Dog trackers
A dog tracker puts your hunting dog on the team map during a hunt. This page shows which trackers work with Jaktli today, how to set up a Garmin collar step by step, and which other brands we are working to support.
Jaktli does not lock your dog to one app
Jaktli is not a device app for pairing, firmware or collar settings. Those stay in the maker's own app. Jaktli only shows the dog on the map. Our aim is to open this up so your dog is not stuck inside a single brand's app.
Which trackers work
| Tracker | How it works with Jaktli | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin Alpha (200i, 300 and other Garmin dog-tracking handhelds) | The dog's position travels from the collar to your Garmin watch, and the Jaktli watch app passes it to your phone | Supported (beta) |
| Phone as tracker (OpenTrack) | An extra phone on the dog reports its own position | Coming soon |
| Meshtastic and open GSM trackers (for example Concox, Teltonika, Queclink) | Open hardware that can report straight to Jaktli, so the dog gets a real marker | Planned |
| Other trackers with a closed app (Tracker, Ultracom, MiniFinder, B-Bark, FollowIt (Lafayette), Huntloc, Tractive) | These makers keep the dog inside their own app, so it cannot yet show on the Jaktli map | Not yet |
Trackers we've contacted
Most hunting-collar makers only let you see the dog inside their own app. We've reached out to several of them about opening this up so the dog can show on the Jaktli map. Where things stand:
- Tractive: contacted, waiting for an answer
- FollowIt (Lafayette): contacted, no reply yet
- MiniFinder: contacted, not interested
- Tracker: not yet contacted
As makers open their data, or through open hardware, we'll show those dogs straight on the Jaktli map. We'd rather be honest about this than pretend a tracker works when it does not.
Buying a new tracker?
Our advice is to pick equipment that does not lock you into a single maker's system. An open tracker can show the dog in Jaktli and in other apps, and it does not stop working if the maker shuts down its service.
We are always looking for more open trackers. When we have found one and tested that it works, we add it to this page. We put extra focus on open source hardware, where the technology is free for anyone to use. Check back here now and then.
Set up a Garmin collar
You need a Garmin dog-tracking collar, your Garmin handheld (for example an Alpha), a Garmin watch running the Jaktli watch app, and the Garmin Connect app on your phone. Keep Bluetooth on.
Beta
Dog tracking is new and tested with the Garmin Alpha. Other Garmin dog-tracking handhelds should work too, but we have not been able to try every model yet. Let us know if something does not work with your equipment.
Prepare your Garmin first
Two settings on your Garmin gear have to be right, or the watch never hears the collar.
- Turn on Broadcast dog data on the handheld. The handheld has to broadcast the collar positions.
- Alpha 100 or Astro 320: open Settings, then Dogs, then Broadcast dog data, and turn it on
- Alpha 200 or 300: open Settings, then System, and turn on Broadcast dog data
- Prepare the watch in Garmin Connect. Turn off Auto Search under Sensors and Accessories, and remove Garmin's own DogTrack widget if you have it. This lets the Jaktli watch app receive the collar data instead of Garmin taking it first.
How it works
The collar sends its position by radio to the handheld. The handheld shares it with your watch. The Jaktli watch app passes it to your phone, and your phone puts the dog on the team map. You never type any number from the collar.
Add the collar
- Open My Dogs and tap Add tracker
- Choose Garmin collar
- Follow the checklist on screen. Each step gets a check mark when it is found:
- Garmin watch: keep the watch nearby with Bluetooth on
- Jaktli on the watch: start the Jaktli app on the watch
- Handheld: turn it on and keep the watch close to it
- Collar: turn on the collar and wait for it to get a fix
- When the collar appears in the list, tap it
- Name the tracker, for example
Silva's collar, and choose which dog usually wears it - Tap Save
Default dog
The dog you choose becomes the tracker's default dog. During a hunt you can switch dog for that hunt without changing anything here.
If a step will not turn green
The checklist stops at the step that is not ready. Work down it in order:
- Garmin watch not found: check that Bluetooth is on and that the watch is connected in Garmin Connect
- Jaktli on the watch does not start: open the Jaktli app on the watch by hand, then keep the watch near your phone
- Handheld not found: turn the handheld on, make sure Broadcast dog data is on (see above), and hold the watch close to it
- Collar not found: turn the collar on and give it a minute outdoors to get a satellite fix
During the hunt
Once the tracker is added, the dog appears on the map by itself when a hunt is running. You control sharing per collar with the paw button on the map. If you pause sharing and turn it back on, a fresh track starts. Read more under Live hunt.
The dog's track is saved with the hunt. Once the hunt has ended you can see the dog's path, distance and handler in the Hunt log.
Phone as tracker (OpenTrack)
Coming soon
It will be possible to use an extra phone as a tracker on the dog, for those without tracking equipment. The feature is on its way but cannot be used yet.