Steve Says: Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo

Garmin "X" Series Collars

The TT15X is a track and train collar while the T5X is tracking only. Both collars are compatible with the Astro 430, all four Alpha handhelds, and the PRO 550 Plus. They can be tracked from multiple handhelds at the same time and can be run at the same time as TT10, TT15, and T5 collars.

Please note that Garmin's "X" collars are NOT compatible with the Astro 320 or 220.

The "X" collars have the same physical design as Garmin's regular size collars, but with several upgraded features:

Longer Battery Life -- up to 80 hours of run time using the 2.5 second update rate

Garmin Express Update Option -- you can update your "X" collar's software with Garmin Express

Sleep Mode -- you can put your "X" collar into sleep mode using Alpha handhelds, extending battery life even longer

Collar "About" Screen -- on Alpha 200i and 200 handhelds you can check your "X" collar's software version

Extended Battery Life

The biggest improvement on these collars is longer battery life.

Every time we talk with Garmin, battery life is a topic. With the "X" collars they have drastically increased battery life and added options to stretch it out even longer if needed.

We are seeing between 60 and 80 hours of run time off a single charge with a 2.5-second update rate. Setting your collar on a 5 or 10-second update rate will push it past 80 hours, and a 2-minute update rate will give you over 130 hours.

This will be especially helpful for folks with big running dogs or in lost dog situations. An "X" collar set in Rescue Mode drops down to a 2-minute update rate when the battery reaches less than 25% capacity, giving you the maximum possible time to locate a lost dog. More battery life = more time.

There are few things more useless than a tracking collar with a dead battery.

Keep in mind that this extended battery life option doesn't change my take on charging your collars.

I still recommend that you charge them after every use.

I want you to have the maximum battery life available if you need it. The only way to make that happen is to charge your system before each use. Also, keep in mind there has not been a change in the handheld batteries, so you will still need to charge them pretty much every night anyway.

Updating Your Collars with Garmin Express

With the "X" collars, you can now update both your collars and your handheld with Garmin Express.

This eliminates the need to have multiple programs installed to keep your system up-to-date. I prefer Garmin Express for several reasons, but not being able to update everything from one program has been a hassle. Now every new dog tracking product can be updated using Garmin Express.

Sleep Mode

The "X" collars have a Sleep Mode option just like the Garmin MINI collars.

Sleep Mode allows you the option of using your Alpha handheld to shut off both radios in the collar (GPS and handheld communication), significantly extending battery life. The collar searches every few seconds for a turn-on signal. Once you give the signal from your handheld, the radios turn back on and the collar returns to normal communication mode.

Note that you must be within range to activate the collar.

This is a specialized feature that really isn't going to be used by most of our customers. It's designed for situations where either you can't get to a dog in time to pick him up and are forced to leave him out overnight, or you are intentionally leaving him out and want to preserve battery life.

We have a few folks that like to leave their collars on their dogs all day while hunting, even when moving around in their vehicle, and Sleep Mode lets them conserve run time. I'm not sure if it's still necessary with the longer battery life, but the option is there.

Folks with livestock protection dogs will like the Sleep Mode feature. It will give you extra-long battery life while still keeping up with the location of your dogs.

"About" Screen

The "X" collars give you the ability to view your collar software data on your Alpha 200i or Alpha 200 handheld.

This means you can check the software version from your handheld without the use of a computer. Not a giant deal, but it's a feature that we had back in the Astro 320 / 220 days, and it's nice to see its return.

I'm extremely pleased with these new collars.

We always want more range, longer battery life, and more durability from our tracking collars.

While we only get one of the big three updated here, it's an important update -- perhaps the most important -- and it will make finding lost dogs easier.

Transcript from Steve's Video

So this is the GARMIN TT15X. If you're familiar with the TT collars, it looks exactly like the current version of the TT15. The X collars have three major differences. The first difference is gonna be battery life. And that's the most important difference here. The battery life on this collar is substantially better than what we have in the TT15s right now, and it blows the TT15 MINIs out of the water.

In a two and a half second update rate, you're looking at between 60 and 80 hours of run time off of a single charge. The variance in there is gonna depend on a couple of things. Whether you run your lights, how much you're stimming the dog. Depends on what you're doing.

