I used to use a Dogtra 2002 T&B. I had it for nearly 18ish years. One of the collars died and the remaining one has been glitchy. I have been wanting to go to a new system with the addition of another GSP. The Pathfinder2 fits the bill perfectly. It was beneficial to me that you are also an Upland hunter. Your review and insights helped me come to my decision of purchasing the Pathfinder2. Thanks Hank
Thank you for the video. Learned a couple new things about the collar. Bought one last fall for my GWP pup. Made it through hunting season but the GPS for tracking the dog starting acting up in April. Dogtra customer service was great, had it back in ten days and working fine since. As far as it showing you dog is barking, is it doing it in upland mode? Asking because mine is in upland mode and when the pup had her first encounter with cattle there was some barking but the collar never reported it.
Yes it was doing that in Upland mode but maybe I need a closer look. I think Dogtra service is pretty good from what I've heard. I haven't had any trouble yet just those few wish list items and speed thing. Wondering if you notice the speed calculation errors?
Yes, I have seen the speed thing. Never had a dog that fast. Haven’t downloaded it to see if it changes I’ve also had the tracking on my location go wild. It showed I walked in a perfectly straight line for 300 yds, stopped then went 200 in another straight line. Didn’t bother me until it started on the dogs signal.
Great review! Honest feedback that doesn’t feel like an infomercial. I use a Dogtra T&B and OnX for my tracking/scouting/waypoints. Wanting a gps on dog to get point signals and dog data to nerd out post hunt. A big draw to Dogtra system is fact I could keep my Apple Watch and not have to buy a new watch just for hunting. I heard you mention you used OnX as well. Questions: Can the Pathfinder 2 and OnX apps be running at the same time, or does one cancel other out? If you have experience running both at same time, does it drain battery significantly faster on longer hunts? Does Pathfinder app have satellite map views of actual terrain even in places with no cell service (like OnX)?
Thanks the feedback! The answer to your questions is yes to all. I almost always run PF2 and OnX at the same time. It's possible to download offline maps with PF2 ahead of time similar to OnX. To be honest I don't do this and when out of cell range it doesn't really matter to me. GPS position and generic map is just fine. Can't say I've ever wished I downloadedwd them. However I do download OnX maps almost always. I run Android and Samsung Watch 5 pro which works really nice. On iOS the caveat is you can't turn off the screen otherwise you might loose Bluetooth connection, the work around that some people do is run screen brightness very low to leave on all the time. Androidd allows apps to run in the background when screen off. It's trickier with Apple but works. It might even be worth getting a cheap Android phone just for controller. I don't notice battery life suffering running PF2 and OnX at all. I always record track with OnX and PF2 at the same time, no troubles. It's really a nice system and price point. Hope this helps ans thanks for watching!
Thanks for taking time to give detailed response! Appreciate knowing of screen on all time and tip of screen brightness to save battery. I’d think one would be able to click a setting or something for background refresh, but I’ll play around with it when I get one. Or just buy a super light USB battery to keep in vest. Maybe simplest solution is best. lol Will use your code when purchasing and subscribed to channel.
This is such a thoroughly informative and helpful review. Definitely making me strongly consider this collar/tracker. Does Dogtra have any other remotes that are compatible with the e collar portion?
Thank you I appreciate that. It's a very good system with a few faults. Unfortunately no other handhelds work with this collar and it E collar functions. The remote and app are really not nearly the "problem" you may perceive them to be. I had the exact same thoughts.
I just picked this up and am excited to use it this season with my shorthairs. We love the efence boundary function for on our property right now. When hunting and using the app in the watch, does it show dog status, direction, and distance? A lot of the views I have seen just show direction and distance. My watch is coming in the next week or 2 and I was just curious.
Yes there is a screen on the app like that. Has a small arrow directional, dog status, total distance traveled and distance to dog. It's a bit smaller view to fit all that in but it's there.
Any chance you can pair this collar with the Dogtra T&B dual transmitter (or similar)? This would be perfect if able to use physical buttons designated Nick/vibrate/locate, but also have the GPS available on phone if-when needed.
No it's not possible to do this. The radio signal technology is different. You could just get the mini version tracking only and just wear 2 collars. But I just don't find myself changing modes much, or ever while we hunt. Typically if I have too, say he's 500 yards out in the woods, I will change to stim if he won't recall on tone, those situations there is more time.
