Tracker or Tracker 2?

Dear Mag Collective-

I'm in need of a beacon. I live in the east coast so it won't be used too terribly much (few trips in the backcountry per year and hopefully one big trip per year as well). Therefore, ease of use is important to me since it will be seldomly used. I've heard a lot of good things about BCA Tracker beacons, but the negative side is that they have antiquated technology. Is it worth waiting a bit and ponying up some extra cake for a Tracker 2? or.... should i get some other 3 antenna beacon?

yes, I searched. yes, I looked at beaconreviews.com.

there's just too much information to decifer and I'm looking for some guidance from people who know their shit!

Happy New Year
-Tick

is the tracker 2 even available yet?

You will surely die without at least three antennas and constant firmware upgrades.

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Originally Posted by Tick

there's just too much information to decipher and I'm looking for some guidance from people who know their shit!

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Got bad news for you sunshine.

Beacon model selection is the simplest and least confusing thing about avalanches.

The dual antennae Trackers work just fine - and stop calling them antiquated! It really makes me feel old. I still remember when I used that purple dual-frequency Ortovox.

The Tracker 2 was in the last catalog that Mountaingear sent me. Is that 40 meter range for real or did MG fuck up?

Tracker2 isn't out yet. For EC, get a Tracker, it's cheaper, is the standard, and works. Proven technology. If you want to pony up for a beacon that can handle multiple burials, triage, alternate analog mode, etc, get the Pulse. If you want the (digital) beacon with the most range, get the DSP.

thanks for the input, just what I was after.
I saw the Tracker 2 on mountain gear so I'm assuming it's available, or will be shortly.

I think i've settled on the original tracker, god forbid I ever have to use the thing I want it to be as simple as possible. plus they're cheap.... more beer money!

-Tick

tick - good call. the original tracker is the best bang for the buck for sure and is as straight forward as a beacon can be. as khyber stated the original is proven technology - enjoy the extra beers

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Originally Posted by Jer

The dual antennae Trackers work just fine - and stop calling them antiquated! It really makes me feel old. I still remember when I used that purple dual-frequency Ortovox.

The Tracker 2 was in the last catalog that Mountaingear sent me. Is that 40 meter range for real or did MG fuck up?

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you think that's bad, my first beacon was a 2.275 KHz Skadi.
and i've been beeping in bounds since then.

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Originally Posted by Tick

I saw the Tracker 2 on mountain gear so I'm assuming it's available, or will be shortly.

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I too saw it in the new Mountaingear catalog. So, I called to order one. The order taker said that they don't have them in stock, and had no idea when and if they would show-up.

Is that 40 meter range for real or did MG fuck up?

My tracker has a range of about 40 meters. Not very far in the real world.

I just talked with BCA yesterday, and the Tracker 2 release has been pushed to the fall.