Garmin Astro GPS Dog Tracking System

7 February 2007

When you are holding a GPS device, you should be able to see your exact location on a map or as geographic coordinates. If your dog is running free and you want to know its exact location, you could try to tie your GPS device around your dog's neck. Yeah, right. Like, the dog would read GPS information from the device and bark the coordinates back to you? Something is clearly missing from our visionary tracking system. Fortunately for dog lovers, Garmin Astro is a system with the missing piece – the link from a dog's GPS unit to the handheld GPS device.

The Garmin Astro system is comprised of two modules: the Astro 220 handheld for you and the DC20 unit for the dog. The Astro 220 handheld device can pick up signals from GPS satellites and signals transmitted by the dog. Yes, the dog. The DC20 unit, worn by dogs, can receive GPS signals and transmit the information, via VHF radio channels, to the handheld Astro 220 device.

The Garmin Astro is a complete system for tracking dogs (without the dogs having to learn to bark their coordinates to you). One handheld Astro 220 device can track up to ten dogs that are wearing DC20 units. The color screen on the Astro 220 is constantly plotting each dog's track. The units the dogs are wearing transmit their new positions to the handheld unit every five seconds. Although it is a handheld, the Astro 220 is not quite a pocket-sized product. It is a rugged, waterproof device with a tall antenna that makes it difficult to fit into a pocket. The unit also features a microSD memory card slot for maps and a USB connector for transferring information to a PC.

The Garmin Astro DC20 is somewhat bulky for a dog to wear, but is not too big to be attached to the collar of a hunting dog. The product package also includes a harness that solidly holds the unit in place both in the forest and in the water. Both the Astro 220 and DC20 take their power from a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery.

On a flat terrain, the signal from the dog's DC20 unit carries up to five miles/eight kilometers. If the dog is on the other side of a hill from you, however, the VHF radio signal may not reach you. Another thing to remember is that GPS signals are easily cut off in dense forest. When that happens and the dog's track suddenly disappears from the handheld screen, the loss of signal doesn't mean that your dog is trying to fool you in order to spend some quality time with other dogs. The GPS signal will reappear when the dog moves to a more open terrain.

The Garmin Astro is a product for heavy-duty use, with a price tag to match the heavy requirements. Another product for dog tracking is, for example, the Pointer Dog GPS.

Check the Garmin Astro price and availability on Amazon.com

Check the Garmin Astro price and availability on Amazon.de

Check the Garmin Astro price and availability on Amazon.co.uk

Product reviews:

pirkka 28.10.2007 06:04

garmin astro dog gps Does this work in Finland? Is it allowed in Finland?

Ari 29.10.2007 00:06

The Garmin Astro transmits dog location information via MURS radio frequencies. MURS was developed in the U.S and approved by the FCC. While the product should technically work in any country (it is only dependant on GPS signals), it maybe against local regulations to use certain type of radio transmitters. Authorities in most countries, including Finland, control the frequencies radio transmitters can use. Garmin's local representative doesn't list the product in its catalog: http://www.garmin.fi/default.php

jerry 21.03.2008 00:36

is' it support in TAIWAN(out of USA) THANKS

jtan 24.03.2008 05:54

Jerry: Garmin Corporation No. 68 Jangshu 2nd Road Taipei County Shijr Phone: 886 2 26429199 Fax: 866 2 26429099