Garmin's New Alpha LTE Dog Tracking Collar

Satellites have been tracking sporting dogs for years, but Garmin is upping the game by adding LTE technology.

July 01, 2024 By Gun Dog Staff

Today, Garmin announced the Alpha LTE in the United States, which you can read about here. Since this is a new device for Garmin, we talked with Sean Hayes, Garmin dog product manager, to discuss the functionality and just why you may need this device.

Hayes has been with Garmin for 12 years but started his career nearly 25 years ago with Tri-Tronics (which was acquired by Garmin in 2011), so he knows dog technology.

Sean, thanks for joining us today and congrats on the product launch. To start things off, the new Alpha unit has a new acronym behind it – “LTE.” Many of our readers are familiar with GPS dog tracking, but can you explain what LTE dog tracking is?

alpha-lte-phone — The Alpha LTE uses cell phone signal to find your dog's location. (Photo courtesy of Garmin)

Sure thing. LTE uses cellular transmission towers to communicate with a device. This is like the technology being used on your cellphone.

The difference between LTE and GPS is that LTE is terrestrial-based and uses cell towers to communicate to other towers, creating a “blanket” of coverage, or a “cellular network.”

GPS on the other hand, uses satellites in space to help devices on the ground know where they are at on the earth. A GPS receiver on earth receives GPS signals that it uses to calculate its position.

Alpha LTE combines the two technologies to help people know where their dog is at.

Can you walk us through the product development for the Alpha LTE?

This product originated with our team in EMEA. The style of gun dog in Europe can be very different from the United States. There, gun dogs are often used for big game, so you may have 10 hunters depending on one dog for hunt information. Traditionally, hunters there would have individual handhelds, tracking one dog, to provide vital hunt information. Since LTE coverage is strong in Europe, we wanted to provide an LTE solution to fit their style of hunting.

What is special about LTE tracking when you have GPS tracking? Shouldn’t GPS tracking work everywhere?

alpha-lte-gps-transmitter — If VHF isn’t working, but LTE service is available, Alpha LTE picks up tracking your dog, displaying it on the transmitter. (Photo courtesy of Garmin)

That’s a great question. As we looked to the US, we saw perfect use cases for LTE, and it’s helpful to understand how Garmin dog tracking products work to understand why LTE is important.

Garmin dog tracking products like the Alpha 300i and Garmin TT 25 use what’s known as multi-GNSS tracking, meaning it is using multiple satellite networks, so it has incredibly robust location tracking and coverage. That location is then sent to the Garmin handheld via a VHF (radio) transmission, which displays the dog’s location on the handheld.

There are times, due to difficult terrain or other external factors, when the VHF link can be severed. When that happens, the GPS location is unable to be transmitted to the handheld.

This is where LTE steps in and becomes so valuable. It offers an additional tracking system. If VHF isn’t working, but LTE service is available, Alpha LTE picks up tracking your dog, displaying it on the handheld.

Since there are effectively two methods of location tracking (GPS+VHF and LTE), the handheld automatically displays the best location available without the user ever knowing.

It’s a “belt and suspenders” approach to dog tracking for customers who track dogs in difficult terrain. For anyone who has ever had the “?” show up on their handheld due to VHF drop, it is a critical new development.

It is important to note, though, that the Garmin handheld and dog device are continually searching for one another using VHF. For readers who have this happen and don’t have Alpha LTE, it’s beneficial to get to a high point so the dog device and handheld have an easier time reestablishing a connection.

Got it. “Belt and suspenders” is great, but is LTE something that is robust enough to be used as a standalone device for dog tracking?

Absolutely. Since Alpha LTE is an autonomous device and offers redundancy for location, communication, and battery, it can also be used as a completely stand-alone tracking device. Users can pair it directly to the Alpha app and track dogs directly from their cell phone, making it perfect for a grab and go unit when a full VHF tracking systems is not needed (around town, going for a run, hiking, going to cabin, etc.) While you won’t have training, you will be able to track your dog directly from your phone when in cellular coverage.

Additionally, at $299.99 (plus annual LTE subscription) the Alpha LTE device is one of the more cost-effective sporting dog tracking units available. Since it carries the Garmin name, you know you’re getting a product you can depend on.

What’s even more interesting is there is no range limit for LTE tracking so your dog can be in Georgia and you can be in Arizona and so long as the Alpha LTE dog device is in cellular range, you will know where your dog is.

Can you give us a few examples of who the Garmin Alpha LTE might be for?

lte-dog-tracking — The Garmin Alpha LTE offers a tracking system for a range of different hunting disciplines. (Photo courtesy of Garmin)

Alpha LTE is such a versatile unit it is really for anyone who wants standalone LTE tracking or wants the most robust dog tracking Garmin provides.

A few real-life examples of who might use Alpha LTE as either a standalone LTE tracking device or redundant tracking include:

Upland hunters currently using a compatible Garmin dog tracking system who want enhanced tracking
Houndsmen who find themselves in difficult terrain, which can often be the case
Individuals who haven’t made the leap to traditional GPS systems, who are using a traditional e-collar and want a cost effective, easy way to track their dogs
Retriever folks who have thought about GPS, but don’t want a bulky unit
Anyone using an e-collar with a 1” collar— regardless of the e-collar brand—can slip Alpha LTE on their existing collar, pair it to the Garmin Alpha app, and they now have dog tracking
People who just like camping/hiking/being outdoors with their dog and want an easy-to-use tracking device

With various LTE tracking products on the market, how is the Alpha LTE different?

Other LTE systems can have lower track rates, so you may get location updates infrequently. For non-sporting tracking, that may be alright, but sporting dog owners need a faster update rate. Alpha LTE uses the same dynamic update system as T 20/TT 25 to keep a close eye on your dog. The benefit to that is your track line is robust and has high fidelity. Alpha LTE is also the only LTE tracker designed to work with Garmin dog tracking systems, including displaying LTE location information on compatible handhelds.

What else should we know about the Alpha LTE?

In addition to all day dog tracking, Alpha LTE also has LED location beacons built in for dog safety. These can help you see your dog as well as help keep your dog safe by making them more visible on roads.

What does the future hold for dog tracking products?

While we can’t comment on the future roadmap, we are continually working to improve dog tracking so you can spend less time looking for your dog and more time enjoying the outdoors with your dog.