Frequent Asked Questions

Q: Why have you moved away from your original ' in collar' design?

A: There have been a number of reasons – technically, practically and cost.

Devices such as The PATmicro™ are not inexpensive pieces of technology and putting it inside a collar would make it very expensive for the owner to replace as and when a dog grows out of its collar.

Many owners also wanted the ability to be able to switch the device off when not in use and also LED's indicating the status of the device. All of these proved difficult and expensive to achieve with an 'in collar' device.

We think what we have now is the best compromise and provides a more suitable, cost effective and versatile option.

Q: How does The PATmicro™ differ from the implantable chip my dog already has?

A: The implantable chip only identifies your dog it cannot tell you where it is should it get lost. Also this information is only accessible once your dog has been found by someone and then taken to a vet who can read the chip with a scanner. The PATmicro™ uses GSM and GPS technology and can notify you immediately your dog is lost or gets out and you will continue to receive accurate location information until you find your dog. It enables you to be proactive and is immediately able to locate and track the dog as soon as you realize it has gone missing.

Q; How big is the device?

A: It measures 44mm x 34mm x 18mm and weighs approx 25g.

Q: Is it waterproof?

A: The PATmicro™ comes with a fully waterproof case

Q: How long does the battery last?

A.It depends on how many single position requests are made, how often live updates are required etc.

About 12 - 72 hours depending on useage and configuration

Unlike other devices on the market you can switch The PATmicro™ off when not in use, which will also increase the time between charges (however, The PATmicro™ will take longer to obtain its initial position when switched back on).

Remember you will always be alerted by sms message to your mobile when it is time to recharge the battery.

We recommend always giving it a top up charge whenever it is not in use.

Q: What is the 'MY Zone' function?

A: The My Zone function allows you to set up a temporary boundary around the PATmicro™. This is great if you take your dog to a park or leave it in the car. It is an invisible fence with a radius of 100m. Should your dog move outside of this area you will be alerted by sms. This is switched on and off using a button on the PATmicro™

Q: What is the 'Safe Zone' Function?

A: This is similar to the My Zone but is set up by sending an sms to the PATmicro™. You can set the radius as large as you want in increments of 10m.

Q: Can I take my dog outside the defined zone without triggering an alert.

A: All zones can be switched off at any time.

Q: Can I get a map on my mobile phone?

A: Yes. As long as you have a mobile phone capable of internet access you will be able to view the position of your dog on a map. The-PATmicro™ will send its position back as a Google Map link. You then click on this link and a Google Map will automatically be displayed on a suitable phone.

Q: My mobile does not have internet access?

A: We will soon be offering a 24/7 helpline for dog owners that do not have internet access. Just call us and we will tell you where your dog is (this will be a chargeable service)

Q: Can small breeds or cats wear The PAT?

A: It is possible. The PATmicro™ can be attached to a harness as well as a collar and maybe a suitable solution for the smaller dog or cat. Please contact us and we will suggest suitable harnesses.

Q: Will The PATmicro™ work inside buildings or in heavily wooded areas.

A: In order to obtain the best position the device needs to be able to 'see' the sky. The PATmicro™ contains the most sensitive GPS components available and can get a 'fix' if near a window.

Q: How accurate is The PAT

A: Given that The-PATmicro™ can 'see' 4 or more satellites the accuracy is about 5 metres

Q: Will The-PATmicro™ prevent my dog from being stolen?

A: No. The-PATmicro™ should not be seen as an anti-theft device. We thought long and hard and spoke to many dog owners about this subject. The only fail safe way of using such a device as an anti-theft measure is to ensure that it cannot be removed from the dog or collar. We know of a product that uses a lockable collar and has a cable inside the webbing so that in cannot be removed or cut off.

We decided not to go down that route. Having a collar that cannot be removed easily in an emergency is not something that we would want one of our dogs to wear. What a determined dog snatcher might do to a dog if they attempted to cut off or somehow remove such a collar doesn't bear thinking about. There is also the danger of it getting snagged in a tree branch and harming the dogs neck.

Q: Is it safe?

A: Yes. The-PATmicro™ conforms to all relative CE requirements and is also RoHS compliant.

Q: I live in a remote area will The-PAT™ still work?

A: Yes, Providing you have a GSM (Mobile phone) signal and GPS signals.

Unlike some other pet trackers the PATmicro™ can be fitted with any operators sim card. Unlike some we do not 'tie you' to a network. You can choose whatever provider has best coverage in your area.

We suggest ASDA as it uses the Vodafone network and offers the best value price for sms messages. The sim card is as easy to install in the PATmicro™ as it is any mobile phone.

You can easily change the sim card at anytime.

It is worthwhile noting that the signal strength required for an SMS text message is less than that required for voice calls or GPRS connection to a server so it is possible that sms message locations will get sent where voice/data may not.

Q: I live outside of the UK, will The PATmicro™ work for me?

A: The PATmicro™ will work worldwide provided a suitable sim is used. At present it has CE approval for use in UK and Europe only.

Q: How do I know if The-PATmicro™ is working?

A: There are a number of LED's that gives an indication of GSM and GPS signals. Please see user manual for details.

The-PAT™, The-PATmicro™ and PawTrax™ are all trademarks of PawTrax Limited