Smart devices have seemingly taken over every aspect of our human lives, so it’s no surprise that they’re starting to invade our pets lives as well! Though there are tons of GPS pet trackers on the market today, only a few really top the charts and those are the
In this article, I’ll be doing a direct review comparison of the
The Whistle Go Explore packs a TON of functionality into an overall great device. However, this added functionality does make the mobile app more confusing.
- Does not require a base station
- Supports three designated "safe zones"
- Feature rich health-tracking
- Confusing mobile app
- GPS tracker does not include the collar
The Fi smart collar's simplicity, effectiveness, and incredible battery life make it an extremely compelling option. All memberships now include a Fi Series 3 collar rather than needing to pay separately, as was the case with prior models.
- Incredible battery life
- Easy setup and use
- Addictive activity tracking features
- Limited options for color and width of the collar band
- Monthly plan required for access to historical data
That being said, there’s only one that combines value, performance, convenience, and style into one irresistible package. If I had to choose one, it would be the Fi smart collar. It’s simple mobile app and amazing battery were the key factors that pushed it to the top.
Fi Smart Collar
Company Background
Founded in 2017 by Johnathan Bensamoun and Loren Kirkby,
Fi’s headquarters can be found in Brooklyn, New York. In 2019 they debuted the world’s first smart collar for dogs that used the LTE-M cellular network. This revolutionary strategy would redefine the use of technology in the up-and-coming smart pet tracker market.
LTE-M is a low power wide area (LPWA) network. It supports the use of loT, because its interactions with hardware are far less complex than other networks. The LTE-M network provides better coverage for longer distances.
Key Features
This collar is made with the most adventurous dogs in mind. Not only is this smart collar water-resistant, but it also boasts an IP68 Waterproof Rating!
If your dog is the swimming type, there’s no need to worry about water damage as it can withstand complete immersion at 1.5m deep in water. It also has spray saltwater resistance for your trips to the beach.
The
This collar boasts an impressive battery life. If you and your dog are lounging at home most of the time, you can expect the collar to last from 1-3 months on a single charge. In my personal testing, I got 60 days of use on average between charges.
Generally speaking, the more active your dog is, the shorter the battery life will be. Still, even for the busiest dogs, the collar should last for several weeks before needing a recharge.
Comprehensive activity tracking detects when your dog is moving and how many steps they take. You can track activity by hour, day, or month. This feature may not be so valuable for a lot of people, but it is another good way to estimate how far away your dog is if they suddenly go off on their own.
The premium
Pros
- Can use both real GPS or your mobile GPS
- Better battery life than competitors
- Free shipping, a 1-year warranty, and a free 30 day GPS subscription
- LED lights for nighttime walks
- Very durable
Cons
- Though
Fi offers a mobile app, there is no web version, so it cannot be accessed on electronic devices - You can only access activity tracking features when you sign up for a GPS subscription, though you can still see your dog’s activity day-to-day
- There have been some reports of poor customer service, but it has not been an issue in my experience with them
Whistle Go Explore
Whistle Labs Inc. is a subsidiary of Mars Petcare, from San Francisco, California. It was founded in 2012 by Ben Jacobs, Steve Eidelman, and Kevin Llyod. They released their first product in 2013 and are committed to revolutionizing the game of pet wearables.
Whistle is widely accredited by professionals and laymen alike. They have partnered with PetSmart and some of their products have been used in research about chronic pain in dogs.
Whistle is very wellness-oriented, and many of their smart devices, including the Go Explore collar, track details like the number of calories burned. Their devices also give recommended activity levels based on your dog’s age, breed, and weight.
Key Features
The Whistle Go Explore tracker conveniently attaches to your dog’s existing collar to track them with GPS technology. This circumvents a lot of hassle for you and your dog to find the perfect-fitting collar when you’ve already got several that you don’t want to get rid of.
The collar includes health monitoring to inform you about your pet’s scratching, sleeping, and licking habits. This, in my opinion, is an underrated feature!
By monitoring this data over a continuous basis, even if you’re not checking every week, you can catch a skin irritation, or worse, early on and get your dog to a vet sooner rather than later.
