Info for other
trackers or tracker-like devices.
Tractive for cats and dogs XL
TRACTIVE
https://www.whistle.com/products/whistle-go-explore-gps-pet-tracker-activity-monitor
MY RATING
Great tracking when you want to find your dog RIGHT NOW.
Much cheaper than the other 2.
App for computer: i.e. you can track your pet on your phone or your computer
To
test it, I chose a one
month subscription
(Choose
the “Advanced setting” when paying)
because
I did not trust their refund policy in case I wanted to
return it (which I won't, that's the one I am
keeping)
For
multiple users, be sure to select a premium plan.
Would
make a nice safety option for long distance
runners, for ex. :
Share the access with someone you trust, in case they need
to go look for you... The rest of the time, just turn it off
(i.e. no stalking possible)
Here
is an example of what tracking looks like. The blue tag
indicates my (cell phone) position.
OUR TRACKER BROKE AFTER 1 YEAR, TWICE!!!!
The first one we got broke after one year, and so did its replacement... and they won't refund the remaining subscription!!!!!
Update rate is adequate when you want to find your dog RIGHT NOW.
Here
is an example of what tracking looks like. The blue tag
indicates my (cell phone) position.
The update rate is way too slow. A dog who is running will cover large distances in one minute!
Large and heavy contraption
Great battery life but since I am not trekking with my dogs in the Amazon forest, the battery life is not my priority, fast update is!
Here
is an example of what tracking looks like. The blue tag
indicates my (cell phone) position.
Phone requirements
157 MB for an Android
I don't know how many MB for Apple phones
74 MB for an Android
I don't know how many MB for Apple phones
62 MB for an Android
I don't know how many MB for Apple phones
Price for tracker
as of 01/29/2021
on amazon.com
If you want to buy one, let me know (mariefrbossard@gmail.com), with a referral from me, you will get a discount and I will get one month of the subscription free.
on amazon.com
https://shop.tryfi.com/
but discounts are available, look around or visit their site and you will probably get one by e-mail shortly!
Price for subscription
as of 01/29/2021
(No sharing)
Monthly:
$9.95
(Choose
the “Advanced setting” when paying)
1-year
plan: $77.90
($6.49 / month)
2-year
plan: $129.39
($5.39 / month)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
PREMIUM
(Sharing)
1-year
plan: $83.90
($6.99 / month)
2-year
plan: $139.00
($5.79 / month)
5-year
plan: $299.49
($4.99 / month)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
TRACTIVE CARE
(Warranty)
Tractive
Care (not available for monthly plans) will provide you
with a replacement unit should the device be lost, stolen or
damaged at any time throughout the subscription period.
However, since this is almost half the price of the tracker,
I don't think it is worth it.
1-year plan: $22.68/year
First month free
Monthly:
$12.99
1-year
plan:
$99.00
($8.25 / month)
2-year
plan:
$192.00
($7.99 / month)
Canceled subscription after 90 days: NO REFUND (even if the device does not work anymore. They want you to buy a new tracker instead if warrranty is expired!)
1-year
plan: $99
($8.25 / month)
2-year
plan: $186
($7.75 / month)
3-year
plan: $248
($6.89 / month)
Warranty
- optional additional one-year warranty for lost, stolen or damaged tracker (see above)
Trial period
- Full refund of device within 14 days
- All subscription plan
payments are eligible for refund within the first 2 weeks
after the date of payment.
HOWEVER, after reading some customers' complaints who said
their yearly subscription was NOT refunded,
I tried the device with one monthly subscription to
avoid this issue. Once I decided to keep it, I got
a yearly subscription (cheaper)
- Full refund of device within 90 days
- NO refund of unused subscription after 90 days.
- Full refund of device within 14 days
- All subscription plan payments are eligible for refund within the first 2 weeks
Size (in mm)
Look
Can you use your own collar?
but I would put the tracker on its own collar (i.e. your pet would wear 2 collars) because the attachment is weak and will break over time
The attachment is sturdy and goes on the pet's collar.
Weight
Can be attached to any collar
- Whistle-brand collar + tracker:146g
-
Tracker + attachment
to attach to any collar: 36g
Lost
dog
Refreshing rate
Lost
dog
Other features
-
Sound (weak but still helpful
Humans
can hardly hear it but it is unpleasant to dogs. A friend
trained his dog to come back when he activates the sound
feature :-) )
- When you are close to your pet, shows a target with concentric rings which darken as you get closer. Very useful if you pet is hiding or unconscious,
- No sound
- When you are close to your pet, shows a target with concentric rings which darken as you get closer. Very useful if you pet is hiding or unconscious,
No sound
Geo fence/safe zone
Customizable shape
Customizable shape
You can't customize its shape.
Notification
when pet leaves safe zone
Connectivity
I'm not
exactly sure... in the end they all track about the same,
except for the refresh rate!
Often got a message that it could not connect (for a short time)
Often got a message that it could not connect (for a short time)
Waterproof
Sharing
NO, if basic subscription
Battery
I used it for 2 days, turning the "Live" feature on a few times and the battery was still working but I would recommend recharging it every night or every other night.
You can turn the tracker off when not in use to save on the battery but you have to remember to turn it back on to use it again.
I used it for 2 days, turning the "Track" feature on a few times and the battery was still working but I would recommend recharging it every night or every other night.
