Garmin Alpha® LTE, Cellular Technology Dog Tracker, See Your Dog’s Movements On Your Compatible Smartphone or Integrate it with Your Garmin Dog Tracking System to Track via VHF…

I’m posting the email I sent to Garmin:

I purchased the Garmin Alpha LTE collar and received it on 11.18.2024.

It was required that I download and install the Garmin App for Android (which I did).

It was also required that I subscribe to the LTE plan (which I did).

I confirmed it is the latest version of the APP and that the collar was updated.

Unfortunately the APP persistently crashes and is unusable. I immediately cancelled the LTE subscription (within an hour) and set up a return of the collar as it is unusable.

However, I do not see a refund on my credit card, nor do I see a receipt for same.
Please advise…

Garmin got right back to me over email and refunded the subscription. I am VERY VERY impressed with their support. A+

That said the APP has like 2 stars on Play Store (which I didn’t realize) so…

Anyway, hope this helps someone 🙂

This device is very helpful to keep track of our dog. It works well in our area that is wooded too.
The app for the phone is easy to follow and use.

Writing this to prevent someone from making the same mistake I did. I own TT25 collars, Alpha 300i, Alpha 10, 550 Pro +, etc. So I’m no stranger to Garmin products. This tracker seems to be Garmin in name only. Even in areas you would think to have good cell tower coverage the tracking is spotty at best. Once in an area without cell coverage of course it’s completely useless. I knew this going in but blindly assumed the tracking would be good in a city at least. Wrong.

That said, even if the tracking was good the app would make that pretty much irrelevant anyway. Garmin software has always been a little behind but the mobile app they require you to use takes that to a whole other level. Even something as simple as turning on the beacon lights takes five or six attempts before the mobile app communicates with the collar. Tracking with the 300i doesn’t seem to be much better.

Battery life seems about as consistent as the wind. Sometimes I’ll leave it charging all night before going out. Remove it from the charger with a “green fully charged LED” glowing only to find out it’s practically dead once I go to use it.

I’ve been back and forth with Garmin customer support regarding these various issues without any real progress. The most info I’ve gotten from them is that they’ve been having trouble with the terribly designed charging cable. Seems like they designed the charger with the intention of you removing the collar band each time you want to charge it. I’ve already had one charger break likely due to the crazy amount of leverage required for it to snap into place properly. I still can’t figure out why they didn’t just duplicate the charger design from the TT25.

Having said all that, every other Garmin product I own is incredible. It just seems they released a beta version of this collar to the public. Maybe wait a couple years and circle back because this collar is a dud. Unfortunately I wasted enough time with Garmin customer service and now it’s out of the Amazon return window. So now it’ll be a $350 paper weight.

Be smarter than me! Save your money and get another TT25! This collar is a dud!

I have owned a whistle go explore for four years and was constantly disappointed with the tracking delays and connectivity. I also had to replace the unit three times in those four years due to failure. The Garmin Alpha LTE is rock sold real time tracking. Connectivity is 100%, when it is on, it is transmitting and receiving. The user interface isn’t super intuitive, but once you are accustomed to it, you are good to go. Much better tracking lights and durability seems commercial grade. I would purchase again, every time.