BaseStation for Base Camp

Former Member over 12 years ago

Where do I get the BaseStation Product? Does it require additional hardware?

The description from the Garmin Website -

Turn Your Computer Into a Base Station for Tracking Dogs

The all-new BaseStation lets you turn your laptop (loaded with BaseCamp) into a field control center for tracking multiple dogs and/or buddies (up to 20 Alpha units or TT 10 collars). View real-time GPS information on the larger display of your computer, making it ideal for canine search and rescue teams. And because it’s Garmin GPS-based, safer, more effective tracking is possible, even where Internet and cell phone service isn’t.

0 atlas_cached over 12 years ago

I found it, I have too set up the GPS first.

http://static.garmincdn.com/basecamp/en/Default.htm

Is that not what I suggested here?

Is this the Answer you're looking for?

0 hunterryan over 11 years ago

BaseStation-for-Base-Camp

This is a known issue. We will hopefully find a fix soon to display BirdsEye imagery and BaseStation data at the same time.

Do you have maps on the Alpha (other than BirdsEye)?

Just fallowing up on viewing Birdseye or custom maps while running BaseStation mode in Base-camp. Have there been any advancements in this area?

Also wondering if BaseCamp comes in a more mobile App versions. Something that could run on a tablet or iPad?

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

There is a BaseCamp mobile app for iOS. It's not nearly as full-featured as the Windows / Mac version though. There is no BaseCamp for Android yet.

BaseCamp does support BirdsEye in Basestation mode now. You just have to have your BirdsEye imagery in your collection (not just on the device).

0 178_Pinetown_Rd over 9 years ago

Garmin Rino
I have owned each Rino model, and have always looked forward to Garmin's innovative improvements on each model. I was particularly excited to see BaseStation. I have tested it and have come to the conclusion that it's functionality is limited because of reliance on the attached antenna on the 655t unit. First, what a waste of a perfectly good field unit that must remain attached to the computer. Garmin needs to develop a base unit that attaches to your computer and frees up the portables. This base unit needs to have a FRS antenna attached for communication at one half watt on the FRS channels 8-14, complying with FCC regulations. The unit needs to have a UHF socket for attaching an external antenna for 5 watt transmissions on channels 1 through 7. The base unit should be able to transmit using 25 watts on the 8 GMRS only channels, 15 through 22. These specifications would allow the Garmin Base Station to become a serious tool for hunting, search and rescue, and many other uses. Most users complain of the limited range when using the radio. A unit designed around the use of an external antenna would eliminate much of the criticism. Midland just developed the MXT100 mobile/base GMRS only unit which takes advantage of an external antenna.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I have been asked to find tracking gear for foresters. Of course they are out of cell phone coverage and tracking via the likes of the Iridium satellites is prohibitively expensive. The Alpha 100 dog trackers appear to be a ready made solution with no data costs.

The BaseStation feature on the rugged laptop appears to be suitable. I'd like to make suggestions that would make BaseStation even more versatile and valuable as a tracking programme for the likes of forestry workers:

Allow the Tone, Vibrate and Light functions of any paired collar to be activated from BaseStation
Alert the BaseStation operator if a collar does not move more than (say) 10m in (say) 15 minutes). This would be by a tone via the computer speaker and a flashing alarm on the screen
Obviously the forester cannot use the collar to respond back to BaseStation so he would have to have a radio to advise if he was held up with chain sharpening / lunch break etc.
What many others have asked for - a separate hardware device with a larger aerial to connect to BaseStation so that maximum radio reception is achieved in the forest
Allow geofences to be set up and monitored on BaseStation. At present it appears to be only available to set up on the Alpha hand held
BaseStation should display geofences that have been set up on the Alpha hand held
To be able to disable the Dog Status alarms (Sitting, Treed, On Point) as these will just annoy the BaseStation operator and clutter the screen. Depending on where the forester wears the collar - it may be on his helmet - the collar will be in all orientations during normal work so position alerts are not needed

I have BirdsEye downloaded to My Collection but the Alpha I have connected is not a subscribed unit. If it had a current BirdsEye subscription would BaseStation display the aerial view? At present I'm using the Free NZ Open GPS Project Topo Maps OK.

If the Alpha was subscribed to BirdsEye and the aerial images loaded to it would BaseStation continue to display BirdsEye after the Alpha subscription had lapsed?

Although the Garmin Rino 650 GPS/Radios would also work in BaseStation of course the New Zealand version of the Rino has only UHF frequency which is pretty useless in the bush. However it may be worth a try as it conveniently combines a tracker and 2-way radio in the one device.

Thank you for any consideration that can be given to these features as they will greatly assist in forestry safety and of course open up another field of sales for Garmin.

0 hunterryan over 9 years ago

BaseStation for Base Camp

You can only download new maps for 1 year, you can use the maps you already downloaded for as long as you like.
I certainly understand that using BirdsEye or Custom maps in BaseStation mode would be hugely beneficial. We'll try to make that happen. It was just an oversight on our part. And it's also somewhat tricky because the device connects in a different mode than usual so we don't actually see the device maps when it's connected in BaseStation mode. But making the maps from My Collection available should be doable.

FALAGAR
Have there been any new advancements in mapping options while in Base Station mode ?
I am still hoping to use Base Station to track dogs on a full windows tablet.
I don't want to fork out the $$ for a Windows tablet unless i know it will work the way i want it to.
Do you have any suggestions on hardware ? I see this place offers a complete package(http://gpsdawg.com/)

I think i can put this together myself but detailed mapping is key.

PS. Please add Bluetooth to next Gen Alpha handheld so we don't need cords for all this extra stuff.