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Tracker Maxima
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Author:  Farmboy-1 [ Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Tracker Maxima

I need help. Before I spend a lot of hard earned money can some of you fellows who own Tracker Maximas & classics( who have a lot of experience using them) tell me if you can actually pinpoint where that collar is? Or does Tracker just give you the general direction? If a dog was hurt and laying out of site in tall grass or brush could Tracker actually pinpoint that dog or just give you the general area?
Anyone ever use a yogi on Maxima? Does yogi help in anyway? Anyone disapointed with Tracker? If so why?
Any input would be appreciated. Farmboy-1

Author:  banditchaser7 [ Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:03 pm ]
Post subject: 

We use the maxima 5000. Yes maximas can can almost pinpoint the location, after you get used to it. they don't track quite as far as the big trackers,but they are the way to go.We haven't used it with a yagi, but its supposed to help it a lot. The tracker maxima is a great tracker in my oppinion.You also track several freqoencies, ours tracks 216 219 & 217. and will track any collars under those frequencies.

Author:  Paul Conway [ Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:43 pm ]
Post subject: 

I love mine Tracker Maxima- 2000 I believe. I can track 216 and 217 frequencies. No cables wires to get caught on the briars, mtn laurel, etc as I crawl around the swamps here in PA. We wanted something that was very convenient to check the hounds with as we have a lot of roads and after using them we don't feel we've traded convenience at the price of tracking range. Not at all. Our group now has six Tracker Maximas. I have the connection for the yagi, but haven't really tested it to see how much further. Somewhere along the line I will. Nothing but pleased with our Tracker Maximas. Paul Conway.

Author:  Tim MACHA [ Sun Aug 19, 2007 4:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Practice, practice, & practice

You need to play with it when you are running the dogs. Don't wait until you need it and then try to figure it out. When dogs are in close, you need to keep turning the gain dial down. Also, you need to hold it close to your body when they are in close, to shield from back signal coming in on the back side of the antenna. If there is a hole in the system, that would be it. If you are not careful, the signal on the back side can sometimes be 'almost' as strong. If you hold it close to your chest when you are trying to figure the direction, your body will shield the back feed. Best money I ever spent.

Author:  BULLET II [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:55 pm ]
Post subject:  tracker

I have used the tracker brand for ten years now, and have owned and used most every other tracking system made. Tracker has made some real good upgrades in the past few years that help things such as pinpoint accuracy. In my hunting spots in SE Oklahoma, I rarely ever get any back signal, and when I do it isn't enough to through me off. I recently purchased the SMA connector and in my hunting territory it gives me about 3/4 of a mile more range, and it really pinpoints as well as any other tracking system on the market with the yagi antenna. I will share with you what I don't like about the new Tracker Maxima's. I think in 2004 Tracker switched to a new motherboard that would reduce the volume of the audible sound. By doing so it causes the Maxima to give of a swooshing sound when turned down to track with only 2 or 3 bars on the screen. How this could effect the system is in long distance tracking when you receive a faint beep, but in this case the faint beep is the same sound as the static you are hearing. When I spoke with tracker about this situation they informed me that they were going to upgrade the Maxima's real soon and fix this problem. With all of that being said, I still feel they are the best tracking systems available when you weigh in all it has to offer.

Author:  Farmboy-1 [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:16 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thank you fellas for all the honest info & experience with Maximas.. I appreciate your replies very much. Have any of you any experience with the Tracker Classic? Can Classic perform equally as well as Maxima as far as accuracy, dependability & distance is concerned? Aside from the fact that it only runs on two channels. Farmboy-1

Author:  BULLET II [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Classic

I owned a classic for about 2 years and I can truly say that I like it's core tracking capabilities more than the maxima. The near switch and the fine tune button also give it an edge over the maxima, and you don't have any of that swooshing sound with the classic, just a nice clear beep. If you only plan to hunt two dogs at a time, this is the best system on the market for that purpose. I would highly recommend the Tracker Classic with the Marshall Collars. The marshall collars will give you more range. Its a great setup.

Author:  BADKARMA [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:38 am ]
Post subject: 

I have used those Marshall collars and I got less range with my classic. I tried to figure out why and I believe I may have it. The strike collars use 7.2v or power that is not affected by the weather. The Marshall ones use 3v of power that can get demished very quickly depending on the weather. That is a whole bunch of power difference. Now you sounthern boys may not care because it is warm for most of the year but whaen you hunt in -20 you need a tracker that will stand up to the cold and a AA battery will drain 40% faster and will have less voltage than the batteries the strike collars use. Just my opnion. I believe they are more suted for the warmer temps. They sure are built good though and I wish the strike collars had the leds in them. The best thing I like about the TRacker units is that you can take them with you-when you need it its there. Those big ones are made to use at the vehicle.

Author:  BULLET II [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:  BADKARMA

I didn't know that about the cold weather. I will see how mine works this winter. It will get down in the teens often here in the winter, but not -20. If you are using 7.2v of power you have two 1/2 AA batteries which are anywhere from $8 to $10 a piece. If you put the regular 3.6v battery in it the Marshall will still outperform it. At least I would bet it would, and you can get a 24 pack of regular AA batteries at wal-mart for $10 dollars. I have used my Marshall lighted collar for three months now and havn't had to change the batteries in them yet. From my own personal experience, the Marshall collars are far superior to any other collar I have used or put it up against. And you’re right about the trackers being so handy, they are super nice.

Author:  BADKARMA [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:39 am ]
Post subject: 

Yea with all things being equal with the 3.6v the Marshall may preform better. The power of the 1/2 aa cell really makes the difference. I have a source where I can get them for $4.25/piece so that is a savings. If you want to get a good aa that is unaffected by cold you need the Energizer Lithium aa priced at 4 for $10 at Wal Mart. They have a much slower drain rate and are for the most part much better in cold that the regular ones. My dogs are not the best and some would even say they are not a hunter but I keep working with them and I hope my persestance pays off. I love them just the same and I don't want to lose one because I cheaped out. Try those batteries and I bet you will see a difference.

What is the procedire for tuning the collars by using that little wheel on the classic? I just cannot get it.

Author:  BULLET II [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:40 pm ]
Post subject: 

I will try the lithium batteries this winter. If your collars fit your receiver, it should be fairly easy to tune using the little wheel on the side. All you are trying to get is the best audible sound. The way that I do it is turn the wheel as far as it will go one way or the other, then slowly turn it the other way listening to the different sounding beeps. I then set the wheel In the position of what to me sounds like the loudest, most audible beep. It is best to do this before you turn your dog loose. After you have it in your head what you want it to sound like, then you can tune it while the dogs are out hunting. The tune may be set different from channel one to channel two, so you may have to tune it each time you switch back and forth. Hope I didn't confuse anymore than you were.

Author:  Farmboy-1 [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:57 pm ]
Post subject: 

If I fine tune collar before I turn dog loose will I have to fine tune the collar again if dog gets a little deep in woods to get best signal? Or is it up to gain wheel from here on out? Farmboy-1

Author:  BULLET II [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Farmboy-1

No, you shouldn't have to re-tune it after they are deep. After you get familiar with what the collar is suppose to sound like(or what sounds best to you), then you won't have to tune it at the pickup because you will be able to get it in tune while the dogs are in the woods. I just recommend everyone to do at the pickup the first few times until you get the hang of it, but you don't have to. The key to these trackers is just practice. After a little hands on use, you will have it figured out.

Author:  BADKARMA [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:23 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for your help Bullet. Do you have anymore tips?

Author:  BULLET II [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:01 pm ]
Post subject: 

You are more than welcome. If you run into anymore problems I should be able to help out.