Avy Beacons State-of-the-Market Update: Convergence & Divergence
Avalanche Beacons
[updated November 2011 for new ARVA models]
Since my original beacon overview introduction back in 2008 the market has changed sufficiently enough over the past three years to merit an updated overview for backcountry skiers.
Once upon a time, all beacons were very similar: they went Beep. That is, a beacon emitted a radio signal, and when switched to search, it allowed the user to listen in.
And that was about it. Volume controls (one early beacon didn’t even have a volume control), earpiece setups, and LED lights provided some variation, but the core functionality for backcountry skiing use was all very similar. Users who practiced thoroughly and frequently became capable searchers, but otherwise even a straightforward single-burial search really wasn’t all that straightforward for the typical backcountry skier — resulting in tragic stories of beacon searches that took long enough to compromise the survival of otherwise recoverable victims.
Cue BCA back in 1997. A little over a quarter-century after the first avalanche beacon had been invented in the U.S., American ingenuity shook up the Euro-dominated market with a true breakthrough. With two receive antennas and digital processing, the original DTS Tracker could direct the searcher to follow the flux line toward the victim. It was awesome, like something out of Cupertino, only better.
Variety, the spice of life.
Despite such a breakthrough, the multiple-antenna design encountered skepticism at first from backcountry skiers and ski mountaineers, mainly because of its shortened initial signal acquisition range and the lack of analog acoustics for distinguishing between multiple burials. Some companies added digital processing to single-antenna designs. Then Pieps in 2003 introduced signal separation and marking/masking for multiple burials on its DSP. Even more innovative beacons followed, and price points were all over the map. Beacon comparisons were very much an apples-and-oranges exercise.
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WildSnow
Avalanche Beacon Reviews & Shopping Chart |
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| Street | Notes | ||||
| ARVA Evo3 | $329 | IL | discontinued | ||
| ARVA A.D.vanced | $379 | MR | discontinued | ||
| ARVA Evo3+ | $279 | MR, WS! | Web | Manual | Shop |
| ARVA Axis | $359 | MR | Web | Manual | Shop |
| ARVA Link | $449 | MR | Web | Manual | Shop |
| ARVA 3 Axes | $399 | MR | discontinued | ||
| BCA Tracker DTS | $290 | IL, DA | Web | Manual | Shop |
| BCA Tracker 2 | $335 | IL, WS! | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Barryvox Pulse | $490 | MR | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Barryvox Opto 3000 | $300 | IL | discontinued | ||
| Barryvox Element | $350 | MR, WS! | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Ortovox 3+ | $349 | MR, WS! | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Ortovox Patroller/X1 | discontinued | ||||
| Ortovox S1/S1+ | $449 | MR | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Ortovox F1 Focus | $199 | SA, NR | Web | Shop | |
| O Patroller Digi / D3 | $249 | IL | Web | Manual | Shop | Ortovox Zoom | $250 | IL | Web | Manual | Fall 2012 |
| Pieps DSP | $450 | MR | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Pieps DSP Advanced | $550 | MR | Manual | discontinued | |
| Pieps DSP Tour | $350 | MR, WS! | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Pieps Freeride | $200 | SA, NR | Web | Manual | Shop |
| Pieps Vector | $600 | MR | Web | Fall 2012[?] | |
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NR = Not Recommended for the typical backcountry recreationalist. WS! = WildSnow.com recommended all-rounder beacon, e.g., what your one choice would be within each brand when asked by the non-skiing partner of a new backcountry or an old one looking to upgrade, with enough money to buy a modern design at retail, but without knowing anything more about the skier. All beacons have three antennas unless otherwise noted. |
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But now, going into the 2011-12 season, each price point now features more beacons with similar features. At the same time, the range in prices is even greater, and the features at the very highest end of the price points vary widely. Hence the “convergence and divergence” in our WildSnow.com blog post title.
I’ve split up the more detailed discussion into three categories of beacons, all of which have three antennas (with the second antenna providing the directional indicators, and the third antenna eliminating spikes/nulls in the final search phase):
– Only an indicator for the presence of a multiple burial (with prices centered around a bit over $300).
– A marking/masking/flagging feature after finding the first victim in a multiple burial (with prices around $350).
– Max technology (and max price).
Before getting into the details of the available three-antenna beacons, a few quick sentences on the single- and dual-antenna beacons still available for backcountry skiing.
In the future, beacons will hopefully be smaller than this but just as featured.
