Printable View
I'm going to get into BC skiing this year since I now live in Bellingham, Washington near Mt. Baker. I was wondering what is a good Avy Beacon to buy for a beginner, but would also still be good the more I get into BC skiing? I am planning on taking an Avy course this winter and trying to get ready with gear that I will be able to use and to go BC skiing with a few friends that have been doing it for awhile.
BCA Tracker + lots of practice.
so far i like these: ortovox M2, Barryvox and the peips dsp (in no particular order). i have not worked with the peips or the barry yet but from friends words and reading the specs they look to be great. i like the idea of lighted directionals like the M1 and tracker but they leave a lot to be desired in range. the tracker has a signal before the M1 does, but that's nothing to brag about. i like the idea of analog mixed in with digital. it's just the best of both worlds. i am currently considering upgrading my beacon to one that has a lit display for the times when you can't see very well (ie. predawn, dusk and heavy snow storms). it just makes sense that if you are going to get digital you should be able to use it when you need it. the new S1 may take care of that, but i haven't read all the specs on it yet. for now they are still working out the high battery usage issues and hopefully the cost issue too.
i'll let you know how i like the peips and the barry after this weekend. if anyone already has these, i'd love to see some reviews. hopefully they'll include pros and cons. no beacon is perfect.
I have the Pieps DSP. I like it. Single beacon search works well; not much different from Barryvox or Tracker to me. The firmware version I have has issues with my 7 year old Ortovox F1; it'll show up as 2-3 beacons sometimes. In the past year I've used M2, Barryvox, Tracker and DSP. They all work reasonably well, and for a reasonably competent user their isn't a terribly large difference between them.
After a reasonable amount of practice better off reading avy books and thinking about how to avoid slides than shaving a couple seconds off your find time. If you are one of the obsessive practicers make you go to the gym regularly to build your shovelling muscles.
As a total bc JONG, using a Beacon for the first time last season, I found the BCA Tracker easy to use. The harness was comfortable, once I'd got it on.
No experience with the others.
I had similar questions: http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39377
I think I'm gonna go with the book learnin', and practice slope evaluation with a clinometer, or SlopeMeter for now:
http://www.tramdock.com/tramdock/LIF...lopemeter.html
Let's stay alive, and keep others that way, eh ?
That Lou Dawson review is pretty much my experience. I've used an ARVA and PIEPS analog and thought I was pretty decent at multiple burials and quick searches. Using a Barryvox I'm consistently faster.
Some additions to what Lou said:
1. I've programmed mine so its both analog and digital as I am very attuned and used to doing multiple beacon searches aurally. In particular the digital version is very good for the long range reception mode searches ie when narrowing the search from 30+ m to sub 3m. I almost always used a combination of digital and aural for the pinpoint grid close-range search and when I did so the digital data seemed to refresh very quickly as compared to the aural signal. I would guess, but don't know for sure, that the digital processor in the Barryvox is fast.
2. I left my revert to transmit at 4 minutes. I'll be switching it to 8 minutes as 4 minutes is a pain in the ass and too short.
3. I can't emphasize how well-thought out the harness on the Barryvox is.
4. I get more battery time out of the Barryvox then Lou has mentioned but then its not as cold in the PNW as it is in Colorado so maybe that's one reason? I used the Barryvox 48 days last year in the PNW = each day perhaps 6 hours and my battery life was down to 64%. I switched the batteries this year. Maybe I should have switched the batteries earlier but thats a topic of separate discussion. I will note that at the 64% level my transmission and detection range still was as good as when the batteries were full.
You don't see beacons go on sale often, but the Barryvox is on sale at REI for $239 November 18 - 27.
I've had a Barryvox for 2.5 seasons and it's served me well. The main thing I like is the tiny size and low weight. This means I don't ever say "Meh, I don't want to wear my beacon today, I'm just skiing inbounds": I throw it in my (zipped) inside pocket and don't think about it.
