Garmin D-series Stub Antenna Reviews

• A bad product from a good company.

  
  By A203OCQQ12MAVT on 2007-10-30
  Those that know me know I like to review 4 and 5 star items, unless it is totally junk and I long for the zero star rating. What was garmin thinking when they introduced this?
  
  First - This is NOT a GPS antenna. The Dog collar has an embedded GPS antenna that works upside down while the dog is asleep with 4 bars - and its weatherproof!
  
  Second - What this antenna does is shorten the 6" "rubber duck" antenna that comes with the transmitter. I have a German Shepherd Dog who has no problem wearing the 6" antenna.
  
  Third - This is for VHF transmission (see my review of the external car antenna and the difference it makes from garmin) VHF is a lower frequency and needs a LONGER antenna - not a shorter one to work well.
  
  So the product here is counter productive to getting range on your dog. Hunting dogs ignore the 6" antenna. Nobody goes hunting with a yorkshire terrier that would need a smaller antenna.
  
  So why make it?
  
  I don't know.
  
  You loose range with this antenna versus the factory original - You'll need the car antenna to pick up the signal with this whimpy antenna. MAYBE if you are hunting in tall grass that snags the 6" you might give up range for low profile, but I don't see the point in trimming off 4" then having reception problems on your dog's location.
  
  My advice - stick with the factory transmitter 6" stock unit and buy the car mount if your dog likes to run miles. Finally, this won't help with the GPS reception at all as those antennas are built in and sealed up.
  
  I gave it 2 stars because if your dog only goes a few feet, then it will work. If your dog pushes a mile, you'll loose the link
  
  I also gave it 2 stars because amazon is stocking the accessories and not making me go to some tri-state electronics slum to buy an accessory.
  
  Many astro users will be disappointed by the drop off in range using this
  
  

• Works great on small beagles

  
  By A3F1MYAXXOX5KW on 2007-12-25
  Using the stub antenna on a collar-mounted DC-20 works great for beagles. I don't use a counter-weight, which overloads the smaller beagles. Thus, the DC-20 shifts under the dog's neck, but still transmits surprisingly well. Transmission distance seems to be about 65% of the upright collar-mounted 6" antennas that I use on my big hounds. But then, the beagles don't roam as far, so I'm very pleased this set-up so far.
  Mike Clifford, Frog Holler' GPS
  
  

• Doesn't break

  
  By APTY9S8NAFW5Y on 2008-02-13
  My dog broke 2 of the original antennas after about 5 times out. The stub antenna is hard plastic so it doesn't break.
  I use the Astro for hiking and I call my dog back before she's 1/2 mile from me. I know this antenna isn't supposed to have as great a range as the original, but I haven't lost contact with her yet.
  
  

• Good idea, very poor performance

  
  By APLFKB73BKUUZ on 2008-11-11
  I had high hopes for the stub antenna, as the original antenna for the DC20 is far too big and when it gets caught in brush it often gets pulled to the side. I put the new stub antenna on my collar and immediately noticed a dramatic drop in performance.... the receiver constantly lost the signal even when my dog was only 50 yards away. I went back to the longer and much better performing antenna and sent the stub antenna back the next day. While the DC20 collar works very well, I have ordered (and am still waiting 2 months later) for the MUCH better designed DC30. If it ever arrives, I will be anxious to try it out. Our dogs are working dogs and we need reliable performance.... the DC20 has performed extremely well, but the design leaves a lot to be desired.
  
  

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