I was just thinking this was the thread that taught me to always keep family members together in the backcountry. Seems obvious enough now.
Printable View
I was just thinking this was the thread that taught me to always keep family members together in the backcountry. Seems obvious enough now.
I really like the bright LED system of the Trackers. That said, the LCD arrow of the DSP Sport is very intuitive and easy to use as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by rod9301
Interestingly, we had a risk management discussion on my AST2 course about skiing with family members and the dynamic it introduces.
If I were skiing with my daughter, and she was involved in an avalanche and there was a 99% chance of a secondary event, it would make no difference, I'm going to try to rescue her.
If it were my wife, then there's no way I'm going after her in the above scenario. Not leaving my daughter with no parents.
Complicated shit.
Anyone have an opinion on the Pieps Micro?
r.e the DSP - is the Pro battery life really 2x the Sport?
Oh yes we do!Quote:
Originally Posted by dunfree
Steve and I spent a looong time going over the edits on this one:
http://beaconreviews.com/transceiver...PiepsMicro.asp
Here's my executive summary in the form of a review at Skimo Co:
https://skimo.co/pieps-micro-beacon#tab-review
My wife and i both use the micro. We agree with Jon S. Works very well, but keep it in the bag, or in the harness, as it needs proximity for the proximity sensor to work. My wife likes the harness very much, (comfortable, easy to use, can’t forget it, etc.), but it’s a bit difficult to get the micro out of it. Practice. i use the bag and keep it in a pocket, in the bag, but then leash it to a zipper pull on the pocket. We haven’t needed to use it, but we can feel the vibrations in practice.
Side note: We bought these last spring on sale on the BD site because her Tracker wasn’t working. We were practicing on a slope, and i took her beacon and tossed it up ahead, so i knew were it was, and she could find it. She couldn’t find it because that simple vibration of the landing caused the battery or batteries to lose contact. Bending the metal contacts didn’t help, (and didn’t inspire much trust).
What's the beacon now? Buying new beacon for Euro BBI, have been using Arva but not a big fan. Lot of my friends have tracker 3s and seem to like them? What's the smallest/lightest beacon?
I am very impressed with the new Mammut Barryvox S, but haven't done a ton of searching with it yet.
I've got the same opinion as adrenalated. Bavvyvox S is very slick. I think it's almost got more features than I need. I believe the standard Barryvox has the same search range and marking capabilities but is ~150$ cheaper.
Correct, but the graphical and audio interface during search is also different. Better or worse is a matter of opinion, but they aren't identical.Quote:
Originally Posted by John_B
Ah, thanks for the clarification.Quote:
Originally Posted by adrenalated
x3 or whatever on the new Barryvox. I’m happy with it so far. Very straightforward and easy to use. I need some practice with the multiple burial function but seemed to work great in the back yard.
I have a barryvox non s and it seems really solid, way better than my old ortyvox. Anyone know when the alpental beacon park will open, I could use some practice.
I was comparing my S1+ and S3+ with my friend's barryvox. The ortovoxes were all over the place and picked up ghost signals. I practice pretty often to feel comfortable with ortovoxes quirks. My friend who has very little practice was pretty much walking straight to the signal with his barryvox.
I'm still rocking the original Tracker - which means an upgrade is long overdue and is going to happen before the first tour this season.
Looks like Barryvox and been getting a lot of love on here. Any changes in that opinion? I've always mostly followed BCA's offerings. Is the Tracker 3 a decent alternative?
I know the best beacon is the one that you practice with and can use effectively, but just wanted to see what people's preferences are for brand/interface these days...
T3 is a very good beacon. It seemed a bit faster (to change/update) than the new Barryvox when we were doing drills last weekend on the hill.
That said, the Barryvox range was noticeably better. And I like its controls more than the T3 (easier with mitts IME).
They all have pros and cons. I personally use a Barryvox S+ but most beacons are pretty damn good right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by RonMexico
My BD guide seemed to blow everything out of the water during my avy class last year.
I believe...The PIEPS Micro is the smallest and lightest three-antenna beacon on the market.Quote:
What's the smallest/lightest beacon?
I think the 3 popular ones are going to be the guide, the Barry, and the tracker. I used the older style Barry for years and it worked every time I tested it. Never had to actually pull someone out with it so can't say for how I interacted with it during an emergency. And that's probably the most important test. I did like that switch up top on the Barry. That design made me feel comfortable.
Shoveling though. I could add several seconds to this recovery thing by deadlifting a little more. I can't pretend like one beacon is going to give me any more time over another beacon. Running out of gas or just being too weak to do something is way worse imo.
Any thoughts on the new Tracker S? Seems to be almost identical to the Tracker 3 minus some of the more advanced features leaving more than enough functionality for the everyday backcountry skier.
I know the best beacon is the one you are most comfortable / effective with, but with some shops selling these at $255 it sure seems like an attractive value.
One other thing - I'm still likely to going to pick up a new Barryvox as I'm more comfortable with the switch. My biggest fear is having a beacon move to tracking mode while I'm getting tumbled in a slide and I'm just not in love with the positioning of the Tracker's switch in the top corner of the device. I know they still have a locking mechanism, but it just bothers me for some reason. I imagine I'm completely crazy in this concern?
