Cat Tracker RF finder longest Range up to 1600 ft lightest pet safety tracking device only 8gr small pets dog Pro-track-tor Pet Tracker for 2 CATS

I saved my cat from trees and trapped behind sheds three times thank to this little gem. Let me point out the pros and cons of its approach. Pros: - Extremely accurate. Once you lock in, it will bring you to your cat within centimeters. GPS units are accurate only to a few meters. They will bring you nearby, but if the radius is 10 meters you might not get close enough to find him hiding behind a shed. - No subscription required. Works out of the box. No fees. Nothing. Big winner for me. - Battery lasts a very long time. GPS units need to be charged every 2 or 3 days. This unit need to be recharged only every 15 days. Also big winner for me. - Works even when indoor. GPS units can lose connection if the cat gets trapped in an area with no access to the sky. Cons: - You won't have a phone app with a nice pinpoint view. It's like a "hot/cold" game. The receiver will beep more and more the closer you are. Finding the cat may require some triangulation and thinking. - The emitter is tiny, but still quite bulky. Most of the size is due to the battery, which is a normal rechargeable coin battery. Cat does not seem to mind though. - The emitter is rather rugged and survived well in the wild, but to replace the battery you need to unscrew it using tiny little screws that are easy to lose. - Pressing the button on the detector will make the emitter beep to locate the cat more easily, or to call him back for food, but the beep volume is rather weak. You can definitely hear it if you are within a few meters and it's silence around, but still not really a strong sound. - Realistic range is around 50 meters, 100 meters in open space conditions, but honestly you won't need more unless someone steals the cat. Cats never really go far from the house, and in general even if they are out of range a brief walk will cover enough area to locate it. Overall, excellent product that gets the job done easily and reliably, with only minor usability flaws.

Purchased this based on numerous 'rave' reviews and waiting two weeks for delivery my initial thoughts were 'this seems okay'. BUT, within two hours the first tag had desynchronised from the main handset. I followed the online videos on how to synchronise the tags to the handset, and things just got worse (despite following the instructions exactly). Now both tags have an issue. They are both paired, respond to a signal from the handset - as they both have a flashing led when I press the search button- but they don't beep when I hold the button down, and the hand unit doesn't start trying to locate them (the lights flash once after 20 seconds then everything goes to sleep). After trying to pair the handset and tags seven times, the issues still occur. I've even changed batteries on everything. Despite being within sight of the tags, and less than 5 metres away from them, the handset cannot track or even start searching for either of the two tags. I've requested a refund or repair but have still to hear back from the supplier, and based on other reviews my guess is I'll either be ignored, or have to send the unit back at my own expense then refused a refund because the packaging is open. Everything about the product feels cheap. All of the components are thin plastic or flimsy battery contacts and not what I expected for £85. The screws on the tags do not sit flush, neither do the buttons on the handset (they all appear to be at different heights). The pairing process requires you to have three hands. And don't get me started on the battery charging unit - the USB cable is 15cm long (way too short), the charging compartment is a nightmare to open (it feels like you're going to break it), the battery insertion is from the opposite to how it's displayed in the instructions.

I have bought several of these devices over the last few years (I have a LOT of cats!) and I am probably in a very good position to give a balanced and informed view of this device. My review has been posted for a while but I'm editing it here (now for a second time, new info marked with *) after some further experience with the latest version of the product (which has a new tag design and rechargeable button cells). It is hard to give a single number of stars that reflects the different elements in the product (i) the tracker, which gets 4 stars; (ii) the charger/rechargeable batteries, which get minus 100 stars I have oscillated between loving this product and tearing my hair out at times. Most of the time this product works very well and I have yet to find anything better. I’ve recovered cats from all sorts of places and, once, even from the garage of an empty house (the owners were on holiday). Fortunately, a neighbour had a key, but they took some persuading that I was not a burglar when I said my cat was in the garage! Finding the direction of the cat takes a bit of practice, I'm not an engineer but maybe the signals can bounce around of buildings and confuse the reader. The audio and LED display guides you in, though I think the audio option is more useful for close-up work. When you are VERY close the display lights turn off, which is handy if you still cannot see the cat in the bushes or undergrowth; at least you know you are an arm’s length away. The transmitters are nice and light and none of my cats have had any issues wearing them. They comprise two plastic halves, which sandwich the button cell to make the electrical contact. The two halves interlock when you slide one over the other. I am having significant issues with the electrical contacts (as noted by others) causing frequent failures. This seems far worse with the newest version of the tag (with the screws, which offer extra support to the tag). Taking the battery out and putting it back in usually fixes it, but I think the internal dimensions are probably not quite right for 100% reliable performance. (*It is now clear that the primary reason for losing signal, apart from dead button cell, is that the flexible metal terminal, which is angled upwards about 30 degrees in order to press against the button cell, eventually becomes flat and loses contact. I have now modified all my tags using small pliers by folding the metal terminal back on itself, with the end section folded UNDER the rest of the terminal. This is easier to do if you snip 2-3 mm off the length of the metal terminal before folding it under, and reduces the risk of damaging the printed circuit board. As the terminal now ends with a 180 degree turn of the metal, it is impossible for it to flatten and lose contact with the button cell. It is a bit tricky to get this right and initially I broke a couple of tags. Take care with closing the two halves of the tag, as there is now a strong pressure between the button cell and the metal terminal. However, this is exactly what is needed to make the product more reliable). The other concern I see in the reviews is that the pairing of the tracker and the handset often fails and you need to ‘re-pair’ them. Like other users, this is really where I’ve torn my hair out at times, but I know the solution now. The main reason you cannot pair them is that you need a VERY strong button cell. Alternatively, the battery connection has been lost (see above). This is soul destroying when your cat is lost. (*If you have a brand new button cell the pairing works well, and you will need to change button cells before they have gone completely flat to get reliable performance). I was excited about the rechargeable button cells for the tag as they are a higher voltage (3.7V) than standard buttons and I thought it would be easier to pair the tag with the handset. They are a total disaster, as many people have noted. They rapidly lose charge and cannot hold their charge when recharged. Just use standard 3V button cells and don't waste your time. Really, the charger and rechargeable cells should be withdrawn as not being fit for purpose. (*Despite the dreadful reviews and ever diminishing ratings for the product the supplier does nothing to fix things. The rapid loss of charge from the rechargeable buttons is also undoubtedly the cause of many issues with the failure to pair). The range of the handset is better than some reviews suggest but I think most people would understand if the cat is behind a huge building you may lose some signal. I’ve not found houses to be an issue particularly and think the range is as advertised. (*I made this comment initially after estimating distance, but I did some tests and he best I got was 2/3 the claimed distance under ideal conditions) Finally, the Girafus instructions have always been awful (!), whoever wrote them had a very bad day. It’s tough going for a first-time user. When you are repairing and need to switch the tag off, DO NOT spend hours looking for the off button because there isn't one! What they mean is that you should disassemble the tag, which is a stupid alternative to a genuine on-off button, and much trickier with the newer version of the tag with the holding screws. With the worsening issues with electrical contacts since my original purchase a few years ago and unpredictable pairing I have reduced my score to *3 stars. The rechargeable batteries are a bad joke and risk damaging the reputation of this supplier. The instructions have some comedic value but are pretty frustrating when you are a first-time user.

