New Features of the Astro 430 T5 Bundle

• · Track Up to 20 dogs
• · Works with DriveTrack 70 Big Screen, Fēnix 3 and Fenix 5 and 5s compatible devices
• · Track other Alpha Users collars.
• · Customizable New Hunt option

Technical Notes & Compatibility

DC50: Pairing the DC50 collar with an Astro 430 is required before you can track it with the Alpha 100.

Compatible With:

• · TT10, TT15/Mini TT15 (Track only)
• · T5/Mini T5 (When Paired with 430, or Alpha 100)

Non-Compatible Handhelds:

• · Astro 320
• · Astro 220

Key Features of the Garmin Astro 430/T5 Tracking & Training Combo

Track 20 Dogs

The Astro 430 allows users to track a total of 20 GPS dog collars simultaneously, though due to hardware limitations, you cannot track other Astro 430’s.

DriveTrack 70

When you purchase the DriveTrack 70 you can enable the Astro 430 to wirelessly transmit and share your dog list to the DriveTrack. This makes it much easier to track your dogs in your cab while hunting out of your truck.

Other Wearable Devices

The Astro 430 is also compatible with wearable watch devices. When paired with a Fēnix watch for example you can see distance and direction of your dogs by simply looking down at your watch.

Change Collar Settings

Changing your collar setting while hunting is simple with the Astro. Change update rates and rescue mode at any distance.

NOTE: The only collar that will not be able to do this is the DC50 which will need to be in close range to the handheld to change settings.

Alpha Compatibility

With the New Astro 430 you can now track the same collars as Alpha users. This is great for hunters who don’t want or need the training features of the Alpha Track and Train but still hunt and share dogs.

Track & Control Codes

When linked to an Astro 430, users can share their dogs with other Astro 430 user’s or Alpha 100 user's; providing either track only or full control of the GPS dog collars. When tracking only permission is given they will not be able to change the collar settings such as update rates, ID

number or turning the lights on or off. When Control permissions are given the second user has full access to Change all settings of the collar.

State-of-the-Art GPS Tracking for Dogs

It is now less likely for your GPS dog collar to lose satellite reception while hunting in heavy cover or deep canyons due to the highly sensitive top mounted GPS module that now tracks with GLONASS technology. With GLONASS, both your handheld and collar, are able to receive signals from a total of 49 earth orbiting satellites. That’s 21 more satellites than the 320 and early versions of the Astro.

Rescue Mode

Enabling Rescue Mode allows for increased battery life by dropping update rates down to 2-minute intervals when battery life decreases to 25%.

Pre-Installed TOPO Map

The Garmin Astro 430 comes preloaded with 100K topo mapping for the entire U.S. This will provide topographic detail, roads, creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes.

Faster Update Rate

Capable of turning the collars down to 2.5 sec update rate to keep a closer eye on your dogs.

Hunt Metrics

With the Garmin Astro 430, you can collect dog performance data, such as distance traveled and time in the field.

Customize Your New Hunt

New on the Garmin Astro 430 is the ability to customize your New Hunt. Choose which dogs you would like to reset the tracking data on and which dog tracks you would like to keep on screen.

Durable VHF Antenna

There are two antenna choices to choose from for the Garmin T5. They are the 22.5” or 18.5”. The length and flexibility of this VHF antenna with braided steel core increases range and durability. Both are included in the purchase of an Astro 430 and T5 bundle from Double U Hunting Supply.

Quick Collar-Strap Changes

The Garmin T5 uses the same collar strap design as the Garmin Alpha TT10, and Astro DC50 collars. These collar straps are quick and easy to switch without the use of tools. Simply slide your collar straps through the integral channels on the Garmin T5.

Improved Charging Port

The T5 charging port comes standard with a USB interface, presenting 3 different ways to charge the collar.

When updating the collar’s software, simply attach the charging clip, plug the T5 dog tracking collar into a computer and run Garmin WebUpdater.

Helpful Tone Indicator

Tone indication is a new feature, sounding off when adding a collar to your handheld or changing the settings. For example: when you change dog type to “treeing dog” your T5 will beep to let you know you have successfully completed the task.

