GPS units: an update based on real life usage!
Posted 01-03-2018 at 09:36 PM by hiero2
GPS unit review update: Tractive
An interesting thing happened on the way to the forum . . .
It's amazing to me, how I can spend hours and hours researching something on the internet, until I think I have covered the topic pretty well. Only to find that I haven't. Late 2017, when I wrote the Loc8tor - Whistle - Findster review, I didn't know of any viable alternatives. I found frequent references to Tagg, but they were the product that was bought out by and became the first Whistle. Shortly after I wrote that review, I found reference to some other manufacturers. Most were not true GPS units, but were either activity trackers, experimental, or radio (not GPS) units. However, one brand got my attention enough to give them a try. And I'm glad I did.
Tractive provides a true GPS locating unit. I have used them now for a few months, and their unit is decisively superior to Findster and Whistle. I still have a performance wish list, where they have shortcomings, IMO, but at the moment, my Tractive is the unit of preference.
Findster still has the best UI. And, for quick response locating my dogs when they are within range of the Findster, they are my first "go-to".
Whistle has completely fallen off my list of acceptable units. I got tired of annoying and constant status warning messages (which were unnecessary). And, I developed battery life issues. My dogs managed to lose the unit in the woods. Meaning the collar fastener didn't work as well as their engineers thought it would. But this has been true of EVERY GPS unit I have used. I have ended up sewing my own design of pouches to attach to the dog collars and securely carry the GPS units. So I found the lost unit, but I soon took it out of service entirely, as it was just too much like work.
So, for working units, still in service, that leaves Tractive, and Findster. Between the two, I am pretty happy for the moment.
An interesting thing happened on the way to the forum . . .
It's amazing to me, how I can spend hours and hours researching something on the internet, until I think I have covered the topic pretty well. Only to find that I haven't. Late 2017, when I wrote the Loc8tor - Whistle - Findster review, I didn't know of any viable alternatives. I found frequent references to Tagg, but they were the product that was bought out by and became the first Whistle. Shortly after I wrote that review, I found reference to some other manufacturers. Most were not true GPS units, but were either activity trackers, experimental, or radio (not GPS) units. However, one brand got my attention enough to give them a try. And I'm glad I did.
Tractive provides a true GPS locating unit. I have used them now for a few months, and their unit is decisively superior to Findster and Whistle. I still have a performance wish list, where they have shortcomings, IMO, but at the moment, my Tractive is the unit of preference.
Findster still has the best UI. And, for quick response locating my dogs when they are within range of the Findster, they are my first "go-to".
Whistle has completely fallen off my list of acceptable units. I got tired of annoying and constant status warning messages (which were unnecessary). And, I developed battery life issues. My dogs managed to lose the unit in the woods. Meaning the collar fastener didn't work as well as their engineers thought it would. But this has been true of EVERY GPS unit I have used. I have ended up sewing my own design of pouches to attach to the dog collars and securely carry the GPS units. So I found the lost unit, but I soon took it out of service entirely, as it was just too much like work.
So, for working units, still in service, that leaves Tractive, and Findster. Between the two, I am pretty happy for the moment.
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