T
his guide takes you through the basic steps for starting up and
using your Astro System for the first time. The
Astro 220 Owner’s
Manual
provides detailed instructions for using your Astro System
in the field.
➊
Install batteries in the Astro
220
Remove the battery compartment cover from
the back of the Astro 220 and insert two AA
batteries into the compartment, observing
polarity markings in the compartment.
Be certain the VHF antenna is attached and
snug.
➋
Turn on the Astro 220 and
DC 20 to allow them to initialize
Take both units outdoors to get an
unobstructed view of overhead GPS satellites to determine
their locations.
Press down and hold the Astro 220
POWER
key, located
between the two antennas on the top of the unit, until the
unit turns on.
Press and hold the
POWER
key on the end of the DC 20
until the red LED illuminates.
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
The Dog Tracker page with a status bar at the
top appears. When three or more GPS signal
strength bars are filled, the units determine its
location. This should take no more than two
minutes the first time you initialize the unit.
After this, it should take seconds.
➌
Calibrate the Compass
Before tracking your dog, it is important to
calibrate the Astro 220 internal compass to
ensure accuracy. Do this outdoors and away
from large metal objects, such as automobiles and buildings.
Press
DOG
to open the Dog Tracker page.
Press
MENU
, use the
Arrow
(
ROCKER)
key to select
Calibrate
Compass
and press
ENT
(
ENTER)
to show the
Compass Calibration page.
Follow the calibration Wizard instructions for
calibrating the compass by slowly rotating it in a
level position. Press
ENTER
to start calibration and
ENTER
again when calibration is completed. It is recommended that
you calibrate the compass after periods of storage, battery
change, or temperature changes exceeding 20
o
F.
4.
1.
2.
3.
Hold the unit
level and turn
slowly.
➍
Allow the DC 20 to communicate with
the Astro 220
The DC 20 is shipped from the factory already added to your
Astro 220 Dog List and the battery is charged to approximately
50% of full capacity, so you can use it immediately. Make
certain the VHF antenna is attached and snug.
Observe the blinking red LED, indicating power is on.
After the DC 20 has initialized
(determined its GPS location)
the LED then double blinks.
The Dog Tracker page
compass pointer points in the
direction of the dog and titles
it “Dog”. The location updates
every 5 seconds.
1.
2.
To check for communication and good GPS signal
reception, while on the Dog Tracker page, press the
ENTER
key on the Astro 220 to view the Dog Info page.
This page contains information about the dog such as:
name, state of activity (running, on point, treed, sitting, and
“unknown?” if no status can be determined), distance from
your location, distance traveled, and average speed. It also
provides data about the
DC 20 transmission update rate, unit ID,
battery capacity, communication signal
strength, and strength of the GPS signal
being received by the DC 20. Red bars
indicate a weak signal while green bars
indicate a strong signal.
3.
DC 20
power
key
LED blinks
red when
power is on.
Dog Tracker Page
Status Bar
Dog’s distance from you
Dog Status Icon
Dog’s direction
from you
VHF
antenna