Charging battery
Turning device off
Yes, by
pressing a button on the device.
Which means that you can use it for yourself as a security
if you want someone else to know where you are (if you are a
long-distance runner, or on a long car trip, for ex.) but
you can also turn it off when you don't want to be tracked
:-)
Yes, but it has to be done from the charging base.
Technical support
Other features
App for computer: i.e. you can track your pet on your phone or your computer
Using it
for yourself
as a safety device
Yes, I
do it when I drive out of town.
It is small enough to be used as a personal safety
device if you want a
particular person to know where you are (if you are a
long-distance runner, or on a long car trip, for ex.) but
you
can also turn it off
when you don't want to be tracked :-)
Yes, I
do it when I drive out of town.
It is small enough to be used as a personal safety
device if you want a
particular person to know where you are (if you are a
long-distance runner, or on a long car trip, for ex.)
but
it cannot be turned off
(i.e. if you have it in your pocket, you will always be
tracked.)
I did return this tracker, so I don't know... but I guess it could be used as a personal safety device if you want a particular person to know where you are (if you are a long-distance runner, or on a long car trip, for ex.) but it can only be turned off from the charging base. i.e. if you have it with you, you will always be tracked.
“GPS
for Dogs comparison: Whistle, Fi, and Tractive”
https://tinyurl.com/yyzmk5hh
SpotOn GPS tracker - https://spotonfence.com/
- Price: $1,495 plus montly subscription (Yes, One thousand four hundred and ninety five dollars!!!!)
- Weight: 6 oz, 79 g
- Refresh rate: 6 s
- Sharing: yes
- To set up a safe zone, you have to walk the perimeter with the collar. In case of an obstacle, you can put the process on pause and it will tie both sides of the obstacle. What if you are in a wheelchair or what if you'd like to set up the safe zone BEFORE you get somewhere?
- The collar and tracker are one unit. i.e. you cannot attach the tracker to your own collar
- You cannot activate a special light but there is already a light when the tracker is being used.
- The battery is not replaceable but will work 5 to 10 years
- Can you turn the tracker off? yes
- The app is good with Apple and Android phones. No app for computers yet.
- You can give the pet a static correction from a distance.
Jiobit GPS tracker - https://www.jiobit.com/
- Live Location Reporting: Every 10 sec. (not bad but Tractive is 1 to 3 sec.)
- Price: $149.99
- Dimensions: 50/37/12 mm
- Weight: 18 g (without attchment)
- Subscription
as of 11/29/2021
- 2 y: $8.99/month
- 6 months: $12.99/month
- no contract: $14.99/month
The Tracki is about the size of the Whistle and costs only $16.88 but the subscription is so much more expensive than in the end, you are paying more than for the Tractive with a one-year plan. And it was not specifically created for pets (it can be used for cars, motocycles, etc... ) So I did not care to investigate further...
Monthly
Plan - $19.95 6-month plan - $16.60 monthly
1-year plan - $13.95 monthly 2-year plan - $9.95
monthly
Wagz GPS tracker - https://wagz.com/
- Live Location Reporting: Every 60 sec. (terrible! Tractive is 1 to 3 sec.)
- Price: $199.99 to $299.99
- Dimensions: 2.375” wide x 2” high x 1.5” deep including the clip
- Weight: 50 grams (1.7 oz.)
- Subscription
as of 11/15/2022
- 2 y: $7.49/month
- 1 y: $8.33/month
- 1 month: $9.99/month
Offers the possibility of remote corrections (ultrasonic, vibration, audible sounds), among other things.
My views: Expensive and slow
The
“Dog GPS Tracker”
for $28.10 (instead of $ 56.20 but only "today", and NO
subscription.
https://dogsworld1.com/
or Lovely-Paw
probably other names too...
I think this one is a scam for the following reasons:
- There is almost no technical info. I find this very suspicious: they say they use "GFSK technology" but don't give any details. They don't say how much area the tracker covers and I suspect they use Bluetooth only, which for this purpose is as good as nothing!
- About the testimonials: I could find most of the pictures on Shutterstock... ie, the testimonials are probably fake.
- About the ratings and approvals from Women's Health, Forbes and People? They are real, but they were about OTHER brands of trackers. i.e. they are lying.
- The name of the tracker is “Dog GPS Tracker”, a name so vague it makes it quasi impossible to search on the internet.
- I asked a question on their FB page but never got an answer.
- The FB page is managed from Lithuania.
- If it sounds too good to be true...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AirBolt GPS tracker - https://theairbolt.com/products/airbolt-gps
Price: $100 + $20 collar attachment plus montly subscription
Weight: 21 g
Refresh rate: 20 s (The Tractive's is 1 to 3 s)
These
are NOT GPS trackers.
They
will NOT track the movements of a traveling pet.
- Chipolo ONE Spot Finder
- Lifekey Digital Dog ID Tag / fetch
- PATPET ID tag
- Pebblebee
- PetHub
- Q-Tag
These
are NOT
GPS trackers. They depend on a network of other
Airtags or Tile users:
If you are in the countryside or in isolated
area:
THEY WILL NOT WORK!!!!
You
could still use them to keep track of your pet (I would
not,) but there are some serious limitations.
For a better understanding: