The rumors have been circulating for quite some time now, and it’s finally here. The Garmin TT15X Tracking and Training collar has just arrived, and it’s sure to make houndsmen happy. Time to go over a few of the new features hunters will see, what has stayed the same, and what excites us the most about this new and improved version of Garmin’s Track & Train dog device. Let's answer some of the questions sure to be on everyone's mind.
How long does it last?
Rejoice! No more trudging through the woods way after sundown frantically looking for a collar on Rescue Mode. The Garmin TT15x boasts a massive battery life. In our tests, we left a TT15x collar alone and transmitting at a 10-second update rate and went out on a week-long trip. Five days later upon our return, it was still tracking strong. This insane battery life can help locate lost dogs easily. Never mind the 2-minute updates in Rescue Mode, you probably won’t ever have a situation in which you enter it! Plus, if and when you lose a dog and you have to come back to resume a search the next day, you can at least come back to a collar that isn’t dead, and still tracking at a frequent update rate, hopefully making your search much easier. Why, with a TT15x you can conceivably spend all night out there trailing a lost dog. Isn’t that just great?
What kind of distance can I expect?
With the TT15x, you can expect the same power output and tracking distance compared to the Garmin TT15. Both Garmin tracking collars use the same MURS frequency and 2-watt power output mandated by FCC law, so customers should expect no differences in tracking difference between the TT15 and TT15x when it comes to tracking capability.
Did they finally give me “Sleep Mode”?
This little-known but exceedingly useful feature of the TT15 mini goes full-size at last in the TT15x. Say hello and good night to Sleep Mode! Perfect for conserving battery and traveling from spot to spot with your hounds, pause all tracking from the dog’s info page and put the collar to sleep. Your TT15x will cease to transmit a signal and therefore conserve battery, but will continue listening for a handheld’s command to awaken. Load your dogs up, travel down the road for a spell, and awaken your TT15x collars when you drop the tailgate to instantly begin tracking again.
What is the difference in compatibility between the TT15 and TT15x?
The Garmin TT15x is compatible with all current Alpha systems, as well as the track-only Astro 430 just as the TT15. There may be compatibility issues with the TT15x and some discontinued handhelds such as the Astro 320. The charging system for the Garmin TT15X collar is exactly the same as the Garmin TT15. This means all accessories (clips, cables, antennas, etc.) for the Garmin TT15 collars will work with the Garmin TT15x. In summary, the TT15x the TT15 and will look and act the same, and track on any Alpha series handheld. You can also track both TT15s and TT15x collars alongside one another on the same system.
Can I update using my MAC?
If you’re a user of Garmin products, “Apple” tends to be a dirty word. Macintosh products and other products just don’t seem to want to play nicely together, and can be notoriously difficult to integrate to into a system with anything non-Apple. While the WebUpdater program used to update software on collars is technically available for download on MAC OS, plugging a TT15 collar in and updating will result in the collar making a shrill ringing noise that cannot be stopped without re-loading the software on a compatible PC. This time, it looks as if MAC users can update their TT15x collars using the MAC version of WebUpdater without issues.
What is ANT+ and why is it important?
ANT+ is a lot like Bluetooth. Both are short-range connections used to synchronize and pair devices. The major difference is that Bluetooth is used for one-on-one pairing, whereas ANT+ can be used to pair together multiple devices at one time.
When pairing a TT15x or T5x, an Alpha 200/200i with updated 5.0 software uses ANT+ to pair collars rather than the old MURS frequency. This is exciting because ANT+ can be used to transmit and transfer more data than MURS. This improvement allows for small features not available on the TT15 and T5.
ANT+ gives us the opportunity to check the collar’s software version with the handheld. To do this, go to the collar Info Page and press the ≡ icon near the bottom. Then, check the About section. Your handheld will display the collar’s current software version.
The second feature one can expect with ANT+ is a convenient pairing tool. When you pair a TT15x collar via ANT+, it stores your chosen dog name on the collar. The T5X/TT15x will "remember" the name you entered, and will suggest that dog’s name automatically when pairing to a different compatible handheld that pairs using ANT+ such as another 200i, or Alpha 10. At this time, we are unsure if this feature will be available on the 100.
Like most Garmin products, the TT15x will surely be seeing even more improvements to come as software patches continue to release. The new battery life make the TT15x collar a powerhouse in the field, and the new pairing features make life easier, while still keeping what we loved about the TT15. The T5x or TT15x is sure to be a welcome addition to any system, and might just make the difference at the end of the day between a successful hunt and a train wreck.
