Tri-Tronics Sportsman User Manual

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have just purchased one of the finest

dog training products available.

Before starting to use this unit, carefully read this

Owner’s Manual. It explains how to operate

and maintain your Sportsman. A thorough

understanding of its contents will help

you use your Sportsman safely and effectively.

Tri-Tronics takes great pride in the design,

manufacture, service, and safety of its products.

If you have any questions after reading the manual,

please contact our Customer Service Department at

1-800-456-4343.

Thank you for choosing Tri-Tronics.

Product Specifications

Product specifications may change without notice or obligation since
Tri-Tronics is committed to a policy of continuous improvement.

Certain Tri-Tronics products are covered by one or more of these U.S.
patent numbers: 4202293, 4335682, 4794402, 4802482, D298872,
4947795, 5054428, 5099797, 5193484, and patents pending.

Tri-Tronics products are made in the USA. However, certain materials
may be sourced from quality suppliers in other countries.

Owner’s Registration Reply Card

Please take a moment to complete and return the Owner’s
Registration Reply Card. When you do, you’ll be “on file” at
Tri-Tronics. This will help ensure timely, no-questions-asked
warranty work should you need it. You may also register on our
website at www.tritronics.com by clicking on “Online Product
Registration.”

Published by Tri-Tronics, Inc., Tucson, Arizona.

Fifth Edition October, 1999

Copyright © 1999, Tri-Tronics, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Collar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Operating the Sportsman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Working the Dog with the Sportsman. . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Radio Signal Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Service and Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

FCC Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Product Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Troubleshooting Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

COMPONENTS

STANDARD COMPONENTS

The Sportsman has been designed and tested to apply
safe, effective electrical stimulation. It includes the
following components:

Collar. A waterproof case containing a radio receiver
and an electrical stimulator is mounted on an adjustable
collar strap. The collar strap fits neck sizes from
approximately 9 inches to 20 inches around.

Transmitter. A battery-powered, hand-held radio
transmitter contains the controls used by the trainer
to cause the collar to apply stimulation.

Antenna. A black, 6-inch rubber flex antenna has
screw threads at one end. It should be attached to
the transmitter before use.

Contact Points. The contact points deliver electrical
stimulation when the transmitter button is pressed.

The color-coded contact points are “variable intensity
contact points” and affect the strength of electrical
stimulation. The Sportsman is shipped with the lowest
(brown) contact point installed. See page 14 for more
information about the variable intensity contact points.

Page 1 Sportsman

Contact Point/Battery
Compartment Wrench.

This plastic tool is used
to unscrew the contact
points from the collar
and to attach other
contact points. Also,
use this wrench to
check the tightness
of the contact points
before each use. The contact points must be more than
finger-tight. Be certain to use only the contact point
wrench to tighten the contact points.

The contact point wrench can also be used to remove
or tighten the battery compartment cap in the collar.

OPTIONAL COMPONENTS

The following components are not included with the
Sportsman. Call Tri-Tronics at 1-800-456-4343 for the
dealer nearest you.

Short Contact Points.

The Sportsman is supplied
with “long” contact points.
This style is appropriate
for most dogs. If your
dog has a short coat or
especially sensitive skin,
you may wish to use the optional “short” contact points.
Both the black point and the color- c o d e d contact point
should match in length.

Blue Contact Point. The blue (#1/2) variable
intensity contact point provides an even lower level
of stimulation than the brown (#1) contact point.
It may be needed with extremely sensitive dogs.

Components Page 2

Books and Videos. Many books and videos about
training with Remote Trainers like the Sportsman are
available. Call Tri-Tronics at 1-800-456-4343 for more
information on these resources.

Storage Pouch.

This vinyl pouch
may be used to
carry contact points
and the contact
point wrench.

Dummy Collar.

This collar has the
same weight, feel,
and appearance as
the collar that
comes with the
Sportsman, but has
no electronics.

Carrying Case.

This foam-lined,
molded, plastic
carrying case
holds the collar,
transmitter,
antenna, and all
of your accessories.

Page 3 Sportsman

BATTERIES

Installing the Transmitter Batteries. To open the
battery compartment door, press down on the molded
ridges on the cover plate and slide it in the direction
of the “open” arrow. Install two 9-volt alkaline
batteries as shown in the illustration inside the
battery compartment. Be sure the positive terminal
(the smaller terminal) is on the correct side. Slide
the battery cover plate back on.

Insert two 9-volt alkaline batteries
in the transmitter.

+

Important: The positive and negative terminals of
the transmitter batteries must match the positive
and negative contacts in the battery compartment.

NOTE: Do not use non-alkaline batteries
in the transmitter.

Insert two 2/3A 3-volt lithium
batteries in the collar.

+

Batteries Page 4

Installing the Collar Batteries. To install the two
2/3A 3-volt lithium batteries in the collar, unscrew
the battery compartment end cap. Use the contact
point wrench if necessary. Slide the batteries into the
compartment as shown in the illustration. The positive
end of both batteries goes in first, as indicated on the
r e c e i v e r ’s case.

Inspect the
rubber O-ring
on the end cap
every time
you change

Check the O-ring that
seals the collar battery
compartment for
signs of wear.

batteries. Make
sure it is still
there and is
not cracked.
Then screw
the battery
compartment
end cap back
into the collar, tightening it with the wrench provided.

Tighten the battery cap until
the raised plastic ridge is
approximately “horizontal,”
as shown in the illustration.

NOTE: New lithium batteries
may cause the collar to produce
higher stimulation than normal,
which could startle your dog.

We recommend that immediately
after installing new batteries, you “time-out” the collar
using continuous stimulation four or five times before
putting the collar on the dog. To “time-out” the collar,
press and hold the transmitter button. After about
ten seconds, the red LED in the collar will change
from being on continuously to blinking once per
second. Release the transmitter button. Wait a
moment, then repeat the process.

Page 5 Sportsman

Battery Life. The expected life of the lithium batteries
in the collar varies depending on use. Most users
experience at least six months to a year of battery life.
If your use is very heavy, expect less battery life.

The transmitter batteries should last for about
3000 transmissions (with an assumed length of
1/2 second each).

The collar draws current whenever it is active (when
the red LED is blinking). This is because the collar is
seeking a signal from the transmitter even though no
stimulation is produced. You should turn the collar off
whenever it is not in use in order to conserve the life
of the collar batteries.

The transmitter uses no battery current except when
the stimulation button is pressed.

Checking the Collar Batteries. When the batteries in
the collar begin to fail, the red LED will blink rapidly
(about eight times a second) when the collar is active.

Depending upon use, the collar may work for several
more hours, but you may begin to experience
inconsistent performance, or the collar may stop
working in the middle of a training session. Plan on
replacing the collar batteries soon after you see the
collar LED begin to blink rapidly.

Preventing Battery Drain. In order to prevent
unnecessary battery drain, always turn off the collar
whenever it’s not being used on the dog. If you
won’t be using the Sportsman for several months,
you should remove the batteries in both the collar
and the transmitter.

Battery Disposal. Both the collar and the transmitter
contain batteries. The collar uses two 2/3A lithium
batteries, and the transmitter uses two 9-volt alkaline
batteries. Tri-Tronics is concerned about environmental
issues, so please dispose of these batteries in accordance
with state and local regulations.

Batteries Page 6

THE SPORTSMAN TRANSMITTER

Back Front

Side Side

green LED
indicator

flex antenna
belt clip

(removable)
button guard
stimulation button
rocker switch for

continuous/
momentary (C/M)

rocker switch for
high/low (HI/LO)
operates in
momentary
mode only)

light

battery
compartment
cover

C M

HI LO

Page 7 Sportsman

TRANSMITTER

Attaching the Antenna. Screw the threaded end of the
antenna into the threaded opening at the top of the
transmitter. Tighten by hand. A small wrench may also
be used, but do not over-tighten the antenna. With the
antenna attached, the range of the Sportsman will be
up to one-half mile in flat, open terrain. Don’t attempt
to use the transmitter without the antenna attached.

Setting the Rocker Switches. The upper rocker switch
on the back of the transmitter is used to set the collar
to produce either continuous (C) or momentary (M)
stimulation. When the upper switch is set to M, the
lower rocker switch can be used to set the length of the
pulse the dog feels. The HI setting is about four times
as long as the LO setting. The dog will feel both as brief
bursts of stimulation, but HI will feel stronger than LO.

Three combinations are possible
by setting the rocker switches.

• Upper rocker on C – pressing the stimulation button

produces continuous stimulation. The HI/LO rocker
switch has no effect. It may be in either position.

• Upper rocker on M and lower rocker on LO –

pressing the stimulation button produces low-level
momentary stimulation.

• Upper rocker on M and lower rocker on HI –

pressing the stimulation button produces higher-level
momentary stimulation.

See the section “Operating the Sportsman” on page 12 for
information about continuous and momentary modes.

Another way to control the strength of stimulation is
to change the variable intensity contact point in the
collar. Doing this will change the strength of both the
continuous and the momentary stimulation.

See the section “Contact Points” on page 14 for a
discussion of this feature. Also see pages 16 and 17
for tips on what intensity levels to use for training.

Transmitter Page 8

Applying Stimulation. The gray button on the side
of the transmitter is the stimulation button. Press this
button to make the collar deliver electrical stimulation.

Green Indicator Light. This green LED will come on
when the stimulation button is pressed. The time that
it takes to turn off will depend on which mode (C or M)
you’re in. In momentary mode (M) in both HI and LO,
the green LED will turn off after approximately one-half
of a second. In continuous mode (C), the green LED will
turn off when the button is released, or at “time-out”
(about ten seconds), whichever comes first.

If the LED fails to light, or the light emitted is very
dim, it’s time to replace both transmitter batteries.

Belt Clip. The Sportsman is shipped with a belt clip
already attached. Tighten the screw prior to use. To
remove the belt clip, loosen the small screw holding
it in place.

You can slide the strap of the collar through the
transmitter belt clip and buckle it – a convenient
way to keep the transmitter and receiver together
when not storing them in a case.

2-Dog Model. The Sportsman is
available in a 2-dog model. Each
collar responds to a different signal
which is selected by a toggle switch
on the transmitter. The colored
dots above the toggle position
match the colored collar straps.

NOTE: You can select only
one active collar at a time
from the transmitter.

Page 9 Sportsman

COLLAR

On/Off Switch. To activate the collar, press the on/off
switch until you hear a “click.” To turn off the collar,
press this switch again until you hear the “click.”

When the collar is active, the red LED will blink
slowly (once per second).

Three-Function Test Light. The red LED on the collar
is a three-function test light. First, it tells you when
the collar is active. Second, it tells you when the collar
is delivering stimulation, whether stimulation has
“timed out,” and whether stimulation is continuous
or momentary. Third, it tells you when the collar
batteries are beginning to get low.

Test light actions:

• Light blinks once per second – collar is active.

• Light glows steadily – stimulation is being delivered.

• Light blinks eight times per second – batteries are

getting low.

When the transmitter is set for continuous stimulation
(C), the light will stay on as long as the stimulation
button is held down, or until time-out occurs.

When the transmitter is set for momentary stimulation
(M), the light will stay on very briefly for LO and
slightly longer for HI, no matter how long the
stimulation button is held down.

Note that in the momentary mode, it is normal for the
LED to continue to glow steadily for a few moments
after the button is released.

Collar Page 10

THE SPORTSMAN COLLAR

D-ring

collar strap

collar keeper

colored
variable

intensity

contact

point

on/off switch

battery
compartment
end cap with
O-ring underneath

Page 11 Sportsman

black

contact

point

three-function test
light (red LED)

waterproof case

OPERATING THE SPORTSMAN

Before putting the collar on the dog, take a few
moments to practice your timing as you press
the stimulation button.

Activating the Collar. Make sure there are batteries
in both the transmitter and the collar. Activate the
collar by pressing the on/off switch. The red LED
will blink slowly.

Operating the Continuous Mode. Set the upper
rocker switch on the transmitter to C. In continuous
mode (C), stimulation starts when you press the
button and stops when you release it, or about ten
seconds, whichever comes first. Press and hold
the stimulation button.

Both the collar and transmitter LEDs will glow steadily.
After about ten seconds, the transmitter LED turns off
while the collar LED automatically returns to the state
of blinking once per second, even though you are still
holding the stimulation button down. This indicates
that “time-out” has occurred.

Release the stimulation button. Now wait a few moments
and press the stimulation button again. The collar and
transmitter LEDs will begin to glow steadily again.

Operating the Momentary Mode. Set the upper
rocker switch on the transmitter to M. In momentary
mode (M), stimulation starts when you press the
button, and stays on only briefly, regardless of
when you release it.

Now set the lower rocker switch to LO. Press and
hold the stimulation button. The collar LED will
glow briefly, then return to the state of blinking
once per second, even though you are still holding
the stimulation button down. The transmitter LED
will stay on for about 1/2 second.

Operating the Sportsman Page 12

Now set the lower rocker switch to HI. Press and hold
the stimulation button. The collar LED will glow
slightly longer, then return to the state of blinking
once per second, even though you are still holding
the stimulation button down. The transmitter LED
will stay on for about 1/2 second.

It is not necessary to tap the button for a brief pulse
of stimulation. The momentary mode does this for
you automatically. Press and release the button in a
natural fashion.

Deactivating the Collar. When you are through
practicing, press the on/off switch on the collar to
deactivate the collar. The red LED will stop blinking.
This prevents unnecessary drain on the batteries.

Storing the Sportsman Between Training Sessions.

When you put your transmitter away, be sure the
stimulation button is not accidentally depressed into
the “on” position, or you will drain your battery.

Understanding the Time-Out Feature.

The Sportsman is designed so that continuous
stimulation cannot stay on longer than about ten
seconds at a time. If the stimulation button is held
down for a longer period, the transmitter will
automatically “time-out” and turn off the stimulation.

When this happens, you can reactivate the transmitter
by releasing the button and then pressing it again.

IMPORTANT: Be sure you always wait one-half second
or more after releasing the button before you press it
again, even if the transmitter hasn’t “timed-out” yet. If
you do not wait long enough before pressing the button
again, you could “time-out” the collar. If this happens,
you must reset the collar by turning it off and then on
again with the on/off switch.

Range. The range of the Sportsman is up to one-half
mile in flat, open terrain. The range you achieve in
actual use depends on many factors – terrain, foliage,
humidity, metal fences, screen doors, antennas and

Page 13 Sportsman

their orientation to one another, etc. Also, if you operate
the transmitter while it’s clipped to your belt or in your
pocket, the range will be significantly reduced.

Contact Points.

The collar has two
contact points
installed. They
deliver electrical
stimulation to
the dog’s neck
when the
transmitter
button is pressed.
The black point
should remain on
the collar except
during cleaning. The other colored points are “variable
intensity contact points” that affect the strength of
electrical stimulation. One of these points is used
with the black one.

The black point has female threads and the colored
points have male threads, so they can’t be installed in
the wrong location.

The variable intensity contact points are color-coded,
and numbered 1-5 to indicate increasing strength
of intensity.

# 1 – brown (lowest) # 2 – red # 3 – orange

# 4 – yellow # 5 – green (highest)

The contact points must be more than finger-tight,
but use only the plastic tool that comes with the
Sportsman to tighten the contact points.

There is no need to remove the contact points when
the collar is not in use. Leaving them in the collar does
not drain the batteries.

IMPORTANT: Check both contact points for tightness
every time you put the collar on the dog.

Operating the Sportsman Page 14

WORKING THE DOG
WITH THE SPORTSMAN

Collar Positioning.

The receiver should be
positioned in the center
of the dog’s neck with
the strap about halfway
between his ears and
his shoulders. Be sure
that the red LED is
facing forward so you
can see it. This also
properly positions the
internal antenna for
maximum range.

Collar Tightness.

The collar should fit
snugly with the contact
points touching the dog’s
skin at all times. A loose­fitting collar can cause
inconsistent stimulation,
which interferes with
the dog’s learning.

