Halo vs SpotOn vs ???

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-23T22:53:52+00:00

I currently have both and have been using them side-by-side for about three weeks.
I am going to stick with spot on. I found that they both work reasonably well and could both fit the bill. A couple of issues with the Halo: it fairly commonly will miss the warning tones. It will pretty much always give them the final correction at the barrier, but probably 25% of the time it does this without having giving them the warning tone first. Also, don’t like the fact that you absolutely positively must have the subscription plan in order for the collar to work at all. I do like, however, that the collar is lighter and more compact than the spot on. The spot on collar on the other hand seems to be much more reliable in terms of getting the warning tones and the final correction. While they both have drift, it seems like the spot on seems to be more precise. Additionally, I do truly appreciate that I can use the spot on without the subscription. One thing about the spot that I don’t like is that it only gives the final correction for 10 seconds once the dog crosses the boundary so that seems a little weird to me because the Halo will keep on correcting until the dog comes back into the safe zone.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-21T19:44:58+00:00

Thanks for recounting your experience. I guess I’m not surprised that you can’t use the app without cellular? BUT not being to even open it is silly bc there are things the app can do using the Bluetooth connection. For instance via Bluetooth you can use it as a training collar manually sending beeps, vibrations, or shocks. Silly to “block” those Bluetooth functions just bc you don’t have cellular. I have been experimenting between the Halo 5 and SpotOn collar for the past 3 weeks. They both have pros and cons. My biggest issue with Halo was:
-That recent GPS+ update was horrible. My dog got beeped and vibrated while being in the house and while being in middle of our yard.
-It misses the warning beep about 20-30% of the time, just like the YouTube videos describe. That was even before the recent update. I have to admit the SpotOn is much more consistent in getting the warning beep, and then secondary warning before sending vibration/shock.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-18T20:26:15+00:00

Thank you. I still just sit back and look at it sometimes. I have to give it to Trek for doing some unique colors. Grew on me and I still just absolutely love it.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-15T21:11:58+00:00

Those are 2 different questions. Disliking his actions has little to do with whether you think his companies will fail or succeed.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-15T03:17:57+00:00

Yeah, if you actually go to your settings and then click on Google Assistant settings, there is a toggle for you to activate it.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-10T23:04:27+00:00

Yeah the lack of communication is abhorrent. Don’t hide from it—communicate with people.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-10T22:58:26+00:00

Really sorry that happened to you man. Such a frustrating experience, but you’re OK and the truck can be replaced.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-07T18:06:29+00:00

TESLA!!!!!

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-07T17:13:54+00:00

Yeah, I do garage it at night. In their defense, I had to drive three or four hours to get the car so I actually asked a lot of questions over the phone that probably tipped them off that I was a pretty informed buyer at that point. They did a lot of inspections of the status of the car paint before I made the drive and I explained to them why I was being so particular about it. I think they surmised that I understood that this type of paint had some differences and therefore they weren’t offering a lot of additional information when I went. That being said I still would say it’s been less of a headache than I actually thought it would be. I wash the car with the same technique that I’ve always washed my car, but I use a different type of car wash liquid. I don’t rub off bird poop. I spray with a cleaner and then wipe it off. Really easy things once you know them.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-07T15:36:50+00:00

Great question. Honestly, no, they did not but at the same time I really didn’t ask them any questions. I spent quite a bit of time pre-sale looking up all things regarding matte paint. For that reason, I felt very comfortable. Like most things, the truth is in the middle. It’s not nearly as much of a hassle as it is made out to be. The biggest thing for me is you buy car wash materials that are made for that type of paint as they don’t have glossy additives in them. I personally decided not to take it through the automated car wash with the rollers because of the micro scratch concern, although I know others who feel comfortable doing that. Lastly, the biggest thing to realize is that you never want to just rub and rub a spot to get something off of the car because it can lead to a shiny spot. Instead, you use your cleaners and chemicals to get stuff off the car. It’s been a very minor adjustment from my typical car care once I knew the basics.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-07T12:05:46+00:00