You can also share these reports with your vet through the app.
Whistle is known for its subscription plans which every customer has to buy in order to use their devices. I personally don’t mind this as it makes sense that a data connection is needed for tracking, but not everyone is a fan.
Still, there are three different subscription plans sure to meet any pet owner’s budget. The only difference in benefit is that the 1-year and 2-year plans include a 30-day free trial, while you don’t get any free trial with the monthly plan.
Whistle touts that the Go Explore’s battery can last up to 20 days when fully charged. I found this number to be a little conservative as it lasted for 22 days on average in my experience.
It’s definitely not bad and not too far behind the
Pros
- The Whistle Go Explore has been tested and given an IPX8 waterproof rating, meaning it can withstand even the wettest weather conditions
- No base station is required to charge your Whistle Go Explore
- Program up to three “safe zones” that alert you when your dog leaves or returns from a designated area. You and your family control the positions of those safe zones
Cons
- Not very suitable for dogs under 20 lbs
- Whistle devices can only be used with a subscription plan
- The notifications for when pets leave the designated safe zones can lag and will only alert you after the fact.
The Winner!
The
Fi’s patented tracking technology is also protecting dogs in your neighborhood.
You trust GPS technology to get you and your family where they need to go. Now, trust it to keep your pet where they belong: by your side. The best way to do that is with a world-class GPS Smart Collar from
Fi’s smart dog collar creates a new breed of dog collars, offering GPS location (with escape detection) and activity tracking for your dog. The most advanced pet tracker in the market, the Fi Smart Dog Collar offers the longest battery life of up to 3 months and best location coverage in the US!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These are some good basics to know for those who are newer to the world of smart collars!
Can I use dog trackers for hunting?
Yes. In fact, tracking collars were initially designed for hunters who wanted to track their hunting dogs in the fields. Over time they were adapted for everyday pets. You can still find collars like that today, though they are specifically marketed for hunting dogs.
GPS dog trackers can gather precise info on the dog’s position, which would prove especially useful for hunters. Some trackers can even send a vibration or audio tone through the tracker to help make training a hunting dog simpler.
Why not just get a microchip?
While you can use a microchip to reunite you with your lost pet, it only provides permanent information; it doesn’t actually communicate with satellites for real-time tracking like GPS.
Microchips also do not provide additional info such as activity levels and other useful health insights.
What’s the difference between a tracker and a smart collar?
Trackers are usually separate devices that you attach to your pet’s collar or harness, while a smart collar includes the GPS tracking technology in an easy, all-in-one pet collar.
Is a GPS tracker safe for my dog?
Yes, you can rest assured that a GPS tracker is perfectly safe for your beloved pooch. GPS is only a one-way radio signal transmission from satellites to Earth. The strength of this signal is low enough that it doesn’t affect the brain, heart, or any other vital organs.
You and your pets are exposed to GPS signals every day without any adverse side effects. Tracking simply listens for these signals, pinpointing their exact location in real-time, to help you locate your pets and keep them safe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
what Does the Fi Collar Do?
The Fi collar is a smart dog collar that includes activity, sleep, and geo-tracking features. This allows you to know when your pet has left pre-determined safe areas such as your yard, as well as monitor their physical activity levels similar to a Fitbit.
Is Whistle or Fi Better?
Although the Whistle and Fi collars are both good products, the superior battery life, and easy-to-use Fi mobile app makes it a better product for most.
How Much Is Fi Collar A month?
The annual GPS subscription plan for the Fi collar costs $99 per year. This primarily allows the collar to have a data plan that enables GPS tracking in the event that they are lost.
I have the newer version of FI, I guess its called 3. I also have tractive. I use both for my German Shepherd. When I track my dog in the live mode Tractive is much better and I can trace her steps with very little delay. Fi has a 10 minute delay so I never know where my dog is in the live mode. Its takes days for Fi customer service to email me back. There is no live support and I would like to know from them if there is some kind of adjustment to improve the Live performance. So far they have not responded to my questions. When i contact Tractive, they get back to me within the hour. I don’t know how you can rate FI so good. If you look at customer reviews on Chewey , They are poor.