There's a difference too, between straight run time, and then you turn it on and turn it off, you'll get some differences there. But it's substantially longer than what we've had before, and that's a big deal, especially in a lost dog situation. The other. Two things. One of them's a giant deal. One of 'em is one of those things where it just depends on what you do.

The next big deal is that you can update the TT15X collars through Garmin Express. Prior to the 15X collars, you had to use Web Updater to update your collars. And so now everything that Garmin has on the market can be updated through Garmin Express. So that's handy, cuts down on the number of programs you have to have.

And then the last new thing is that the 15X has the sleep mode function for the collars, which we've had that in the MINI 15s, but we have not had that in the regular 15s. So the 15X has sleep mode. For most people that is not a big deal. But for folks that have dogs that are, that are out a long time and they're either intentionally not recovering them at the end of the day, or they can't get to them at the end of the day and they need to be able to leave them out overnight, the sleep mode option allows you to power down the collar so that it's no longer using its radio functions. And then when you return to the area all you have to do is go back into it and wake the collar up.

When you're looking at the collar, you go into your menu and right here, we have adjust sleep mode. And so you select that and then you are gonna go, I'm gonna put this collar to sleep. And so if you watch it, it's going to shut down. Okay. So basically it is lost all communication with the collar and it, that way, your, your battery's just not being used hardly at all.

And what the collar's gonna be doing is that it is going to wake up and look for a wake signal. And so what's happening is there's a rotation. And what it's doing is instead of constantly broadcasting and pulling GPS signals, it's waiting to wake up for a radio signal. So when you get back in the area, you want to turn it back on, you go back into your menu and you adjust collar sleep mode, and we're going to wake and now it's gonna take a second for it to update.

There you go. And you'll notice that the GPS has not quite come on yet, takes a second for it to pick back up. But basically that allows you to power down the radio signals on the collar so that it's no longer doing GPS or MURS communication. And that's going to drastically improve your battery life.

Garmin ALPHA 200i Handheld

Garmin listened to your user feedback:

Simplify to only screens you use

Declutter screens to only show info YOU care about

ProView Compass shows multiple dogs on one compass screen

WIFI means automatic updates and easy birdseye install

The NEW Garmin Alpha 200i takes everything we love about the Alpha 100 and squeezes it into a sleeker package with even more features.

All the way back in 2012, Garmin gave us the best-selling Garmin Alpha 100: the first-ever Garmin GPS tracking collar combined with a Tri-Tronics remote trainer. For the first time, you could track and train your dog using one handheld and one collar with the added versatility of a touchscreen.

Now after all these years, Garmin gives us their second-generation Alpha handheld: the 200i.

Bigger Screen: The Alpha 200i features a larger 3.5" touchscreen compared to the Alpha 100's 3" screen, giving you more detail and better control.

Three Side Buttons: In addition to the three front buttons carried over from the original Alpha 100, the new Alpha 200i adds three side buttons for improved usability.

More Internal Memory: The Alpha 200i has 16 GB of internal memory. That's FOUR TIMES MORE than what was in the original Alpha 100. More memory means more detailed maps, more dog data, and more functionality.

Compass Pro View: In addition to your dogs, you can now see the direction and distance to your truck and your friends' Alpha handhelds on the Compass Screen.

Built-in InReach Technology: The Alpha 200i has a built-in InReach communicator, so in an emergency you can send interactive SOS alerts and two-way messages via the 100% global Iridium satellite network from anywhere in the world with no cellular service needed. Note that a satellite subscription is required to use the InReach functions, but is NOT required for tracking or training your dogs.

Some other cool new features of the Alpha 200i include:

Preloaded TopoActive Maps

Directly download BirdsEye satellite imagery to your Alpha

Barometric Altimeter

Hunt Metrics Data shows each dog's hunting patterns and behaviors so you can keep them healthy and safe

Compatible with the Garmin Explore App and Website for managing tracks, routes, and waypoints, as well as reviewing statistics from the field

Steve Snell

Review Summary

4.5

30 Reviews

70% (21)

23% (7)

0% (0)

3% (1)

93% Recommend this product (28 of 30 responses)

By Damian

Centerview Missouri

Reliable Garmin

May 17, 2023

Great and speedy service yet once again from Gun Dog Supply. I've hunted all over Europe and have just returned to the U.S. Again I purchased another Garmin Alpha 200 to keep track of my hard working dog.

