Sorry to be joining this so late; I've been fighting the Ecollar wars on another forum and just bought a Jeep. Been reading those forums to get up to speed.
You can't press both buttons on the 1702 (or any other two dog collar in the Dogtra line that I know of) and have it do anything. No signal goes out.
I keep mine set on the lower stim level for the more sensitive dog. If I need to stim the other dog, I hit the other button and turn it up at the same time.
As far as the pocket clip goes, I wish that they'd incorporate a photo of how the clip gets attached to the back of the TX but they haven't. Remove the shiny metal strip from the back of the TX by taking out the two screws. Place the "button" over it so that the closed end is at the top of the TX. Here's the secret, take a pair of pliers and tightly squeeze the top of the clip on the button. Otherwise it will flex as you carry it and eventually break off. Don't ask how I know this. Let's just say that I'm thankful that my dog is trained to find "evidence."
Then put it back on and tighten the two screws that hold the metal clip on the back of the TX.
To whoever was afraid that it might turn off inadvertently; To turn both the collar and the TX off or on you must press and hold the button down for a second. Just pressing and quickly releasing it won't do it.
Kristen Cabe said:
The first thing that popped into my head when I saw it was, "Wow. It's all so BIG!"
Kristen please stop setting me up with straight lines. The temptation is almost more than I can bear!
With any TX of any kind it's always best to keep your hands off the antenna. You can interfere with the signal, particularly at long ranges. But it can also happen at shorter ranges if you really glom onto it.
The SCG will fit any collar if the points are 1 1/4" apart. They'll work on the 1700 series.
If you're used to using another Ecollar than the 1700, make sure that you turn on the TX when you turn on the collar. Or at least before you start to work. Don't ask how I know this either. LOL.
Kristen, as to your comment about stimming your dog when he's looking at the cats; have you tried my Crittering protocol? It usually lets you work at lower levels to interrupt the chasing behavior. The dog learns how to shut off the stim by turning his head away from the prey animal. If you wait for the staring to start, some dogs, yours apparently among them, will ignore the stim, even at very high levels.
Anne after you get back from the beach make sure that you wash out the charging receptacles on the collars. The salt spray will corrode the contacts. Open up the little rubber covers and wash out underneath them. They're not part of the waterproofing.