SportDOG TEK 2.0 vs. Garmin Alpha 100

SportDOG® was the first company to combine GPS tracking with e-collar training. The goal was to achieve a more reliable and precise tracking and training. Featuring HopTek™, I can determine the accurate location of my canine companions all the way out to 10 miles! This technology beats interference problems regardless of the terrain.

So far, TEK 2.0 is the only tracking system with voice updates sent right from the handheld device. My handy gizmo has told me exactly which direction each of my dogs were heading. It likewise notified me how far they have gone and how fast they are moving.

I would not have to look down or take my hands off my equipment. To make things even better, TEK 2.0 uses GPS + GLONASS so that it captures data from both satellite constellations.

The handheld device has an icon-based menu, allowing for quick and hassle-free navigation. I can manage a pack of 21 dogs with its array of programmable stimulations. The collar receiver features DryTek® technology, making it waterproof and submersible up to 25 feet.

Likewise, the handheld device is just as rock-solid. These gadgets are the kind of thing you want as you head into the bush on a hunt!

The Alpha 100 TT 15 combines the industry’s leading Garmin GPS tracking system with Tri-tronics in one handheld device.

The handheld device comes pre-loaded with 100, 000 topographic US maps. Like other Garmin trackers, the Alpha 100 is featured with BaseCamp, which is a handy app that lets you organize waypoints, routes, and tracks that you can refer to for your next adventures. To top it off, you will receive a one-year free subscription of BirdsEye Satellite Imagery.

As the name hints, this feature has allowed me to achieve a bird’s eye view of my surroundings. Instead of lines and solid colors, I was able to experience a more vivid representation of my surroundings. And if you like, you may also share your experiences to your friends and fellow explorers via Garmin Adventures.

The Garmin Alpha 100 e-collar is advanced as anything Tri-Tronics has ever made! The collar allows me to simultaneously monitor the speed and distance traveled of up to 20 dogs. I can view such updates via the touchscreen as often as 2.5 seconds, but I can also configure the update rates to prolong the battery life.

Complete with 18 different training levels, plus tone and vibration alerts, I can correct the behavior of each dog while they are out in the field.

SportDOG TEK 2.0

The TEK 2.0 handheld device is not touch-enabled, but its user interface is as user-friendly as an old school Nokia. I can quickly manipulate the icon-based menu through the use of a navigation wheel and buttons. All of the key options can be found on the homepage.

Best of all, I get real-time voice updates so that I would not have to constantly check on the handheld device. The voice updates would tell me which direction my canine companions are heading, how far they have reached, as well as how fast they are moving.

Garmin Alpha 100

The user interface of the Garmin Alpha 100 is as bright and colorful as that of TEK 2.0, but it is not as user-friendly as I expected it to be.

There are plenty of menus to access the setup options, and only a few of these menus are accessible from the home page. As a result, I ended up wasting time searching for basic functions. Also, the interface lacks a “Home Button” and so, you have to back out from the sub- menus until you see the home icon.

Another thing to note is that the 3-inch display tends to change if you do not take steps to lock the keys and touchscreen. Unfortunately, the way it is done can be a pain. If I keep the display locked all the time, all useful information on the screen will be replaced with a large message that says it is locked. I have to use the touchscreen to clear that notification badge.

While I have never had a problem with the touch screen in wet conditions, it does not work well with gloves, despite the manufacturer’s claims. From my experience, these design flaws reduce training option efficiency.

What is more, the touchscreen zooms in and out by pressing plus and minus on the screen. It would have been better if I could zoom in and out using two fingers, just as I would using a smartphone.

SportDOG TEK 2.0

The TEK 2.0 GPS collar has 99 levels of momentary, continuous, and rising static stimulation. I also have the option to train with young pups using vibration or tone. Having equipped with a wide variety of training features ensures you can find the appropriate correction for dogs of all ages and sizes. That aside, the e-collar for the TEK 2.0 has a battery indicator, as well.

Garmin Alpha 100

The Alpha 100 is an invaluable tool not only to prevent your canine companions from getting lost but also in training and controlling your dogs to stop chasing unwanted game.

The training buttons on the touchscreen allow you to communicate with each dog through safe and effective methods. These methods include continuous stimulation, an audible tone, or vibe command. With the help of Tri-Tronics electronic training, you may choose between two stimulation modes to customize your training even further.

Traditional stimulation allows you to make swift changes within a predetermined level of stimulation: low, medium, and high. Whereas, linear stimulation grants progressively more stimulation starting from level 1 up to 18.

Another feature I like about the Alpha 100 e-collar is the LED Beacon Light built into it, which you can activate using your handheld device. Since I love walking at the boulevard during the night, I benefit from the peace of mind knowing that other people could see my canine companion in low light conditions.