Practice Beacons

I am a nerd. Worse, I'm an engineer.

I could, with the help of the equipment I have at my disposal, build a transmitter within the specifications of whatever international standard is used for beacons. I've seen it before-- it was even posted here once, actually-- and it wouldn't be too bad to do.

So, here's the short version. If you could buy a box that you could bury in the snow to practice searching, would you be willing to pay for it?

It would be waterproof, AA battery powered, and act just like a beacon on "transmit." I would intentionally make it obvious that this is not a backcountry tool, just a practice tool.

Anyone interested? Let's ignore, for now, any legal risks stemming from some moron thinking it would save him in the BC.

I think its a great idea. If it could be made cheap enough.

You should also make it big enough that it would be a bitch to wear skiing.

I dont think the liablility issue would lie with people who thought it would save their ass in the backcountry, but with people who would use it as a cheap way to bypass automated beacon check systems at ski areas (ie hiking the ridge at bridger)

Great Idea!!

And I agree with fez in that it needs to be large an cumbersome enough for jackasses not to use it for real situations. Also durable and large enough for digging/probing.

cost would be key, i.e. if it was cheaper than an old used beacon.

edit- maybe insert it in a kevlar-reinforced blow-up doll?

I'd be interested - but It'd have to be cheap! You can get transmit only beacons for $65-90 new, or used beacons for <$50 so if it were like $30ish?

I think it is a great idea too. However, I think it should be made as small as possible. It would be nice to carry a couple for doing multiple burial practice on a real slope. It would also have to be a bit cheaper than the arva at about $70 I think. I think ortovox sells a set of transmitters in a kit for this purpose but they are several thousand $$$ ie, I wouldn't worry too much about liability as there are similiar products already. I think you could actually make some money selling to schools if it was cheap enough.

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Originally posted by nate s
I think it is a great idea too. However, I think it should be made as small as possible. It would be nice to carry a couple for doing multiple burial practice on a real slope. It would also have to be a bit cheaper than the arva at about $70 I think. I think ortovox sells a set of transmitters in a kit for this purpose but they are several thousand $$$ ie, I wouldn't worry too much about liability as there are similiar products already. I think you could actually make some money selling to schools if it was cheap enough.

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Ortovox also makes a small transmit only beacon marketed in the states for dogs - It's like $65-90.

How would you like to be the guy that was dug out dead, when the dog next to you was just dug out alive.
Not sure I would want to ski with a dog that had its own beacon, unless it was just me and my dog in the middle of nowhere (no 3rd party rescue possibilites).

I've seen ones for sleds and dogs made by SOS, but they have a different frequency. I can't believe anyone would put a 457 beacon on their dog, atleast I can't believe anyone would ski with someone who did that.

The company is also introducing the D1 Doggy Xmitter, a transceiver for dogs

The D1 is a small piece that clips onto the dogs collar and for obvious reasons only transmits. The range is smaller (30m) because the beacon itself is small enough not to annoy your dog, it retails for $85.

It was created in Europe about 4 years ago for beagles that flush rabbits from underground. If the dog gets stuck or lost, the beacon helps the dog handler to find and rescue it. In the last few years, patrols in the U.S. have started using them. Crested Butte, Squaw Valley and Copper Mountain's patrols are a few who have their “beagles” beeping.

There are a couple of 457 KHz TX only units on the market. The Pieps "Powder PEEP" and the Arva "BIP".
Here's a link to a discussion elsewhere...

http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=11907


Best price for one of these that I found was at Al's Sports online for $59.99.
http://www.alssports.com/item.asp?prodID=6876

These are not the old SOS sled-bug or dog finders which use a different transmit frequency.

FWIW, the best deals I could find on used beacons was in the 100-125 range.


Happy practicing.

Gotta have a transceiver-owning buddy to BC with, right?

Why not just go out and practice with them? Even if it's just showing up a half-hour early the day of the BC trip to practice?

When there's just two or three of us to practice, I bury the transmitter in a bag and then join the rest. That way, the person the I put "in charge" of the search has to remember to tell me to switch to receive. Kind of like flight simulators where you throw wrong things at them to teach the proper steps and things to watch out for.

fun with avi training.

you and your friend are going avi training at the local city park, hill, whatever. put a third beacon (on transmit) in your buddy's pack (make sure he's wearing it at time of search). let him loose on a search and watch the fun.*

*best to do with a buddy that's new to beacons. a pro would figger it out in 3.8 secs i figger, give or take a tenth. ;)

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Originally posted by phUnk
Gotta have a transceiver-owning buddy to BC with, right?

Why not just go out and practice with them? Even if it's just showing up a half-hour early the day of the BC trip to practice?

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Right. For most of you, this is perfect. But, I'm the only one within 150 miles of myself with a beacon.

Anyway, it sounds like there are enough other options that this isn't really worth it for me to undertake.

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Originally posted by Cornholio
Right. For most of you, this is perfect. But, I'm the only one within 150 miles of myself with a beacon.

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Good luck finding a practice beacon with a transmit range of 150 miles.

No kidding! I'm very careful what kind of terrain I travel in, don't worry.