Battery life indicator is great, and seems to work well: unlike a lot of digital devices that show 100% until they're almost dead, it seems to be mostly accurate. I lose 3-6% a ski day, depending on temperature and time.
Search mode is also very nice: I really like the way you can set it to show digital direction and distance but still hear the analog beeps. This is the best of both worlds, and really helps in multiple burials or when you're in really close.
Other than that, what Lou Dawson said.
$240 is a hell of a deal. Jump on it if you don't have a beacon.
If you really think that digtal is the way to go for the first purchase, then convince your buddies to go digital before you do. Know what I mean?
It's like the guy who shows up having forgotten his shovel. "Hey man, take mine. I don't really need it to find your sorry unprepared ass." Okay just kiddin' ...but that is the worst. People who show up without gear suck. I know, I've been that asshole.
I'm certainly no expert. But I have seen more people fumble a search through human error than machine error. Way more. I used to be a dog handler for a S&R group for Boulder Co and Gilpin Co dispatch. S&R is so full of ego at the IC level that it is sometimes off the hook. I see the same thing in practice avy searches.
Just getting people to shut up and be quiet during a search is hard enough. Then there's the one leader rule to run the incident. Remembering to mark significant positions based off of beacon readings. Approaching the slide area with safety in mind is a biggy.
IOW, gear is way overrated when you consider the whole smear of incident command during a search effort.
I would recommend you part your money out between a beacon and a class. Go with an analog beacon and put the rest of the money towards classes. Then later you can get a digital beacon and then you'll have two. Two is good. You can loan the easier to use digi unit to the FNG and keep the analog for yourself. That's what I do.
Yeah, that was my first post. No, I'm not a troller super safety dude chasing you through outta bounds ropes.
I'm jus a lowly reverend making my way through life ...a dollar here ...a dollar there ...bringing it all willing back to you Larry Love.
Silence is Golden, Duct Tape is Silver.
If you use coupon code WMXY25 you can get $25 bucks off that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirquerider
Thanks for the heads up with the sale and the code. Saved over $100 CND!! Sweet deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by nate s
Just read Lou's review. It was pretty good until the last paragraph. I'm assuming that was tongue-in-cheek? If not, :eek:.Quote:
Originally Posted by AltaPowderDaze
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby
it's likely a jab at the pieps dsp advanced that just has too many gadgets. i'm going to do a little practice work with the barryvox at the end of this month and see how i like it. right now, the only complaint i have is the inconsistency of its mulit-burial mode. ie- you can be searching for one beacon but be in multi mode b/c another searcher switched to receive after you did. i just want to see how much difference in difficulty the search is in both modes and if you can adjust the settings to make it perform the same way each time (ie analogue every time but still have the option to switch to digital for pin point).
thanks for the code, nate. i finally bought a second edition avalung with the discount.
Thanks for the code nate (and for the heads up Cirquerider). I went ahead and scored the Barryvox. A first step in the right direction, but still a very long way from having the gear and knowledge to be competent/comfortable in the BC.Quote:
Originally Posted by nate s
I've found that I was faster with my Pieps DSP fresh out of the box (especially at multiple burials) than I was with my old F1 (and of course, the F2 before that) even though I'd had many years of analog practice, and made a point of keeping up the skills on an annual basis.
Range is excellent, better than the Tracker, and on par with the F1. Ease of use is a better than the Barryvox, but once you get used to the Barry, it shouldn't matter.
The 'ghosting' is annoying, but transitory. I think the firmware upgrade from Liberty Mtn may address this. I still haven't gotten around to giving them a buzz, yet.
I'm new to the BC, and was going to get a tracker based upon the TGR rec and the recommendations of most. But this appears to be better? Its almost $100 cheaper right now... so.... do I spring for it?
You will never beat this deal. Check the review by Lou Dawson and find some way to spring for the buy before November 27.
