Garmin TT25 vs TT15 Series Collars

With the launch of the Garmin TT25 tracking and training collar, we would like to take a look at the new collar compared to the TT15 series of collars. The TT15 was first released June of 2014 and has since had a TT15 Mini collar and a TT15X collar version released. Unlike the TT10, TT15, and TT15X that all used the same body, and the TT15 Mini that used the same body as the Garmin PRO Series collars, the TT25 is a complete redesign.

In this article, we will be breaking down the TT25’s new design features, like the replaceable GPS band, expended life battery pack, Wi-Fi software updates, colored beacon lights, and the new dynamic update rate. Along with these improvements, we will also discuss the new body design and charging clip.

User Replaceable GPS Band

The biggest improvement, in my opinion, with the TT25 over the TT15 series collars is the ability to replace the GPS band. What does this mean? With the TT15 and TT15x, the GPS band with the GPS module at the top, its wire was soldered onto the collar’s circuit board and was quite a lengthy replacement process that could be only done by an expert. The TT15 Mini had a slightly different design and had its GPS wire with a connector that snapped into a port on the circuit board. It was then siliconed in place to hold the connector into the socket. These collars were slightly easier to repair, but it was still time consuming, and you needed to reapply expensive silicone. With the TT25 collar, you can now replace the entire GPS band and GPS module with the simple removal of two Phillips screws. Not only is this band now replaceable, but Garmin is also introducing a replacement band, a smaller replacement band for dogs with small neck sizes, and a rugged band for those that are rough on their collars. With our trade in program, one of the number one reasons we seen for non-working TT15 series collars was that the GPS bands were ripped off. This new feature will make that a thing of the past, hopefully extending the life of your device (and monetary investment).

Dog Device Size

The TT15 series came in the TT15 (full size) and the TT15 Mini. The TT15 full size used the same body as the previous TT10 collars. Many of our customers left feedback that it was a large boxy design that often got hit off the ground, especially on smaller dogs like beagles. The TT15 Mini used the same housing as Garmin’s PRO Series collars like the PT5, PT6, and PT10. This shaved off several ounces of weight and made the collar fit better on smaller dogs. However, with going down to the smaller body, the TT15 Mini had to reduce battery life and GPS range. The TT25 comes in just slightly bigger than the TT15 Mini, but unlike the TT15 Mini, the TT25 does not sacrifice battery life or GPS range. In fact, the TT25 has an increased battery life, which we will cover in the next section. Additionally, it keeps the full up to 9 miles maximum GPS range of the full-size version of the TT15 series collars.

Battery Life

The original TT15 had a battery life of 20 to 40 hours, depending on the update rate the collar was running at. Running a 2.5 second update rate would, of course, be harder on battery life. Getting 40 hours would be when running the slowest update rate. This battery life allowed for all day hunting and several days without the need for recharging in most cases. The TT15 Mini with its smaller body, sacrificed battery life for weight and compactness. You could expect between 16 and 30 hours depending on your use. This was still plenty of battery life, unless you were going on a multi-day remote hunting trip. Then the TT15X launched with it monstrous up to 80 hours of battery life. This allowed for several multi-day hunts on a single charge. Many hunters traded in their TT15s for the newer TT15X for this feature alone.  So where does the TT25 collar come in with its smaller form factor? The TT25 gets an impressive up to 68 hours of battery life. This is thanks to its new dynamic tracking setting, which changes the update rate of the collar to a slower rate to save battery life when the dog is not moving. But the TT15X is better with 80 hours of life, why downgrade? The TT25 has another feature that those looking for max battery life are going to love. The TT25 has the ability to add an extended battery life pack onto the body of the device, which boosts the battery life up to 136 hours! Instead of a weekend hunting trip, we are now talking about a week-long hunting trip on a single battery charge! Are you convinced yet?

