GPS: Not Just for Hikers Anymore
Sometimes the most complex technology can be applied to the simplest application. GPS technology is integrated
into many parts of our lives today, from cell phones to navigation. We don't even give it a second thought anymore, yet our
lives are the better for it every day. Now it is possible to use this same technology we find so ordinary in a new way, to
help us protect one of the most important things in our lives: our pets.
RoamEO
is an exciting new product that enables dog owners to quickly and
easily locate their pets. Using a GPS-enabled collar, RoamEO can
pinpoint your dog's location and show you where he's heading. It's that
simple. Now each time you put on your dog's collar, it comes with the
extraordinary advantage of knowing that you can locate your pet at
anytime. Most of the time, it's just that extra comfort of knowing
where he is when he's running around out back. And then there may be
those times when your pet is counting on you to help him, and that's
when RoamEO will make you his hero. RoamEO has
improved their GPS dog collar tracking device. No longer is there a
bulky transmitter attached to the collar. Now the GPS tracking device
is built right into collar. It is durable and comes with a
rechargeable battery also built into the GPS dog collar tracking
device.
Maybe your dog doesn't know what GPS is, but he does know how important your companionship is. So keep him safe.
RoamEO. So home is never far away.
- Locates your pet within one mile in all directions and displays this information on a color LCD screen.
- Displays your pet's exact location, current movements, and velocity.
- Create your own customized GPS Fence that will result in an audible alert if your pet leaves the defined perimeter.
- Can track up to three pets simultaneously.
- Easy to use: no installation required; no third party services necessary.
About RoamEO
The
RoamEO Location System is designed for pet owners to quickly and
accurately locate their pets by using state-of-the art GPS technology.
RoamEO displays the concise, easy to read information on a color LCD
screen that allows you to locate your pet and shows you his current
movements.
Each RoamEO
system consists of a portable, handheld receiver that displays
information received from the GPS-enabled collar on your dog. The
handheld device uses a color LCD to show the location, direction and
velocity of your pet. RoamEO is designed to update readings every few
seconds, giving you a continuous stream of real-time information.
RoamEO
uses an ordinary collar that is equipped with GPS technology. Just snap
the collar on your dog, turn it on, and RoamEO is operational. The
RoamEO handheld unit can track up to three dogs simultaneously. A
collar is required for each dog.
RoamEO
has been designed so that you can set up a GPS Fence. RoamEO uses GPS
coordinates that you establish by walking the perimeter of your desired
fence, and commits them to memory. If your pet exits this perimeter, an
audible alarm will sound. For example, you may wish to establish your
property line as the perimeter for your pet. After setting up your
fence, this information would be stored in your system and if your dog
wanders off your property, the alarm will sound. Because this boundary
is electronic, you can erase and create new ones as often as you like,
giving you the flexibility for any situation or condition.
RoamEO
uses rechargeable batteries in both the handheld unit and the collar,
so there is no need to purchase batteries for your system. The AC
adapters are provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does RoamEO work?
Each
RoamEO system has two components: a portable, handheld receiver used by
the pet owner and a special collar for the dog. The collar transmits
GPS coordinates back to the receiver, where the information is
translated and then displayed on the color LCD screen.
Is RoamEO designed to work with cats?
Technically,
there is no reason RoamEO would not work on cats. However, the smallest
circumference on a collar we currently manufacturer is 14 inches.
Generally, this size collar would be too large for most cats. We have
received considerable input from cat owners asking for a product like
RoamEO for their pets. As a result, we are actively investigating
whether we can make a collar small enough to fit on cats. Please watch
our website for further updates on this.
Is RoamEO available outside the United States and Canada?
Currently,
we cannot ship RoamEO outside the United States. All countries have
laws governing radio transmissions within their borders, and these laws
are usually quite different than those of the United States'. We are
researching the laws now in the following countries: all of Europe,
South America, Mexico, and Australia. It is our goal to make RoamEO
available to as many countries as possible.
What set-up is required for RoamEO?
RoamEO
was designed to be simple. The only set up required is adjusting the
collar for your dog. There is no hardware or software installation
required. The system is operational the moment you turn it on.
What is the range of RoamEO?
In
line of sight conditions, RoamEO has a range of one mile in all
directions. Buildings, trees, and hills can affect the range of RoamEO,
although every condition is unique and results will vary. If possible,
we recommend that you test for range so that you have an understanding
of this distance in the environment that you will be using your system.