Tighten the collar by
holding the buckle with
the forefinger and thumb
of one hand while you
draw the strap tight
with the other hand. Don’t put any fingers under the
collar strap as you tighten it. Slip the free end of the
collar strap through both the D-ring and the plastic
keeper to keep it out of the way.

If it seems that the dog is not feeling stimulation every
time you press the button, try tightening the collar
strap one more notch. Also, try wiggling the receiver
on the dog’s neck to better seat the contact points
through his coat.

Position the collar in the center
of the dog’s neck with the
red LED facing forward.
The collar should be snug.

When tightening the collar,
keep fingers out from under
the strap.

Page 15 Sportsman

Finding the Dog’s Sensitivity Level. Before you train
your dog with the Sportsman, you must find the dog’s
sensitivity level. Dogs are like people in that they all
have individual sensitivity levels.

The correct intensity to begin basic training is one
that will motivate your dog to obey, but will not
overwhelm him.

To select the right intensity level, start with the lowest
variable intensity contact point (the brown #1 point) in
the collar. Be sure you have set the upper rocker switch
on the transmitter to C (continuous stimulation).

Press the stimulation button on the transmitter and
hold it down for about a second. Watch the dog’s
expression. You want to see him cock his ears or
quickly move his head. Usually he’ll have a quizzical
expression on his face. This tells you that the dog
has felt the stimulation.

Use the plastic contact
point wrench to
tighten or change
the contact points.

Working the Dog with the Sportsman Page 16

Some dogs cannot feel the lowest level at all, but you
should start with it just to be sure.

Work your way up through the different levels from
lowest to highest (brown, red, orange, yellow, green),
until you find the level that makes your dog react
as described. If your dog overreacts (vocalizes) when
you press the button, you have selected a level that’s
too high.

NOTE: Even the brown (#1) contact point may be too
high a level for some extremely sensitive dogs. An
optional blue (#1/2) contact point is available. Also,
be sure you have “timed out” new collar batteries a
few times, as described in the Note on page 5. This
procedure “takes the edge off” of new lithium batteries.

The variable intensity contact point you select using
this method will be the right level for basic training
and most problem solving.

You may wish to increase the intensity of stimulation
during training if (1) the dog is not responding to the
corrections, particularly when he is distracted or excited,
(2) you are using the Sportsman to stop the dog when
he is chasing something, or (3) you use momentary
stimulation for most of your corrections.

You may wish to decrease the intensity of stimulation
during training if (1) the dog appears increasingly
concerned or anxious when corrected, (2) you are
correcting the dog when he is not very far away from
you, especially when he is not distracted or excited,
or (3) the dog frequently overreacts (vocalizes) when
he is corrected.

Training. There are two ways to use your Sportsman
in dog training. You can use it to reinforce commands,
like “Here” or “Sit,” and you can use it to stop
misbehaviors, like chasing, digging, and jumping up.

If you are unfamiliar with training with Remote
Trainers, our Customer Service Department will be
happy to direct you to some resources. We have several

Page 17 Sportsman

books, videos, and training booklets covering different
aspects of the use of Remote Trainers. For more
information, contact Tri-Tronics Customer Service
at 1-800-456-4343.

Avoid Making Your Dog “Collar- Wise.” A “c o l l a r- w i s e ”
dog is one that has learned that he might be corrected
if he’s wearing the collar, and that he won’t be corrected
if he’s not wearing it. Dogs don’t automatically become
“collar-wise” from being trained with the Sportsman,
but they can if they learn to compare results. Here
are some tips to follow to prevent this:

First, if you are using the collar for reinforcing
commands, do not work the dog without the collar
on until his habit of obeying your commands is
established. This way you don’t put the dog in a
position where he is likely to disobey a command
and you can’t correct him. In other words, consistency
in reinforcing a command is what keeps your dog
from becoming “collar-wise.”

Second, if you are using the collar to stop misbehaviors,
like chasing, digging, or jumping up, put the collar on
the dog well before you plan to correct him with it
(20 minutes minimum). This way, he will not relate
having the collar put on to the correction he receives.

Be sure that his problem behavior has been eliminated
before you put him in a situation where he could
misbehave and not be corrected because the collar
isn’t on.

