Difference Between Traditional Tracking Collars and GPS
If you have been looking for dog tracking collars for your gun dogs, you will most likely check out the traditional dog tracking collars as well as the newer GPS dog tracking collars. There are pros and cons to both types of collars. Here are some issues to consider when you are buying dog tracking collars:
Traditional dog collars
Traditional dog collars work by emitting a radio transmission to the receiver. The dog wears the transmitter on his collar and you pick up the signals on your hand held device. The signals are sent via radio frequency and you often have to adjust the tuning to get the right signal.
The pros of the traditional dog collars are that they have longer distance and range capabilities than their GPS counterparts. There is no waiting time for the traditional dog collars, either. You can start tracking right away without waiting for the device to get warmed up and get the signal. You can use these collars on more than one dog and they are generally very inexpensive.
The cons of the traditional dog collars are that they will not let you know the exact distance of your dog and once he is out of range, you will have no idea where to start looking. The beeping that is emitted by the signals can be distracting for both you, the dog and will scare away the birds. If you are tracking more than one dog, you have to have a keen ear to hear the different pitches in frequency.
Traditional dog tracking systems do offer good value for the money but are not state of the art when it comes to this type of equipment.
GPS dog tracking collars
GPS dog tracking collars work in a similar way than their traditional counterparts in that the dog wears the transmitter and you hold the receiver. The signal is emitted from satellite instead of radio frequency.
The pros of the GPS dog tracking collars are that they will allow you to know your dog’s distance when tracking him and even be able to tell you if he is on point or running. You look at the screen to see where he is instead of relying on beeps. These systems are silent and will not disturb the dog or the birds. They also allow you to see the last point of transmission, unlike traditional dog tracking collars, making it easier to find your dog if he goes out of range.
The cons of the GPS dog tracking system are that they do not offer the same range and distance as traditional tracking collars. While traditional dog tracking collars will give you up to 12 miles in range and distance, GPS will give you 7 miles. GPS tracking receivers take a few minutes to warm up and get the satellite signal as well. These dog tracking collars are more expensive than the traditional dog tracking collars as they are about double the price.
The type of dog tracking collar that you choose to buy depends on what type of hunting you do, where and your dogs. If you are hunting in land that is very wide without a lot of hills, woods and slopes, you may want to go with the traditional collars for the distance and range. If you are hunting in woods or areas where there are a lot of barriers, you might be better of with GPS dog tracking collars.
Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to gun dogs. Come check out their site if you are looking for dog training collars such as Innotech Dog Collars, Innotek ADV-300P, and Inntotek ADV-1000P.