The Ortovox F1, first introduced in 1989, is still available with only relatively minor changes. As I wrote in the beacon series introduction three years ago, I’ll believe that certain grizzled vets out there are capable with such a single-antenna acoustical design. But as one internet poster commented, “I don’t trust anyone with an older-style beacon unless he has a gray beard.” Cost savings can be especially tempting with the many available used F1 units for sale, but be especially wary of frequency drift (which can be reliably tested with many feature-laden modern beacons).
The original BCA Tracker DTS is still available with its core functionality although with many welcome tweaks along the years. And the original design is still capable. But the price differential for even BCA’s own Tracker2 is relatively small.
Far more recently, in 2008, Pieps introduced the Freeride. As the name implies, this is marketed toward the sidecountry scene. With digital processing, yet only a single antenna and no analog acoustics, along with the shortest initial signal acquisition I’ve ever tested, this is essentially a budget “Find Me” beacon. When removed from its relatively heavy and bulky harness, the Freeride is by far the lightest and smallest beacon, so it certainly appeals to rando racers and ski mountaineers counting every single ounce. And its low price point will appeal to lift-served skiers who want some extra peace of mind if buried in a rare in-bounds avalanche, and hope the patrol will be on scene by the time they ever have to start searching for someone else. But for backcountry skiers, more capable beacons (even from Pieps itself) are worth the extra cost and what we recommend here at WildSnow.com.
Indicator-Only for Multis
Paying on average a little over $300 gets you three antennas, which means the beacon not only shows directional indicators but also resolves any nulls/spikes (i.e., erratic readings) in the final search phase. An indicator light will come on in the presence of more than one signal, so you’ll at least know that you’ll have to deal with a multiple burial. But how you deal with that complicating second signal (or even more) is for the most part up for you to determine, since any additional features are very basic, if any. The acoustics for these beacons are digitized only, so you can’t use your own ear (and engaged brain) to distinguish between the qualities of the different signals. Initial signal acquisition ranges tend to be on the shorter side.
Backcountry Access Tracker 2 avalanche search beacon transceiver.
This market segment is dominated by the BCA Tracker2 but the Ortovox Patroller Digital (essentially the previous D3 but with a more basic harness system) has similar features, and at a lower price point for the 2011-12 season.
Beacons with Marking/Masking/Flagging
Pay not much more, typically around $350, and you get all of the above plus some sort of marking/masking/flagging feature. In the presence of multiple signals, the beacon will not only let you know what you’re up against, but will try to distinguish for you between the different transmitting beacons, i.e., “signal separation.” So once you’re right at the first signal, you press a button or flick a switch, then the beacon leads you to the next signal, while suppressing the signal from the first victim you’ve already found. The goal is that a potentially complicated multiple-burial search is reduced to a sequential series of relatively straightforward single-burial searches.
Sound almost magical? When it works, yes indeed. Does it always work so easily? Not necessarily. (The details have to do with the difficulties of separating those signals, since the beacon spec was never designed for such a goal — the Canadian Avalanche Association has been publishing a series of articles by Rob Whelan that explains the details, which unintentionally happen to be related to the “convergence and divergence” in this blog’s title.)
Sidebar: Is the multiple burial feature over rated, and how much should you focus on this as a feature?
It bears mentioning that if you actually do have multiple people buried in an avalanche, the likelihood of digging them all out alive is low — no matter how good your beacon technology. Why? Because it may take too long to shovel vast quantities of snow. More, just how often does such a scenario arise? If you’re ready for even more uncertainty and controversy, some additional reading on the subject is available in this issue of The Avalanche Review from the American Avalanche Association. Also, here at WildSnow.com we believe that possibly the best proven avalanche lifesaver for backcountry skiers is the backpack airbag system (which doesn’t take the place of a beacon, but may even be more effective at saving lives). Please see our Avalanche Airbags category for details. The Black Diamond Avalung breathing device also bears mentioning, though the jury is out on how the triad of avalanche survival technology, eg., beacon/airbag/Avalung should be implemented, as in, how much of this stuff can one backcountry skier carry and deal with?
Some of the beacons in this category have other added features too, although they still tend to be (as a broad generalization) relatively limited, so as to distinguish them from their pricier siblings. Sound on most models is digitized only, with no option for analog acoustics.
This market segment didn’t even exist with widespread distribution until Ortovox pioneered it for the 2010-11 season with its 3+. And now for 2011-12 it’s joined by the Pieps DSP Tour and Barryvox Element (which is very similar to the “Basic” profile mode of its more expensive Pulse sibling, although that “Basic” mode is actually quite feature-laden). The new for 2011-12 ARVA Evo3+ combines features from various discontinued ARVA models to offer marking/masking at a much lower price point, and now with much stronger U.S. distribution, along with the new for 2011-12 ARVA Axis (which is essentially the “Novice” mode of its more expensive Link sibling, similar to the relationship of the Element to the Pulse).
Max Technology Beacons
Spend more money and what do you get for backcountry skiing avalanche safety? The answer to that varies widely among these models. Most of these models include a frequency tester for your buddies’ beacons, and an option for analog acoustics. The initial signal acquisition range is often tweaked noticeably. Some of these models in a multiple-burial search provide an overview of different signals and allow you to choose which one to head toward first, instead of whichever the strongest signal is that the beacon automatically locks onto at the start of the search. As for other features, I would say let your imagine take you away, but some of these features are far more than you can imagine.
Similarities to their less expensive siblings also vary widely. The Pieps DSP and (recently discontinued) DSP Advanced (which despite the name adds on only some functions entirely unrelated to avalanche safety) are probably the most similar to their less-expensive sibling (the DSP Tour, new for 2011-12), using the same housing, but adding on a scan feature and frequency tester. At the opposite end of the spectrum through (in pretty much every regard, including unfortunately price at ~$600), is the new for 2011-12 Pieps Vector, which adds GPS functionality so that the search is enhanced by . . . well, I’m not going to promise anything more until I actually use one of these!
The Barryvox Pulse shares a nearly identical housing with its less-expensive Element sibling, and the “Basic” profile on the Pulse has very similar functionality as the Element. But the Pulse’s “Advanced” profile has even more functionality (including fore/aft differentiation and true analog acoustics mode). Note that although the “Pulse” name is derived from the relatively limited triage-related functionality on the separate “W-Link” frequency, that could be expanded in the future. The ARVA Link shares many features with the Barryvox Pulse, including the W-Link (although only to assist in signal separation, not for “vitals” transmission).
The Ortovox S1/S1+ deviates the most from its less expensive 3+ sibling, and indeed from pretty much any other beacon. Instead of the typical directional indicators, the large screen of the clamshell housing provides a graph-like display of all the victims’ positions relative to the searcher (including fore/aft differentiation). Given the inherent complications of flux lines, this isn’t quite like a buried treasure map, and individual reactions vary widely, but it is definitely compelling for some users. For 2011-12, the S1 becomes the S1+, allowing the beacon to switch transmission to a second antenna (like with the 3+) so as to avoid a suboptimal vertical signal transmission (though the beacon still can’t do anything about the searcher being in a suboptimal position in the horizontal plane, so initial signal acquisitions distances when searching for an S1+ will still vary widely with some searching beacons, but less so compared to other target beacons in use for backcountry skiing).
Beacon Test Notes
Tips on Checking Older Beacons
(WildSnow guest blogger Jonathan Shefftz lives with his wife and daughter in Western Massachusetts, where he is a member of the Northfield Mountain and Thunderbolt / Mt Greylock ski patrols. Formerly an NCAA alpine race coach, he has broken free from his prior dependence on mechanized ascension to become far more enamored of self-propelled forms of skiing. He is an AIARE-qualified instructor, NSP avalanche instructor, and contributor to the American Avalanche Association’s The Avalanche Review. When he is not searching out elusive freshies in Southern New England or promoting the NE Rando Race Series, he works as a financial economics consultant.)
Comments
40 Responses to “Avy Beacons State-of-the-Market Update: Convergence & Divergence”
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Is it just me or is there a construction stud-sensor masquerading in that first pic?
Yes, it is…
Don’t worry Craig, Jonathan is going for a very inside TGR joke….
Unless Stanley is now selling an avy beacon, Craig, you could be correct (grin).
And be on the lookout for tent poles in any pictures I might take of avy probes!
Jonathan,
ARVA has just set up new US distribution and the products will be available in US shops early fall for the winter season. All three transceiver models will be in stock for immediate delivery along with ABS compatible packs, shovels and probes. ARVA has set up a distribution arm in the US from their headquarters in France. So we will be seeing more of their gear out there.
I’d heard a rumor last season to that effect — thanks for the confirmation on ARVA availability (especially since I was wondering whether to bother even mentioning their beacons given their typical unavailability in North America).
