How to connect Dogtra Pathfinder collar

To connect the Dogtra Pathfinder collar, first, ensure the collar and smartphone app are fully charged. Download the Dogtra Pathfinder app on your smartphone and enable Bluetooth and GPS. Turn on the collar by pressing the power button. Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to pair the collar with your phone. The collar should connect automatically once detected. You can test the connection by sending a command through the app to the collar. Ensure the firmware is updated for optimal performance. Once connected, you’re ready to begin tracking and training your dog. as well Expressoutdoorhuntingstore explains more.

Dogtra Pathfinder vs Garmin Alpha 100

Last Modified: May 9, 2022, by Julia Powell Leave a Comment

What Should I Buy – Dogtra Pathfinder or Garmin Alpha 100?

If you’re considering a GPS tracking collar, you’ve likely encountered the Garmin Alpha 100 and Dogtra Pathfinder, both of which are popular among dog owners, particularly hunters. Choosing the right one for you and your dog can be challenging. One advantage of the Dogtra Pathfinder is its price, which is less than half the cost of the Garmin Alpha 100 bundle. In this review, we’ll compare both products side by side to help you make a well-informed decision.

How long does the Dogtra Pathfinder battery last?

How Does Dogtra Pathfinder Stand Against Alpha 100?

First of all, let’s clear it all, that the difference begins with the units the systems consist of.

• With Garmin Alpha 100 tracking and training bundle you get an e-collar (dog device) and handheld device, which you use for operating the dog.
• With Dogtra Pathfinder you get an e-collar, and a GPS connector (which may look like a handheld device for some people, but it is not!!), and you will need your smartphone to be used instead of the handheld. This is the main reason why Dogtra Pathfinder is twice as cheap.

So, if you have an Alpha, you carry with you only one convenient-to-use handheld device, but with Pathfinder you have a GPS connector and a smartphone. And the convenience and ease of use depend on the phone as well.

Verified Users’ Feedback

Garmin Alpha 100 offers some impressive features and a significantly longer range. If you hunt on private land and need land ownership information, the Alpha 100 system could be particularly beneficial. Some hunters find it useful to track how many hours their dogs ran, the distance covered, and their speed. At the end of the day, they appreciate being able to easily plot their activities on a map on a larger computer screen. This capability also helps identify missed areas and provides insight into how thoroughly the terrain was covered.

The GPS feature in the woods allows you to quickly mark a covey, navigate back to your car, or find an alternative route without retracing your steps. The Alpha 100 functions exceptionally well as a training device for a single dog, though it can be slow to switch between multiple dogs. The device has a more advanced screen, but the display can be difficult to see when wearing polarized sunglasses. However, Garmin has addressed this issue in its newer models.

Alpha 200i.

Detailed Overview

Here we would like to stress the most distinctive features we liked while testing the gadgets.

Dogtra Pathfinder SE

Dogtra Pathfinder GPS Tracking & Training E-Collar, Smartphone Required

• MSpecial Edition Receiver with a Beacon Light, making it perfect for hunting in low light conditions
• Apple Watch Series 5 and up compatible
• Industry-leading two-second update rate and powerful zoom capability for greater live-action details

General Impression 

The Dogtra Pathfinder is a versatile GPS-tracking device designed for hunting and training. It’s perfect for a variety of situations and can be used with your smartphone, even in offline mode without consuming cellular data. The device is also suitable for most competitions and field trials, where you can easily disable the e-collar tab to comply with rules that prohibit tone and stimulation. Additionally, you can use an old, unactivated smartphone with the Pathfinder app in offline mode, so you don’t have to risk using your current phone in the field.

Key Features

The Dogtra Pathfinder is a cutting-edge GPS Dog Tracking System that provides dog owners with full access to Google Maps, offering detailed terrain and satellite views. The Dogtra Pathfinder app works without the need for data, allowing your phone to remain in “offline” mode while still tracking your dog. The app also lets you track up to 21 dogs, share locations, reproduce tracking data, and create customizable geofence alerts. Some key features include:

– Ability to track up to 21 dogs
– Location sharing
– Data reproduction
– Customizable geofence alerts
– Access to Google Maps with terrain and satellite views

Geofence

The geofencing feature of the Dogtra Pathfinder is ideal for defining where your dogs are allowed to go. You can set boundaries around private property or other areas you want to avoid. Geofencing alerts can notify you when your dog enters or leaves these boundaries, making it easier to hunt safely in any environment. The geofencing feature is easy to use—simply long-press on the screen to set boundaries and configure alerts.

Competition Mode

The Dogtra Pathfinder is also well-suited for competitions and field trials. You can disable the e-collar tab to comply with competition rules where tone and stimulation are not allowed. For added assurance, you can cover the collar nodes using the plastic contact covers included with the Dogtra Pathfinder, ensuring that no training functions are accidentally activated during competition.

What can the Garmin Alpha 100 do?

Garmin Alpha 100, Multi-Dog Tracking GPS and Remote Training Device in One

• Measure each dog’s speed, distance, and the direction being traveled
• Combines GPS dog tracking with Tri-Tronics® electronic dog training technology
• Helps you train and control your dogs to stop chasing unwanted game

Together with our German Shorthaired Pointer Freya, we have tested the Garmin Alpha 100 and despite bad weather and tough bushy terrain, the device and its touch function have worked excellently.

General Impression

The Garmin Alpha 100’s touch screen, the first of its kind, is very user-friendly, making it easy to navigate through the menus. Even in snowy conditions, the screen worked well when we wore thin leather gloves. The device’s ergonomic design also leaves a strong first impression, as the ease of grip is essential when using the handheld frequently in the woods.

Our dog, Freya, seemed comfortable wearing the Garmin T5 collar, which we also tested. One feature we both appreciated was the smartly mounted antenna on the collar, preventing the dog from getting caught in grass and branches on the ground.

Safety Features

The Garmin Alpha 100 updates every few seconds and offers the option to configure geofence areas. This allows you to avoid dangerous locations, such as busy roads or cliffs, during hunts. If your dog approaches a hazardous area, it’s much easier to locate them and bring them to safety.

Another useful feature is the emergency light, which is beneficial in low-visibility situations, like searching near roads. Additionally, the system allows hunters to track each other’s locations, which is a significant upgrade compared to its predecessors. Despite the cold weather, the device’s rechargeable battery performed well, lasting through the entire hunting day without any concerns.

Tracking Dogs or Buddies

The Garmin Alpha 100 system allows you to track up to 20 dogs or other hunters, and through vibration and tone alerts, we were able to communicate easily with Freya during hunts. One advantage of the Garmin Alpha 100 is that it doesn’t require a subscription—once you’ve purchased the product, you’re ready to hunt. Overall, it’s a user-friendly and reliable dog-tracking system that comes highly recommended.