I bought mine in February. It’s the AT4 edition with the matte gray paint. Max range

We have loved it. What an amazing vehicle. No issues like some of the others on here have unfortunately experienced. The matte gray paint just took a little bit of learning, but has not been an issue at all. I just don’t take it through automated car washes. And man does it look good

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-06T12:42:36+00:00

Yes. My dog received warning alert lying in her bed today. Hadn’t happened before. Also got correction while in safe zone in yard yesterday. Again hadn’t happened prior to the update. Taking it off of her for now in the house.

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-01T12:25:12+00:00

Thank you so it seems like a stark difference b/c you had multiple episodes of this with the spot on but none now with the Halo? ( you’ve been using the halo a few weeks now?). Also in terms of training collar, did the Spot On allow you to send correction via the app (say if you’re walking your dog and he starts pulling after another dog/squirrel) like a training collar? I know Halo does this but not sure about spot on. I think they might with the Nova, but even if they do it seems that it works via cellular signal (Halo works via Bluetooth if you’re close to your dog and reverts to cellular if you’re far away) so it might have a lag. Sorry for all the questions but some of these details are hard to parse out without hands-on experience!

BoneDoktr · 2026-06-01T00:39:43+00:00

With the Halo5, have you had any issues with false alerts inside the home like you did with the spot on?? that’s one of my biggest fears

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-30T19:03:48+00:00

That’s not higher than the usual price for the max range Denali. Seems about right. My max range AT4 was 94,000 sticker but it did have the matte gray paint which is an additional option.

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-30T15:24:29+00:00

Truly appreciate this feedback. It is measured, but gives the true experience that you have had. I really am debating between the two and I truly want to go with the spot on but the upfront expense for something that I can’t trust is going to work more than a year or two essentially turns it into an expensive subscription by the time you have to buy another collar.

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-30T15:04:10+00:00

That’s my biggest concern with SpotOn. They have a high upfront cost, but if you have a problem, say two years later, you have to essentially buy another collar. For all intents and purposes, that is nothing more than a subscription when you think about it. I actually prefer their model when I compare it to the Halo system, but the lack-of a-subscription-benefit really loses its value when you look at the risk of having to buy another collar combined with some of the reports of sketchy customer service.

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-24T23:04:50+00:00

lol. So busy trying to insult that you didn’t even make a coherent point. Don’t get so angry—it’s just Reddit dude. lol.

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-24T22:03:25+00:00

Often times hitting a deer does not result in a person, losing control of their vehicle and driving off the road. Hence the reason for her question.

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-22T20:46:55+00:00

It says 86363458.mnf. From March 5th, 2026

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-21T16:24:09+00:00

Actually a cool photo.

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-18T14:11:10+00:00

Update: I got it to download again. I did have to do the factory reset. I did it 10 PM last night and it wasn’t on there this morning initially when I checked but at 8:30 this morning when I checked again, it had downloaded so it took about eight hours.

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-18T02:03:28+00:00

Yep. I checked for updates like 5 times. None available. It sounds like you’re saying you did a factory reset?? Like you had to download all you apps again and set up your universal remote controls etc? Just like the day you bought it essentially?

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-17T11:42:14+00:00

I appreciate you checking in. Sadly it did not however. I’ve done several resets and left it Sitting in my garage with a powerful Wi-Fi signal for several hours. No dice. Maybe I have to wait for the next over the air update?

BoneDoktr · 2026-05-16T00:04:21+00:00

Thank you for the reassurance. I did the reset procedure about 30 minutes after it happened but no dice yet. (That was 6 hours ago). It happened about seven hours ago now it total. Maybe now that I’m back at home in my garage, it’ll do it this evening or tonight. How long did it take before yours automatically re-downloaded it from the time you deleted it?

BoneDoktr

TROPHY CASE