Garmin Alpha XL
The Garmin Alpha XL is the in-vehicle Alpha: a 10.1-inch touchscreen navigator with a VHF radio that tracks up to 20 dogs at up to 9 miles and stores up to 250. It is built for a truck dash, not a vest pocket, and suits big-rig houndsmen running from a vehicle.
Pros
- 10.1-inch in-vehicle screen for watching a whole pack at a glance
- Tracks up to 20 dogs and stores up to 250
- Same 9-mile VHF system and collars as the handhelds
Cons
- Too big to carry on foot - it is a vehicle unit
- Needs a vehicle mount and power
Key specs
| Tracking range | Up to 9 miles with a compatible collar |
|---|---|
| Training | 18 levels of stimulation plus tone and vibration |
| Dogs tracked | Up to 20 with additional collars |
| Weight | 1.78125 pounds |
Source: amazon.com
Who the XL is really for
The XL trades pocketability for a dash-sized map. If you road-hunt or run from a truck and want to watch the whole pack on a 10-inch screen with full navigation, that is its job. If you walk in behind the dogs, a handheld like the 300 is the right tool and the XL is overkill.
It uses the same collars and the same 9-mile VHF system as the handhelds, so it is a different form factor, not a different network.
Mounting and power
Because it lives in the vehicle, the XL needs a solid mount and vehicle power, and it ships with a VHF and charging dock. The usual collar add-ons from the collars page apply.
Alpha XL options on Amazon
Alpha XL navigators, bundles and the replacement dock on Amazon:
Frequently Asked Questions
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