Working the Dog with the Sportsman Page 18

RADIO SIGNAL ISSUES

Operating Code. The operating code for the
Sportsman is a two-letter code found on the Owner’s
Registration Reply Card, and is also located inside the
transmitter battery compartment. The operating code
tells you whether your Sportsman and any other
Tri-Tronics Remote Trainer could interfere with each
other and cause each other to produce unwanted
stimulation. They can interfere only if they have
identical two-letter codes. There are 200 separate
two-letter codes, so such interference is very rare.
Also, several series of Tri-Tronics Remote Trainers do
not have two-letter operating codes at all, because they
use a different radio system. No interference resulting
in unintended stimulation is possible between such
units and the units, such as the Sportsman, that have
two-letter operating codes.

Other Interference Issues. Occasionally other sources
of RF (radio frequency) interference generate competing
signals that can cause a Remote Trainer not to activate
at all, even though the stimulation button is being
pressed. When this type of interference occurs, the
decoding electronics in your collar will cause it to
not activate at all. If this happens, wait a few moments
and try again. Also try moving the transmitter closer
to the collar.

Page 19 Sportsman

CARE AND CLEANING

A little care can extend the life of the Sportsman
and reduce service costs.

Battery Life. Avoid leaving the collar or transmitter
for long periods in very warm areas, such as closed
automobiles in the sun. If you will not be using the
Sportsman for several months, remove the batteries.

Dirt and Corrosion. Outdoor conditions can be harsh
on the surfaces of the collar. After exposure to brackish,
salt or alkaline water, wash the collar with clean
drinking water and use a small brush to remove any
foreign materials, particularly around the contact
points, the on/off switch, and the battery compartment
end cap. Do not use acids, alkalis, solvents, or abrasive
tools for cleaning.

Contact Point Tightness. The contact points on the
collar can become loose. Inspect the contact points for
tightness each time you put the collar on your dog.
If the contact points need tightening, use the plastic
tool that comes with the Sportsman.

Battery Compartment Seal. A good O-ring in the
collar battery cap is very important. If the O-ring
becomes cracked, worn, or missing, water can enter
the battery compartment and cause damage. Inspect
the O-ring for signs of cracking and replace it if
needed. O-rings can be purchased at most larger
hardware stores.

Whenever you install new batteries in your collar,
make sure that the O-ring is still present, and that
it’s in good condition.

Care and Cleaning Page 20

SERVICE AND WARRANTY

Tri-Tronics provides a one-year Factory Warranty
on parts and labor for the Sportsman. Of course,
the warranty does not cover physical damage nor
abuse. The warranty is also void if the Remote Trainer
has been altered or unauthorized service work has
been attempted.

FCC COMPLIANCE

The manufacturing of the Sportsman involves exacting
production methods, precise tuning, and stringent
quality control tests. In addition, this product is
designed and manufactured to operate within Federal
Communication Commission (FCC) specifications.
It is a violation of FCC rules to modify this equipment.

Tri-Tronics certifies this product to operate under
Part 95 of FCC regulations. Unauthorized modifications
to your equipment (including to the antennas) could
result in not meeting specifications and violating FCC
regulations. Adjustments should only be performed
by technically qualified personnel authorized by
Tri-Tronics. To continue to meet FCC operating
specifications, any replacement of circuit components
(including the antennas) must meet Tri-Tronics’
manufacturing specifications.

Page 21 Sportsman

PRODUCT SAFETY

Clinical animal safety studies have been designed
and conducted for Tri-Tronics by veterinarians and
physiologists at a major university. The scientific studies
tested for possible cardiopulmonary and epidermal
effects of Tri-Tronics’ electrical stimulation applied to
the ventral surface of the neck of healthy dogs. These
studies showed that there were no clinically significant
changes in electrocardiograms, blood pressures, or
properties of the skin underlying the contact points.

The clinical investigations involved parameters of
electrical stimulation (e.g. maximum output voltage,
output impedance, current density, and repetition rate)
that were basically the same as the Sportsman. The
safety of the Sportsman is strongly supported by the
scientific, clinical data.

