Read more about the Garmin 4-dog Combo Astro 220 GPS
Garmin introduces the next generation of their GPS dog tracking system: the Garmin Astro which is specifically designed for hunters. Track your hunting dogs in heavy cover without making a sound. With the Garmin Astro, you'll know where your dog is and what your dog is up to.
Astro Combo Unit includes: Astro 220, belt clip, swivel button, lanyard, USB cable, Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, VHF handheld antenna, 4 DC 30 Collar transmitters with strap and whip style antenna, AC charger, vehicle power cable, carrying case, owner's manual and quick reference guide.
HOW THE GPS DOG TRACKING SYSTEM WORKS
The Garmin Astro system consists of two components: a Handheld GPS unit (Astro 220) which looks like a walkie-talkie and a Dog GPS unit (Astro-DC-30).
These two GPS units communicate via radio signals.
The Dog GPS computes its location from the GPS satellites, detects whether your dog is moving or on point, and sends that info to your Handheld GPS every 5 seconds.
The Handheld GPS then plots the exact location of your dog on a map screen, shows distance, and whether your dog is moving or on point.
On your Handheld GPS, the MAP SCREEN shows your location, your dog's location, and the path that your dog has hunted. Alternately, view your dog(s) on the COMPASS SCREEN which shows your location, your dog's distance and direction. The COMPASS SCREEN is perfect for running multiple dogs. Add up to 10 dogs to one Handheld GPS system. All you need are extra DC 30 DOG GPS collars.
GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR GPS
Turn on both GPS units and wait until each unit has acquired a GPS satellite signal. Put the Dog GPS (DC-30) on your dog and start hunting. The handheld receiver will automatically display your dog's location.
NEW 2008 DC-30 STAND-ALONE COLLAR DESIGN
The new rugged Astro DC 30 collar / transmitter is a complete stand alone unit. The DC 30 has a top mounted, low profile GPS antenna and a side mounted "whip" antenna for the radio signal that sends the location information to the Astro handheld unit.
This new design improves the durability of the system by moving most of the electronics to the bottom of the collar, placing them in front of the dog's chest. This keeps the collar in position and protects the collar by lowering the chances of impact. The Astro DC 30 has a separate GPS antenna that is on the top of the collar strap. The low profile and sleek design of the antenna will keep it below the dog's head and avoid any direct hits in the field.
The original DC 20 (transmitter) dog unit had all of the electronics and the GPS antenna on the top of the dog's neck. The reason for this was to keep the GPS antenna in the best possible position to receive the satellite signal. The problem with it was that the profile of the Astro DC 20 was well above the dog's head and neck.
Whip Style Antenna -- The DC 30 Astro collar has a Whip Style antenna that will take all the abuse a hunting dog can give it. This part of the design is more like a traditional telemetry tracking system.
Metal Attachment Plates -- The new DC 30 GPS collar has metal attachment plates for both the electronics transmitter and the GPS antenna.
It's built tough to handle the rough terrain where your dog hunts, and it doesn't require the use of any additional counterweight, ecollar, or vest to keep the unit on the dog. Just buckle it on and go!
Increased Range -- Garmin has also increased the range of the of the DC 30 with the new design. The line of sight of the new DC 30 is 7 miles. The new antenna design is the major factor in this range increase.
Specifications
Astro can track up to ten dogs per "Handheld GPS" receiver at one time. Add additional Astro DC 30s as needed.
Collar strap fits neck sizes between 12 and 20 inches
K9 metal collar buckle
11 inch Whip style antenna
Slim profile GPS antenna
Rugged IPX7 waterproof standards
User replaceable Li-Ion battery pack (rechargeable)
User replaceable strap with antennas
Rugged on/off power button
Battery life: 17 hours with 5 second update rate
Weight: 8.5 ounces with battery pack
Range: up to 7 miles
Electronics case is 3.25" wide x 1.75" height x 1.40" deep
PLEASE NOTE: Garmin GPS units are waterproof in accordance with IEC 529 IPX7. IEC 529 is the European system of test specification standards for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment. An IPX7 designation means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
ASTRO 220 HANDHELD GPS
Contains top-notch features such as a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, long battery life, a bright sunlight readable color display and a rugged IPX7 waterproof exterior.
