Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Avalanche Transceivers... Help Me!

profile picture
SteezBoss69
Posts: 61 - Karma: 17

hey NS,

I'm looking to get into the backcountry game at Baker, and I know i need to get avalanche trained, and buy a probe, shovel, and transceiver. Does anybody have suggestions about the type of transceiver i should get?

Digital or Analog? Cost? Brands? Range? Weight?

Thanks a ton!

Feb 21 2011 1:02AM
0 0
profile picture
PeteySkeety
Posts: 996 - Karma: 209
I would suggest the BCA Tracker 2. It costs around $335. The beacon is very easy to use since your a beginner. It has 3 antennas, a fairly long range, low weight, and a compact design.

BOTTOM LINE: When I'm in the backcountry this is what I want a beginner ski partner using.
Feb 21 2011 1:17AM
0 0
profile picture
SteezBoss69
Posts: 61 - Karma: 17
Thanks alot bro, ill look into it. :)
Feb 21 2011 1:58AM
0 0
profile picture
Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
BCA tracker is without a doubt the most idiot proof.
Feb 21 2011 2:34AM
0 0
profile picture
I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
BCA tracker 2, fosho

3antenna transceivers is where it's at, and the tracker 1 is without a doubt one of the fastest, easiest and most reliable Beepers out there, tracker 2 is only gonna be more of that ! :)

i just went on an avalanche refreshment course and i was there with my 2 antenna tracker and others used pieps dsps and mammut pulse beacons, (3 antenna beacons)
the finding of the signal and pinpointing went almost equally fast, i just had to remember to ignore the 2 spikes in the Field lines....

only when the transceiver was buried sideways i was a bit less accurate in the pinpoint search when compared to 3 antenna beacons ....

(not really something to worry about, it's not like a was several feet off ...)

also one thing i really liked about the pulse that the tracker didn't have, was the ability to switch off/ignore signals when working with multiple burials....

this was really easy with the pulse, but could also be done with the BCA tracker by using the yellow button to follow the current signal and ignore all others....

so where the pulse ignores the current signal, the tracker can be designated to only follow the current signal, so with both devices you can achieve the same, but the buttons do the exact opposite .....
Feb 21 2011 3:54AM
0 0
profile picture
MrLarsen
Posts: 583 - Karma: 16
I would recommend the BCA Tracker 2 or Mammut Pulse Barryvox.

I've got the Tracker 2, and I'm very happy with it. Easy to use (hugely important) and it's a quick 3-antenna beacon.

Now I've tried out the Pulse barryvox too, and it too was very easy to use, as far as I've heard it has a couple of extra advanced functions compared too the t2. And it's a bit more expensive I think.

Size isn't really an issue, as you won't really notice that you're wearing it after a while.
Feb 21 2011 12:28PM
0 0
profile picture
-ShredTheGnar-
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 111
Tracker 2 for sure had it for 4 years now and the thing is fool proof
Feb 21 2011 12:30PM
0 0
profile picture
PeteySkeety
Posts: 996 - Karma: 209
how have you had the tracker 2 for 4 years? just wondering
Feb 21 2011 12:36PM
0 0
profile picture
cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,686
I might do some research and then look into what each beacon offers before I spend $300 on on. I probably would not care too much what kids on NS say, since its kinda like wikipedia except you know they have no idea what they are talking about. There is enough good information out there. Try reading the threads over on tetonat, tgr, teletips, and other sites that aren't so obsessed with making sure their outfit matches.
Feb 21 2011 12:53PM
0 0
profile picture
snomaster
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 5,748
NOT THE TRACKER 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***JHMR Returns Defective BCA Tracker 2 and Pulls From Retail Shelves***
http://www.tetonat.com/2011/01/10/jhmr-returns-defective-bca-tracker-2-and-pulls-from-retail-shelves/

Get the original tracker. Tried, tested and true (easy to use and cheap too).
Feb 21 2011 2:37PM
0 0
profile picture
J.S.
Posts: 359 - Karma: 74
Either the original tracker or the ortovox 3+
Feb 21 2011 2:41PM
0 0
profile picture
snomaster
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 5,748
Shred made a typo/brain fart. He has the original tracker. I seen it with my own eyes.
Feb 21 2011 4:27PM
0 0
profile picture
PeteySkeety
Posts: 996 - Karma: 209
word.. i was like wtf when i read it
Feb 21 2011 4:56PM
0 0
profile picture
snomaster
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 5,748
though for the record there was actually an earlier of the tracker with slightly different buttons, and less ergonomic strap...
Older Tracker
Click for larger image

Tracker (like what myself, shred, and others recommend)
Click for larger image

Tracker II, the newest one that may have some issues
Click for larger image
Feb 21 2011 9:17PM
0 0
profile picture
ABH
Posts: 309 - Karma: 11
You're asking the wrong crowd... Check out tetongravity, they have tons of helpful information about this subject.
Feb 21 2011 11:34PM
0 0
profile picture
WillParry
Posts: 208 - Karma: 12
transceivers damn technical terms now
Feb 22 2011 12:06AM
0 0
profile picture
snomaster
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 5,748
know what? Fuck you. Many of us know what were talking about. All NSers aren't rail fiends.
Feb 22 2011 8:36AM
0 0
profile picture
Spacekroft
Posts: 1332 - Karma: 41
http://www.beaconreviews.com/ this site really helped me when i was looking for a beacon and it was a really hard choice between the tracker2 and the ortovox 3+, i ended up getting the tracker2 because i found a great deal on it.
Feb 22 2011 11:07AM
0 0
profile picture
cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,686
Nope, we arntall park rats, but for themost part the advice you get on this site is meh at best. Kids who thought about going into the BC will go out, buy beacon X and never train with it then say that it's the best.
Feb 22 2011 11:08AM
0 0
profile picture
minibus4
Posts: 517 - Karma: 13
tracker dts is the cant go wrong with beacon. you can get them around 230 new with the end of year sales going on. never get analog under any condition, they take forever to find someone cuz you cant follow the flux lines and it also takes longer for people to find you.
Feb 23 2011 3:09PM
0 0
profile picture
minibus4
Posts: 517 - Karma: 13
tracker dts is the cant go wrong witheople to find you.
Feb 23 2011 3:10PM
0 0
profile picture
cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,686
I bet I can find a beacon with an analog (bigger range) faster then you can with a digital. Why? Because I practice practice practice. Neither is better then the other, they are both different.
Feb 23 2011 6:41PM
0 0
profile picture
cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,686
I bet I can find a beacon with an analog (bigger range) faster then you can with a digital. Why? Because I practice practice practice. Neither is better then the other, they are both different.
Feb 23 2011 6:41PM
0 0
profile picture
Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
droppin knowledge.
Feb 24 2011 1:19AM
0 0
profile picture
I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
not gonna deny this, practice is the key factor in swift avalanche rescue, but still, for a first beacon the Tracker 1 is a great choice imho....

on all beacon search exercises i've been, the tracker performed very well, even in the hands of a beginner ....
Feb 24 2011 12:03PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)