Imagine that you're new to the world of dog tracking. Or maybe you're in the market for a new system and it's been awhile since you've needed to shop for new gear. Perhaps you just won a TT15X collar in a raffle and while it pairs to your old Astro, you can't make use of its training functions, and you're due for a handheld upgrade to the Alpha 200.
Well, it's 2022. One TT15x collar can get your dog days of battery life in the field at a rapid 2.5-second update rate, and still take care of your tracking and training needs. It's just a matter of deciding which handheld system suits your hunting style the best.
The Alpha 100
Garmin's Alpha 100 is still the go-to tracking and training handheld for many houndsmen and women who need to follow their dogs and perform corrections in the field. At a 20-dog capacity, it will suit most packs, and certainly packs a punch when delivering training stimuli (or not, with 20 customizable levels of correction). At a range of around 3 miles depending on your antenna, the Alpha 100 pairs with a TT15 or TT15x to make a great do-it-all hunting device. Its main flaw is durability. If you want a unit that can survive a snowstorm or a face-down dive in a rocky creek, you'll want the much tougher Alpha 200i. When making the investment in new gear, keep in mind that the Alpha 100 is several years old and a last-generation device. The cutting-edge Alpha 200 might be a better investment in the long run for the serious hunter.
The Alpha 200/200i
For those back country explorers hunting far outside of cell reception, the 200i can literally be a lifesaver. With satellite communication capability built-in (additional charges apply for optional inReach service), it's perfect as a rescue communicator if need be as well as a dog tracker, designed to be far more resistant to physical and water damage as opposed to the Alpha 100. The 200i is a heavy-duty, rugged handheld that stands up to punishment from rain, dirt, or snow, and in addition to its resistance to physical damage, the Garmin Alpha 200i includes extra training buttons to cycle quickly through training pages. Its software supports pairing with up to 250 Garmin devices, making this handheld perfect for hunting clubs tracking a high volume of dogs, or trainers handling large packs. If you're not interested in activating your inReach, that's fine. The standard Alpha 200 is also available, without the S.O.S. button.
The Pro 550+
The 550+ is still the preferred handheld for many bird hunters. With its wand-style design, the Pro 550+ is still compatible with the tube-shaped holsters compatible with Garmin Pro series E-collars, so if you're one of the leftover Tri-Tronics users wholeheartedly satisfied with their products, this one was designed for you. The 550+ still makes use of the TT15X track and train collars via a small screen at the bottom indicating the dog's heading and status (pointing, treeing, running, etc.), yet still has a dedicated tone button for those obedient older dogs who only need a warning, or your softie retrievers that don't require the correction level of your average hard-headed hound.
The Alpha 10
The new kid on the block! This one went under a lot of hunters' radar; not many know about this handheld yet, but it's worth taking a look at. At 5.6 oz, the Alpha 10 is a smaller, more lightweight and compact device than its sister devices with an emphasis on tracking at a glance. Much like an Instinct watch or a Pro 550+ would operate, the interface is straightforward, easy to use, and is designed to keep a hunter's focus on a few dogs and the task at hand.
This is a great option for those just starting out who are wanting to follow a race and begin training; at a price point much lower than most handhelds on the market, ($399 as opposed to $599 for the next step up, the Alpha 100), it's a device you can clip to a belt, track and be tracked by other Garmin handhelds, and the Alpha 10 even pairs to the Garmin Explore app, delivering maps and dog tracking directly to a compatible smartphone or tablet. And its ability to pair to a DriveTrack makes it an ideal dedicated truck unit, so there's no need to bench an Alpha 200i from the field or purchase a more expensive handheld for use with an in-vehicle tracking screen. Another handy tip; Pair it with your field handheld so you can always find your way back to the truck.