This unit also offers automatic routing with turn-by-turn directions.
The Astro 220 has a micro SD card slot so you can add preprogrammed data cards with detailed maps such as TOPO, Inland Lakes, BlueChart and City Navigator.
Barometric altimeter and brand new 3-axis electronic compass
Scratch resistant lens on the 2.6" color TFT display with backlit display and keypad
Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels
Weight: 6.4 ounces without batteries
Battery life: 25 plus hours using 2 AA batteries
USB mini-B connector for data updates with a PC
Rugged IPX7 waterproof standards
Quad helix GPS antenna
Removeable VHF antenna
Micro SD card slot available for preprogrammed MapSource mapping detail such as US TOPO, Inland Lakes, BlueChart and City Navigator
Stores 1000 waypoints, 50 routes and 10,000 track points
Area calculation feature
Built-in auto routing basemap
Garmin GPS units are waterproof in accordance with IEC 529 IPX7. An IPX7 designation means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
GPS DOG TRACKING SYSTEM BATTERIES
DOG GPS / COLLAR BATTERY
-- The DC 30 GPS Collar uses a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack. Average battery charge life is 17 hours using the standard 5 second update. You can increase battery life by using longer update modes. A wall charger and a car charger are both included. Allow 3 to 4 hours for a complete charge for a fully drained battery.
HANDHELD GPS BATTERY
-- The Astro Handheld unit uses AA batteries. Average run time is 25+ hours.
GARMIN ASTRO GPS RANGE
-- The Garmin Astro transmitter and receiver have a "line of sight" range of up to seven miles. The Astro communicates using a VHF radio signal between the Dog GPS collar and the Handheld GPS unit, so to get the full range out of a system there should be nothing between the transmitter and the receiver.
Realistically, this isn't going to happen in most of the places that we spend time with our dogs, so the actual usable range will be less than 7 miles depending on hunting conditions, including weather, terrain, and the presence of cover.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES OF THE GARMIN ASTRO
Downloads
-- The Garmin Astro has some additional features that many dog owners might find useful. Using the Waypoints and Tracks and the Dog Tracks feature from the Astro Handheld you can download your days hunt into your PC using either MapSource or Motionbased.com to see your hunt on a topo map or Google Earth. This allows you to see the ground that you and your dog actually cover in a days hunt on a map.
Covey Counter
-- The Garmin Astro also allows you to mark the exact location of your
coveys using a special waypoint feature. This will allow you to place your coveys on a map and mark the time of day, elevation, number of birds in the covey and number of birds taken from a covey.
New Icons
-- Astro also comes with new waypoint icons designed for hunting, letting you mark and identify additional waypoints such as your truck, hunting lodge, food
plots, cover, ATVs and other outdoor-related features.
Additional Uses
-- While the Garmin Astro is designed for the hunting dog, many of our customers that don't hunt but enjoy spending time outdoors with their dogs and allowing them to run off leash will find the Astro incredibly useful.
The Garmin Astro is perfect when your dog is not by your side. Hiking, camping, horseback riding or bike riding, the Garmin Astro will allow your dogs more freedom but allow you to keep a close eye on them and help you locate them if they get lost. Since the Garmin Astro 220 serves as a full-featured handheld GPS unit, it will keep you from getting lost, too.
Not available to Canadian Addresses.
FREE!
Quick Start Manual Download Garmin Astro 220 Quick Start Manual, downloadable in .pdf format. Click here
to read the Garmin Astro 220 Quick Start Manual.
Note to Canadian and Other International Customers
Due to varying international regulations, this version of the Astro is
approved for use only in the United States. The sale and unlicensed
use of the Garmin Astro GPS Dog Tracking System in any form is
presently prohibited by the Canadian government. According to a
document published by Industry Canada dated June 2009, the MURS radio
frequency used by the Astro will be permitted to be sold and operated
on a license-free basis at the end of a five-year transition period
(June 2014). Click here to read the Industry Canada Ruling on Garmin Astro in its entirety (PDF file).
Parties interested in the implementation of this spectrum utilization
policy or with questions should contact their local Industry Canada
office.
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