The best features of the Garmin TT25 collar and why you should be using it.
If you haven't upgraded to the TT25 yet, you're missing out. Here's why.
'If it's not broke don't fix it'. Those were the words muttered from one dog trainer to another. They were debating whether one of them should upgrade his Garmin dog collars from the TT15 to the TT25. His argument: the TT15s work just fine, so why spend the money?
In a sense, he's completely right. The TT15s are still working well for him and he's not left needing or wanting more from his collars. On the flip side however, the TT25 is packed full of awesome features and there are plenty of people who could benefit from upgrading if they haven't already. Let me explain.
The dog trainer in question runs and trains dogs on his property and when he hunts, it's in his local area on neighbors' farms chasing roosters. His idea of going remote is when he loses sight of the mailbox. Then there are guys out West who, for better or worse, like to get out into remote country, stay off-grid for multiple days, and put in long miles chasing birds. That's the kind of hunting we do here and that's exactly where the TT15 starts showing its limits, and where the TT25 delivers.
No matter how die-hard team TT15 you may be, we can all agree the original TT15's battery life leaves a lot to be desired. This is exactly where the TT25 shines. The new batteries can last up to 68 hours on a single charge in its default tracking mode and this for me is a game changer.
When I hunt chukar I'm usually out for several days at a time. I used to have to charge my collars and handheld at the end of every hunt just to make sure I could get another full day out of them. Now I charge once before I go, and they'll last three days of hunting without needing any extra juice. You can also buy an extended battery pack, which takes it to 136 hours (dynamic tracking mode), or 168 hours (2-minute update rate) but these batteries also use a different charging clip which is a little annoying.
A dead battery isn't the only thing that can sideline a collar. A broken VHF antenna or GPS flex band will do it too, and that can really be a pain on a long weekend chukar hunting. Those steep canyon walls will make a collar with a broken antenna lose connectivity quickly.
Thankfully, the TT25 antenna and flex band are completely field-serviceable. I'd suggest leaving a spare antenna, a spare flex band, and a screwdriver in the truck so your hunt isn't cut short by a collar that won't cooperate.
If you run a smaller breed or a puppy, you'll be happy to hear that not only is the TT25 smaller and lighter. If that's not enough for you, you can also take advantage of this modularity by using a Zero Length Flex Band and Compact VHF Antenna (sold separately) to make an even smaller collar for a puppy or Brittany for example.
When I got my two puppies last year, I did exactly this, and they're actually still running the collars in that configuration a year later. You do give up a little range with the compact antenna which is something to consider. Conversely, you could also add a long range antenna if you're looking to get more range out of the unit.
Outside of hunting, I also use my collars daily at home for 6+ hours. My four dogs are generally roaming the property for most of the day, so I need battery life that keeps up with daily use and my forgetful charging habits. That said, the feature that's become almost as important to me is the beacon lights.
I typically let the dogs out around 5 am, and for most of the year it's still dark outside. Lights on the collars are a huge bonus for both safety and quick dog identification. My collars are color coordinated by dog, each with a different, easily identifiable color. The new lights on the TT25 let me match each beacon light to its collar. Now when I look out the window on those cold winter mornings, I can see the colored lights moving across the pasture and know exactly which dog is up to what. Even though they rarely wander off the property onto the road, it's still nice to have some extra safety from cars as well.
Finally, those of you who have been running Garmin products for a while will really appreciate this one... Wireless software updates! That's right, no more looking for a PC, cables, finding the correct download. Now it's done in seconds via WIFI.
I've now been using the TT25 for over a year, and I can confirm it's an upgrade worth making. Chukar country doesn't test gear so much as it audits it. These collars have been put through the wringer, and they've performed flawlessly.
As for the two trainers who started this argument? They're probably still arguing about it.