Do you have the details on how to contact the new distributor? Or feel free to have them contact me.
I worked on a ski patrol when the first tracker came out. I had gotten used to an Ortovox F2 dual frequency unit and considered it a very solid European tool. I looked at that Tracker and thought, no way am I using a beacon that looks that much like Coleco hand held basketball game. Now I still use a Tracker 1 after a handful of years and consider it the obvious choice for the price-conscious weekend warrior.
I’ve didn’t prove yet, But I think the GPS feature in the Pieps Vector is a very good feature. It can not only be used as a common GPS to track down to home, but also gives you two principal advantages:
First, yo can say (by radio, telephone or such) your exact location to the rescue patrols. So you can optimice the speed of the rescue.
And second (even more important). It allows you to not pass two times over the same point when you are searching. It allows you to optimice the time on the first phases by eliminating the overlaping of searching field. So you can cover more field in less time and without repeating or overlaping areas you have already pass.
I think it’s very strange that no manufacturer has proposed a supplementary standard for “extra communication” yet. A simple thing like transmitting a Beacon ID on another frequency would allow solid silencing of the beacons you’ve already found. Add to that the possibility of an info text, and you could have a beacon on your dog without risking your life, since one of the burials show up as “Dog” and the other as “John Doe” (assuming you travel with other hitech-beacon-carrying people). And you could name yourself “Avalung John Doe” to let your rescuers search for other non-Avalunged burials first.
I’m not saying that all of the above is a good idea under all conditions, but all of it is fairly low tech. It’s nothing advanced at all. Your cell phone has been doing much trickier stuff for 20+ years at about the same size, plus you can play Snake and Angry Birds on it.
Yeah Gustav, good Ideas here.
I’m pretty sure that Ortovox produces a transmitter especially designes for Dogs and that Pieps has also somethig similar. This transmitter transmit in a different frecuancy so you can diference the signals.
I go more away with your Idea. When a mobile phone with AVY cappabilities?? Is so dificult to do it??? I think if a so big company as Apple or Nokia invest in Avy tech, they could take the most advanced features of all AVY beacons and implement they in a very tiny and user friendly iBeacon.
Engineers have told me that much of the resistance to bundling multiple devices comes from the concept that safety devices should be stand-alone, so they’re more likely to be stowed away and cared for carefully rather than beat around, taken out of backpacks and dropped or lost, etc (issues of signal interference rise as well if a device has multiple radio transceivers). Also, no one can deny the economic incentive of a company such as BCA being able to be a small version of Apple by coming up with something new and at the time unique, then basing a company on it. But then, Apple lurks, and I’d imagine the iPhone could easily be made to include a personal location transceiver system that would work for an avalanche burial — or locating your child in a playground.
Things is, as folks realize that the key with avalanche survival is not to get buried in the first place (and devices are refined to prevent burial), I think you’ll see a relaxing of all the uptight stuff that goes on with avy transceivers, and they will get bundled into other devices to simplify our kit. I’d imagine we’ll indeed see a combo fully functioned GPS/transceiver sooner than later. Like the Garmin Rhino bundles a GPS and FRS radio.
Avalanche beacons have enjoyed this sort of rosy mythology for years, the instinctual assumption that they’re a real life saver in many situations. Yeah, they save lives and it would be absurd to state otherwise, BUT, the whole process of burial, find with beacon, and shovel the person out really doesn’t work all that well. So when other things (like airbag backpacks) start to work better and better, and get 100% penetration into the backcountry skiing population, watch beacons become more of a commodity item with much less emphasis on how fancy they are, and more emphasis on size, simplicity, and cost. That’s when you’ll see them bundled with flashlights and GPS units, and it will seem totally logical to do so.
Lou’s crystal ball has spoken (grin).
We need cheap radar devices as well.
http://www.modroo.com/files/GPR2004.pdf
Any newsworthy updates on upcoming airbag packs for this season? Will there be a newer Float 30 for example, designed for us more than for the sledrunners?
Any other brands coming out with packs for this winter?
Thanks.
In September we’re going to ramp up the airbag coverage. Nick, our airbag expert, got married and he’s been scarce fro some reason.
Perhaps BCA will chime in here.
As mentioned in one of our OR show updates, Mystery Ranch lightened and simplified their Black Jack airbag backpack. I think we’ll see a trend in that direction with other packs as well. Most are too heavy and frequently several pounds heavier than they really need to be.
