Thread: Question for Garmin tracking gurus

Looking at a secondhand Garmin Alpha 10 handset.
Are these country coded? Seller doesn't know... box lists 5 frequencies in the 160mHz range?
What do I need to know? Potentially pairing with T5 collar?
Cheers!

both the collar and the handset must be compatible and use NZ approved bands.

If you were to get a set from say the US then as long as they were a matched pair all is good except they most likely will not operate on a NZ legal frequency so if you get caught you may end up with the gear confiscated and /or a fine.
Garmin seem to indicate imported devices will automatically be disabled if use outside their intended market and those with earlier versions of firmware will also be when firmware update are uploaded to them.
https://www.garmin.com/en-NZ/legal/astro-legal/

Personally I would suggest a new collar and handset. Garmin support is awesome and usually longer than the warrenty they will look after you.
I just had a pile of bits that was a 10 year old T5 collar replaced for a fixed price of $165 delivered and it was just old and falling apart not a warrenty and not a Garmin fault just old age

How strict are they on the enforcing the illegal frequency models now?
There was a lot of talk about it years ago but haven't heard much lately.

Originally Posted by Hunty1

Looking at a secondhand Garmin Alpha 10 handset.
Are these country coded? Seller doesn't know... box lists 5 frequencies in the 160mHz range?
What do I need to know? Potentially pairing with T5 collar?
Cheers!

short answer is 160mhz is legal 151 and 154 illegal

NEW ZEALAND
Garmin Part Number

010-00976-01 Astro® 320
010-01635-53 Astro® 430
010-01635-52 Astro® 430/T5 Bundle
010-02290-53 Alpha® 10
010-01041-56 Alpha® 100
010-02230-53 Alpha® 200i
010-02230-03 Alpha® 200i/TT™ 15 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02230-13 Alpha® 200i/TT™ 15 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02230-23 Alpha® 200i/T 5 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02230-33 Alpha® 200i/T 5 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02807-53 Alpha® 300
010-02447-03 Alpha® T 20
010-02447-23 Alpha® TT 25
010-01041-73 T 5 Dog Device
National Regulation (Max Allowed Power Output (ERP) and Authorized Antenna:
Please check with local distributor.

Max Power Output 500mW (EIRP)

Authorized Antennas:
010-11828-10 for T5
010-10856-00 for Alpha 100

Frequency: 160.175 MHz, 160.225 MHz, 160.400MHz, 160.450MHz, 160.575MHz

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

How strict are they on the enforcing the illegal frequency models now?
There was a lot of talk about it years ago but haven't heard much lately.

If you get caught you will get fined and gear confiscated. They are getting quite hot on it along with lot of the aliexpress type transmitters for other things.
Not hard to track down with right equipment

Originally Posted by scotty

short answer is 160mhz is legal 151 and 154 illegal

NEW ZEALAND
Garmin Part Number

010-00976-01 Astro® 320
010-01635-53 Astro® 430
010-01635-52 Astro® 430/T5 Bundle
010-02290-53 Alpha® 10
010-01041-56 Alpha® 100
010-02230-53 Alpha® 200i
010-02230-03 Alpha® 200i/TT™ 15 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02230-13 Alpha® 200i/TT™ 15 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02230-23 Alpha® 200i/T 5 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02230-33 Alpha® 200i/T 5 Dog Tracking Bundle
010-02807-53 Alpha® 300
010-02447-03 Alpha® T 20
010-02447-23 Alpha® TT 25
010-01041-73 T 5 Dog Device
National Regulation (Max Allowed Power Output (ERP) and Authorized Antenna:
Please check with local distributor.

Max Power Output 500mW (EIRP)

Authorized Antennas:
010-11828-10 for T5
010-10856-00 for Alpha 100

Frequency: 160.175 MHz, 160.225 MHz, 160.400MHz, 160.450MHz, 160.575MHz

Legend! Exactly what I was after! Forum shines again!

Originally Posted by mikee

If you get caught you will get fined and gear confiscated. They are getting quite hot on it along with lot of the aliexpress type transmitters for other things.
Not hard to track down with right equipment

So are drones etc on a frequency too?
Sorry if it's a dumb question but I I don't understand electronics.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

So are drones etc on a frequency too?
Sorry if it's a dumb question but I I don't understand electronics.

Yes, they use much higher frequencies. Old FPV gear was around 800mhz, but now fpv and flight control freqs are all up around either 2.4Gig 0r 5.8 ish gigahertz. The higher the frequency the more data the transmitter and receiver can use, but penetration through foliage and therefore range reduces compared to the older, lower frequencies they used to use..