Garmin Astro DC320 Dog Tracking System
How the Garmin
Astro System Works
The Garmin Astro is dramatically different than any other dog tracking system
available anywhere in the world! Other tracking systems tell you what direction
to head to find your dog – the Astro easily does that and offers so much
more!
When running your dogs, you will use two primary views on the Astro handheld
- the first being the “COMPASS” screen. This is essentially an electronic
compass that will show the location of one or two dogs, utilizing two different
color arrows. When you hold the handheld level the compass will show true north,
and the arrows will point in the actual direction where your dog is currently
located. The map screen also provides you additional essential information – the
actual distance to your dog from where you are standing and if your dog is
stationary or moving! With this screen, with just a glance you can tell how far
your dog is, the direction, and if it’s moving or stationary.
The “MAP” screen is what really sets the Astro apart! On this screen you can
see you and your dogs current locations – realtime. These locations are
continuously updated so as your dog move you can see in which direction they are
heading. A great feature of the map screen is you can “MARK” your vehicle on the
map screen as well, so if you end up deep in an unknown swamp at midnight
recovering your dogs, you can instantly determine the way back to your truck!
The map screen come pre-loaded with the Garmin base map, which shows interstate
highways, primary road, large bodies of water (reservoirs, large rivers), cities
and town, and state lines.
It is definitely worth considering upgrading to the Garmin TOPO USA map,
especially is you are using the Astro to track hounds. The TOPO USA map
transforms your map screen and shows the level of detail that you would find on
a paper topographic map! Every road that has a name or number is shown – even if
it’s dirt. The smallest creeks, power lines and pipelines, state and national
forest boundaries, and topographic elevation lines are all shown. This allows
you to quickly see where you and your dogs are located in reference to the roads
and terrain. Finally, your dog leaves a dotted line on the map screen where they
have traveled. This allows you to instantly determine if which direction they
are heading and allow you to reposition yourself in front of the chase! No
longer will you always be behind your dog trying to catch up!
All of the above is just some of the “basic” function that the Astro performs
– it really does so much more. Actually, it is a fully function personal GPS has
well that can be used in the field, without the dog tracking functions, to allow
you to locate a tree stand in the dark or navigate an unfamiliar mountainside on
foot whether bird or big game hunting. Also, you can use it in your vehicle and
it provides turn-by-turn directions to any town in north America.
