Garmin Alpha series is among the market leaders in dog tracking and training products for hunting dog owners. They have a host of GPS collar and training devices dogs with a wide range of features for sporting dogs. In this post we delve into a comparison of Alpha 100 vs 200i vs 300i. I have tried to highlight their key differences, features and advantages over each other to help you better understand which one might suit your needs.
Build and Styling
Garmin products are known for their solid and rugged build. All of the 3 Alpha handhelds have been designed with emphasis on strong build quality. There is considerable difference in styling between 100 and 200i, but not so much between Alpha 200i and 300i. Garmin Alpha 100 comes with an orange bezel and the screen is slightly set in compared to 200i and 300i.
Alpha 200i and 300i look almost exactly the same and both feature a 3.5 inch screen. Both have screen resolution of 282×470 pixels – a great improvement over Alpha 100 which has resolution of 240×400. All the three handhelds come with IPX7 waterproof rating that allows 30 minutes of contact time at a depth of 1 meter.
Among the three Alphas, 300i has the brightest and most vivid screen display. This allows better visibility in direct sunlight.
Battery Performance
Garmin Alpha 100 and 200i use a Li-Ion battery that lasts for around 20 hours. Garmin has worked on Alpha 300i which has led to greatly improved battery performance. Now with normal usage it gives 3x as much battery life than Alpha 100 and 200i. Alpha 300 can last up to 55 hours on a single charge. This is incredible considering the fact that it has the brightest screen and same battery size as Alpha 100 and 200i.
Interestingly, all the three models employ different kinds of charging ports. Alpha 100 uses the old Mini-USB, Alpha 200i uses Micro-USB, whereas Alpha 300 charges with latest USB-C type port.
Garmin Alpha 100 vs 200i vs 300i Features Comparison
When comparing the three Alpha devices in terms of features, Alpha 200i was a huge upgrade over existing Alpha 100. Whereas Garmin did not introduce as many groundbreaking features with the new 300i, they certainly refined the product and addressed some common issues people were facing with Alpha 100 and 200i.
Dog Groups, Management and Sharing
One of the important improvements in Alpha 200i over Alpha 100 is the ability to create and manage dog groups. With 200i you can easily store up to 100 devices at a time. This is a great feature for dog owners who hunt with multiple dogs and different groups.
With 300i, Garmin took the feature up a notch by introducing group sharing. Now it is possible to share dog groups wirelessly between different handhelds.
Garmin Inreach Support
The ‘i’ in Alpha 200i and 300i denote Inreach capabilities. These devices are capable of two way messaging and interactive SOS via Garmin’s Inreach network. Alpha 200i was the first dog tracking and training handheld with access to Inreach communication service via Iridium satellite network.
This was a huge new addition in a dog tracking and training device because with Inreach system you can go hunting in deep areas without having to worry about cellphone coverage. It also allows you to send emergency SOS alerts which directly connects you to Garmin Response Center.
Mapping Capabilities
One of the highlight of Garmin GPS devices is their highly detailed mapping data, replete with comprehensive terrain, contours, property line and geographical features.
Both Alpha 100 and 200i have this topoactive mapping and limited subscription to BirdsEye satellite imagery through Outdoor Maps+. However, unlike Alpha 100, you can download BirdsEye maps on Alpha 200i directly via WiFi to your handheld.
Inreach Support and topoactive mapping is standard in Garmin Alpha 300i, along with other features like tracking and training range of 9 miles and tracking up to 20 dogs simultaneously.
Compatibility
Newer Garmin handheld devices are usually backwards compatible with older devices like dog collars. This allows users to upgrade their handheld units while still using existing dog collars.
Alpha 200i and 300i are compatible with Garmin T and TT series collars as well as Instinct 2 and Fenix 7 smartwatches.
Other New Features with Garmin Alpha 300i
Although Alpha 300i shares a lot of common features with 200i, there are a few major additions that are worth noting:
Channel View
This is a great nifty feature in 300i for dog owners hunting in large groups which may lead to collar frequency interference. It displays all the different channels and the number of people using them. You can select any channel and see what IDs are used. You can scan for a clear ID to get interference free reception.
Favorites Bar
In Alpha 100 and 200 series, there was no quick and easy way to instantly switch between different screens like map, compass or dog list. With 300i there is a favorites bar at the bottom of the screen where you can drag and drop your frequently used apps as shortcuts.
Conclusion
Garmin Alpha 100 is an easy to use tracking and training device with all the basic features that you will need. It is a proven tracking and training system catering to the needs of hunters, trainers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Garmin Alpha 200i is an upgraded version of Alpha 100. It retains the basic features of Alpha 100 but also introduces some enhancements. Garmin Alpha 200i is a big upgrade over 100 making it perfect for those looking for advanced features and improved usability.
Garmin Alpha 300 is the latest addition in the series. It comes with a host of hardware and software improvements (particularly in the battery department) making it a perfect upgrade.