Comments on: Backcountry Access Tracker — Avalanche Beacon Review http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcountry-accesss-tracker-avalanche-beacon-review/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:09:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jonathan Shefftz http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcountry-accesss-tracker-avalanche-beacon-review/comment-page-1/#comment-20508 Jonathan Shefftz Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:05:14 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1605#comment-20508 The Tracker 2 has arrived – or at least, *a* Tracker 2 has arrived at my house. Initial impressions: - About half an ounce lighter than the original, a wee bit shorter length, about the same volume overall, but housing is nicely cut away in the center to allow for enhanced grip. (I don’t have the harness – this unit is still officially marked as a Demo model and is for now owned by BCA, not me.) - The pull-out tab for switching into Search has just the right amount of resistance. The tab is easy to grasp for switching into Search. (The design concept is very similar to the Arva Evolution/A.D.vanced/3 Axes models, but a bit better executed in my opinion.) - Search tab is mechanically blocked from being pulled out while beacon is Off, and power switch is mechancially blocked from being turned Off while beacon is in Search. - The beacon will beep if kept in Search for more than 30 minutes or if kept in Transmit for more than 8 hours. - Fine search phase seems perfect: elimination of all nulls/spikes, distance indicators down to 0.0, and directional indicators shutting down at a point to be determined. (My unit shuts down its directional indicators consistently at a certain distance display, but that distance has yet to be determined for the final production version, as mine is still a demo. In general, keeping on the directional indicators into the fine search phase has its pluses and minuse – the competition ranges from 2.0 to 3.0, with the Pulse offering a 3.0 default and a 0.3 option.) - Testing for accuracy of multiple-burial indicator light is ongoing. - Range test is pending. - Testing for any increase in processing speed is pending. Details to be published in upcoming blog. The Tracker 2 has arrived – or at least, *a* Tracker 2 has arrived at my house.

Initial impressions:

- About half an ounce lighter than the original, a wee bit shorter length, about the same volume overall, but housing is nicely cut away in the center to allow for enhanced grip. (I don’t have the harness – this unit is still officially marked as a Demo model and is for now owned by BCA, not me.)

- The pull-out tab for switching into Search has just the right amount of resistance. The tab is easy to grasp for switching into Search. (The design concept is very similar to the Arva Evolution/A.D.vanced/3 Axes models, but a bit better executed in my opinion.)

- Search tab is mechanically blocked from being pulled out while beacon is Off, and power switch is mechancially blocked from being turned Off while beacon is in Search.

- The beacon will beep if kept in Search for more than 30 minutes or if kept in Transmit for more than 8 hours.

- Fine search phase seems perfect: elimination of all nulls/spikes, distance indicators down to 0.0, and directional indicators shutting down at a point to be determined. (My unit shuts down its directional indicators consistently at a certain distance display, but that distance has yet to be determined for the final production version, as mine is still a demo. In general, keeping on the directional indicators into the fine search phase has its pluses and minuse – the competition ranges from 2.0 to 3.0, with the Pulse offering a 3.0 default and a 0.3 option.)

- Testing for accuracy of multiple-burial indicator light is ongoing.

- Range test is pending.

- Testing for any increase in processing speed is pending.

Details to be published in upcoming blog.

]]> By: Jonathan Shefftz http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcountry-accesss-tracker-avalanche-beacon-review/comment-page-1/#comment-18141 Jonathan Shefftz Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:30:12 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1605#comment-18141 The S1 is a great beacon, but it’s so different from the Tracker that the decision entails far more than the cost differential. I strongly suggest an in-person demo before upgrading from your Tracker. The S1 is a great beacon, but it’s so different from the Tracker that the decision entails far more than the cost differential. I strongly suggest an in-person demo before upgrading from your Tracker.

]]> By: Bar Barrique http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcountry-accesss-tracker-avalanche-beacon-review/comment-page-1/#comment-18137 Bar Barrique Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:56:22 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1605#comment-18137 Funny thing; after posting about the Tracker 2, I thought that I should have checked further to see that they actually had some for sale. I bought the original tracker from them when it first came out, and, it was back ordered for some time. I am looking to upgrade, and, the question in my mind is should I spend the extra $195 for the Ortovox S1 . Funny thing; after posting about the Tracker 2, I thought that I should have checked further to see that they actually had some for sale. I bought the original tracker from them when it first came out, and, it was back ordered for some time. I am looking to upgrade, and, the question in my mind is should I spend the extra $195 for the Ortovox S1 .

]]> By: Jonathan Shefftz http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcountry-accesss-tracker-avalanche-beacon-review/comment-page-1/#comment-18135 Jonathan Shefftz Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:38:18 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1605#comment-18135 "I panicked and pressed the button and [. . . ]" Hmm, not a good phrase to use in the context of avalanche beacon searching! Seriously though, there's nothing wrong with buying a Tracker right now, especially at a discount. And as you say, even if you decide to upgrade to another model in the future, useful to have around as a spare, plus if you sell it, resale value should still be pretty strong. (Even used F1 beacons still sell for around $160.) “I panicked and pressed the button and [. . . ]”
Hmm, not a good phrase to use in the context of avalanche beacon searching!
Seriously though, there’s nothing wrong with buying a Tracker right now, especially at a discount. And as you say, even if you decide to upgrade to another model in the future, useful to have around as a spare, plus if you sell it, resale value should still be pretty strong. (Even used F1 beacons still sell for around $160.)

]]> By: Jonathan Shefftz http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcountry-accesss-tracker-avalanche-beacon-review/comment-page-1/#comment-18134 Jonathan Shefftz Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:34:42 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1605#comment-18134 A beacon’s third antenna is very (very) small, so shrinking the housing size while simultaneously adding a third receive antenna is no big deal. However, my understanding is that the algorithms for the third antenna can get relatively complex. But I don’t know what the specific causes of the (continuing) delays are. (Interesting though that Ortovox, Barryvox, and Pieps have been able to issue new firmware upgrades almost annually.) P.S. Hope you're just joking about the swine flu! A beacon’s third antenna is very (very) small, so shrinking the housing size while simultaneously adding a third receive antenna is no big deal.
However, my understanding is that the algorithms for the third antenna can get relatively complex. But I don’t know what the specific causes of the (continuing) delays are. (Interesting though that Ortovox, Barryvox, and Pieps have been able to issue new firmware upgrades almost annually.)
P.S. Hope you’re just joking about the swine flu!

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