The DC50 collar has been discontinued by Garmin and is now only available used. However many houndsmen, especially those hunting with a buddy or in a group with mixed systems, still have fully functioning DC50 collars they would like to continue using in the field. Officially, DC50 units are considered incompatible with Alpha 100 and Alpha 200i handhelds as they cannot be added to the Dog List of either unit via MURS pairing, however there is a workaround not advertised by Garmin that allows users to track older DC50 collars on these newer devices.
Step 1: Current Software
Make sure that the DC50 you are attempting to add to the Alpha 100 handheld has been updated to the latest software version. Failure to do so will result in a failed attempt to add the collar to the dog list. The software MUST be updated to track the DC50 collar on an Alpha 100 handheld. You should be at software version 2.7 for the DC50.
Step 2: Add the DC50 to an Astro 430
You will first need to program the DC50 into an Astro 430 handheld. (see instruction for “adding a dog” in our Astro 430 help section)
Astro 430 units are track-only handhelds similar to the Astro 320, the main difference between the two units being the 320's 10-dog software platform and the Alpha's 20-dog software platform. Unfortunately, the Alpha units cannot track contacts or collars with the 320, only other units running on the 20-dog platform. We can exploit the 430's software compatibility with Alpha units in order to track a discontinued DC50 collar via a relay, using the 430 as a sort of "middleman".
Add the DC50 collar to an Astro 430 unit as you would normally, by pairing the DC50 collar to your 430 handheld's Dog List.
Step 3: Share your DC50 with your Alpha
Go to the “Dog list” on the Astro 430 and select the DC50 you wish to share and press enter.
There are two ways to add a DC50 to an Alpha. You can either share the Dog Info wirelessly from an Astro 430 to an Alpha, or you can enter in the Track code for the DC50 collar into an Alpha 100. *NOTE- to share wirelessly the Astro and Alpha will need to be with in tracking distance of each other.
If you would like to manually add the DC50 to the Alpha, you will need the Track or Train codes. To find this select “Show Info” under your DC50 and input the Track or Train code into your Alpha. The DC50 collar has no training features, so either code will work the same.
On the Alpha handheld, go to your “Dog List”
Select “Add Dog”
When the Alpha asks if you are “Near the Collar?”...It Depends on if you are sharing wirelessly from a 430 or manually entering the code.
Normally, you are unable to pair a DC50 to an Alpha unit. However, sharing track and train codes wirelessly is a sort of "loophole" to these limitations. This way, you can bypass pairing mode altogether.
If you are successful, your DC50 collar should be tracking just as a T5 or TT15 would in your Alpha's dog list.