Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today announced the addition of the T 5 mini and TT 15 mini to its best-selling range of Astro® and Alpha® GPS dog tracking and training systems. The T 5/TT 15 mini are designed to fit smaller breed dogs.
“The new T 5 mini and TT 15 mini are the ideal solution for sporting dog owners who run smaller breed dogs – from dachshunds to beagles to brittanys,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “And although these new collars are small in size, they don’t sacrifice many of the familiar features in the Garmin dog tracking and training lineup.”
The T 5/TT 15 mini are designed to fit neck circumferences as small as 9.5 inches. And the dog device has been miniaturized to decrease the load on the dog, with a reduction in weight from 9.3 ounces (T 5) to 7 ounces (T 5 mini) and from 10 ounces (TT 15) to 7.5 ounces (TT 15 mini). The collar strap width has also been reduced to ¾ inch.
Despite their smaller size, the units are capable of a full day (approximately 16 hours) of use at a 2.5 second update rate. Range of the new T 5/TT 15 mini is four miles and the units support rescue mode, which switches the dog devices to a two minute update rate when the battery is below a 25 percent charge. A new power-saving feature also allows the user to put the collar in non-tracking “sleep mode,” and resume tracking at a later time. Like their larger cousins, the T 5 mini and TT 15 mini support the following features:
- High-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS satellite support, for faster acquisition and a more reliable connection to positioning satellites
- Water rated to 1 ATM (withstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 10 meters of water)
- User selectable LED beacon for night use (visible up to 100 yards)
The T 5 mini is a tracking-only dog device, while the TT 15 mini adds 18 levels of continuous or momentary stimulation, tone, and vibration. Both the T 5/TT 15 mini are compatible with the Alpha 100 or the Astro 320 handhelds. Tracking, but no stimulation, is possible when pairing the Astro 320 with the TT 15 mini.
These collars are sold in two new bundles. The Astro bundle contains an Astro 320 and T 5 mini, while the Alpha bundle contains an Alpha 100 and a TT 15 mini. The new collars are also sold separately as an upgrade to existing Astro and Alpha systems, but users must download a free software update to their handheld before pairing the new collar by visiting www.garmin.com/express. The new devices are expected to be available in summer 2015.
The T 5/TT 15 mini are the latest product offerings from Garmin’s expanding outdoor segment, which focuses on developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ outdoor experiences. Whether hiking, hunting, geocaching, golfing, dog training, or capturing it all on VIRB®action cameras, Garmin outdoor devices are becoming essential tools for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels.