Problems With a RoamEO Classic GPS Dog Tracking System

The RoamEO GPS Dog Tracking System was designed to pinpoint a dog's location using a GPS receiver on its collar. The collar receiver radioed the coordinates to a handheld receiver that showed the dog's position relative to the handheld. While many greeted the device as a dog owner's best friend, the RoamEO did have some limitations that some users found frustrating.

  1. Range Limitations

    • The RoamEO was billed as having a range of up to one mile, but the reception could be hindered by obstructions such as trees and hills. Many dogs could quickly outrun the collar's ability to stay in touch with the handheld receiver, even assuming the full range was valid.

    Blocked Signal

    • If a dog wearing a RoamEO collar got under some cover that blocked the collar's access to satellite signals -- such as in a culvert, under a car or even in a dog house -- he simply vanished from the receiver.

    Battery Life

    • The original RoamEO collar had a battery life of about six hours, with a fresh charge. If the batteries were left in the collar after use, they would eventually lose charge. Users who took their dogs out without having first reacharged the batteries would find that their dogs disappeared from the receiver after a few minutes.

    Water Resistance

    • The RomeEO collar was advertised as withstanding full immersion for 30 minutes, but users were warned to avoid regular dunkings. In actual practice, water-loving dogs like Laborador retrievers could soak the collar's circuitry after a few outings, leaving it nonfunctional.