Puzzling beacon behavior at BC gate check station

On Sunday my much loved Barryvox Opto 3000 beacon isn't triggering a newly installed beacon check station at the SB gate at Xtal. A buddies identical Beacon does from the same distance.

Not sure who makes the station it's a small solar panel on a steel pole with a gray and black plastic panel about 12"x12'x3". It's range is obviously somewhat limited so as to better only pick up one person at a time as they pass and appears highly directional toward approaching boot packer.

Puzzled we did a beacon to beacon check in transmit and search and a reasonable range check. All seemed fine.

My only conclusion is that I have freq drift that puts it outside of gate's tolerance? Of more concern obviously is that it maybe out of tolerance of some other beacons?

Any suggestions other than as a first step doing a DSP/S1 (or Pulse?) check for correct freq? Any experience with returning stuff to Mammut for warranty/replacement?

The station is made by mammut. It is a great tool to check if you're on but I wouldn't use it to range check for a variety of reasons. I would check off of someone's else's beacon, and try to get an absolute range. Then compare.

If anyone's interested I can try and pull a sample of real-world ranges off of a variety of beacons that have been tested.

To be clear we didn't use station to range check. Did that and function check from my beacon to companions beacon and visa versa as if at trail head. But was only prompted to do so by me not triggering the station from ~10 feet while all others were.

From looking at JonathanS's various beacon posts here and on Wildsnow I can't see any history of Freq. drift in this type of beacon.

Think I'll return the thing to Mammut, buy a new DSP or similar. Keep or sell the Mammut when it's either returned with clean bill of health or replaced.

BTW good to hear from you. Haven't seen you on the hill this year?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

From looking at JonathanS's various beacon posts here and on Wildsnow I can't see any history of Freq. drift in this type of beacon.

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I've tested lots of Opto 3000 beacons, but they've all been fairly new and seen relatively little use (even though that model has been discontinued for a few years). The only problems I've heard reported with the Opto 3000 all seem ultimately related to the battery connection.
That said, I'm still leaning toward your hunch that the gate check might have a relatively tight tolerance, whereas your partner's beacon has a wider tolerance. Beacons vary enormously is how well they pick up severely drifted targets. Then again, I'd be surprised if your Opto 3000 had drifted that much, but sure sounds like any explanation here is going to be a surprise.
Either way, your idea of testing with a DSP or S1 (or Pulse w/ new 3.0 firmware) seems like the best first step.

Thanks JS.

Having talked to Mammut I'm going to return it for checking and repair for a few $s.

Meanwhile have used it as an opportunity to upgrade to a DSP.