Thanks for informative video. Can I lay a track and record it, and then see how the dog is performing over the same track a few hours later? More for tracking than birds.
It will record the dogs track, I'm not sure if you can overlay 1 track with another to compare in the Dogtra app, but you can export the track outside the phone app and load into any GPS software and compare that way.
yea thanks. Perhaps not clear - I need to save a track and then have that on the map when working the dog. So seeing how the dog performs relative to an earlier saved laid or test track@@UnderFortyYards
I bet the app speed calculation is using the wrong time (handheld vs. collar) or it doesn't correct properly for the 2 or 3 sec sampling rate. Definitely seems like something they could update via app or firmware update
That seems like a possibility. The sampling rate seems to be a factor however I haven't adjusted it to see if the speed results differ, I should try that. At any rate seems simple on the surface. Overall a great system.
@@UnderFortyYards Thanks again for your comprehensive review. I think this system sounds like exactly what I need for my lab. She's not really a hunter yet, but I'm interested in getting her out in the field on some birds and I'd rather not lose her to chasing a deer.
@@guitfiddle You're very welcome, thanks for interacting with the ideas. There's little to loose with the collar, although $400 isn't cheap it is compared to that "other" brand!
I don't have any experience with the E-fence except for creating a test one which seemed to work. Dogtra does promote this feature quite a bit so I believe it works well. I haven't had anyone tell me that feature doesn't work well.
Thank you. I have been waiting for this video to make my decision.
Thanks for watching, I'm glad it helped. It's a solid choice.
I used to use a Dogtra 2002 T&B. I had it for nearly 18ish years. One of the collars died and the remaining one has been glitchy. I have been wanting to go to a new system with the addition of another GSP. The Pathfinder2 fits the bill perfectly. It was beneficial to me that you are also an Upland hunter. Your review and insights helped me come to my decision of purchasing the Pathfinder2. Thanks Hank
Thanks Hank, I think you'll like the collar. It's been a solid system for me.
Nice reviews with a follow up. Very helpful 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful video. Thanks 👍
Thank you for the video. Learned a couple new things about the collar. Bought one last fall for my GWP pup. Made it through hunting season but the GPS for tracking the dog starting acting up in April. Dogtra customer service was great, had it back in ten days and working fine since. As far as it showing you dog is barking, is it doing it in upland mode? Asking because mine is in upland mode and when the pup had her first encounter with cattle there was some barking but the collar never reported it.
Yes it was doing that in Upland mode but maybe I need a closer look. I think Dogtra service is pretty good from what I've heard. I haven't had any trouble yet just those few wish list items and speed thing. Wondering if you notice the speed calculation errors?
Yes, I have seen the speed thing. Never had a dog that fast. Haven’t downloaded it to see if it changes I’ve also had the tracking on my location go wild. It showed I walked in a perfectly straight line for 300 yds, stopped then went 200 in another straight line. Didn’t bother me until it started on the dogs signal.
@@tacticalnimrod9825 it looks like your were right about upland mode. I had mine in custom because I don't like the running notification. Nice tip!
Great review! Honest feedback that doesn’t feel like an infomercial.
I use a Dogtra T&B and OnX for my tracking/scouting/waypoints.
Wanting a gps on dog to get point signals and dog data to nerd out post hunt. A big draw to Dogtra system is fact I could keep my Apple Watch and not have to buy a new watch just for hunting.
I heard you mention you used OnX as well.
Questions:
Can the Pathfinder 2 and OnX apps be running at the same time, or does one cancel other out?
If you have experience running both at same time, does it drain battery significantly faster on longer hunts?
Does Pathfinder app have satellite map views of actual terrain even in places with no cell service (like OnX)?
Thanks the feedback! The answer to your questions is yes to all. I almost always run PF2 and OnX at the same time.
It's possible to download offline maps with PF2 ahead of time similar to OnX. To be honest I don't do this and when out of cell range it doesn't really matter to me. GPS position and generic map is just fine. Can't say I've ever wished I downloadedwd them. However I do download OnX maps almost always.
I run Android and Samsung Watch 5 pro which works really nice. On iOS the caveat is you can't turn off the screen otherwise you might loose Bluetooth connection, the work around that some people do is run screen brightness very low to leave on all the time. Androidd allows apps to run in the background when screen off. It's trickier with Apple but works. It might even be worth getting a cheap Android phone just for controller. I don't notice battery life suffering running PF2 and OnX at all. I always record track with OnX and PF2 at the same time, no troubles. It's really a nice system and price point. Hope this helps ans thanks for watching!