What information is displayed on the LCD screen?
RoamEO
was designed with three distinct screen shots. The unit defaults to the
screen that was active at shut-down. The first screen provides very
basic information, and an additional level of detail is added as you
scroll to the next screen. Moving from screen to screen requires only
hitting the 'Screen' button, should you decide at any time that more or
less information is needed. The following information is available:
your location, your pet's location, distance in feet, velocity in MPH,
direction your pet is heading, general compass, Electronic Fence (if
activated), battery life of collars, battery life of handheld unit, GPS
signal strength, radio signal strength, and zoom scale. Examples of
these screenshot of the LCD screen are available here.
What happens if my dog goes beyond the range of RoamEO?
RoamEO
displays the last known location of your pet. If at any time your pet
comes back into the range of the system-whether because you are moving
toward him or he is moving toward you-RoamEO will resume tracking
immediately.
What happens if I lose a GPS fix on my dog?
Depending
on the environment you are in, it is possible that either you or the
collar on your dog may lose a GPS fix. If this occurs, RoamEO will show
the last known position of the unit, and continue its attempts to
acquire a GPS lock. As soon as a GPS fix is re-acquired, the system
immediately displays the updated information. If this condition
persists, especially on the collar, it may be possible your dog is
under some type of covering-man made or otherwise-that is preventing
his collar from receiving a signal.
How many pets can I track at one time with RoamEO?
RoamEO
is designed to track up to three pets at once. Each pet would require
their own collar. RoamEO uses a color system to distinguish between
multiple pets on the LCD screen.
What is the GPS Fence?
The
GPS Fence option allows you to establish an electronic perimeter for
your pet. For example, this could be the perimeter of your yard or your
property line. Once established, the fence will reside in the system
memory. If you choose to activate your fence when your system is turned
on, you will receive an audible warning if your dog exits the fence
perimeter. RoamEO still tracks your pet, even without an active fence.
You can store a fence in memory without activating it.
Will RoamEO track my pet if he exits the GPS Fence?
RoamEO is designed to constantly track your pet, whether he is inside or outside the perimeter of the GPS Fence.
How do I set up the GPS Fence?
The
GPS Fence feature is very easy to set up. It is best if you decide
before hand the perimeter you wish to establish for your pet. Then,
holding the handheld unit, walk the perimeter you have selected,
pressing the 'Fence' button at strategic points. This action causes the
system to establish GPS fence posts in memory, which serve as the
outline of your fence. You may establish up to 256 GPS fence posts,
although we would not recommend that. The fence is then stored in
memory until or if you choose to create a different fence.
How large (or small) can I make my GPS Fence?
Theoretically,
you could make your fence as large as the range on your system in your
given environment, or as small as a 10 foot perimeter. The GPS Fence
feature was designed to give you maximum flexibility in terms of both
shape and distance. Some experimentation may be necessary to establish
the most efficient fence for your particular situation. With this mind,
we have designed the fence building process to be very simple.
Can I use RoamEO from indoors?
Yes.
We have designed RoamEO to allow for you to track your dog from
indoors. However, RoamEO will need to be placed close to a window so
that the radio signals can be received.
How do I know if the collar will fit my dog?
The
smallest collar is designed to fit a dog with a neck circumference of
14 inches, and the largest is designed for a neck circumference of 27
inches. There are three different sizes of collars offered, so it is
important to match the collar size for your dog.
Can the collar get wet?
Yes,
the collar was designed to be submersed in water for up to 30 minutes.
We do not recommend this as a common practice, however.
What type of batteries are used on RoamEO?
RoamEO
uses lithium ion re-charagable batteries in both the GPS Receiver and
the collar. These batteries are enclosed in their respective cases and
are not field replaceable. Battery life on the GPS Receiver is 8-10
hours; on the collar, it is 10-12 hours. Replacement batteries are
available by contact White Bear Technologies at info@RoamEOforPets.com.
The batteries for the RoamEO GPS Receiver and collar were specifically
designed for use with our system, and as such, are not available as a
standard product offering in retail stores.
How much installation and/or assembly are required for RoamEO to be operational?
Take RoamEO out of the box.
Place the collar on your dog.
Turn it on.
RoamEO is now operational.
The
only feature of RoamEO that requires any degree of installation is
building the GPS Fence. This involves walking the perimeter of your
fence outline to program the fence posts into memory. All other
features of RoamEO are operational from the moment the system is
activated.