Remember to look back through our airbag coverage, most is still current.
http://www.wildsnow.com/category/airbag-backpacks-skiing/
I can’t remember if this was reported here already, but Mammut, which had previously partnered with Snow Pulse, now outright owns Snow Pulse.
Back to beacons: if the beacon spec were designed from scratch today, it would look way different, and signal separation would be nearly 100% reliable. Still though, impressive what has been accomplished still using the old spec that was never intended for all this digital processing. (And even more impressive that it’s coming from relatively small companies, as opposed to major players in the consumer electronics industry.)
Thanks Lou!
The airbag packs review that Nick did was great.
Want to pull the trigger on one in November so am looking for one that is stripped down for weight, as you mentioned. I would be willing to pay the extra $$ for dyneema.
Paul,
BCA will have the Float 36 available this season which is geared to people who tour. Suggested retail is $785. Look for updates on the BCA web site soon.
We’re also introducing a pack called the Float 18 which is designed for folks who ski out of bounds or take the occasional cat or heli trip. It holds a shovel and probe perfectly and doesn’t need to be removed when riding lifts or sitting in a cat.
Just an FYI: if you do end up heli skiing with any of our packs, most heli companies in North America have found it suitable to simply place the Float trigger handle inside it’s zippered pouch and out of the way, rather than disconnecting the entire system.
Thanks,
Steve
(BCA)
Thanks Steve. Look forward to seeing the Float 36. Let me know if you need any testers.
Was planning on doing Toll next weekend.
Paul
I have always found the naming on the Pieps Freeride to be so wonderfully ironic. It must surely be one of the best examples of Freerider economics whereby the ‘cost’ of using such a poor piece of technology is borne not by the owner but by their friends and colleagues should they ever be reqred to undertake a search.
You’ll sure as he’ll not be coming on a trip with me if you’ve got one.
“You’ll sure as h*** not be coming on a trip with me if you’ve got one”.
So you decide to go skiing with your mate who owns a top of the range beacon, and leave the skier with the Freeride beacon at the trail head. Then you get buried in a slide, it’s a shame really, that guy with the cheap beacon could have helped with the digging!
(Lou changed the wording a tiny bit so as not to trigger any pesky filters out there.)
Personally, I’d judge the safety of my companion by the size of his shoulders, the size of his shovel, and the size of his first aid kit…
Just got 2 patrollers to replace our F1 Focus, just because the F1s are getting old (and we lost a couple of old F1s during a multiple beacon search when our spare were used as victims and, once buried, died).
I tested the 2 today; nice! I placed two beacons 30 m apart. No problem detecting multiple burials, even without the indicator light. Compared the to the F1 Focus. The Focus lacks precision close in, the patroller is great! The Focus has the ability to reduce gain and thereby discriminate amongst multiple burials, but still lacks precision close in. The patroller might cause some indecision equidistant from two beacons, but if the user recognizes that there are two or more beacons and takes thoughtful steps it is no problem. The S1 may (or may not) be more idiot proof, but I found the patroller to be very quick, even from 40+m out, and very easy to home in on the beacon when close. Of course, I am one of those old gary-bearde dudes who has spent decades with analogs (and with locating wild animals via telemetry); you younger know-nothings with only on-line cyberspace experience, YMMV!
“I’ve didn’t prove yet, But I think the GPS feature in the Pieps Vector is a very good feature. It can not only be used as a common GPS to track down to home, but also gives you two principal advantages:
First, yo can say (by radio, telephone or such) your exact location to the rescue patrols. So you can optimice the speed of the rescue.
And second (even more important). It allows you to not pass two times over the same point when you are searching. It allows you to optimice the time on the first phases by eliminating the overlaping of searching field. So you can cover more field in less time and without repeating or overlaping areas you have already pass.”
Pablo
“I think it’s very strange that no manufacturer has proposed a supplementary standard for “extra communication” yet. A simple thing like transmitting a Beacon ID on another frequency would allow solid silencing of the beacons you’ve already found. Add to that the possibility of an info text, and you could have a beacon on your dog without risking your life, since one of the burials show up as “Dog” and the other as “John Doe” (assuming you travel with other hitech-beacon-carrying people). And you could name yourself “Avalung John Doe” to let your rescuers search for other non-Avalunged burials first.
