Beacon unexpectedly turned off!

I have a BCA Tracker DTS and this past weekend, I turned my beacon on, put it in the sleeve, and my partner performed a beacon check. No problems, everything is good. About 10 minutes later, I go to perform a beacon check and my beacon is not on! I didn't turn it off. I bang it and it suddenly turns on!

Anyway...pretty scary...and luckily my partner had an extra beacon as we were going to perform some beacon searches later in the day.

So I called BCA today and they said a beacon should be replaced every 5-7 years as the electronics can go bad (he compared it to a cell phone). Mine is 11 years old. They offered my wholesale price on a new Tracker 3 for $200 if I turn in the old beacon to them. So I went ahead and did that.

Moral of the story - make sure your beacon works.

Here's a good article I found about old beacons: http://backcountrymagazine.com/stori...transceiver-2/

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Originally Posted by Below Zero

Moral of the story - it's time to replace your Tracker DTS.

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Fixed it for you.

Seriously, nearly every Tracker 1 I've checked that's more than a couple years old has experienced frequency drift outside of the spec range. There is much better technology on the market now for not that much more money (basically anything with 3 antennas).

On that note, if you don't know what spikes and nulls are and how to correct for them and you carry a Tracker DTS, it's time to upgrade your beacon.

I've had an og tracker for many years and took absolutely no care of it, but I works fine still. However, I retired it long ago and it is now a practice beacon. The DTS was a great beacon, but anyone who actually uses a beacon in avalanche terrain should upgrade.

Slidewright has a discount on pieps right now, check alpinord's signature. I picked up a dsp sport for about $225

link here
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...23#post4605023

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Originally Posted by shredgnar

I've had an og tracker for many years and took absolutely no care of it, but I works fine still. However, I retired it long ago and it is now a practice beacon. The DTS was a great beacon, but anyone who actually uses a beacon in avalanche terrain should upgrade.

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Are those truly too old to be safely used? They're still available for purchase (backcountry.com) new.

Any way to test for frequency drift?

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Are those truly too old to be safely used? They're still available for purchase (backcountry.com) new.

Any way to test for frequency drift?

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If it is sold new then it is fine. Bought from another user, buyer beware. To check for frequency drift, find someone who owns a Pieps DSP Pro, which has that feature in it.

But as someone up-thread says, do yourself a favor, get a more up-to-date beacon, even a Tracker 2 (which still has the fastest times for coarse search in tests).

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Are those truly too old to be safely used? They're still available for purchase (backcountry.com) new.

Any way to test for frequency drift?

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When I say "OG" I mean I got it in the late 90's, soon after they came out. I sold my Peips 457 to get it. I don't exactly trust it. It's been left in the car overnight for thousands of nights, once left batteries in it over the summer and they corroded really badly, and I used it for almost a decade before upgrading. Haven't had it tested, it seems OK, but I don't trust it. You can send them back to BCA for testing. Some other beacons can test for drift (I think maybe?), or maybe there's a way to test yourself, I don't know.

But if you know how to use it, a DTS is pretty easy and reliable. I would trust a brand new one, but the T2 is only a little bit more $ and much better.

ETA: Pretty cool that BCA offers the trade in for old/deffective beacons. That alone is reason enough to go with a BCA beacon.

Yeah, a new Tracker DTS is *safe* to use, but basically everything else on the market is superior technology at this point. The DTS was revolutionary when it came out but its time has passed and I really wish that BCA would discontinue it. Every other beacon you can buy right now except the single-antenna Pieps Freeride (which I also wish was discontinued) is faster, just as easy or easier to use, and more accurate.

With the current Slidewright maggot sale, the Pieps DSP Sport is a no-brainer.

Anyone with a Pieps DSP Pro can check for frequency drift.

There was a tracker recall a few years back for this issue

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Originally Posted by homemadesalsa

.... To check for frequency drift, find someone who owns a Pieps DSP Pro, which has that feature in it.

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Or someone with an Ortovox S1 or S1+, which both can test for frequency drift...

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Originally Posted by snoqpass

There was a tracker recall a few years back for this issue

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There was a recall for Tracker 2 software, but I asked BCA if there was ever a recall on Tracker DTS and they said no.

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Originally Posted by Hacksaw

Or someone with an Ortovox S1 or S1+, which both can test for frequency drift...

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I have an S1 - I didn't know it could do that... will have to dig out the manual and check it out.

Mrs. C has a BCA Tracker, probably 6 or 7 years old at this point, but barely used. Seemed to work fine when putting batteries in both beacons last weekend and testing each against the other.

I have a DTS that's about 6 years old but still seems fine. I did, however, just buy a T3, mostly to get later technology and for the size. I'll keep the DTS around for practice and as a spare. My only gripe about the T3, so far, is the cheesy video game sounds but, I'll get used to it.

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Originally Posted by Hacksaw

Or someone with an Ortovox S1 or S1+, which both can test for frequency drift...

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3+ as well I believe.

http://www.epicski.com/t/12534/tracker-problem

Not quite the same, but similar.

Boom!
Attachment 172768
Thx, Alpinord!

IMHO, analog beacons should be for practice-only, given all of the technological advances over the last ten years. If you tour with someone with a single-antenna beacon, ask him to trade beacons with you for the day before heading out, lol. He'll have more motivation to upgrade.

^^^ Relevance to this thread? Tracker DTS is a dual-antenna digital...

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Originally Posted by 1000-oaks

IMHO, analog beacons should be for practice-only, given all of the technological advances over the last ten years. If you tour with someone with a single-antenna beacon, ask him to trade beacons with you for the day before heading out, lol. He'll have more motivation to upgrade.

