Garmin Astro DC40 Extra Collar

The Garmin Astro DC40 is the latest in Garmin’s ground breaking dog tracking technology. The new DC40 will now include an integrated antenna and bright orange reflective polyurethane coated collar to increase visibility. The casing design focuses on increased durability and eliminates debris entry into the unit for longer product life.

New DC40 Dog Tracking GPS from Garmin
* Units have new setting that allows updates every two minutes, extending battery life to 48 hours
* Up to seven mile range
* Collar strap no longer has GPS receiver on collars – is integral to unit
* This allows the collar strap to be changed
* E-collar can now be mounted on the collar strap
* Casing on the collar has been beefed up making it more durable
* Collar fits into cradle charger reducing debris accumulating in charging ports – contacts are flush
* Flashing blue light indicates when unit is charging – solid blue light when fully charged
* Collar Lock feature – four digit pins secures collar from being monitored by others

How the Garmin Astro 220/DC40 Tracking System Works
The Garmin Astro is dramatically different than any other dog tracking system available anywhere in the world! Other tracking systems tell you what direction to head to find your dog – the Astro easily does that and offers so much more!

When running your dogs, you will use two primary views on the Astro handheld - the first being the “COMPASS” screen. This is essentially an electronic compass that will show the location of one or two dogs, utilizing two different color arrows. When you hold the handheld level the compass will show true north, and the arrows will point in the actual direction where your dog is currently located. The map screen also provides you additional essential information – the actual distance to your dog from where you are standing and if your dog is stationary or moving! With this screen, with just a glance you can tell how far your dog is, the direction, and if it’s moving or stationary.

The “MAP” screen is what really sets the Astro apart! On this screen you can see you and your dogs current locations – realtime. These locations are continuously updated so as your dog move you can see in which direction they are heading. A great feature of the map screen is you can “MARK” your vehicle on the map screen as well, so if you end up deep in an unknown swamp at midnight recovering your dogs, you can instantly determine the way back to your truck! The map screen come pre-loaded with the Garmin base map, which shows interstate highways, primary road, large bodies of water (reservoirs, large rivers), cities and town, and state lines.

It is definitely worth considering upgrading to the Garmin TOPO USA map, especially is you are using the Astro to track hounds. The TOPO USA map transforms your map screen and shows the level of detail that you would find on a paper topographic map! Every road that has a name or number is shown – even if it’s dirt. The smallest creeks, power lines and pipelines, state and national forest boundaries, and topographic elevation lines are all shown. This allows you to quickly see where you and your dogs are located in reference to the roads and terrain. Finally, your dog leaves a dotted line on the map screen where they have traveled. This allows you to instantly determine if which direction they are heading and allow you to reposition yourself in front of the chase! No longer will you always be behind your dog trying to catch up!

All of the above is just some of the “basic” function that the Astro performs – it really does so much more. Actually, it is a fully function personal GPS has well that can be used in the field, without the dog tracking functions, to allow you to locate a tree stand in the dark or navigate an unfamiliar mountainside on foot whether bird or big game hunting. Also, you can use it in your vehicle and it provides turn-by-turn directions to any town in north America.