Comments on: Pieps Company Bought by Black Diamond http://www.wildsnow.com/8280/pieps-black-diamond/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:23:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Nick http://www.wildsnow.com/8280/pieps-black-diamond/#comment-49334 Nick Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:12:13 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=8280#comment-49334 I use a pieps dps beacon and think highly of it, but would have to try the one with GPS to believe it's an improvement. There is a lot to be said for simplicity in beacons. They tend to hypnotize people as it is. I use a pieps dps beacon and think highly of it, but would have to try the one with GPS to believe it’s an improvement. There is a lot to be said for simplicity in beacons. They tend to hypnotize people as it is.

]]> By: See http://www.wildsnow.com/8280/pieps-black-diamond/#comment-46933 See Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:49:26 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=8280#comment-46933 Thanks, Frank K, for the explanation. Sounds like it could be a useful feature. Look forward to a review. Thanks, Frank K, for the explanation. Sounds like it could be a useful feature. Look forward to a review.

]]> By: Frank K http://www.wildsnow.com/8280/pieps-black-diamond/#comment-46924 Frank K Wed, 26 Sep 2012 01:04:56 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=8280#comment-46924 See, the Vector indeed has what I would consider a useful integration of GPS and the beacon search mode. As you are doing an initial search trying to get a signal, the GPS will show you on-screen where you have searched so you shouldn't re-trace your steps. Granted, good technique produces the same results, but in the heat of an accident, it may still prove to be a solid addition to beacon technology. See, the Vector indeed has what I would consider a useful integration of GPS and the beacon search mode. As you are doing an initial search trying to get a signal, the GPS will show you on-screen where you have searched so you shouldn’t re-trace your steps. Granted, good technique produces the same results, but in the heat of an accident, it may still prove to be a solid addition to beacon technology.

]]> By: See http://www.wildsnow.com/8280/pieps-black-diamond/#comment-46923 See Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:48:08 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=8280#comment-46923 If the Pieps could get a fix under any significant depth of snow and then send the location information to a searcher's device, that would seem to me to be a major development; but given the problems my gps has getting a fix in canyons, under trees, in my pocket, etc. I'm skeptical. When I try to imagine scenarios in which the powers that be would switch off the whole system, I wonder if that wouldn't be a good time to be lost in the backcountry anyway. But it's that type of thing (or more likely me forgetting to bring fresh batteries) that makes me less eager to upgrade to a mapping gps. I like to use old fashioned paper map and compass (and altimeter) in combination with a small gps. If the earth's magnetic field gets switched off, we've probably got bigger issues than navigation to worry about. If the Pieps could get a fix under any significant depth of snow and then send the location information to a searcher’s device, that would seem to me to be a major development; but given the problems my gps has getting a fix in canyons, under trees, in my pocket, etc. I’m skeptical.

When I try to imagine scenarios in which the powers that be would switch off the whole system, I wonder if that wouldn’t be a good time to be lost in the backcountry anyway. But it’s that type of thing (or more likely me forgetting to bring fresh batteries) that makes me less eager to upgrade to a mapping gps. I like to use old fashioned paper map and compass (and altimeter) in combination with a small gps. If the earth’s magnetic field gets switched off, we’ve probably got bigger issues than navigation to worry about.

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/8280/pieps-black-diamond/#comment-46904 Lou Dawson Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:55:44 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=8280#comment-46904 See, I don't recall the details but the GPS is indeed part of how the beacon functions in a recovery or rescue. GPS is an incredibly powerful technology that we're starting to take for granted, but virtually anything that requires locating things can usually benefit from it in some way. My biggest problem with GPS isn't how it's integrated, but it's the fact that there is a guy sitting by a switch that says on/off and he can flip it any time he wants. One improvement in GPS units coming along is they use a variety of sat systems from different countries. That way if for example ours got turned off, perhaps we'd still have the French system... See, I don’t recall the details but the GPS is indeed part of how the beacon functions in a recovery or rescue. GPS is an incredibly powerful technology that we’re starting to take for granted, but virtually anything that requires locating things can usually benefit from it in some way. My biggest problem with GPS isn’t how it’s integrated, but it’s the fact that there is a guy sitting by a switch that says on/off and he can flip it any time he wants.

One improvement in GPS units coming along is they use a variety of sat systems from different countries. That way if for example ours got turned off, perhaps we’d still have the French system…

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