EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

First thing is I upgraded my handheld and 5 collars. No change that I could tell. Still losing signal at about .60 miles. Is this what I should expect for range? Second thing is I mounted a longer antenna on my four wheeler and it don't pick up any better than my regular long range antenna from garmin. I get about 1.7 miles. Does antenna need to be tuned to certain mhz and if so how do I do this?
Thanks

I hunt in think bottoms of East Texas and mine range 1.5 often and I don't have any issues and I don't have an antenna. 

Antenna needs to be tuned to 152.5 mhz for best overall signal.   If I recall, the Garmin runs between 151-154 mhz, if your collars are running in the higher freq, then you can get by with tuning closer to 154.   Best way to have the antenna tuned is to carry it to a two way radio shop.

My external antenna is a 3db gain, tuned to 152.5mz. I have had signal as far as 7 miles, but still drop them occasionally in the woods when the dogs are in deep cover or crossing creeks.   Typically my dogs are within a couple miles and I can pretty well maintain connectivity with them.

outside of tuning... atmosphere, line of sight, and elevation are your biggest influences on range.  In theory you and your dogs could be on separate peaks in the high desert and get say, 10 miles, whereas you take the same system to the hill country, and you are both in canyons with on hill between you and you might only get 800 yards.   I think some of the hunters in wide open country are able to report much better ranges than the guys in the thickets and hills.

I was parked in my yard the other night and my uncle was hunting and I had him picked up at 13 miles at full signal with the Circle C style antenna. I live on a high hill though. That was with my brothers gps, mine it doesn't matter if I have the regular antenna, long range or any antenna at all I loose my dogs at 600 yards... Agrivating as heck!!

I have a garmin with 2 collars (dc30s), about a year old and 1 collar is better than the other.  At best, with best collar in thickets of east texas i get about .6ish miles(just like hillbilly mentions) and then lose her, which is very interesting that it's at about the same distance.  The other night the best i could get was .64 and it would drop out.  We were in some thick stuff and was also pretty hilly country.  On my not-so-great collar, i can lose it at 5-600yds or so like Caddo co. said his does.  Now i don't have any extra antennas, just the regular unit, but i'm thinking about trying the long range antenna to help me stay with my longer range dog/s.  One good thing is that most the time my second dog is going to be with my main strike if out very far, otherwise hunts within the 5-600 range when not with her.  But it is frustrating that it's not as good as the other, and that neither get any farther than the .6 mile range. 

Maver!ck

I cheated and went to radio shack and got the right connections and then got a retractable antenna and it works like a charm it is not tuned exactly right but it works well. Got into some canyons south of mason and lost signal hooked it up and picked right back up.  Didn't cost but about 30 bucks and is stouter than what u can get from garmin   

I have asked around and I can't find anybody that knows how to tune an antenna. The guy at radio shack looked at me like I was stupid or something. Called a guy that use to do cb's back when we run deer hounds and he couldn't help me out. So I guess can someone tell me how to tune my antenna so I can do it myself.
As far as my unit goes should I consider .6 miles good in hills and thickets or should I do the upgrade again. Cause some other people around me are getting better range.

The guy said 4 foot was tuned just about right but the gain is where it takes know how

Here is a chart http://www.crsaccessories.com.au/cms/File/CRS%20Antenna%20Tuning%20Chart.pdf

If I reading the chart right to get 150 mhz the antenna needs to be 142 mm or 5.59 inches? If this is true how can a longer antenna help you out. Or how can I get a 4 foot antenna between 150 and 155 mhz?

i ust sent my stinkin garmin back to garmin i would lose signal about 160yd and would not pick them up. will let yall know when i get it back.

 It is all to do with  S W R guys.
 
 Bill

Thats what i was thinkin, i used to have a meter, but aint seen it in years.

What is S W R maybe I'm missing something

Do you know what the SWRs need to be at?