The Garmin Astro 430/T 5 Mini combo was built with the hardcore dog hunter in mind, allowing users to track twice as many dogs as previous versions, as well as hunt alongside Alpha 100 users. With the T 5 Mini streamlined for smaller dogs, you’ll be able to hunt with smaller dogs much more effectively.

Key features of the Garmin Astro 430

With the Astro 430 handheld you’re able to track a total of 20 dog collars.

In addition to connecting to the T 5 Mini, your Astro 430 tracking system is compatible with the T 5 standard, TT 15 Mini, TT 15 Standard, DC 50, and TT 10.

With the Astro 430, you can also track the same collars as Alpha users simultaneously. This is great for people who don’t want or need the training features of the Alpha track-and-train but still hunt and share dogs.

The Astro 430 is also compatible with Garmin’s DriveTrack 70 vehicle tracking screen, the fēnix 3 GPS tracking watch, the Garmin VIRB Action camera and ANT+ sensors such as the Tempe dog box temperature gauge.

The Astro 430 makes it easy to change your collar settings even when you’re in the field. This means you can change update rates and enable Rescue Mode when your dog is at any distance.

When you connect your T 5 Mini to other Astro 430 or Alpha 100 handhelds, you’ll be able to enable permissions codes that control whether your buddy’s can change settings on the collar.

The Garmin Astro 430 tracking system comes preloaded with 100,000 topo maps that cover the entire U.S. They provide topographic detail, roads, creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes, etc.

The Astro 430 with the T 5 Mini tracking collar is capable of receiving update rates as frequently as every 2.5 seconds, allowing you to keep a closer eye on your dogs.

With the Astro 430, you’ll have the ability to collect performance data on your dogs. This includes distance traveled as well as time in the field.

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

The Garmin Astro 430’s USB port makes it easy to plug it right into your laptop. Using Basecamp, you can track your dogs on your laptop screen instead of the handheld screen. This can be especially convenient when hunting out of your truck, as it allows the use of a larger screen.

Record the specific location of coveys. You can also record the birds in a covey and the number of birds taken from the covey using waypoints.

Features of the T 5 Mini

The T 5 Mini is just right for hunters with smaller dogs or puppies. The T 5 Mini tracking collar is suited for any dog under 50 pounds and comes with a ¾-inch collar strap that fits neck sizes between 9.5 and 14 inches. The device weighs just 7 ounces.

As what has come to be expected in all new GPS tracking collars, the Garmin T 5 Mini has both GPS and GLONASS capability through its highly sensitive external satellite antenna. This antenna connects to roughly twice as many satellites in the sky. The GPS tracking collar also comes with an 18.5-inch braided steel antenna.

When enabled by your Astro 430, Rescue Mode can add hours to your device’s battery life by automatically slowing down the update rate. Once the collar battery drops below 25 percent of a full charge, it immediately slows the update rate to 2-minute intervals. This conserves battery life and can give you valuable time to retrieve your dog.

The Garmin T 5 Mini uses the same collar strap design as the Garmin Alpha TT 10, TT 15, Astro DC 50, and T 5 collars. The only difference is that the Mini has a slimmer ¾-inch strap rather than a full-size 1-inch strap. It’s quick and easy to switch out collar straps and no tools are needed. Just slide your collar through the integral channels on the Garmin T 5 Mini.

Using the updated Astro 430, you can change the status for each of your dogs wearing a T 5 Mini to reflect what they’re doing. Your options are pointing, treeing, auto, and none. This lets your Astro know that when your dog is sitting idle, he or she could be on point or have game treed.

The T 5 Mini’s antenna keeper holds your antenna up and erect even in the thickest country. No more need for zip ties and electrical tape!

The Garmin Astro 430/T 5 Mini combo is a great option for any small-dog hunter. Purchase your Garmin Astro 430 bundle today.

Buddy’s Review of the Mini Astro 430 with T 5 Combo

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 this I think this is a Long term decision vs. a Short time 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 for Garmin Astro 430 With T5 Mini.

A: Yes, the Astro 430 and Alpha 100 can simultaneously track DC50s, T5, TT10, and TT15s (*DC50s and Alpha 100 will need a software update).

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.