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Great idea, that way should a rescue be needed either of you will suck at it.

I have worked with people who are every bit as fast with a single antenna analog as anyone with the latest and greatest.

Not a reason not to have a current beacon, but when it came to a search they were simply very used to their equipment.

It is the age of the beacon, not the model. It is prudent to send in a 5 year old beacon for a checkup. In this case, it needed to be replaced. I've had beacons fail before.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1000-oaks

IMHO, analog beacons should be for practice-only, given all of the technological advances over the last ten years. If you tour with someone with a single-antenna beacon, ask him to trade beacons with you for the day before heading out, lol. He'll have more motivation to upgrade.

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There are plenty of people who are faster with an analog beacon than 99% of people are with their digital beacons. I use a Pulse in daily use, but I can beat most people using my analog beacon if someone wants to bet a beer.

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Originally Posted by LightRanger

^^^ Relevance to this thread? Tracker DTS is a dual-antenna digital...

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As I recall, it was a response to a post that appears to have been deleted.

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Originally Posted by Summit

There are plenty of people who are faster with an analog beacon than 99% of people are with their digital beacons.

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Because 99% of people, which is .zero something, don't know how to use their beacons? So that leaves a percent, who do with what they have. So, take a triple antenna, smart phone beacon if you will. Would you expect the odds to be different?

Not trying to pull some shit here, but in the last week we've had open and honest posts about checking frequency and strategic digging. That is great, but it shows, even at a passionate level, that the level of education is pretty minimal. I assume the same with basic medical care as well, which I know you would understand.

Makes you think about your choices. Partners, lines, tolerance, etc.

Good thread. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

Because 99% of people, which is .zero something, don't know how to use their beacons? So that leaves a percent, who do with what they have. So, take a triple antenna, smart phone beacon if you will. Would you expect the odds to be different?

Not trying to pull some shit here, but in the last week we've had open and honest posts about checking frequency and strategic digging. That is great, but it shows, even at a passionate level, that the level of education is pretty minimal. I assume the same with basic medical care as well, which I know you would understand.

Makes you think about your choices. Partners, lines, tolerance, etc.

Good thread. Thanks.

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I think so!

I bet 90% of BC skiers never practice once in a season. The other 10% have a range of competence. Luckily 3 antenna digitals are pretty easy.

I think it takes a practiced expert with an analog beacon to beat an above average triple antenna user. I like to say: you can be as good with the analog as with a triple digital, but you have to practice 10x as much to be that good.

That is why when someone shows up to an avalanche class with a borrowed analog, I show the class the basic digital beacon use, then I show analog for about 2 minutes, then that person happily accepts my offer to trade the analog for my Pulse for the rest of the rescue training. Then they go buy a 3 antenna beacon after the course.

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Originally Posted by snoqpass

There was a tracker recall a few years back for this issue

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Yes, but turned out to be a false alert, as the T2 firmware was perfectly fine, and instead the culprit was user error from inserting batteries other than standard alkaline.

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Are those truly too old to be safely used? They're still available for purchase (backcountry.com) new.

Any way to test for frequency drift?

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I'm very disappointed that such an old design is still being sold. And the price differential for the T2 is relatively small. Anyone buying a new DTS is buying into a much worse searching tool compared to anything else on the market...well, except for the Pieps Freeride.
In addition to the DPS Pro, the S1+ and Pulse also have frequency checkers.

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Originally Posted by shredgnar

Pretty cool that BCA offers the trade in for old/defective beacons.

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Just curious - can anyone else confirm that BCA offers trade-in for functional transceivers (no known issues) that are outside of the warranty period?

Canon USA has a program like this with their cameras - give them a camera that's either broken or out of warranty and they will sell you a factory refurbished, in new condition, product for a discounted price. I'd be stoked if BCA offered a similar transceiver refresh program.

Tracker DTS is warrantied for 5 years; mine is 8 years old. Even though it's my backup, I put it on my girlfriend and other friends a handful of times a season ... I always do a 4-function transceiver test* at trailhead if the equipment hasn't been tested within the last few days, but I'd definitely feel better using a product within warranty.

I'll email BCA and see if they give me a response on this.

* = Battery reading, Rx of leader's transceiver with a reasonable distance reading displayed, directional indicator rotates if the leader's transceiver is rotated, and leader can pick up the Tx signal as the person skins past.

Yes they do; see below:

We absolutely do have and upgrade program where you can send back your beacons and receive wholesale pricing on any of our new beacons. I’ve listed the pricing below. IF you’d like to take advantage of this deal, please send me your shipping address, billing address, and phone number and I’ll get back to you with a return authorization number and instructions on where to send your apparently antiquated beacons. Please let me know if you need anything else or have any questions.
Sorry, I forgot to write them in, please let me know what you’d be interested in.

DTS $143.00
T2 $180.00
T3
$200.0

warranty@backcountryaccess.com

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Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

Just curious - can anyone else confirm that BCA offers trade-in for functional transceivers (no known issues) that are outside of the warranty period?

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Yep, that exactly what the OP did; traded in old Tracker DTS for new Tracker 3 for $200 (plus shipping and taxes.).

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Originally Posted by encore

Yep, that exactly what the OP did

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Not exactly, his was known to have issues. Mine has no observed issues, which is why I asked for clarification..

However, this is encouraging and really good news! I'll check w/ the warranty dept for that offer.

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Originally Posted by goathead

Yes they do; see below:

We absolutely do have and upgrade program where you can send back your beacons and receive wholesale pricing on any of our new beacons.

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My Tracker DTS had this same issue, sent it back to BCA and got a new Tracker 2 for $180. Opted for the T2 over the T3 as I have experience using friends' T2s when practicing.