PATmicro GPS Dog and Cat Tracker - FAQ
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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 33mm x 21mm and weighs approx 25g.
Q: Is it waterproof? A: The PATmicro™ comes with a fully waterproof case. The waterproof case measures 50mm x 40mm x 25mm.
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 35 - 110 hours depending on useage and configuration Below table indicates expected operating time dependant on periodic report timing. (P Y Value)
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: 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. We offer a neoprene pouch which maybe more suitable for a cat or smaller dog. This pouch does not increase the size or weight. The pouch is not waterproof but water resistant. If you want to further protect the tracker from the elements when using the pouch we suggest wrapping it tightly in cling film before placing in the pouch. When using it for a cat it is the owners responsibility to ensure that the harness or collar used is safe and suitable for a cat.
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. One of our customers has reported that the device obtained a position 3 feet under a fox hole.
Q: How accurate is The PATmicro 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 (not 3G). 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. Due to circumstances beyond our control as from 1/5/10 we can only supply to customers in UK.
Q: How do I know if The-PATmicro™ is working? A: There are a number of LED's that give an indication of GSM and GPS signals. Please see user manual for details.
Q: What is the difference between The PATmicro and The PAT4CATS? A: Essentially The PATmicro can tell you where your pet is, The PAT4CATS tells you where he has been. The PAT4CATS uses only GPS technology to record your cats location at defined intervals. It then logs these into its memory ready for you to download to your PC and view on Google Earth when your cat returns home. The PATmicro is slightly larger and also uses GSM (Mobile Phone) technology to send its position back to your mobile phone, it can tell you where your cat is now! Q: I changed to pin/password from the default 00000 and I have forgotten the new one, what do I do? A: Unfortunately you will have to send it back to us to be reset. Please email us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it first
A: Yes, just put the new sim card in the device and resend the R command. R 1 aaaa bbbb, aaaa = exisitng PIN and bbbb = new PIN Q: I have just received my PATmicro and have charged it fully, however the battery did not seem to last very long. A: As stated in the userguide, the type of battery used in the PATmicro does not reach full capacity until it has been charged and discharged several times. We suggest you charge it a number of times before using it on your pet. Q: My PATmicro has been working very well for sometime. Now it does not respond to any command I send it. A: If you are using a PAYG SIM the likely answer to this is that it has run out of credit - just top it up and all should be OK. We suggest that you check how much credit you have on a regular basis. Q. Will it work on the 3G Network? A. No. The PATmicro works on the GSM 2G network. You must use a 2G or 2G+3G SIM (not 3G only) |
Available Now!
The PATmicro GPS Dog and Cat Tracker is now available.
2,500 dogs go missing every week in the UK and more than 3000 cats. Don't let yours be one of them.
No contract, no subscription, no more lost pets!
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