Garmin Alpha 100 tests with TT15 collar
Before me, many already known complex GARMIN Alpha 100 / TT15.
GARMIN Alpha 100/TT15
Yes, Yes, it is a complex, not a simple device.
The manufacturer has tried to complete this equipment as much as possible!
GARMIN Alpha 100/TT15
The first thing that we extract from the box sealed with branded stickers is a bag for carrying the complex with all the components.
Outside, there are zippered pockets on the sides, and in the upper part there are through grommets.
Inside, the bag has a bright orange color and mesh pockets for placing chargers, cords, and everything that this kit is stuffed with.
bag for GARMIN Alpha 100
If you say that this is a high-quality thing, you can’t say anything. Sewn just fine.
In addition, it seems that the material from which the bag is sewn is clearly water-repellent – an undoubted plus.
Behind the bag, we get a box of equipment sealed with the same branded stickers.
Garmin Alpha 100 packaging
Under the cover of Which we see the alpha 100 Navigator with two antennas.
navigator
Below them are the other components.
So we have:
Garmin Alpha 100 Navigator;
battery for the Navigator;
122mm antenna (standard);
extended range antenna 337mm;
Trouser belt clip;
additional clip-base for stationary fixing it on a belt, backpack straps or other equipment;
memory card with maps of The Russian road TOPO 6.21;
collar with a Garmin TT15 receiving and transmitting unit and a GLONASS sensor with installed electrodes for smooth-haired breeds;
larger replacement electrodes;
the key is to replace the electrodes;
silicone end cap for the device when removing the electrodes at the time of the hunt;
spare antenna;
equipment charging cord from the 220V network with a removable plug;
cord for charging equipment from the car cigarette lighter 12V;
cord splitter for joint charging of the Navigator and the collar;
clip for charging the collar;
micro CD memory card adapter;
quick start guide for GARMIN Alpha 100 and TT15 collar, including Russian translation;
warranty card.
equipment
Unfortunately, the user manual is really brief. You will learn almost nothing from it. And this complex will require you to study in depth, because it is a new generation of equipment with extensive capabilities.
Let’s start with the Garmin Alpha 100 Navigator
navigator
Its weight with the battery, but without the antenna is 244g.
On the front side, there are three programmable buttons at the top of the collar, and a three-inch touch screen with adjustable brightness is located in the center.
On the right side there is a button for turning the device on/off.
When enabled, this button is also responsible for calling the screen brightness adjustment menu and locking it, as well as displaying information about the battery charge, time, and GPS signal strength.
On the reverse side, there is a battery cover with a sealed plug for the charging port under the mini USB connector.
navigator
Under the cover of the battery compartment is a branded battery of a large enough capacity, but, unfortunately, there is no possibility of using “finger” AA batteries.
Under the battery is a slot for the memory card (included).
The Navigator’s body is made of plastic that is pleasant to the touch and slightly elastic – the manufacturer tried to protect it from possible impacts on a hard surface.
The Navigator is water-proof according to the same IEC standard and has an IPX7 value, which allows it to be used in heavy rain.
This Navigator is a very complex device with many functions and settings, and, unfortunately, the format of this report will not allow me to reveal all the details of using this system. Therefore, I will focus on the main functions of the device.
The first thing I would like to note is that the device provided to me is fully certified for use in Russia.
Therefore, with its application, there will not be any friction with government agencies over radio communications.
The menu is fully Russified, though not always correct, but clear.
The second thing that I also consider PARTICULARLY important in this device is the ability to track up to 20 similar devices or collars! Isn’t it wonderful when hunting to know exactly where, with an accuracy of three meters (and this positioning accuracy is stated by the manufacturer), your hunting companions or beaters are. What can we say about dogs? Agree that for laechnikov and even more so gonchatnikov-this is the key to success, the key to a timely and error-free approach to the dog on the shortest path, or moving and adjusting to a racing animal that has your Pegasus or Estonians hanging on its heels!!!