Pros

Easy to use, product shipped fast and the ease and reliability of Garmin products are great.

By Will R.

Laporte, IN

A Must Have!!

September 6, 2022

I've been thinking of getting this unit for a while now. Finally pulled the trigger and purchased the unit with 2 T15 collars and I'm glad I did. Last September while Grouse hunting in Michigan, I lost my Drahthaar for about 20 min in the thicket. It was not fun. Now, I will not have to worry about that happening again. The A200 is awesome. Easy to configure and customize to your needs. I would recommend to anyone who plans on running their dogs in various environments.

Pros

Easy to configure and customize. The screen size is more than enough, even for those with less than 20/20 eyesight. Downloading is a breeze with it's built-in WiFi. The extra buttons is a must for quick access and if wearing gloves.

Cons

A little pricey but I think it's worth it. When you experience losing a dog for just a short time, you will appreciate a GPS tracker.

By Mechele F.

Santa Fe, NM

Garmin ALPHA 200 + Tracking E collar combo

August 16, 2022

The tracking, e-collar combo is great! Having the combo simplies training sessions. The Garmin works like other Garmins, the touch screen is nice.

The e-collar settings took a little trial session again because they were so different from my other e-collar. Dogtra e-collar is 1-120 + vibe, where the Alpha 200 e-collar is 1-18.

Very happy with the purchase

Pros

Garmin touch screen
Only need one collar

Cons

The e-collar settings took a little trial session again because they were so different from my other e-collar. Dogtra e-collar is 1-120 + vibe, where the Alpha 200 e-collar is 1-18.
Still wish Garmin would add a start and stop button so that when you got to the trail or area, you didn't have the device tracking you from home.

By Mark

Idaho

VERY HAPPY

November 23, 2021

Upgraded from the ALPHA 100 and glad I did.
Really like the larger screen and the various menus are more logical and easier to find with more capabilities. I'm still learning about all the features and there are many tutorials out there to help.

If you want to use the vibrate function on a TT15 collar, you will have to delete one of the other functions (momentary, continuous or tone) OR add an additional page with vibrate on it. For example, my yellow collar has M, C, T, on the first page and M, C, V on the 2nd page. Scrolling through pages is easy using the buttons on the side of the handheld. Very intuitive.

Enable WiFi and the handheld automatically updates the software to the latest version when you turn it on. How cool is that?

Presently, I'm trying to figure out if I can set different radius alarms for different collars. For example, I'd like to keep an eye on my young pointer and know if he wanders past 150 yards while I don't mind my broke dogs ranging to 250.

Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase. Much thought went into this device from people who hunt and Garmin listened.

Pros

Large bright screen
Intuitive and easy to find menus
Many customizable features
Well made and durable
Various programmable alarms
Can use buttons for almost everything instead of tapping on the glass
WiFi capable
Fast update rate

Cons

Really can't think of any right now.

By John

Carrabelle fl

Alpha 200

October 21, 2024

First class dogsmen, fast shipping excellent products

By Greg

Michigan

Works as I expected

October 21, 2024

The collar and handheld are working to my expectations and am very happy with the product. I like being able to tell what direction and how far the dogs are. The one negative is that you need to turn the collars on 5 to 10 minutes before you start the hunt otherwise the remote will not connect to the collar and will not know the distance of the dog. I have my remote hanging around my neck with a lanyard and I've had a few occurrences where the remote bouncing off my body as I walk and will go into other screens by itself.

Pros

Being able to tell at a quick glance what direction the dogs are and how far away. Ease of corrections and multiple stimulation settings.

Cons

Need to turn the collars on 5 to 10 minutes before the hunt so it connects properly to the remote.

By Mike

Ohio

Alpha collar

October 21, 2024

Awesome tool, I highly recommend get one. Game changer

Pros

Know where dog is at all times. Hunting in high grass

Cons

None

By Stephen

wisconsin

Mixed

October 19, 2024

There are good points with the alpha. The range is good. Ability to have maps is also good but as an upland bird hunter I find it terribly annoying to use. First note is that you have to reference the screen often and with timeouts to save battery life you must push the power key to show the screen. This is difficult to impossible with gloves and distracting at best without. While you can program the buttons to do many things actually using them is poor. The buttons are small and you must use two hands unless you have the handset attached to your body as I do. There is very poor tactual feedback so you are unsure if you actually pushed the button or not. Add to that you must have the screen on to be sure of which program the buttons are set for and you have a very inconvienent user unfriendly system. The two systems of tracking your dog are good but again you have to push the power key to activate the screen to see where the dog is. This unit may be great for hounds but for the upland hunter who just needs dog position and quick reference I highly recommend against that and suggest the 550 pro handset as a better option. I wish I had not gone to this model vs. the 550 pro.

