New Garmin vehicle navigator tracks and trains your dog in an all-in-one device

Tuesday, 21 January 2025, 9:46 am CST

Powerful Alpha XL handles all terrains and communicates directly with Garmin dog collars

OLATHE, Kan./Jan. 21, 2025 – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today unveiled the Alpha XL sporting dog device. This hunting-focused vehicle navigator easily guides users to their favorite hunting spot thanks to a high-resolution 10” touchscreen display and cutting-edge Garmin navigation features, then transitions to an all-in-one dog tracking and training device. Eliminating the need for a dog tracking handheld, the rugged Alpha XL navigator communicates directly with compatible Garmin dog collars, providing hunters track and train capabilities on the display. Users can view their dogs or other hunters’ handhelds from the cab of their truck or remove Alpha XL from the mounting dock and grab a seat at the tailgate for up to two hours of portable use.

“We created Alpha XL for users who wanted all the power and durability of an Alpha handheld but in a form factor better suitable for vehicles. This device guides you to your favorite hunting spot, no matter how far off the beaten path, and then helps bring you and your dogs back when it’s time to head home. It’s perfect for users who travel large distances on the hunt.” – Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales

Notable Alpha XL features

Display: A crisp, 10” touchscreen display provides easy readability while driving and hunting.

Track your pack: Monitor and train up to 20 dogs on the color touchscreen map display when paired directly to compatible dog collars.

Command central: The large touchscreen lets users deliver training commands to paired collars, enabling quick adjustments for individual dogs.

Hunt metrics: See each dog’s daily hunting patterns including distance, speed and time afield to better understand their in-field performance.

Channel View feature: Monitor the use of other Garmin collars in the area and easily select less congested channels to avoid interference.

Satellite imagery: Download satellite imagery to the device via Wi-Fi technology and see the terrain features from above to help navigate or find suitable habitat for game.

Navigation features: Multi-GNSS support provides robust on- or off-road navigation with preloaded North American topographic and street maps.

Alpha XL on the trail

To reach a favorite hunting spot, Alpha XL provides users with turn-by-turn navigation for streets, unpaved roads and trails thanks to preloaded topographic and street maps of North America. No matter how difficult the trail gets, users will feel confident knowing Garmin’s advanced navigation technology is blazing the path, leveraging multi-GNSS support for more reliable tracking than GPS alone, ABC sensors, and more.

For the most comprehensive navigation features, users can purchase an Outdoor Maps+ subscription which provides public land information, enhanced topo maps, landowner names and more. This mapping content is regularly updated for the entire country and delivered wirelessly¹ directly to Alpha XL, so hunters can feel confident they always have the most up-to-date Garmin mapping solutions.

Alpha XL on the hunt

Once at their hunting destination, users can quickly pair their dog collars to the Alpha XL and begin using the device for dog tracking and training with functionality similar to Garmin dog tracking handhelds. Users can view the hunt on the 10” display from the comfort of their truck cab or outside their vehicle without losing connection with their dogs. Simply remove the display from the dock, and the rugged Alpha XL will remain fully functional for up to two hours and ten feet away.

Alpha XL can track 20 dogs up to 9 miles in real-time when using compatible Garmin collars. If recall or correction is needed, users can deliver stimulation, tone or vibe training commands to paired, training-enabled dog collars from the Alpha XL touchscreen. View each dog’s distance traveled, average speed, barks per minute, geofencing alerts, collar battery level and other information on the display. On extended trips, hunt metrics displayed on Alpha XL include each dog’s daily hunting patterns, distance, speed and time afield, so users can monitor performance (requires compatible dog collar). For additional functionality, pair the Alpha XL with the Alpha app to follow dog movements, drop waypoints, navigate and review statistics from the hunt.

When hunting in large groups or heavily populated areas, Alpha XL can help reduce collar interference through the Channel View feature, which monitors the use of Garmin dog collars in an area so owners can avoid interfering with other Garmin dog collars in use. Alpha XL can store up to 250 dogs in the device’s memory letting users easily manage active dog groups, so they don’t have to manually re-enter dogs’ names for every hunt.

Stay connected when venturing beyond cellphone coverage by pairing a compatible inReach SOS satellite communication device for two-way messaging – which includes voice and photo messaging on inReach Messenger Plus – and location tracking via the 100% global Iridium satellite network². In the event of an emergency, send an interactive SOS message to Garmin Response, a 24/7-staffed international emergency assistance coordination center.

Available now, Alpha XL has a suggested retail price of $1,199.99.

¹ Internet connection required.

² An active inReach subscription is required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communication devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdiction where the device is intended to be used.