I’ve had this now for a while to give it a fair test and I’ll start with the positives. 1. It actually does work and shows both the direction and approximate distance. Red lights illuminate once the tag is detected and more illuminate the closer you get. A green light shows the rough direction, getting more accurate as you get closer. I don't use the sound indication but that's just a personal preference. I have tested the range in an open field and it detected the tag at 160 metres (nearly 500 feet). In areas with buildings, fences etc or indoors, this is considerably reduced. Around our yard it is more like about 20 metres (65 feet). 3. The tag is small and light enough for a cat’s collar and doesn’t seem to bother the cat at all. Now for the negatives, which are actually battery problems. 1. The tag is in 2 halves which slide together and lock with a click. The coin battery is inserted in the cover of the tag then the other half slides on to make contact with a central terminal (+) and a side tab (-), for positive and negative. This springy side tab is the main problem. When in use the battery flexes against the tab which bends and loses contact with the battery, so the tag no longer functions. This is unpredictable and may be ok for days or fail in a couple of minutes. There is a small test button on the tag which illuminates a red light to show whether the battery is working, so you can quickly tell when the terminal has lost contact without having to scan for it. 2. The other problem could be the battery life. The supplied batteries failed after about 4 weeks. The replacement batteries I am now using have lasted 6 weeks so far, so maybe the supplied batteries were just not very good. The scanning operation becomes unstable when the batteries are low. I thought it was just broken at first, but new batteries solved the problem. Rechargeable batteries do work in the handset by the way. I complained to the supplier about the tag’s battery contacts and to be fair they sent a replacement tag straight away. Unfortunately, this has the same problem with the side terminal. What I have done is to solder the side tab in order to stiffen it and then add a blob of solder to the battery side of the tab to increase the possibility of contact. The two halves of the tag, however, no longer click into place and I have to tape them together with electrical tape, but they do work now. A bit more care in the soldering might avoid this. If you're happy to accept these problems, then the device is ok for the money.

I certainly recommend this product! Our cat likes to roam. On one of its trips it was gone for a week and we found him, completely lost, 2 Kms away, thanks to a combination of Facebook community announcements and sightings and by going on long cycle rides, whistling to catch his attention. Eventually I found him using a high-powered torch beam which caught his eyes shining back at me, 150 m away in a field. He was happy to be found and we were overjoyed to be lucky enough to get him back. A massive relief. I recommend this technique, but it relies on a lot of luck and dedication... I resolved to get a tracker. I decided on the Girafus after doing a lot of research and I don't regret it. GPS tracking would tell you where it had been which might be useful but this product uses radio tracking and is cost effective. Firstly, although the tracker tag looks quite big our cat doesn't mind wearing it at all. We attach it to his collar by the silicon protective sleeve. I have inspected all parts of the supplied product and it is high quality, well finished throughout. This is not a gimmick! It can track up to 4 tags. The hand held tracker is easy to use and works well. It is fun to go searching for the cat and find him so easily. I am still waiting to have to do a real wide area search for him but it is comforting to know that with the long, proven, battery life of many weeks I will have plenty of chances with my searching.

I purchased this in October 24 after research on various trackers. It started off promising. I did find it fiddly to put the tags together but as we were only charging them once a week it wasn't too bad. They are lightweight and small. I would prefer it to be a bit more weatherproof, I always felt like rain would seep in though it hasn't so far. My partner and I took it out to test it before using it on pets. I'm not convinced the range is as good as stated however it did a decent job and I managed to find him each time he hid in a local park. I charged the trackers every week since October up until Christmas where I didn't charge them for 2 weeks. Apon going to charge them up again I found one battery & tracker to now not be working. We are past the return window and I cannot see a way to contact the seller on the listing. Really unimpressed as I would have expected them to last alot longer than 2 and a half months. I will try contacting girafus through their own website but it really should be more obvious how to do this through amazon if it is even possible, which it should be.