I’m not saying that all of the above is a good idea under all conditions, but all of it is fairly low tech. It’s nothing advanced at all. Your cell phone has been doing much trickier stuff for 20+ years at about the same size, plus you can play Snake and Angry Birds on
Gustav
LouAugust 26th, 2011 6:38 am
Engineers have told me that much of the resistance to bundling multiple devices comes from the concept that safety devices should be stand-alone, so they’re more likely to be stowed away and cared for carefully rather than beat around, taken out of backpacks and dropped or lost, etc (issues of signal interference rise as well if a device has multiple radio transceivers). Also, no one can deny the economic incentive of a company such as BCA being able to be a small version of Apple by coming up with something new and at the time unique, then basing a company on it. But then, Apple lurks, and I’d imagine the iPhone could easily be made to include a personal location transceiver system that would work for an avalanche burial — or locating your child in a playground.
Things is, as folks realize that the key with avalanche survival is not to get buried in the first place (and devices are refined to prevent burial), I think you’ll see a relaxing of all the uptight stuff that goes on with avy transceivers, and they will get bundled into other devices to simplify our kit. I’d imagine we’ll indeed see a combo fully functioned GPS/transceiver sooner than later. Like the Garmin Rhino bundles a GPS and FRS radio.
Avalanche beacons have enjoyed this sort of rosy mythology for years, the instinctual assumption that they’re a real life saver in many situations. Yeah, they save lives and it would be absurd to state otherwise, BUT, the whole process of burial, find with beacon, and shovel the person out really doesn’t work all that well. So when other things (like airbag backpacks) start to work better and better, and get 100% penetration into the backcountry skiing population, watch beacons become more of a commodity item with much less emphasis on how fancy they are, and more emphasis on size, simplicity, and cost. That’s when you’ll see them bundled with flashlights and GPS units, and it will seem totally logical to do so.
Lou’s crystal ball has spoken (grin).
Lou”
Sorry to be coming in late on this. I’ve been dealing with family issues.
Now, weren’t you the guys that complained about “bells and whistles?”
GPS incorporated in transivers? One transiver “talking to another?”
How about just getting folks to practice with their transiever??? How about instead of a GPS and “talking function,” one that says “You have not practiced single or multiple searches in X amount of days?”
Don’t think I would ever use a beacon feature in the iPhone if it existed – it is hard to find any device that has worse cold-weather-performance, and add some moisture to that….
For me robustness, glove compatible UI and long battery life is high on the list of important features in a beacon. It should work in sunlight (and dark), with polarized glasses and be simple to use even when my mind is occupied with the possible death of my closest friends. The last thing I want is a touch screen where I have to remove my gloves and glasses and avoid strong light.
Christian, probably not now, but with iPhone 9, who knows?
Revised the summary chart for some Pieps updates:
- DSP “Advanced” is discontinued.
- Vector delayed until the beginning of 2012.
- DSP Tour is now available, and my testing will begin this coming week.
Some major updates in both the chart and the text for new ARVA models, which will not only finally have some stronger U.S. distribution, but are already in stock at Backcountry.com right now:
- ARVA Link continues as a very direct Barryvox Pulse competitor.
- ARVA Axis seems to be just the Link without the secondary frequency for “vitals” transmission yet at a much lower price point, similar to beacons with far fewer features.
- ARVA Evo3+ replaces all the other discontinued models and essentially plays mix & match with their features, resulting in a three-antenna marking/masking beacon at only $279.
I should have all three models soon, although testing and write-ups might take awhile because I’m still in the midst of testing the new Pieps DSP Tour and Barryvox Element, plus upgraded firmware versions of Ortovox S1, Ortovox 3+, and Barryvox Pulse.
A few ARVA corrections (also reflected in the main text of the original post):
- ARVA Link does *not* (as I misleadingly implied) use the secondary W-Link frequency for vitals transmission, but rather uses it only to assist to some extent in signal separation. (I plan to test this more thoroughly later this month.)
- ARVA Axis is essentially the “Novice” mode of the Link, without the “Expert” mode option, so essentially the same relationship to the Link as the Barryvox Element is to the Pulse.
Jonathan,
Our mountain rescue team(WA) is looking to update our current teams beacons (we are currently using Barryvox Opto 3000).
We are currently unsure if we should go with either the Barryvox Pulse vs Element and now have members suggesting the Ortovox 3+.
We have compared the data sheets but I’m looking for further information to support a decisions.
Thanks,
Stephen
My two cents, those seem overly complex for institutional use, why not just the Tracker?
