Comments on: Avy Beacons State-of-the-Market Update: Convergence & Divergence

By: Chris Simmons

Chris Simmons — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 07:14:29 +0000

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.

By: Jonathan Shefftz

Jonathan Shefftz — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:29:54 +0000

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.)

By: skian

skian — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:58:44 +0000

Is there a reason you don’t have 2 sending antenna’s as a designation on the chart? It’s a pretty cool technology.

By: Jonathan Shefftz

Jonathan Shefftz — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:33:39 +0000

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.