Pros

Range, maps, programable.
Dealing with gun dog supply is always great.

Cons

Terrible for upland bird hunting use.
Screen timeouts to save battery create problems
Not easy to impossible to use with one hand.
Battery life is not good if screen is left on.
Must reference screen too often.

By Lee H.

Florence, MT

An excellent investment

October 6, 2024

I hesitated to make this purchase.

First, high cost, I already have a Garmin collar paired with a Zinger, regularly use a bell and do I want one more thing around my neck.

After two days of Grouse hunting in thick cover (no bell, where is the dog?) I pulled the trigger. Some say a bell will alarm birds, this becomes a non-issue.

Setup was straightforward and a seamless transition from my Pro Control.

This device provides a myriad of GPS information for you and your dog and E-Collar control in one unit.

It is secured to my vest with a carabiner for quick access and positive retention.

Using the Tone feature as a Recall signal is far better than blowing a whistle on a windy day!

After a month of use, I strongly recommend this investment for you and your Pup.

Pros

Ease of setup
Battery life
Screen clarity
Available information for you and your dog
E-Collar and GPS in the same package

Cons

Cost (see above)

By Mike J.

Idaho

New to collar training

June 4, 2024

I'm new to training a dog with a collar, after alot of years decided to get another hunting dog, nephew convinced me to get a collar to train. Learning curve with electronics, have only used a couple times so far I like as I can track the pup and know where he is.

Pros

After using only twice I like that I can find my dog easily. Training is an ongoing process.

Cons

As with any garmin product, learning how to use the device and programs are not self explanatory lots of how to ytube videos and lots of experimenting pup is only 6 months old, we're learning together

By Ross

Kalispell, MT

Great product

May 7, 2024

I'm a first time gun dog owner and have been reading and watching reviews on all types of e-collars and tracking products. I didn't want to buy a type of product twice so I decided to bite the bullet once and go all in once. I chose Garmin because the guys I hunt with use Garmin with their dogs and we can share dog tracking across the platform in addition to compatibility with watches and other devices.
My family and I have only started using the product to start with training with our pup. So far it's been great. We chose gun dog supply because it had competitive pricing and is a small business here in the USA. We would recommend this product so far!

By PW

Milwaukee, WI

Need more dogs!

November 29, 2023

This is my first tracking collar and it's probably way more than I need but it's awesome! I have one pointing dog that I pheasant hunt for 15 weeks a year and I love the features for that use. The other reasons for the purchase are the navigation and safety features. I often travel and hike alone (with the dog) and cell service can be spotty. The safety features sold me.
Being a data nerd, I love being able to see our activities on a map, knowing how far we've traveled, elevation and speed. I can see this being an excellent hiking tool.
With multiple dog capabilities of this device, I do feel like I'm over-teched and under-dogged. Sound like a good excuse for another dog!

Pros

Great tool in the pheasant fields! My dog is probably thrilled to get rid of the bell around his neck. Pointing notification is reliable. Love the tracking data!

Cons

For me it's the learning curve. There are so many features to learn, it's time- consuming.

By Mel

Green Bay wi

The best collars

May 23, 2023

Easy to set up- easy to use- I was concerned they were going to be complex but they are simple

Pros

Easy to use

Cons

None

By Del H.

Charlotte NC

This is an Impressive Tool

May 9, 2023

I just received my Alpha 200 with a TT15X collar, and found the set-up of both pretty straight forward, and much easier than I expected. The Alpha 200 is a feature-rich control device that offers the user wide configuration flexibilityâ€”I easily programmed the three command buttons to fit my preferencesâ€”and navigation through the various screens. There is a lot going on in this little device, and it will probably take a while to truly master its capabilities.

There is little detail in the supplied printed manuals, however, the online manuals fill the gaps nicely.

