Garmin Introduces Alpha 200i: Next-Generation Tracking and Training for Sporting Dog Enthusiasts
First sporting dog system to incorporate inReachsatellite technology
OLATHE, Kan./October 6, 2020 – Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced Alpha 200i, the newest generation tracking and training system for hunters and their canine companions. Building on the legacy of its predecessor, the Alpha® 100, the new 200i features enhanced mapping capabilities; a larger, 3.5” sunlight-readable touchscreen display; six-button, easy operation of the dog tracking-focused user experience; and inReach® satellite technology1, allowing for two-way messaging and interactive SOS alerts so users can focus on their dogs and the hunt.
“Eight years ago, the Alpha 100 transformed how outdoor enthusiasts track and train their sporting dogs. When designing the Alpha 200i, we asked customers what they wanted in a new Alpha system. Today the Alpha 200i, with its host of new features, brings dog tracking and training capabilities to a never-before-seen level,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “Safety for hunters and their dogs has always been paramount with Garmin’s track and train systems. Now, with the addition of inReach technology to the Alpha 200i, customers can stay connected through SMS and live tracking with family and friends whether their hunt takes them to the next county or another country.”
Building on the proven track and train capabilities of the Alpha 100, the Alpha 200i now has a larger, 3.5”, sunlight-readable capacitive touchscreen display for increased visibility in all conditions. The touchscreen also allows individuals to configure their setup to specific hunt application needs while displaying only the relevant information necessary to accomplish a task. Alpha 200i users can easily customize tracking and/or training functions through the handheld’s button operation, which allows for fast dog training cues and minor adjustments. Using the new “quick key” functionality on the handheld, individuals can easily and quickly access the most important field applications based on their hunting preferences, including dog list/group management, TopoActive terrain maps to determine best hunt routes, dog training and tracking data to help keep dogs safe and moving in the right direction, or important waypoint locations for efficient and effective in-field time management.
Using multi-GNSS support and enhanced mapping systems, the Alpha 200i gives users the ability to always know exactly where the hunt takes them. The multi-GNSS satellite network on the Alpha 200i uses more satellites than traditional GPS alone for better tracking in challenging environments. The Alpha 200i also comes preloaded with Garmin TopoActive mapping and direct-to-device BirdsEye Satellite Imagery. Users can connect the Alpha 200i to a Wi-Fi® network and download BirdsEye Satellite Imagery directly to their device for a detailed landscape view of a region or use a compatible Garmin HuntView card (sold separately in U.S. or France markets) for a more detailed landscape overview.
Whether hunting in the backwoods or on the back 40, users will feel confident knowing Alpha 200i gives a new level of peace of mind and global communication coverage through inReach satellite technology. With the 100 percent global Iridium® satellite network, users can send and receive messages, navigate their route, track and share their hunt, and if necessary, trigger an SOS to get help from a 24/7 global emergency response coordination center – directly from the Alpha 200i handheld or from a compatible device (active satellite subscription required).
For increased connectivity, users can connect wirelessly to the Garmin Explore™ app on their mobile device for additional texting and mapping needs. When paired with a compatible Garmin device, the Garmin Explore app shows real time dog tracking information, allows users to save collections of dog tracks and replay these tracks to review details of their hunt. Additionally, individuals can use the Garmin Explore website and app to help manage tracks, routes and waypoints, and review statistics.
Using either traditional compass mapping or the new Pro View feature, users can locate their dogs at a glance. The system provides location updates every 2.5 seconds for up to 20 active dogs, so whether a dog is working in heavy cover or at a distance, a glance at the handheld gives individuals the ability to help pinpoint their dog’s location in near real time. The Alpha 200i can store and share more than 20 dogs in an inactive state, so users who rotate different dogs or hunt with different dog groups no longer need to add or remove dogs in the system prior to a hunt. When an individual dog or group of dogs is not in use, simply make the collar ID or group “inactive” to take it offline.
The Alpha 200i is compatible within the Garmin ecosystem, so users can track their pack from the road, their wrist and other ways thanks to the wireless connectivity with products such as Garmin DriveTrack™ 71 GPS navigator, rugged fe?nix®, tactix® and Instinct® smartwatches, and other compatible devices.
Using TT 15 dog devices, training modes include 18 levels of continuous and momentary stimulation, plus audible tone and vibration activated from the handheld. Effective range for tracking and training is over 9 miles (depending on terrain) and battery life for the Alpha 200i handheld is approximately up to 20 hours or up to 15 hours with inReach technology enabled.
The Alpha 200i comes bundled with a TT 15 or T 5 dog device and is available now for a suggested retail price of $999.99. Current customers with compatible TT 15 or T 5 series collars can purchase the Alpha 200i handheld separately for a suggested retail price of $749.99. The Alpha 200i handheld is water-rated to IPX72.
Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionized life for adventurers, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. Committed to developing products that enhance experiences and enrich lives, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garminnews, instagram.com/garminoutdoor or youtube.com/garmin.
1Active satellite subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.
2See Garmin.com/waterrating for more details.
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About Garmin International, Inc. Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, Alpha, inReach, fe?nix, tactix and Instinct are registered trademarks, and DriveTrack and Garmin Explore are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
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This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
