with Garmin whatsoever. If thats what you want, go get it. For me the collars are too large at this time for a beagle, they are as big as my shock collars and have a rather large antennae too. I keep shock collars on my beagles and use a supra=lite as they are very small.

[dave g]

it all comes down to if you want to spend the money. you could always buy just the garmin and one collar to see if you like it and if you dont then sell it for a little loss. if you like it then sell your telemetry system to fund the other gps collars. i myself would like to try a garmin out. or i would get myself a new tracker and the xtenna like duke says. i love my old tracker with johnson collar.

if you were a new beagler i would recommend getting a tracker and johnson collar. i bet a lot of new beaglers buying the garmin are missing out on the whole hound experience. i love being able to tell what direction the dogs are turning by ear and trying to read the environment to find where the crossings might be at. you can learn a lot by trying to keep up with hounds by foot and ear. nowadays all you have to do is look at a handheld screen. but that is just my opinion.

[JCM]

My favorite combination is a Quick Track receiver with Wildlife 3850's. I have these mounted on collars with my G3's. This works every day, in every condition. Garmins are nice to play with and have some good features like you can see how close your dogs are to a road, or if they crossed a creek. I would go slow with a total switch though. If you run in big country, the Garmin does not have the reliability that you can count on in any situation. The best bet is a combination. Maybe a Garmin with a couple of collars, and 3850's on the rest.

[steve w]

I don't think there is a good answer to which is the better system. They both have advantages and disadvantages. I've used Tracker Maxima w/ Johnson Ultralights for close to ten years and always came home with the dogs, sometimes it took longer than others or had to drive to get them but it always worked out. Then this March had a critical situation I think the Garmin would have made a difference. The dogs ran a buck rabbit a good long time and finally up into a horse pasture and among the horses. The horses scattered only to re-group and come back towards the dogs, I heard what I thought was yelp and the dogs scattered and one by one headed out in various directions as there was a big pond to get around to get back to were I was.After a bit I had 5 out of 6 dogs and a pretty strong signal on the one I was missing, I assumed she was coming so I waited but no dog. So I call and whistle and it seems she is moving so I wait but still a no show. So I head for the truck with the ones I had to secure them figuring she show up or I'll have to get permission to go on the land I last seen her and after loading the ones I had I take another reading and she's real close so I look around and find her , ribs kicked in and skin expanding and contracting with every breath. 36 hours later she died at the vet after he did all he could.I can't help but think I may have had a differant outcome had I got to her instead of her walking all the way out on her own. A garmin would have told a more complete story of what I suspected. So did I go right out and buy a Garmin? Not yet, I'd like to-but, I think of the times they got gone on a hare or were in terrian that required a strong signal, and the plain ole fact that the economy has shrunk my pocket book to, so maybe the Garmin is'nt the best choice right now. They have changed the collars for the better 3 times in three years. What's coming next year? I hope whatever you do it works out for you and especially hope you don't need it for something like I did.

[2500 HD]

I'm in the same boat. I have my system for sale, tracker maxima and 6 3850's, but I really like my system. I have a garmin ordered, but not sure if that is the right move or not. I have had a lot lower offers on my system, ( don't get me wrong we all want a good deal), but the bottom line is, I don't think what I am asking is out of line, and honestly not sure I am making the best move if I sell it. Your and my system are out dated, but they still work. What's a guy to do??? Let us know what you decide .

[KILLNTM]

For you Garmin users, does the Garmin have a screen available that looks like an aerial (Google Earth) type or is it just the yellow background you always see on the advertisements?

Thanks,
BiL

[ray s]

For you Garmin users, does the Garmin have a screen available that looks like an aerial (Google Earth) type or is it just the yellow background you always see on the advertisements?

Thanks,
BiL

you can download topo maps to a garmin. they will usually have roads,creeks,rivers,sometimes ponds and lines showing elevation changes.
if you click on the link below,you can see an example of the topo map.
this site is for free topo map downloads.

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/118/

[barnold1]

KILLNTM,

I was really tempted to hold out for evolution of the receiver (something along the lines of the more advanced Oregon and Colorado models, I believe they're called) but once I made the purchase I regretted waiting this long!

[BIG ORDEAL]

If you go with telemetry,wildlife with Johnson collars,operated all kinds since 94 and this is a great combination,the garmin is nice I will have to admit,for using on beagles it probably isnt an issue but I have been told the battery only last about 15 hours so for bbig running hounds its useless if you cant get them before battery goes out.

[deerhost]

The Garmin all the way. The single best piece of equipment I've ever purchased for beagling...DH