Trying to Decide on an e-collar

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:27 pm

I am trying to decide between the TT Field 90 and the Pro 200. Other than the difference in the stimulation levels (6 for the 90 and 18 for the 200), are there any other advantages for gettting the 200?

This is my first e-collar, but TT is the brand I will go with.

Justin

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:08 pm

Go with the PRO 200 with more levels of stimulation you can make your corrections with minimal stimulation.

Hotpepper · Post by **Hotpepper** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:37 pm

The new ones are really slick and the battery pack is grreat. Easy with all of the new stuff. Got a G 2, 2 dog and love it.

Pepper

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:29 am

I just bought a Pro 200 G2 for 407. Purchased from Lion Country Supply. Great customer service and fast shipping! Can't wait to read the manual and watch the video! Will let you all know what I think!

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:32 am

Buckeye_V wrote:I just bought a Pro 200 G2 for 407. Purchased from Lion Country Supply. Great customer service and fast shipping! Can't wait to read the manual and watch the video! Will let you all know what I think!

Skip the video! Unless it's changed, it's based on constant stimulation and isn't very applicable to the way you'd train with a 200.

Best,

Dave Quindt · Post by **Dave Quindt** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:33 am

Don't put too much faith in the video; it's pretty out of touch with the e-collar programs that are most often in use.

IMO, ignore the video and find a good pro who can show you how to collar-condition a dog and how a collar program can be incorporated into overall training.

I'm surprised that Tritronics is even sending out training videos any more; a few years ago we heard that they were getting out of the training business. The pros that were promoting their products kept trashing the videos.

FWIW,
Dave

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:08 pm

Thanks for the heads-up guys! I am lucky enough to have access to a couple people who have been down this road before. I don't plan on using the collar for anything the dog has not learned on a CC first and shows that they know and understand the command. This is just another tool in the toolbox, albeit a long distance remote control tool.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:27 pm

TT has an "accessory beeper" that can be activated with at least some of the G2 Pro collars. What this means, is that you put the dial on "A" for accessory, press a button, and the beeper on the dog's collar turns on (or off). I really like this idea, cause I really only need this collar to be on when the dog is on point and I am having difficulty finding her because of cover.

This feature already exists. The problem I have, and maybe some other older guys like Pepper, is that I cannot hear the high frequency collars more than about 30 feet. I have high frequency hearing loss, not that uncommon I am afraid.

So I have been lobbying TT to create the same accessory beeper, only with a low tone that guys like me can hear. I brought it up with their rep. who came to the NGSPA, and he said they "heard" me, that many others have voiced the same issue, and that they were planning to have one out this fall. Now planning and doing are different things. But at least there is hope.

Also, they are supposed to have a field charger for the G2, which you can use to charge the unit in your car. It is not out yet though. Wish they would hurry up, season is coming.

Dave Quindt · Post by **Dave Quindt** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:37 pm

Also, they are supposed to have a field charger for the G2, which you can use to charge the unit in your car. It is not out yet though. Wish they would hurry up, season is coming.

A simple power inverter would solve this problem, and probably be useful for other AC items you wish to run in your car.

FWIW,
Dave

Virgil · Post by **Virgil** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:45 pm

This feature already exists. The problem I have, and maybe some other older guys like Pepper, is that I cannot hear the high frequency collars more than about 30 feet. I have high frequency hearing loss, not that uncommon I am afraid.

So I have been lobbying TT to create the same accessory beeper, only with a low tone that guys like me can hear. I brought it up with their rep. who came to the NGSPA, and he said they "heard" me, that many others have voiced the same issue, and that they were planning to have one out this fall. Now planning and doing are different things. But at least there is hope.

They do make low pitch beepers. maybe not TT yet, but to try it out there are some available.

http://www.uglydoghunting.com/beepers.html

Scroll down a touch to find the low pitch beeper.

They also have the one that transmits to the handheld unit instead of beeping on the collar.
That could be the ticket if you have trouble hearing from a distance.

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:55 pm

ALso, I believe I saw a G2 car charger on ebay 2 days ago. I already have an inverter for my laptop when traveling, so I can use that.