The Sportsman has two independent circuits that are
designed to inhibit excessive electrical stimulation.
One is located in the transmitter; the other is in the
collar. Like all other parts of our products, these safety
circuits receive special attention in Tri-Tronics’
environmental, reliability, and quality analyses.

NOTE: Your dog should be able to wear the collar
comfortably for long periods of time during the day
or night. However, it is not designed to be worn
continuously. The collar should be removed for several
hours each day to protect against skin irritation that
could be caused by the contact points rubbing against
the neck. Also, take a moment each day to inspect the
dog’s neck for signs of redness or irritation caused by
such rubbing. If signs of irritation appear, temporarily
discontinue use of the Sportsman on the dog.

Product Safety Page 22

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

The Sportsman should require little service if properly
maintained. In addition, many usage problems can
be avoided by proper selection of contact points and
correct collar tightness.

If you do have problems, however, check this
trouble-shooting guide before calling for service.
You could save yourself time and repair costs.
Tri-Tronics Customer Service Representatives
are available at 1-800-456-4343.

PROBLEM # 1: The Sportsman doesn’t have enough
range or the range has been reduced.

You are holding the transmitter too close to your
body. Holding the transmitter close to your body will

interfere with the RF (radio signal) being transmitted.
If you experience range problems, try holding the
transmitter away from your body, and in extreme
cases, up above your head with the antenna pointed
straight up.

Either you or the dog are shielded by a metal
structure. Metal fences or chain link dog enclosures,

screen doors, buildings, and metal structures, will affect
the transmission signal. Operate the Sportsman away
from these structures.

The terrain or foliage is affecting the transmission.

Try moving 10-20 yards in any direction to improve
transmission; move to higher ground. Check the
range in flat, open terrain before sending the unit
in for repair.

Temporary radio interference. Wait a short while
then try again, or move to another area. Page 19.

The receiver is on backwards. Position the collar
so that the red LED faces forward. Page 15.

Page 23 Sportsman

PROBLEM # 2: The red LED on the collar glows
steadily when the button is pressed, but the collar
doesn’t seem to work on the dog.

The collar strap is not tight enough to provide
consistent contact. The collar should be snug enough

so that it doesn’t slip around as the dog moves. Contact
points must touch the dog’s skin to provide efficient,
consistent stimulation. Page 15.

The variable intensity contact point is not correct
for the dog. Dogs have individual sensitivity levels,

and you must test your dog to determine his. Page 17.
Try the next higher variable intensity contact point.

PROBLEM # 3: The red LED blinks slowly,
indicating the collar is active, but doesn’t glow
steadily when the stimulation button is pressed,
or it lights intermittently.

The transmitter lower rocker switch is set for
momentary mode (M). When the transmitter is set on

M, it is normal for the red LED to return to blinking
slowly – almost right away. Move the rocker switch to
C and test again.

The batteries in the collar and/or transmitter need
replacing. When the batteries begin to get low,

intermittent operation can result. Follow the
recommendations in this booklet about batteries.
Page 4.

The transmitter is being held too close to the collar
when the button is pressed. Holding the collar in one

hand and the transmitter in the other when you test
the unit may cause intermittent operation. Place the
collar on the floor or a table and maintain several feet
of separation.

The antenna is not attached to the transmitter, or
it has become loose. Screw the rubber-flex antenna

firmly into the top of the transmitter.

Troubleshooting Guide Page 24

PROBLEM # 4: The red LED on the collar doesn’t
light at all.

The collar has not been activated. Activate the collar

by pressing the on/off switch once. The red LED should
begin to blink slowly. Page 12.

The batteries in the collar and/or transmitter are
missing, installed backwards, of the wrong type,
or are fully discharged. Follow the recommendations

in this booklet about batteries. Page 4.

PROBLEM # 5: The green LED on the transmitter
doesn’t light when the stimulation button is
pressed.

The batteries in the collar and/or transmitter are
missing, installed backwards, of the wrong type,
or are fully discharged. Follow the recommendations

in this booklet about batteries. Page 4.
If you’ve taken all the above steps, and the problem

seems to persist, your unit needs service. Call our
Customer Service Department at 1-800-456-4343.

Page 25 Sportsman