How to Maximize Your SpotOn Collar Battery Life

November 13, 2024

SpotOn collars use advanced GPS fence technology to create virtual fences that keep your dog safely within bounds. However, all this tech relies on power, and frequent recharging can be inconvenient. Whether you have a long day of adventures planned with your dog or just need the fence to be reliable all day, managing your collar’s battery runtime is essential. That’s why SpotOn has introduced Extended Battery Life Mode, which balances performance and functionality to maximize your collar’s runtime and ensures it lasts as long as possible.

Introducing Extended Battery Life Mode

This new feature extends the runtime of your collar to 35+ hours on a single charge—that’s 10 extra hours of playtime for your pup.

So, how does it work? Extended Battery Life Mode mode intelligently manages when the collar’s cellular modem is active. This reduces the frequency of GPS tracking updates and other power-hungry features when they aren’t needed. Customers can manually activate the Extended Battery Life Mode through the SpotOn GPS Fence app. This feature requires an active SpotOn cellular plan subscription.

And while this mode is only applicable to those with a subscription, there’s good news for those who don’t use one. When you update your collar software and get the latest version of the SpotOn app, SpotOn will automatically optimize your battery life givng it 40+ hours of run time.

Benefits of Extended Battery Life Mode

Here’s what you can expect when using Extended Battery Life Mode:

35+ hours of battery life:
This allows your collar to run longer, reducing the need for frequent recharges.
Easy to activate:
A quick toggle in the app enables the mode for those who have a tracking subscription.
Real-time updates only when needed:
You can still track your dog’s location if they breach the fence, but GPS refresh rates inside the fence are reduced to preserve power.

While this mode saves significant battery life, it’s important to understand the trade-offs involved.

Understanding the Trade-Offs

Maximizing battery life comes with some compromises. When you activate Extended Battery Life Mode, the collar will reduce the frequency of GPS location updates and limit some real-time tracking features. For example, you won’t be able to use the manual tracking feature, call your dog, or turn on the collar’s remote light while inside the fence. Instead, your dog’s location will be updated every 10 minutes. However, if your dog breaches the fence, the collar will automatically switch back to real-time tracking mode to help you locate your dog quickly.

This gives you the best of both worlds:
Longer battery run-time, with real-time protection.

How to Enable Extended Battery Life Mode

Ready to start using this feature? Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to get you set up:

Update your collar software:
Make sure your collar is running firmware version 1.5.0.0 or higher. This is essential to access the new Extended Battery Life Mode.
Update the SpotOn GPS Fence App:
Ensure your app is updated to version 1.4.25 or above. This will allow you to activate the new feature.
Connect the app to the collar through Bluetooth:
To switch modes, you’ll need to be within Bluetooth range of the collar (around 30 feet).
Activate Extended Battery Life Mode:
In the app, navigate to your collar’s settings. There, you’ll find a toggle option for Extended Battery Life Mode. For subscribed users, this mode is labeled as a Beta feature.

Once activated, the collar will automatically enter power-saving mode, reducing power consumption while keeping your dog safe.

Best Practices for Maximizing Battery Life

While Extended Battery Life Mode significantly enhances runtime, there are a few additional steps you can take to ensure your collar lasts as long as possible between charges:

Charge overnight:
Even with extended battery life, charging the collar overnight is a good idea to ensure it’s ready for the next day. The collar fully charges in about 90 minutes, so it will be ready to go in the morning.
Keep your software updated:
SpotOn continuously releases software updates to improve performance and battery efficiency. Be sure to keep your collar and app up to date.
Monitor usage:
Be mindful of how often you need real-time tracking. The more frequently you use power-intensive features like manual tracking and location refresh, the faster the battery will drain.

FAQs: Your Battery Life Questions Answered

Here are answers to some common questions about the Extended Battery Life Mode:

Q: Will I still get escape notifications in Extended Battery Life Mode?
A: Yes! If your dog breaches the fence, the collar automatically switches to real-time tracking, and you’ll receive escape notifications.

Q: How do I revert to regular mode?
A: It’s simple! Just go into the app while in Bluetooth range of the collar and toggle off the Extended Battery Life Mode.

Q: Will this feature work on all collar models?
A: Yes, Extended Battery Life Mode is compatible with all SpotOn collar versions. However, users with the latest models (Omni Edition collars) will see the longest battery life.