I took the collar and the handheld for a spin, and after a few start-up stumbles with the maps, was able to see the GPS tracking features at work, using the tracking and training features simultaneously.

The Alpha 200 paired with the TT15X is a quantum leap from other e-collars I've used in the past. I highly recommend it.

Pros

Easily configured
A wealth of options
Programmable controls

Cons

I wish there was a way to attach a lanyard
A more detailed user guide

By Brad

Michigan

So many nice upgrades from the Alpha 100

March 1, 2023

I'm so happy with the changes they've made with the 200i. First off, my eyes are thankful for the larger screen. Having the ability to use the top 3 buttons to cycle screens is such a game changer for me. The side buttons are large enough to easily cycle between the menus and e-collar functions. My biggest complaint about the 100 was having to hit the icons in the bottom corners to switch screens. I have fat fingers, and it was frustrating at times, so I'm thankful they integrated the option with the top 3 buttons on the 200i.

Another huge addition is the ability to see the truck and other hunters on the compass. This is so convenient for me. I have a Garmin Sapphire 6x watch and it's nice to just glance and see where my hunting buddy is without having to shout out for a location check in the grouse woods. I didn't like having to switch between the map and compass screens when I wanted to work the dog toward the relative direction of the truck on the 100. It's really convenient to have both on the compass screen.

Other nice conveniences is being able to remove all the unwanted apps from the main menu screen, being able to download updates using wi-fi instead of having to USB to a computer, creating groups for buddies and their dogs. Very easy to enable/disable several dogs at once. I will be buying an in-reach subscription as I do hunt alone at times. Nice peace of mind for me.

Pros

Several much needed changes from the Alpha 100.

Cons

The Hunt View map can be a bit slow to load at times.

By Karl

Good but miss my alpha 100

December 22, 2022

Caution for those that have the alpha 100 and like the way it functions (I have bird dogs). I was expecting similar functionality but I guess I didnt do enough research. 2 primary examples, on the alpha 100, I had each button assigned to a different collar which was perfect when running 2-3 dogs, on the alpha 200i you'll need to press a side button to go from dog to dog, so stimulation will be delayed. I'm still trying to figure out if I can get a page set so the buttons will represent different collars.

Second example, on my alpha 100, I used battery save mode, so the screen would turn off after so many seconds, then when you wanted to see where your dog was you just touched the screen. On the alpha 200i, it has the same battery save mode, but when the screen turns off you have to press the power butt to get the screen to turn on. This doesnt work so well, and is almost impossible with gloves. So to save battery I've lowered the screen brightness and it stays on for the whole hunt, which consumes the battery pretty quick. You might get 10-12 hours going this route. So I ordered a second battery to help on multi day trips where there are no plug ins available to recharge (the cigarette chargers are to slow to recharge a battery and waste too much gas).

On the positive side, the bigger screen is nice. So far with my pointers I have not lost communication, which happened from time to time with the alpha 100 in the mountains in AZ and NM.

Pros

Bigger screen is nice, tracking and communication seems to be better

Cons

See review for my 2 main cons

By Steve

Rochester, Michigan

Love it! (so far)

December 16, 2022

I've only used it for one weekend of hunting pheasants but LOVE IT! I have a 1 1/2 year old GSP who likes to run big but still does an amazing job hunting. Was just using a training collar before and was stuck in the position of deciding when to zap him. Was he to far possibly chasing a deer or was he close, behind cover pointing at a bird? Now I know exactly what he is up to and have confidence when I correct him.

Pros

Nice big screen.

Cons

Seemed difficult at times for the touch screen with my leather gloves. There is a delay on location so just need to get used to it.

By Greg C.

Arkansas

Great product!!

November 23, 2022

This combo is awesome, I used it on my tracking dogs and it's awesome.

Pros

Easy to setup, and there are lots of videos out there if you have any issues

Cons

I wish the handheld would have come with a neck strap

By Jesse

Atlanta, Michigan

Exactly what I expected

November 1, 2022

Better information content on the dog page than the 100. Better screen. Easy to use.

By Bruce

Friendswood, Texas

Dog tracking gps

October 26, 2022

Really like the Alpha 200i and the TTX15 collar they are a great combo with all the new features.