Thanks for taking time to give detailed response! Appreciate knowing of screen on all time and tip of screen brightness to save battery. I’d think one would be able to click a setting or something for background refresh, but I’ll play around with it when I get one. Or just buy a super light USB battery to keep in vest. Maybe simplest solution is best. lol
Will use your code when purchasing and subscribed to channel.
@@jmgeist Thanks man, I appreciate the code usage! It helps out the channel.
This is such a thoroughly informative and helpful review. Definitely making me strongly consider this collar/tracker.
Does Dogtra have any other remotes that are compatible with the e collar portion?
Thank you I appreciate that. It's a very good system with a few faults. Unfortunately no other handhelds work with this collar and it E collar functions. The remote and app are really not nearly the "problem" you may perceive them to be. I had the exact same thoughts.
I just picked this up and am excited to use it this season with my shorthairs. We love the efence boundary function for on our property right now. When hunting and using the app in the watch, does it show dog status, direction, and distance? A lot of the views I have seen just show direction and distance. My watch is coming in the next week or 2 and I was just curious.
Yes there is a screen on the app like that. Has a small arrow directional, dog status, total distance traveled and distance to dog. It's a bit smaller view to fit all that in but it's there.
@@UnderFortyYards Awesome. I cant wait to get out with my dogs this year!
Any chance you can pair this collar with the Dogtra T&B dual transmitter (or similar)? This would be perfect if able to use physical buttons designated Nick/vibrate/locate, but also have the GPS available on phone if-when needed.
No it's not possible to do this. The radio signal technology is different. You could just get the mini version tracking only and just wear 2 collars. But I just don't find myself changing modes much, or ever while we hunt. Typically if I have too, say he's 500 yards out in the woods, I will change to stim if he won't recall on tone, those situations there is more time.
good review. well done
Thanks for watching
Thanks for informative video. Can I lay a track and record it, and then see how the dog is performing over the same track a few hours later? More for tracking than birds.
It will record the dogs track, I'm not sure if you can overlay 1 track with another to compare in the Dogtra app, but you can export the track outside the phone app and load into any GPS software and compare that way.
I need to be able to see the turns and backtracks as I cannot recall them all unless I mark them physically@@UnderFortyYards
@@african7498 You can play the track back in the app, I do this frequently. It will play in real time or you can speed up to 8x.
yea thanks. Perhaps not clear - I need to save a track and then have that on the map when working the dog. So seeing how the dog performs relative to an earlier saved laid or test track@@UnderFortyYards
I’m sold!
I hope it works well for you, thanks for the comment!
I bet the app speed calculation is using the wrong time (handheld vs. collar) or it doesn't correct properly for the 2 or 3 sec sampling rate. Definitely seems like something they could update via app or firmware update
That seems like a possibility. The sampling rate seems to be a factor however I haven't adjusted it to see if the speed results differ, I should try that. At any rate seems simple on the surface. Overall a great system.
@@UnderFortyYards Thanks again for your comprehensive review. I think this system sounds like exactly what I need for my lab. She's not really a hunter yet, but I'm interested in getting her out in the field on some birds and I'd rather not lose her to chasing a deer.
@@guitfiddle You're very welcome, thanks for interacting with the ideas. There's little to loose with the collar, although $400 isn't cheap it is compared to that "other" brand!
Just orderd one with your code
Thank you, much appreciated! I think you'll like the collar.
Do you have Year 3 update?
Still going strong, same unit. Only change I've made is using the Samsung Watch 5 Pro now for improved battery life and larger screen.
I want to use this collar as an E Fence on our property. How does it function as an E Fence. Thanks.
I don't have any experience with the E-fence except for creating a test one which seemed to work. Dogtra does promote this feature quite a bit so I believe it works well. I haven't had anyone tell me that feature doesn't work well.
Do you have to have cell reception for this to operate where i hunt cell reception is garbage
No cell reception required. Most places I hunt also doesn't have reception.
Geofence sold me
I've only played with the geo fence. I'd be curious to know how it works for you?
how quickly the dog's location data is updated?
It can be set to 2 seconds
My Garmin collars and or handheld took a sh!t after one year of everyday use.
That's not good performance, I don't use this one everyday but it's been a solid system.
Code does not work
UFY5 on Dogtra.com only $200 and over.