Stephen, beacon selection depends a lot on personal preferences, and this is of course even more complicated if you have a team of diverse individuals with different preferences. In this context, I think a key factor is how much training and practice your particular team is willing to devote to learning the particular details of a particular beacon model.
If you want to keep it as simple as possible for the team members who aren’t into gadgetry, then the BCA T2 would be a strong choice, as is the new ARVA Evo3+ (although its shorter range might be a concern for a SAR team not knowing the number of burials and/or PLS).
The Ortovox 3+ and Barryvox Element (as well as DSP Tour and ARVA Axis) step it up a notch in terms of features and complexity, but still stop short of the Pulse.
If your team is relatively large, then check out the separate institutional brochure I have linked near the start of my Pulse review. You can set up the Pulse options via computer and then lock them in so that individual team members can’t be messing around with them. Kind of interesting solution for a fleet that wants to take advantage of the Pulse’s many options but wants all the beacons to be set up identically.
Lou and Jonathan,
Thank you very much for your quick reply and advice.
Hi, I need to get in contact with the new Arva distributor in the USA, Can you help me out? Love your research and info. Steve
Sure, just shoot me an email (you can use “AvyCourse” with mail from Google) and I’ll send you the contact info.
A question came up in a comment at a model-specific thread regarding NE venues for beacon practice. In no particular order…
– These two annual events might have beacon practice (although check to be sure): http://mountaineer.com/?page_id=83 & http://ime-usa.com/imcs/ice_fest.html
– This annual ski patrol event can also be attended by recreationalists and I run several beacon practice stations: http://amn11.nmnsp.org
– I hear that Smugg’s is getting a beacon practice park this season.
– The first day of the avy course I run each year: http://avycourse.blogspot.com also does double-duty as a refresher, with lots of beacon practice (and it’s almost free).
– A post at TimeForTuckerman can turn up interested practice partners, and ditto for posting in the East Coast threads of TelemarkTips & TGR.
I’m renting BCA Tracker 2′s by the day/week/month – cheaper than buying if you only need it for a trip or 2.
Contact me at: oerentals@gmail.com
Element review is now published, with Pulse v 3.2 and Pieps DSP Tour (i.e., less-expensive single-button version of the DSP) coming up soon, followed by ARVA models (Evo 3+, Axis, Link).
Ortovox has mainly behind-the-scenes firmware upgrades to the 3+ and S1+ (with the “+” for the S1 signifying the gain of the transmission shifting ability of its sibling 3+), along with a major price drop on the Patroller Digital, so no new reviews to be published there.
And what about BCA? In keeping with their keep-it-simple approach, nothing new there. But I did appreciate the T2′s ease-of-use on two recent occasions:
- First was running tests for initial signal acquisition. This entailed manipulating TransmitSearch switches something like 150 times. And with very numb fingers toward the end. The ergonomics of the T2′s switch were even more appreciated at that point!
- Second was teaching at my avy course when a student complained that somehow his new T2 wasn’t working properly at the close-proximity dual-burial practice station. So I grabbed his beacon and found the first target within several seconds or so. Hmm, now to find the second target (while keeping the first target on). When was the last time I practiced a multi w/o a mark/mask feature? Well, I’ll just plead the fifth on that, but it all came back to me immediately and off I went. Probably about 10 or 15 seconds longer than with a mark/mask feature. Does it take practice and skill? Yes, but it’s a good skill to practice. And would the time differential increase significantly for a third target? Yes, but a close-proximity three-victim burial is likely to end up rather badly regardless.
Is there a reason you don’t have 2 sending antenna’s as a designation on the chart? It’s a pretty cool technology.
The ability to shift the transmission among two different antennas is indeed impressive technology. But even if the table were to be expanded to include many beacon features beyond number of searching antennas and multiple-burial features, that transmission shift still wouldn’t be included. As I explained previously in my 3+ review, the feature can enhance initial signal acquisition if and only if the beacon’s long axis is vertically oriented and the beacon’s short axis is pointing toward searcher. Take away either of those conditions, and the feature isn’t helping at all. It’s still a potentially useful feature, and reveals some impressive innovating thinking at Ortovox, but pretty low down on a list of features that I would include in a more comprehensive chart. (Ditto for W-Link from Barryvox & ARVA.)
Just an FYI for the 12-13 season – the BCA Tracker DTS now retails for $235 instead of $290.00, creating a more significant price difference between the DTS and the Tracker 2.