Moreover, you can communicate with the owners of similar devices by sending short messages! In total, there are 18 monosyllabic messages that are sufficient for understanding and evaluating situations.
Of great importance is the possibility of using this Navigator as a car, with search and routing. However, it should be noted that the version of TOPO Roads in Russia 6.21 is quite outdated navigation program, but you can install the latest version of the modern program by purchasing it from an official Garmin dealer in Russia.
The functionality of the device seems limitless. There is also a waypoint computer with numerous sensors, a compass, an altitude profile, and contactless data transfer to interfacing devices, such as completed and planned routes, points, tracks, and other files.
You can set the proximity signals to the selected points, or directly on the Navigator to plan a route, bypassing the computer.
There is also a calendar, alarm clock, calculator, stopwatch, and even the ability to control the action camera from Garmin to get images online, and much more.
Well, the most important thing is that the device allows you not only to monitor dogs, but also to manage and train them!
Garmin – TT15 collar
collar
Its weight is 301 g.
It is made of durable plastic and fixed on a plastic collar with a length of 60 cm. The first holes on the collar start at 30 cm, and this should be taken into account by owners of “small” breeds.
In addition to the unit itself, which has a 56 cm long antenna attached, there is also a sealed GLONASS sensor unit-and this, of course, is an incomparable plus, because now we are not tied to just one GPS system!!!
On the inner surface there are electrodes of the electric pulse, which can be removed if necessary, and the seat is closed with a silicone plug. There is also a button on/off the collar.
On top are the device status indicators, as well as the backlight diodes, for which you can set the frequency of the glow or just turn them on. And all this remotely from the Navigator.
On the lower side there is a contact group that allows not only to charge the Navigator, but also to read the route passed by the dog by connecting it to the computer. Yes, Yes, you heard right – the collar also writes the passed route. And even if your Navigator was turned off, you still have the opportunity to count the route passed by your pet and learn about all its secrets))).
Now let’s talk about the complex as a whole.
As I mentioned earlier, the Navigator is able to track up to 20 similar navigators or collars.
Each collar is assigned an ID number and it is possible to set the required name on any of them.
For example, contacts are displayed by full name, and dogs by nicknames, there is no way of confusion. Thanks to the wide functionality of the Navigator, it is possible to temporarily or completely disable tracking of collars. In addition, it is possible to set the required frequency of updating information from the collar (2.5 s; 5s; 10s; 30s; 2 min) – it will all depend on the type of hunting or your needs.
We also have the ability to remotely turn on the collar light with a specified period (constantly; slow flashing; fast flashing and “off” mode). This function is especially used for badger hunters and wild boar hunters at night. Collar illumination is an additional opportunity to quickly determine the location of the dog and its position at a given time in pitch darkness.
You can also use the “RESCUE” mode from the Navigator – switching the collar to the minimum power consumption mode. This is required if you lose contact with the dog or the battery level of the collar is less than 25%.
Now about dog training. There are truly limitless possibilities here!
If the previously described devices only allowed you to train dogs, the alpha 100 complex allows you to use all the previously described functions on the hunt.
For example, you can assign signals to specific commands. For example, you can assign the sound zoom to the “TO-ME” command, and the vibro mode to the “SIT/LIE” command.
The forbidding command is assigned to the electric pulse, which has as many as 18 levels.
The located buttons for controlling the collar are programmed according to your wishes. There are several modes available: short-term pulse, long-term pulse, tone and vibration.
The complex also allows you to set a “working” zone for training or hunting. To do this, it is enough to determine with the help of the free BaseCamp program the territory that the dog is forbidden to leave. And if you violate the boundaries, you will receive one of the programmed tone or vibro signals and will be able to recall your pet.
This zone can be set as a geofence, as well as a radius in meters or kilometers directly from the Navigator.
This function can be quite in demand when hunting with hounds or huskies, when there is a probability of the dog entering other people’s territories or when the animal is too viscous.
The collar also has a barking alert function. Thus, when a husky or gonchak works with a voice, you will receive a specified alert signal.