I may get the beeper eventually. I have been around others who just use the tone to locate the dog when out of site. Not for indicating a pointing dog.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:04 pm

yes, i know they do. Innotek puts one out that I can hear really well. The trick is to have one that I can turn on remotely, preferably with the TT transmitter, which I already have. I hate using a beeper or bell that is going constantly, for one thing the sound of the beeper is irritating to me, the bell not so bad. But for another, the beeper or bell often alert birds. I would prefer a mostly quiet operation. So if I can have that beeper off, and only turn it on when the dog is on point or I really need the beeper for some reason, that is what I want. And if I can actually hear the thing when I turn it on, that is even better.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:14 pm

PS I read the note about one that transmits to the belt. In an effort to work around this hearing thing, I discovered that the Tracker locater works really well that way. The collar transmits a point tone to the receiver, and I know immediately when the dog has gone on point.

This is really helpful in two ways. One, if you have a young dog and are using hunting as a training opportunity, you know immediately that the dog has gone on point so you can get there and handle the dog. And also if you are using an ecollar to train pattern and/or range, you do not wind up hitting the dog with the collar while it is on point somewhere where you cannot see it, thinking it is running off on you.

Two, with an older dog, it just works well when you are hunting in cover where the dog is not always visible. ND is noted for its open prairies, but last year there were several occasions out there when I had a dog on point within 50 yards, but would not have known it because we were working cattails or heavy spruce tree lines around abandoned homesteads, so the dog was just not visible.

What would be really handy, for me, is that low tone beeper that I can turn on, once I know the dog is on point. Then I can find the dang dog and the hearing problem is solved.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:16 pm

PPS Tri-Tronics reports as a of a few minutes ago, that the field charger is now available for $19.95.

Now to go to work on that low tone beeper.

NVgsp · Post by **NVgsp** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:17 pm

john:
have you ever used the dogtra t&b? it has a nice feature that i'm not sure how many collars have-"locate button" plus all the additional beep on point, beep every three seconds when moving, etc...
the locate button is such a great tool. i really like the system. the two dog unit is very simple to use too.

GsPJustin · Post by **GsPJustin** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:22 pm

Buckeye_V wrote:I just bought a Pro 200 G2 for 407. Purchased from Lion Country Supply. Great customer service and fast shipping! Can't wait to read the manual and watch the video! Will let you all know what I think!

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! NO FAIR! My Dogtra 1700 just came with a stupid booklet.

Post by **Ayres** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:44 pm

If you order from Lion Country Supply, they include the videos. The videos don't come with any particular brand of e-collar, it's just a thing that LCS does.

LSKGSPs · Post by **LSKGSPs** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:46 pm

John........when you say:

" I discovered that the Tracker locater works really well that way. The collar transmits a point tone to the receiver, and I know immediately when the dog has gone on point. "

Are you talking about the motion sensor feature? And is that an audible tone? If so..is it a steady solid tone or intermittant tones spaced far apart. I have been using a Wildlife Materials set up for years but will be swiching over to Tracker because of the ease of use and manual input of different freqs.

TT has now made my Pro 500 a little less useful as none of the new acessories can be made to work off the existing transmitter. I also would like to see them market an "on demand " beeper with both a low tone as well as a high tone.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:02 pm

with regard to the Tracker, the collar (transmitter) transmits a slow beep to the receiver (on your belt) when the dog is moving. when the dog goes on point, the speed of the beep about doubles, and the collar detects that the dog is motionless very quickly, so you know right away. it is an audible fast beep that is coming out of the receiver on your belt. it is not a sound that is eminating from the collar, rather, the collar is broadcasting the point signal to the receiver and the receiver is emitting the sound - the fast beep. there is a gain control on the receiver and the receiver is right on your belt, so very easy to hear regardless of hearing issues like mine. yes, that is the strike collar or motion sensor feature. you have to buy the correct collar to get that feature.

one other thing. i also discovered that the Tracker is programmed to auto shut off after 15 minutes. I talked to Tracker, they can reprogram to any length. I sent mine in and had the auto off just completely disabled.

TT does currently market an accessory beeper. It can be turned on and just left on, or can be put in remote mode and then turned on and off remotely using the G2 transmitter. see it at http://shop.tritronics.com/acbeg2co.html Their current accessory beeper has a variety of tone patterns you can choose from, plain tone, hawk scream, several things, you can program it for soft and loud tones. It is light weight and a very nice beeper collar. Unfortunately, they are all high frequency (high pitch) tones and there is just no way, right now, to program it to eminate a low frequency (low pitch) tone.

i think you are right though, that the new accessories do not work from the old Pro 500. you need to have the G2, which has an A (for accessory) setting on the intensity dial.