I have purchased the Girafus as I was disappointed in the Tabcat from Loc8tor due to its flawed design, and poor performance. My review of it can be read at this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1XANEBZBOED7H/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm. I however like the RF technology, as it is simple, accurate and does not require any expensive subscription like GPS trackers. In short, I was left disappointed with the Tabcat because the battery was not held securely inside the tracker, which means that the tags could get inactive at any moment. This is obviously quite a bummer when your cat is somewhere outside... and defeats the purpose if you cannot trust the tag. As I read a couple good reviews about the Girafus (it was not available in the UK when I first bought my Tabcat), I decided to give it a try. So I will compare it directly to my experience with Tabcat, as I have used it for several months, and it uses the same technology. DESIGN ************ The Girafus tag in itself is small and light. It is a small rectangle, which in my opinion is more comfortable for the cat compared to the Tabcat wich is circular. The Girafus remote is bigger and feels a bit cheap, but it does the job. Tabcat’s remote was smaller (credit card size), and felt better quality. But when it comes to the design of the tag (the most important as it is the cat walking around with it), the Girafus definitely wins. Also, the battery in the tag is held securely, and there is no chance for it to get dislodged. SET-UP: ************ Setting up the Girafus tag is very easy. The instructions are clear, and you can also find helpful videos on Youtube about the set up / tracking process (search for "Pet Tracker 227PA Installation and Pairing") Each button of the remote is meant to be synced with a different tag, with up to 4 tags able to be registered to 1 remote. The tag is provided with a waterproof silicon case, and fits snuggly in it. I found it easier to first slide the case on the collar, and then insert the tag afterwards. Tabcat was also fairly easy to set-up, however changing the batteries of the tags is a bit more difficult as the tags are hard to pry open without the dedicated tool. TRACKING *************** To start tracking, you need to do a little ritual (you can see it in the video link I posted previously, around 1min44s), which consists of spinning on yourself left to right, then right to left and left to right again. Then the remote will guide you with it sound (the higher the pitch the closer you get to the cat) or its LED light (when it lights green, you are to follow that direction, and the red LEDs give you an idea of distance – the less lit up LEDs, the further the cat is). Tabcat’s “ritual” is similar, albeit quicker, and the detection (sound and LEDs) follows the same principle. Now when it comes to range, it is night and day: Tabcat claims 120m in clear sight (ie nothing between you and the cat), but living in London, there are plenty of trees, walls, houses, sheds whatever… so the range is greatly reduced. Girafus claims 500m in clear sight. Same technology, so same hurdles, however the range they offer is 5 times greater than Tabcat, so even if it is reduced, I still be able to detect my cat 5 times better. CUSTOMER SERVICE ******************* I have not had issues with my first tag, that was replaced no questions asked. I have had a few niggles here and there, but every time Girafus' support has been second to none. They are EXTREMELY helpful, and are bending backwards to help (I have sent back my tracker for testing to them, and they cover the costs and are great). They have even added a small screw to their tags in order to improve the contact with the battery since I originally purchased the product, so it is good to know that they are working on improving their already good product. PRICE *********** I bought the Girafus for £55. It comes with 1 tag. You can purchase a separate tag on Amazon for about £20. Tabcat cost £69 when I bought it, and comes with 2 tags. So the Girafus is slightly more expensive, but considering range & reliability, I would definitely recommend the Girafus. UPDATE (Nov 2017) ******************** As mentioned in the customer support section, I have had various issues with my tag when it comes to the synchronisation with the remote. Girafus has sent new tags to me (free of charge, even outside warranty period!), and are currently testing my tag. It appears that synchronisation is highly affected by the battery level of the tag battery. They have recommended me to get their rechargeable battery and charger, as they store more energy that the non rechargeable batteries (on average non rechargeable lasted about 3 months in my tag). I will purchase the charger (and 2 including rechargeable battery) with my eyes closed. I think Girafus have been fantastic, supporting me all the way (even out of warranty period). I have rarely seen such a level of quality from a customer support department. The product is not perfect, but frankly in the RF market, theirs is the best. And knowing that there is such a high standard of support is really reassuring. Again, I would recommend this product to all cat owners who do not want to splash out on a GPS tag. (it looks like I am kissing bums here, but I am genuinely impressed with their customer support! If they weren't good I would have torn them apart; you can see some of my other scorching reviews).

Really disappointed this is the second order we've placed for same item, first one failed within the hour so gave benefit of doubt the first one was a faulty one off and ordered a replacement, the second one lasted 24 hours. Main issue being the tracker remote is not reliable and works then doesn't work, not fit for purpose. If anyone can recommend a reliable tracker on RF/FM frequency please do let me know, trying to contain an active make young Birman in the confine of our garden is an ongoing challenge and proving to be very stressful. For many reasons, including safety, we don't want him to wander.... Shame thought we'd found what we were looking for.