Any beacon advice? - Snowboarding Forum

05-29-2008, 04:10 PM

Well, it's time for a new avalanche beacon, I was wondering if anybody has any recommendations. I've head some good stuff about the Back Country Access Tracker DTS, but I figgerred I might as well ask here before buying. (And no, Rome doesn't make one.

)

**killclimbz** · 05-29-2008, 04:25 PM

Pieps DSP is still the best digital beacon out there for the money. It gets almost double the receive range of a Tracker. Plus with the three antenna it almost completely eliminates spikes. Very good at picking up a signal and zeroing you in to the victim. I consistently hit the pack that we bury a beacon in within 3-4 probes. Has a nice multiple burial feature too where you can mask out a found beacon. You should never be in a multiple situation but they happen.
If the Pieps is a little pricey, the Ortovox D3 is a quality beacon imo. It's also a 3 antenna digital beacon, has about the same range as the Tracker. One of the most sensitive I have used. Once you are to your pinpoint search, I consistently found out that if I probed the snow directly under my nutsack I hit the pack. Often times just one probe and a strike. The multiple search function is much like the tracker. It just lets you know it's reading more than one beacon.
The Tracker is tried and true and effective. It hasn't been my favorite for a good number of years now.
The new Ortovox S1 promised to be a leap forward in searching. It is when it's working fine, slow signal reacquisition and a few quirks, make me think that it needs another generation or two to become what it promises. It's a neato beacon, but I am not ready to plunk $600 into it yet. Even so, if you got one, it works well enough.
All of the beacons will do the job for you. The key thing is practice. The best beacon out there is the one you know how to use. You can be just as effective at searching with an analog beacon vs a digital. The F1 is a tried and true beacon, but you need to spend some quality time with it to be able to use it effectively in an emergency. That is the main reason I recommend digital beacons. They are easier to figure out how to use.

I am friends with the guys who run Patroller Supply. They have consistently given discounts on their beacons and avy gear to people I have forwarded to them. Just let them know I recommended you to them if you decide to buy from them.

05-29-2008, 04:37 PM

Awesome thanks dude, I'll look into it.

PaoloSmythe · 05-30-2008, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killclimbz

Pieps DSP is still the best digital beacon out there

QFT. it rocks! but ain't worth a thing unless you practice

jonspeaks22 · 06-03-2008, 05:46 PM

yeah man for real its practice makes almost perfect.

umgd

05-29-2008, 04:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
geoko Guest Posts: n/a	Any beacon advice? Well, it's time for a new avalanche beacon, I was wondering if anybody has any recommendations. I've head some good stuff about the Back Country Access Tracker DTS, but I figgerred I might as well ask here before buying. (And no, Rome doesn't make one. )

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05-29-2008, 04:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,258	Pieps DSP is still the best digital beacon out there for the money. It gets almost double the receive range of a Tracker. Plus with the three antenna it almost completely eliminates spikes. Very good at picking up a signal and zeroing you in to the victim. I consistently hit the pack that we bury a beacon in within 3-4 probes. Has a nice multiple burial feature too where you can mask out a found beacon. You should never be in a multiple situation but they happen. If the Pieps is a little pricey, the Ortovox D3 is a quality beacon imo. It's also a 3 antenna digital beacon, has about the same range as the Tracker. One of the most sensitive I have used. Once you are to your pinpoint search, I consistently found out that if I probed the snow directly under my nutsack I hit the pack. Often times just one probe and a strike. The multiple search function is much like the tracker. It just lets you know it's reading more than one beacon. The Tracker is tried and true and effective. It hasn't been my favorite for a good number of years now. The new Ortovox S1 promised to be a leap forward in searching. It is when it's working fine, slow signal reacquisition and a few quirks, make me think that it needs another generation or two to become what it promises. It's a neato beacon, but I am not ready to plunk $600 into it yet. Even so, if you got one, it works well enough. All of the beacons will do the job for you. The key thing is practice. The best beacon out there is the one you know how to use. You can be just as effective at searching with an analog beacon vs a digital. The F1 is a tried and true beacon, but you need to spend some quality time with it to be able to use it effectively in an emergency. That is the main reason I recommend digital beacons. They are easier to figure out how to use. I am friends with the guys who run Patroller Supply. They have consistently given discounts on their beacons and avy gear to people I have forwarded to them. Just let them know I recommended you to them if you decide to buy from them.

05-29-2008, 04:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
geoko Guest Posts: n/a	Awesome thanks dude, I'll look into it.

06-03-2008, 05:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
jonspeaks22 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 10	yeah man for real its practice makes almost perfect. umgd