SportDog TEK Series: GPS Tracking Collars Made with Precision and Grit
Our furry companions deserve leash-free activities during their lifetimes. They should be allowed to roam freely around the backyard, enjoy walks in the park, or be able to live the day unrestrained. These simple things do wonders for their physical and mental health.
However, they might overdo that freedom and risk getting lost or, worse, being in danger. If you have a dog that keeps running off or a dog with a strong hunting instinct, the anxiety is always there whenever they’re out of your sight. And even if you think you have a well-behaved dog, loud noises or being scared can cause them to take off and be miles away from you.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates a staggering 6.3 million pets go missing in the United States annually. About 3.1 million of that number are dogs. Unfortunately, less than 23% of lost pets reunite with their owners based on the Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families.
With a GPS dog collar, pet owners are at peace knowing that they can always locate their dogs. Compared to ID tags and microchips, GPS collars are the best tracking collars on the market. They are the most reliable hunting dog e-collars used by hunters today.
What is a GPS Dog Collar?
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is a multi-satellite navigation system that determines the location coordinates of virtually anywhere on Earth. GPS works with a receiver and GPS control and monitoring stations.
GPS receivers obtain radio signals from satellites at any given time. A GPS receiver determines its location by calculating the time for a radio signal to reach its location from three or more satellites. Since GPS receivers provide accurate location and time, they make the best tool for tracking purposes.
A GPS dog collar is a remote training collar that utilizes GPS technology. The GPS collar determines a dog’s location and then transmits these location updates to a handheld transmitter.
Generally, a GPS dog collar operates as a tracking collar. However, some GPS collars have e-collar functionalities that permit dog training. So, not only do they allow you to track your dog’s location, but you can also reinforce commands and correct dog misbehavior even from a distance.
What Makes the Best GPS Collar?
Below are the factors to consider when buying a GPS collar for your dog.
- Cost
Remember, your dog’s safety and peace of mind motivate you to buy a GPS collar. Do not be swayed by cheaper collars that cannot offer you the relief and peace you most desire. A good GPS tracking collar with excellent features is always worth the price.
- Dog Breed
Like any other e-collars, different GPS dog collars are recommended for specific dog builds. Good collars are lightweight and with a compact design to fit comfortably on your dog’s neck.
- Range and Accuracy
GPS collars are reliable tracking tools in terms of range and accuracy. But if you want it to cover a wider distance, you can opt for GPS collars with a range as far as 10 miles. Other collars also utilize cutting-edge GPS technology, making tracking more accurate and reliable.
- Durability
Make sure the device can withstand demanding training conditions, especially if you’re using it for sporting or hunting activities. Waterproof GPS collar receivers and transmitters submersible underwater are the best options.
- Battery Life
A GPS dog collar consumes the battery since it regularly transmits location feedback to the handheld device. Look for e collars with good batteries that can last at least 24 hours after a full charge.
- Expandability
If you have two or more dogs, pick a GPS collar unit that allows you to track many dogs through your handheld transmitter’s LCD screen.
In this blog, let’s explore the GPS collars from one of the most prominent brands today - SportDog.
Who is SportDog?
The SportDog brand was created in 2003 and specializes in developing e-collars to cater to the sporting dog market. Their longstanding promise to their clients guides the team behind the brand from the get-go: “Gear The Way You’d Design It.” That pledge serves as their mainspring in designing and testing their products in the field.
They believe there’s no better way of making top-of-the-line ecollar products than practical testing in the field with changing weather and training conditions. This commitment has earned SportDog a name in the dog collar tracking and training categories and, by extension, the hunting collar market.
SportDog GPS Collars
With their broad line of excellent products, SportDog has the best GPS ecollars. Known as the TEK Series, this includes:
- TEK V1.5L
- TEK V1.5LT
- TEK V2L
- TEK V2LT
The SportDog TEK Series offers e-collars with GPS tracking and training versatility for all dog breeds. It also allows you to set multiple waypoints and reveals whether your dog is on point or treed in real-time.