Adjustable Dog Status

Using the updated Astro 430, you can change the status for each of your dog’s wearing a T5 to reflect what they’re doing. This lets your Astro know that when your dog is sitting idle he or she could be on point or have game treed.

Protective Antenna Sleeve

The T5’s antenna sleeve protects your antenna from wear and tear but also keeps it upright while still receiving satellite signals. The use of zip ties and electrical tape are no longer necessary with the protection of the T5’s antenna sleeve.

Basecamp

The Garmin Astro’s USB port plugs right into your laptop allowing for the use of Basecamp to track your dogs when hunting out of your truck.

Covey Counter

Record the birds and the specific location of coveys using waypoints.

Battery Life

The Garmin Astro 430 Handheld can be ran using one of three different battery types (batteries not included).

· Rechargeable NiMH battery pack

· AA- Alkaline batteries

· AA Lithium ion rechargeable batteries

Note: Garmin estimates run time up to 20 hours, however in our real-life experience we have had a difficult time getting 20 hours. In extreme usage we have seen as little as 4.5-5 hours of battery when using it consistently with a full 20 dog list.

T5 Tracking Collar:

With rescue mode on, the T5 tracking collar has approximately 40-hour battery life. Here's how:

• · 10 second update rate means around 27 hours (before battery reaches 25%)
• · When the battery reaches 25%, rescue mode changes the update rate to 2 minutes
• · 2-minute update rate means about 16 additional hours
• · Total: approximately 43 hours

Buddy’s Review of the Garmin Astro 430

“This device could be one of the more confusing products that we have seen Garmin Launch to date regarding the Astro product line. Essentially the Astro 430 is not compatible with any previous handheld version of the Astro product, however it’s fully compatible with all the Alpha Products. So, it’s easy to question why it’s called an Astro and not an “Alpha track only”. It even took me a while to understand the thought process for naming this product an Astro 430. To really understand, I think this is a long-term decision. If we fast forward 2 years from now this will likely make sense and will be easier to comprehend.

All (Active) collars that Garmin will be selling in the future will be compatible with all handhelds that Garmin offers from here on out. The Astro users will be able to hunt and track with Alpha users.

Looking back to when the Astro was first designed, there were some things that Garmin did early that were clearly a mistake. One of the most important was designing the first Astro units with the 10 dog limitation. If Garmin could go back in history and re-design the Astro 220 to communicate more like the Alpha we would have seen them do that.

Having their Astro and Alpha products track using the same style of communication will help them focus their efforts and harden the platform. They will also be able to use their resources for other projects like the DriveTrack 70 and Fenix watch. I know this step will be frustrating for users that have the Early 10 Dog systems, (Astro 220, and 320), but sometimes difficult decisions are made for long term objectives. DC30’s, DC40’s, and 220’s have already been discontinued and are no longer supported. We anticipate that 320’s will be discontinued as well over the next year or two.

At Double U we are servicing those products and will continue to do so with the resources we have. Our recommendation is for users to consider moving to the Alpha 100 or the Astro 430 when it is convenient for you. In the short term it might not make perfect sense, however, in the long run you will be in a good position and save yourself some headaches by having products that are using the current 20 dog communication platform. We do not see any reason Garmin will be leaving this 20 Dog Platform in the near future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I track the same collars with a Astro 430 and an Alpha 100?

A: Yes, the Astro 430 and Alpha 100 can simultaneously track DC5’s*, T5, TT10, and TT15s

*DC50 and Alpha 100 require a software update to be compatible.

Q: Why isn’t my Astro 220 or 320 compatible with the Astro 430?

A: Garmin has moved the Astro system to the 20 dog communication style like the Alpha 100. This makes them unable to communicate with the 10 dog systems such as the Astro 220 and 320. Basically, the Astro 430 will act like an Alpha 100 without the training portion.

Q: What are the similarities and differences between the Astro 430 and Alpha 100?

A: As stated above, the Garmin Astro 430 can run on a 20 dog communication style just like the Alpha 100, it can also track the same collars at the same time as the Alpha, and communication settings can also be changed at range. There are a few areas where they also differ, one obviously being that the Astro 430 is operated via buttons vs touchscreen. The 430 also does not have any training features at all and cannot track other handhelds like the Alpha system.