By Justin

Nevada

Amazing unit

October 19, 2022

This thing has everything i need in one unit. I hunt wild chukar in the mountains and with this i can find my dog, see topographic maps, text the wife when i have zero cell service, and control the dog. All with just one device! When your hiking in the mountains it's always nice to bring less stuff to cut down on weight. The garmin alpha helps me do this and stay connected with the dog and with family. Also the ability to hit the SOS button to bring in the cavalry is a nice thing to have when your up in the rocks. Both the collar and controller are bigger than my old ones but for the extra features i believe it's well worth it. They are spendy but what's the cost of
Loosing your dog?

Pros

Features
Maps
SOS
Satellite texting
The amount of dogs you can save to one controller

Cons

Slightly larger than what I'm used to
Steep learning curve with all the features

By wayne y.

washington court house, ohio

garmin 200i

May 25, 2022

i really like my new 200i garmin system.. the screen is easy to read, even with my old eyes. the count down timer is awesome. everything about it is amazing.

Pros

very readable screen, alot more options than my 100.

Cons

none that ive found yet.

By Nick

Gila hot springs, NM

Great product

March 29, 2022

I have been using the Garmin alpha and two collars on my lion hounds for the past two weeks or so. Hunting off muleback in the wilderness. I am very pleased with the quality and ease of use.

Pros

Easy to setup and use. Large screen a plus.

Cons

None yet

By Mike

Southaven Mississippi

More memory

November 30, 2021

Best improvement yet is with the screen, no more finding a shady spot to view your dogs from previous models. The larger screen and more memory is great.

Pros

More features, larger screen, and memory.

Cons

None yet

By Tim

South Carolina

Stepped up to Alpha 200

September 8, 2021

Am transitioning from the Alpha 100 to the Alpha 200. Love the larger screen and clarity. Taking some time to get familiar with the key setup. I just wish the manuals were not written by extraterrestrials, but by gun dog owners and trainers; so that my learning curve was quicker.

Pros

Larger screen and characters. Easier to read without glasses.
Much better clarity.
Selective options.

Cons

Heavier and bulkier than Alpha 100.
Manual slows down learning and is frustrating.

By Tom H.

Oklahoma

Garmin Alpha 200i

June 28, 2021

I ordered this unit from Gun Dog Supply. I received it quickly but the top left button on the front didn't work. I called them and they sent me another unit that day. I haven't had time to completely check this one out but it seems to be fine. Really great service from Gun Dog!

Pros

Really good upgrades.

Cons

First unit was defective

By Worker 6.

Crooksville ohio

Awesome product

January 7, 2021

I ordered the 200 I around Christmas and even with the holiday I still received it in a timely manner it was shipped the next day very pleased with the service from gun dog supply I have two alpha 100s and wanted to up grade we run hounds for coyote and tracking is very important they are very good instruments and we depend on them on every hunt the alpha 200I is definitely a worthwhile update the bigger screen is awesome for us older folks and the ability to group packs of dogs separately is a great feature so far I love it and would recommend it to anyone handling dogs if you're looking for a good tracker this is the one and I would recommend that you look to Gun dog supply for your purchase I'm sure you will be very pleased with their service
Chuck

Pros

Dog groupings
Bigger screen
Easy to navigate
Contacts in with dogs
Ability to customize the Home Screen

Cons

As of now I have nothing negative about this unit

By David S.

Lugoff, South Carolina

Alpha 200i

January 7, 2021

I have been using the Alpha 100 for several years and really loved it. I recently bought the 200 and am still trying to get used to the differences. Overall, I love the 200! It is somewhat time consuming to get used to the different operating system, but I believe it will be well worth it. I love the slimmer, more streamline, look and feel of the 200 compared to the 100.

At this point I only have one issue and I am sure it's just an issue I have not figured out yet; however, when adding dogs, other than mine, I am having a lot of interference issues even when grouping them differently. I have yet to figure out how to add dogs in each individual group. As of now, I have only recognized one way to add dogs and then group them. This is where the interference is coming into play. If there is a way to add dogs specifically to each individual group my problem would be solved. However, I have not figured that out yet.

Overall, this seems to be a great product!

By Bob M.