Experience user-defined stimulation control where you can set the type of stimulation for each button on your handheld device. With this latest technology, hunting sessions are made convenient with no fear of not locating your dog even in densely covered or forested areas.
TEK Series 1.5
The SportDog collar TEK Series 1.5 is available in GPS Tracking-Only E-Collar System (V1.5L) and GPS + E-Collar Remote Training E-Collar System (V1.5LT). The main difference between the two is that the V1.5LT has tracking and training capabilities, while the V1.5L has only a tracking function.
The TEK 1.5 Series is compatible with the latest TEK Series 2.0 collar receiver. The TEK Series 1.5 allows you to track up to 12 dogs from up to 7 miles away.
Main Features of the TEK Series 1.5
- GPS collar charges in 4 hours, with a 24-hour battery life
- Handheld device charges in 2 hours, with a 20-hour battery life
Waterproof
- Handheld device (submersible up to 5 feet)
- GPS collar is DryTek® waterproof (submersible up to 25 feet)
1. SportDog TEK Series V1.5L® GPS Tracking E-Collar
2. SportDog TEK Series V1.5LT® GPS Tracking + E-Collar
TEK Series 2.0
With the introduction of TEK Series 2.0, SportDog has once again proven that its GPS collars can still upgrade despite the remarkable features of its TEK Series 1.5. The TEK Series 2.0 is even more advanced and provides the most accurate and reliable GPS tracking/remote training collar yet available in the market. You can train and track as many as 21 dogs within a 10-mile range, best for hunting dogs in any weather or training conditions.
SportDog TEK Series 2.0 is available in GPS Tracking-Only E-Collar System (V2L) and GPS + E-Collar Remote Training E-Collar System (V2LT). The V2LT comes with tracking and training functionalities, while the V2L has a tracking-only capability.
Main Features of the TEK Series 2.0
- GPS Collar charges in 4 hours, with a 24-hour battery life
- Handheld Device charges in 8 hours, with a 12-hour battery life
Waterproof
- Handheld Device (submersible up to 5 feet)
- GPS Collar is DryTek® waterproof (submersible to 25 feet)
Extra Features
- Bluetooth compatible
- 1:100,000 preloaded topographic maps
- Included desktop application for handheld & e collar updates
1. SportDog TEK Series V2L® GPS Tracking E-Collar
The SportDog Brand® TEK Series V2L has advanced tracking features that make tracking more accurate than ever. As to range, accuracy, and reliability, the TEK Series 2.0 Tracking System reigns supreme among GPS e-collars and hunting dog collars in the market. The system is preloaded with 1:100,000 full-color topographic maps to keep you on course while updating your dog’s location.
This SportDog GPS collar has a built-in electronic compass for efficient navigation when locating your dog. The newly added feature, Bluetooth compatibility, gives you more options to receive real-time updates through a Bluetooth-connected earpiece. Track up to 21 dogs within a 10-mile range with their locations easily viewable on your handheld device’s LCD screen. You can also maximize its expandability feature by adding additional collars (TEK-2L) to the system.
However, if you wish to add e-collar functionality to your TEK Series V2L, you must purchase the TEK-2T E-Collar Module.
2. SportDog TEK Series V2LT® GPS Tracking + E-Collar
The SportDog Brand® TEK Series V2LT allows tracking and training in one system possible with accuracy and reliability unmatched. Receive location updates and send stimulation to your dog when the need arises. Track your dog up to 10 miles and train as many as 21 dogs (by adding TEK-2AD collars).
Similar to the TEK Series V2L, this SportDog e-collar includes a built-in electronic compass for easy navigation and a Bluetooth capability for audible real-time updates.
Experience its premium training features and receive location feedback via preloaded, full-color 1:100,000 topographic maps. With this GPS + remote training collar, take total control using 99 continuous, momentary, and rising static stimulation levels. Other training modes are also available in tone and vibration if you don’t prefer static stimulation. Track and train your dog using SportDog’s best GPS collar on the market yet - the TEK Series V2LT.
Be it for hunting dogs or added security for your house pets if they bolt and go missing, SportDog GPS dog collars have it all covered for your peace of mind.