The new Arva Evo5 is essentially tied: I weighed it at 5g more than the Micro, and the size sure seemed to be a draw.Quote:
Originally Posted by plugboots
I used to patrol with a BCA tracker 2 and had one for personal use for quite some time. I just got the tracker s and am impressed with its size and ease of use. I would highly recommend it and to any of my crew who I tour with.Quote:
Originally Posted by RonMexico
I posted this in another thread earlier:
BCA Tracker 2 and 3 and S generally lag behind others in range and multiple burial functionality. Their displays and audio are also more simplistic than others (good or bad depending on your preference)
Mammut's new Barryvox and Barryvox S are excellent.
Ortovox 3+ has some good features but lacks in range
Pieps/Black Diamond are consistently good
Still no experience with Arva
I personally think the Barryvox S is the best beacon on the market right now.
Doesn't the Evo5 require multiple batteries though? So effective weight is higher?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan S.
I have just replaced my Pulse. I use it for work, and the way that the Pulse used to tell me to STOP did not fill me with confidence that it would be as fast as I would want it to be if I was using it in anger.
After quite a lot of research I reached the conclusion that the Barryvox S was best if you were using it lots (so that you got used to making the most of the extra features), and the Pieps were best if you wanted something a bit more simple.
In the end I bought the Battyvox S for myself and the Pieps for my wife, as she gets less chance to practice.
I think that either of these are good choices.
After a weekend avalanche rescue course with guides in Hokkaido I am in the market for a new beacon to replace my 3+. Leaning heavily toward the Barryvox S for its multiplicity of "pro" functions like group test, analog mode for multiple burial situations, much greater range, multi language modes, and interface. It also seemed fastest among all the beacons used, especially in final search. I hope never to use every function in real life but it was eye opening how much more powerful the experience of practicing rescue scenarios was with it. Just looking for a way to get one at a decent price. They are expensive here.
All of the extra functions in beacons like the S and BD Pro Guide or whatever the hell they call it now make me nervous. It's just more shit to slow you down or cause a glitch with the beacon when time really matters. A beacon shouldn't have multiple functions, or tons of options, it should send and receive 457mhz signals and that's it.
It sounds to me like you have not used these beacons. They don't have extraneous functions. They do have customizable advanced search and group check ability if pros want to do so. But you don't have to use them. I can get a never ever student nailing singles and multiples on a Barryvox S just as easy as the Barryvox (not s).Quote:
Originally Posted by glademaster
Both the Micro and Evo5 take only a single AA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lindahl
But regardless of that, I weigh beacons with batteries.
For those particular models, I never bothered weighing them with the harnesses.
And with the Micro, I included the pouch, since otherwise it's far too prone to go into Search inadvertently because of the proximity sensor.
I did not weight either with the lanyard, since any sort of lanyard can be girth hitched to either's attachment point.
Is all I can say is, thank God for the advancement in technology.Quote:
Originally Posted by glademaster
What glitch have you experienced and what's slowing you down exactly when you use a newer beacon?
Good call. I am recommending the base model now because for 99% of people, it will be easier and more effective/efficient in actual use. The range was so good that my last avy practice at NWAC made them question whether someone had their beacon in send mode. Line of site and above snow, it was close to advertised distance.Quote:
Originally Posted by adrenalated
Nothing, but I think it is antithetical to good design practices to increase the complexity of damn near anything, particularly something that should basically be a two function only (search and send) device.Quote:
Originally Posted by GarySanchez
What feature does the beacon do besides search and send?Quote:
Originally Posted by glademaster
Your criticism would have been on point back when Pieps originally released the DSP and it had compass and slopemeter functions. They since removed those (the compass accelerometer, and tilt sensors are retained for driving the advanced searching DSP capability as they are in all 3 antenna beacons).
The advanced beacons use computational power and DSP to take the load off the mind of the searcher in solving the search problem.
The ultimate example of the opposite of this philosophy is an audio only single antenna analog beacon with manual gain.
I gotta be honest. I'm feeling like there's a lack of experience in any of the new beacons here so I'm just gonna step away.
I will say this and I'm sorry if it's harsh but if any person out there is concerned with carrying out a rescue as speedily on a Barryvox, Tracker 3, Guide vs their old beacon then you don't belong in my group. I would very concerned about your competency and ability to act under pressure if a simple beacon frustrates you. The hard part is the actual digging. Not the beacon. If you can't get there then I can't trust you to dig me out. Simple as that. You should be head strong 100% with anything out there and have the confidence to pick up another beacon and get the job done. Sorry but give me any beacon and I'll get there.
You and Glademaster are leaving word with someone of where you went and when to expect you, though, right?
Well I leave an incredibly complex set of clues as to the whereabouts of my persons much like Forrest Fenn and his treasure.
My dog leaves a trail of dog poops on the skintrack. Leads right to him and me. I don't need to leave directions. Just follow the poop nuggets and line of other angry Skinner's and snowshoers.Quote:
Originally Posted by GarySanchez
They deserve it.Quote:
Originally Posted by californiagrown
I was proud of my dog when she shit near the skin track and she really liked to shit. Sigh...
Looking to replace a few. Any good end of season deals?
This seems like a good deal if it’s still available.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shredhead
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...mut-Barryvox-S