Hells Canyon, Idaho

Second Try Works

November 12, 2020

The first unit I received was defective: the compass would not calibrate properly and the pointer sometimes literally spun in circles on the screen when I tried to find my pointing dog. Worse than useless. I spent hours testing and recalibrating the compass, calling Garmin's tech support (basically useless), and finally reached out to Gun Dog Supply for help. GDS is awesome and their staff know more about Garmin products relating to dogs than Garmin. They suggested some things to try that Garmin didn't, and when I got back to them that their suggestions didn't work and that I thought the unit was defective, they sent me a replacement. I'm happy to report that the replacement Alpha 200i works as it should (I've now used it on two chukar hunts in extreme terrain and the compass works as well or better than my trusty old Alpha 100).

Pros

Includes Garmin's inReach
Has more features and tracking doodads than the Alpha 100
Bigger, brighter screen than the Alpha 100
Can track other handhelds easily on the compass

Cons

Tiny bit heavier than the Alpha 100
First unit was defective but took a lot of time to verify that
Garmin's tech support and software continue to be very subpar

By Robert

Los Angeles, California

No OnX Hunt chip compatability.

November 9, 2020

Sold the unit to my friend at a discount instead of returning to Gun Dog Supply. Garmin took a big step backwards by not including compatability for the OnX Hunt chip. I upgraded from the Alpha 100 and expected the same OnX experience. I was disappointed. Most Garmin units recognize the chip, not the Alpha 200i. I expected the latest and greatest from Garmin to do the same as their previous units.

Pros

Great screen, excellent interface, very easy to operate the controls.

Cons

As stated above.

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Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X GPS Dog Tracking E-Collar Combo Order by 12/31/2024 and get 2 months FREE inReach service when you activate an inReach subscription!

Usually ships the next business day.Need it to ship before Christmas?To give our staff time to visit family and friends this holiday season, orders placed after 3 pm CT on December 23rd will begin shipping on January 2nd.

What's New in the Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo

Hunt More Productively, Efficiently, and Safely:

Know Where Your Dog Is, Where He's Heading, and What He's Doing:

Training with the Alpha 200i:

You get 30 days to train your dog RISK-FREE! Learn more here -- Steve.

Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo Transmitter (Remote)

Handheld GPS Features

Dog Tracking Features

Remote Training Collar Features

Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo Collar

Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo Comes With

Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo Features

Interactive SOS and Two-Way Messaging

Download Detailed GPS Dog Trail Info

Avoid Getting Lost with Hunter-Friendly Icons

Keep Up with Birds Using the Covey Counter

Additional Uses

Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo Batteries

Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo Range

Garmin Alpha GPS Maps

Optional InReach Satellite Subscriptions

Annual 12-month Contracts

Freedom Plans

You get 30 days to train your dog RISK-FREE! Learn more here -- Steve.

Steve Says: Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo

Garmin "X" Series Collars

The "X" collars have the same physical design as Garmin's regular size collars, but with several upgraded features:

Extended Battery Life

The biggest improvement on these collars is longer battery life.

There are few things more useless than a tracking collar with a dead battery.

Updating Your Collars with Garmin Express

With the "X" collars, you can now update both your collars and your handheld with Garmin Express.

Sleep Mode

The "X" collars have a Sleep Mode option just like the Garmin MINI collars.

"About" Screen

The "X" collars give you the ability to view your collar software data on your Alpha 200i or Alpha 200 handheld.

I'm extremely pleased with these new collars.

We always want more range, longer battery life, and more durability from our tracking collars.

Transcript from Steve's Video

Garmin ALPHA 200i Handheld

The NEW Garmin Alpha 200i takes everything we love about the Alpha 100 and squeezes it into a sleeker package with even more features.

Now after all these years, Garmin gives us their second-generation Alpha handheld: the 200i.

Some other cool new features of the Alpha 200i include:

Accessories for your Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X Combo

Customer Reviews

Garmin ALPHA 200i + TT15X GPS Dog Tracking E-Collar Combo
Order by 12/31/2024 and get 2 months FREE inReach service when you activate an inReach subscription!

Usually ships the next business day.

Need it to ship before Christmas?

To give our staff time to visit family and friends this holiday season, orders placed after 3 pm CT on December 23rd will begin shipping on January 2nd.

You get 30 days to train your dog RISK-FREE!
Learn more here -- Steve.

You get 30 days to train your dog RISK-FREE!
Learn more here -- Steve.