LSKGSPs · Post by **LSKGSPs** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:15 pm

OK.....thanks. The Wildlife Materials receiver works in just the opposite way. On point=long spaced sold tones. Moving= faster/shorter spaced tones. The problem I have had is differentiating when the dog is moving slowly or stopped. That plus the fact that the receiver is much more bulky than the Tracker.

I called TT the other day about my older model Pro 500. I wanted to see if there was a way to retrofit it to operate the beeper. Unfortunately there is not. Looks like a new G-2 and beeper collar goes on wish list.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:29 pm

TT has a credit program where they basically allow you to trade in your old unit. you have to call and ask. i have a Pro 500 also. and I had a classic, 1980's vintage A1-80. i have friends/relatives who come hunt with us, who have Innoteks and such that are never working. so I kept the Pro 500 and traded the A1-80 in on a new G2. Voila, a good, working "loaner" collar, and another one that I will keep for my own use.

The Wildlife is bulky, but a little better at accurate location than the Tracker. pretty good for field trials where the whole thing is carried by the horse until needed. I don't actually use my Tracker for location very much. It works ok, but only ok. And out in the field when you are hunting, it is alot of screwing around get the unit out, unfold the antenna, fuss with the gain, get a fix on the dog, especially if that point tone is going off. I just go look where I last saw her, and usually have good luck. I pretty much only use the Tracker location feature for really lost dogs, and all our hunting parties dogs are now four, so that problem is going away. we had a plague of it the first couple of years.

LSKGSPs · Post by **LSKGSPs** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:50 pm

While I will get the G-2 (500), I won't give up my Pro 500 as a trade in. They mentioned that the other day. But having a solid reliable back up system is a comforting feeling.

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:54 pm

Just received my collar from Lion Country. I am very impressed with their customer service! I will let you know how I like the unit after a few months of "newby" break-in.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:36 pm

While I will get the G-2 (500), I won't give up my Pro 500 as a trade in. They mentioned that the other day. But having a solid reliable back up system is a comforting feeling.

that is what i did, so can't fault the approach. however, you can buy additional interchangeable batteries, and that is usually what quits on you, so that is one way of having a backup while only buying one collar. if you have the two dog, you also have a backup collar of course, in the second collar.

LSKGSPs · Post by **LSKGSPs** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:30 pm

Good point, and I might ask them what they would give me on a trade in. But I also have some friends that still try to use their Innoteks and end up needing a loaner because of malfunctions or leave either the receiver or transmitter home or whatever. So it's nice in those situations to have an extra. Speaking of Innotek......(and I do not mean to bash them, it's just that I had and see a lot of problems with them)....In any case last
fall while up in Colorado I'm trying to get a dog to give up the chase on an antelope. The chase is on, I'm hitting the transmitter and saying to myself...the dang dog is running right throught the collar....up to the "hot" button...still the dog runs on over the hill. I'm sittin there on top of the horse wondering how this relatively soft dog was able to do that. I looked down at transmitter. Ooops no antenna. It had vibrated loose and fell off. Nice kettle of fish I found myself in. A call to TT got a replacement sent to the Post Office at nearest town. But what to do until it arrived???? I went to the horse trailer pulled out one of the Innotek launchers, unscrewed the antenna and hoped. Yep, same thread pattern and length exactly......I was back in business with my TT. First time Innotek was able to save the day for me.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:30 pm

yes, that is exactly what i wound up doing to provide for my friends/brothers who have those innoteks. not meaning to bash them either.

Springer · Post by **Springer** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:20 pm

You guys would be better off to buy the collar from a vendor online and sell your old one on ebay.

The old style xls upland special was able to turn on and off the beeper from the remote also. It also had the 18 levels of momentary stimulation and 6 continuous.

There is a new one on ebay right now going for 449 two dog unit.

kbobbjr · Post by **kbobbjr** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:35 am

I bought a refurbished Pro 200 XL two dog unit and absolutely love it. I prefer the tube style transmitters over the rectangular ones. Plus, with the Pro series you get a lot more levels of stimulation.

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