Software Update Connection

From time to time, Garmin comes out with software updates for their dog collars. These updates could be to add new features, fix bugs, and add compatibility to new handhelds. With every dog device that Garmin has made in the past, to update your collar meant using the charging clip and USB connector to connect the device to a computer and using Garmin WebUpdater or Garmin Express to update your collar. The same was true with the Garmin Handhelds, but with the Alpha 200 series handhelds, needing to connect to a computer went away. The Alpha 200 series handhelds introduced software updates over Wi-Fi. This feature is now coming to your dog devices too. The TT25 collar will now be able to automatically install software updates over Wi-Fi whenever connected to your network. This feature will come in handy for those with multiple collars or those people that do not own a computer.

Beacon Lights

The Garmin TT15 series collars had the ability to remotely turn on the collar’s white beacon lights. New to the Garmin TT25 collar is the ability to change the color of the beacon lights using a multi-color LED. Now you can set the beacon lights to a color of choice and easily know which dog is which at a distance in the dark. This will be a great feature for night hunters or those simply taking their dogs for a walk at night. Who would have thought changing two little LED diode could be such a cool feature?

Charging Clip

The TT15 series had two sizes of charging clips to charge the dog collars. The full size charging clips would charge both the TT15 and TT15x collars, as well as being compatible with the older TT10 collars. The TT15 mini collars have a smaller charging clip that was also compatible with the Garmin PRO Series collars (PT5, PT6, PT10, and TB10). The TT25, because of its unique body, has a new charging clip that will be compatible with the TT25 and T20 collars. Please note that this will be for the standard battery pack. As we mentioned above, the TT25 features the ability to add an extended life battery pack to the device. With this extended life battery pack installed, another longer charging clip is needed to charge the device.

Maximum Range

One thing that did not change was the effective range of the TT25 over the TT15 series collars. Both the TT25 and TT15 series are advertised to have a maximum range of 9 miles. Though with the new small form factor of the TT25 collars, you should be getting better range than you would have if you were running the TT15 Mini, which got a maximum 4 miles of range while still having the small body.

Training Features

Another thing that did not really change is the training features, but really, what more can you add or change when it comes to training? If you do have any ideas, comment below! Both the TT15 series and the TT25 collars feature 18 levels of momentary and continuous stimulation, vibration, and tone. All these training features are controlled by your choice of compatible Garmin GPS handhelds.

Unit Price

With all these new features and design changes, there must be a price increase, right? Wrong. The TT25 is going to be priced at the exact same price as the TT15X collar at $349.99. This still makes it the highest priced e-collar that Garmin sells, but you get a featured packed, high-tech collar for that price.

Conclusion

We are super excited about the new TT25 and can’t wait to get it into the hands of customers and hear your feedback. We think you are going to really like this collar with its new, smaller design, replaceable GPS band, and improved battery life. For those that have had the other Garmin tracking and training collars, we think you are going to find the new features useful. For those on the fence about which tracking and training collar to purchase, we highly recommend the TT25 collar!

LCS E-Collar Trade-In Program

Are you considering the purchase of a new Garmin TT25 and already have an older Garmin TT10 or TT15 series collar? With the LCS E-Collar Trade-In Program, you can send in your old equipment, working or non-working, for credit towards your new Garmin purchases. Since the Garmin TT25 uses a different charging clip, be sure to include chargers for your older devices as they will no longer be of use to your upgraded collar. Accessories included with your trade-in will factor into the overall price. For more information on our E-Collar Trade-In Program, see LCS Trade-In Program. If you are ready to send in your equipment check out, Simple Tips for the LCS E-Collar Trade-In Program, for information about sending in your trade-in and making the process go as smoothly and quickly as possible.

If you have any questions about the new Garmin TT25, please leave a comment below or reach out to our customer service by calling 1-800-662-5202, using our live chat during business hours, and emailing us at service@lcsupply.com.

Thank you for reading!

Michael Cassatt – LCS Director of Marketing