A Comparison of the Alpha 200i and the Alpha 100

The Start New Hunt feature has always been used to:

• Clear any previous dog tracks

• Mark your current location at the start of the hunt

The Alpha 200i handheld adds several new features to the Start New Hunt tool:

Map use on the Alpha 100 and Alpha 200i handhelds is very similar; however, the Map menu and settings structures are significantly different. 

• Most settings and commands have been re-distributed into new and different sub-menu commands

• Showing and Hiding Birdseye Satellite imagery has changed

  • The menu option to "Declutter Map on/off" has been removed. Now, there is a map layer control on the left part of the screen

ProView Compass adds:

• Ability to see up to four tracked devices per page

  • Swipe up and down on the screen to show the additional tracked devices

• New larger fonts, directional arrow, and dog statuses such as sitting, running, pointing, or treeing

• Tap any item for its detailed Information Page

• New horizontal compass to give the direction the handheld is pointing

The Alpha 200i handheld has a completely redesigned Dog List; it is now called the Tracked Device List.

The Tracked Device List includes not only the Dog List, but also the Tracked Handhelds/Contacts List, and the Group Management control:

• Easily see the radio status of all your tracked devices:

  • ID number

  • Battery level

  • Radio Communication and GPS signal strength

• Tap any item for its Info Page for deeper menu controls

  • The ID sharing functions and codes

  • Adjust the collar beacon light

  • Activate or deactivate an individual dog or handheld

  • Assign the device to a different group

The Alpha 200i handheld has a different way of switching from one dog's Training Keys and page, to another. Instead of having on screen left and right arrows to tap, there is now a touchscreen free method of pressing the Navigation Keys on the right side of the device. Also, when the Training Command is revealed, these buttons can adjust the intensity up and down.

The Alpha 200i handheld has a method for downloading satellite imagery via Wi-Fi called BirdsEye Direct.

BirdsEye Direct is a free to use service for the Alpha 200i handheld:

• There is no need for any subscription

• The process is done within the BirdsEye Direct tool on the home screen of the Alpha 200i handheld

  • Allows you to select areas on the map

  • Adjust the image quality/file size

  • Manage other aspects of the image file like saving to internal storage or microSD card

There are differences and some limitations for BirdsEye Direct:

• This does not involve a computer or BaseCamp™ software; BirdsEye Direct downloads do not save in BaseCamp software

• BirdsEye Direct images do not interface/display on a separate computer while the Alpha 200i handheld is in BaseStation mode

Managing the tracks has become easier on the Alpha 200i handheld.

The new Track Manager > My Track interface has four tabs along the top of the page:

• Track Recording Controls: This allows you to start and stop the track, save the track, delete the track, shows time elapsed, and distance covered

• Track Information: Shows more information about the track, change color, and show/hide toggle the track

• Map: To see an overview of the entire track from start to finish, Initiate TracBack® feature to calculate a route to get back where you came from

• Elevation Plot: showing a graphical review of your ascent and descent data over time

The Alpha 200i handheld has conveniently reorganized the Navigation tools into one app on the home screen.

Home screen > Navigation:

• Where To? (Route to waypoints, coordinates, cities...etc.)

• The Compass Utility

• Route Planner 

• Trip computer 

The Alpha 200i handheld has redesigned the Power-Button-Click menu layout.

• Check your handheld's battery level, GPS strength, Back-light control and Time of Day

• The touchscreen lock is much easier and more intuitive to use

• The training buttons lock is now a separate control

• "My ID" allows you to turn your own handheld's contact tracking on and off.  You can then assign that ID number to another tracked device. 

• There is a new Alerts tool to show you a history of system notifications such as:

  • Dog Status alerts

  • Battery level alerts

  • Communication loss alerts and many others

• If you subscribe to the InReach satellite communications features, there is also a Messages tool to quickly check and send messages 

The differences in the Main Menu/Home Screen are intended to improve the ease of use and to only show the most used tools:

• Swipe left and right through three different home screen pages 

• The most commonly used tools in the system are displayed prominently in the interface. The user can customize the interface, however, for individual preference

  • All other GPS tools in the system can be added to the home screens via Setup > Main Menu

  • Additional home screen pages can be added or removed

• The new Status/Notifications bar allows you to quickly see the battery level, GPS strength, time of day, and system notifications

There are two ways to update the software for the Alpha 200i handheld:

• Update software via Wi-Fi

  • Go to Setup > Wi-Fi

• Garmin Express™ software: Updates both software and map updates

The Alpha 200i handheld has greatly improved the Training Button setup with a new grid-style programming interface:

• Horizontal Rows represent different Training Pages you can add, remove, or change order

• Customize the three training buttons with shortcuts for other commands in the system, such as: Mark a Waypoint, Track Recording Controls, and many others

  • Along with the normal Tone, Vibration, Continuous and Momentary Corrections, there are dozens of other possible shortcut commands that can be customized and assigned to the buttons

New! The Alpha 200i handheld is now a fully functional InReach Satellite text communication device.

InReach subscription provides: 

• Sending and Receiving SMS text messages and emails anywhere off-grid

• inReach tracking feature allows your friends and family members to view your tracking progress from a computer or mobile device's internet browser. The subscriber is provided their own dedicated URL to share with family and friends.

• The Alpha 200i handheld has a dedicated SOS button that sends a location tagged message to Garmin Response™ center to get help in an emergency

New! The Alpha 200i handheld is able to Bluetooth pair to a compatible mobile device using the Garmin Explore App.

The Garmin Explorer App has many features:

• See the live position for you and your dogs showing the dog names, distances, and status changes

• Display thicker track lines when the dogs are chasing game

• Download and use different maps to view on the smartphone app itself (aerial imagery and topography)

• Trip planning tools: mark waypoints, view tracks, and create routes 

• Review and replay the Hunt Activities

• When subscribed to the InReach Satellite communication features, the Garmin Explore app provides additional messaging and tracking functionality. You can message within the Garmin Explore App on a larger and easier to use keyboard interface, trigger an SOS, and start LiveTrack tracking.

• Works with both Android and iOS

NOTE: Not all Alpha 200i handheld tools and features will display in the Garmin Explore App.

Features on the handheld only:

• The Dog List/Tracked Device List/Group Management

• The Dog Tracking Compass

• The Dog Training Buttons

• Alpha 200i installed mapping

• The Home screen and System Menus

• Other GPS and Hunt Tools in the system

Also, many features of the smartphone will not send over to the Alpha 200i handheld such as notifications for other apps (phone calls, Facebook notifications, and others).