Buy it. Practice with it 'till it's second nature. It won't matter that the Tracker is initially easier to use once you're familiar with the Barryvox. You won't regret it.Quote:
Originally Posted by seldon
Unfortunately, I think that the extra $25 discount code may no longer be current.
I was going to get a used Tracker, but now think the REI Barryvox is too good to pass up. New vs Old, Light vs Heavier, Dual vs Digital only.
I owe you CirqueRider good head's up :yourock:
Sorry Tresckow, hadn't meant to jerk you around :redface:
Anyone looking for a Tracker ? PM the guy.
Thanks for the heads-up on this deal - just ordered one, and yes the $25 discount code does still work. $234 US with shipping to Canada, can't beat that.
Now all I need are a set of skins and I'm done. I think I can hear my credit card whimpering, it'll be nice to show it some mercy for a change.
Got the beacon delivered today. The wife had to pay $20 though!? I was led to believe that $234 US included shipping to Canada. Still a good deal, just a bit pissed with the way they handled the shipping. I'll give them a call tomorrow.
Order # : 24841782
Sku Description Unit Price Qty Savings Total
REI Item# 6734070011 Mammut Barryvox Avalanche Transceiver RED $239.99 1 $84.01 $214.99
Subtotal $214.99
Shipping $20.00
Total Charged $234.99
The Mammut is showing at $199 usd on the REI site as of this morning.
Attention Canucks for comparison this is $395 cdn at MEC. Big savings to be had.
Trigger = pulled...
I just bought the Barryvox at the USD $199 price, + the $25 discount code mentioned above.
That's a nice healthy $194.55 overall including shipping. So, as a Canadian comparing that to MEC's price of $395 CAD... that's a savings of $165 - duties... decent :)
Now all I'm missing for my new setup is a probe... anyone spot discounts on this anywhere recently?
Thanks for posting this - I also bought one.
REI also has a Voile ski pack with Telepack aluminum shovel and 260cm probe for $99.99 (search for "probe"). Add three sticks of P-Tex and you can get the $25 off.
That's $75 + shipping for real avalanche gear. The pack is a great design, too: the main compartment opens from the strap side so you can easily get to everything with skis strapped on.
For benefit of those who are reading this thread from same perspective as original poster, and have already missed the boat on the good Barryvox deal:
If you're just starting out, think of beacon+class as a package deal.
If you've already bought a beacon, sign up for the class because it will give you at least some practice with your beacon, and (more importantly) give you the necessary perspective on all the other factors where the best beacon in the world, even with dozens of people searching for you on the scene instantly, won't do any good.
If you haven't yet bought a beacon, a class gives you two possible angles: 1) for the field trip you can plunk down some $ for the rental; more often than not it'll be a Tracker, and you can decided whether you like it or not under field conditions. 2) In the class I took from Gary Brill @ Marmot Bellevue a few years ago, the class itself was an opportunity where Marmot would give a discount if more than 5 class members wanted to buy a beacon (I think they might have limited the offer to the Tracker but I'm not sure).
I am also considering the Mammut and the Tracker. One difference I see between them, that is not mentioned much, is the fact that the Tracker has lit indicators, where as, the Mammut is not back-lit. Is this not a big deal (as I have heard no criticism of it)? It seems to me that this could be a big difference between the 2.
thanks in advance, Alembical
** oops! I just reread Lou's article and it appears like it is backlit and the guy at the local shop knows even less than me. No wonder why I have never heard that difference mentioned***
Dude,
Not that I am a veteran on this board...but the last post on this thread was two months ago...dead thread amigo.
At the same time, if I posted a question in a new thread, the first response in place of yours would have been someone calling me a jong and telling me to search the forum first. It may have been old, but it was still one of the most recent threads in this forum.
Alembical
If I understand it right, now you get to jong him.Quote:
Originally Posted by alembical
Go with the B-Vox. Great beacon. Easy to use. Analog and digital. Capable in multiple burial situation. I have used it for the past two years and like. Luckily, I have only had to put it in search mode during beacon practice. Hope it stays that way.