http://www.couloirmag.com/articles/d...?articleID=276
weird looking
and I'm not sure I like the pull switch for transmit/recive
but technology moves on
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http://www.couloirmag.com/articles/d...?articleID=276
weird looking
and I'm not sure I like the pull switch for transmit/recive
but technology moves on
hmm
interesting note about the real time
i think that bigger pushpull is a good idea
easier to get at with gloves and should you get caught in a slide while searching, easy to switch it to receive. The pieps is kinda push\pull anyway, but its hard to get at with gloves on.
it does look like something out of X-Men though
I only have a little to add to this. My Buddy Andy went to ISPO in Munich this months and spent time with all of the beacon manufacturers, especially the three antenna ones. After spending time learning from the individual manufacturers about their product, Andy was very convinced that this new Tracker was going to be the best out there for public use for the coming season.
I wish I had more facts behind his statement, but we didn't have a chance to discuss it in detail. Probably worth looking at it at least...
From the article:
“We’re not convinced that such features are reliable enough yet,” said McGowan. “Until they are, they could cause confusion. Besides, we have yet to find an example of a real world, recreational avalanche accident in North America where the ability to find more than one victim at a time would have actually helped the situation. Our focus with the Tracker2 is to increase the speed and ease of finding one victim at a time. We believe that will save more lives, not special functions that slow down the process and may never actually be needed.”
I can't speak for the other beacons, but the Pieps multiple victim function seems to work well in practice. I can't say I have dug out multiple victims, and hope to never have to, but this statement bugs me. If the function is needed, then you have it. Most of the beacons out there a pretty darn fast, and shaving milliseconds off a search is not going to help.
I like it. I saw it at the outdoor retailers, but didn't get a chance to actually use it. I watched others use it and it appeared to be excellent.
I am not a huge fan of the masking function, mainly because it doesn't always work. I have done probably 20 practice searches with the pieps, and in probably 5-6 ofthose the masking feature didn't work properly. After a few seconds, it would kick in, but I think it gives you one more thing to haveto think about waiting for the found beacon to be masked. The biggest error I had was one time when I was standing still, under a meter from the buried beacon, and it suddenly gave methe signal for anotehr buried beacon. I could not duplicate this error and am inexperiencd enough with it to think that it may have been a user error.
I've been involved in one real life search for someone who was completely buried. The impacts of lots of practice certainly paid off because we pulled the buried individual out fast enough that he never lost consciousness. I can say that we didn't even think about the operation of our beacons until after the fact, that's when the panic and thought of the situation being real kicked in. I think that whatever beacon you use, lots and lots of pratice is the key.
I met the guy that designed the outer casing of the beacon. He said that the molds weren't ready at the time of the OR show and he was dremmeling stuff to get them to look nice and that BCA is making a big push to have these out ASAP. Make of this what you will. I think the outer casing on the beacon seems to be a really good idea, easier to switch from transmit ot search and even more user friendly looking. I can't really comment on the other features of the beacon as I haven't tested the search mode.
At first I thought that transmit was out and search was in, but alas I realized it was the opposite, seems like a pretty good idea.
I hope it has a better harness than the current one--the holster with the bungee cord. I actually like the old harness compared to the current one. The current one bounces around too much when you are schralping gnar gnar.
I wonder what the range will be... ;)
BUMP!
Any BCA insiders know when this is going to be available?
I've read Jan 2009 but that is hearsay.
I emailed them and have one back ordered from MEC. January 2009 they told me I would have mine.
Easy fix, get the smallest one of these you can find:Quote:
Originally Posted by bossass
http://media.rei.com/media/bb/e03ba9...a330163026.jpg
Cut it twice with a hacksaw at three and nine o'clock (if holding the part vertically) so you can slip webbing straps into the slots.
Slip the strap that goes over the Tracker (holds it in the holster) into one of the slots, then slip the shoulder strap through the other slot.
Now the beacon holster is attached at its top to the shoulder strap (instead of just at the middle), so it won't hang outward and bounce all over the place anymore.
Hmm, will see if I can get my hands on a retailer demo.
MEC has taken the Tracker2 off of back order status and now it is unavailable. Anybody know the scoop?
BCA has pushed the release to the fall.
Bummer; if this is true. I know most are applauding BCAs efforts not to release the new Tracker until it’s fully baked, but I’m starting to feel a little cynical about the constant delays. Fully featured prototypes have been out in the wild for a while now and the original Tracker with nearly a decade old technology (i.e. relatively cheap to produce) is still selling well so there doesn’t seem to be much economic incentive pushing the release of the Tracker 2.Quote:
Originally Posted by zoltank
Don’t get me wrong, the original Tracker is a great beacon, but this whole vaporware release date saga is getting old.
BUMP !
I'm looking for a beacon for next season.. was looking for the Tracker (price and dumbproofness) but if Tracker 2 finally is released I'm going for the 2 !
Any news about a release this fall ?
Thanks !
Also interested since I sold my Tracker to a maggot for a fun trip to south america, why they did not take me also is a mystery........
Thanks 4 sharing,bros
I contacted BCA directly and I've been told they schedule a release in October...
cross your fingers !
Wasn't that October 2008?Quote:
Originally Posted by ben_mtl
'07 actually. 2 years late, hopes are not high on this product.Quote:
Originally Posted by nickinbc
So, this year i plan on doing quite a bit of BC stuff so need a beacon. I've heard heaps of good reviews about the current tracker. I like that its really simple and good for beginners. Does anyone know if this is a straight up replacement, or simply an addition? I ask because if its a replacement it makes me think it should still be easy to use ect like the current one.
What features does the new one have that the old does not? Yes i am a complete noob to beacons so try bare with my ignorance.
It hasn't even been released yet... 2 years after it was first announced.
Get a Pieps DSP.
summary here of original Tracker vs upcoming Tracker2:
http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcou...beacon-review/
and here:
http://beaconreviews.com/transceiver...s_Tracker2.asp
Any up date on the T2? I've been extremely happy with BCA's customer service and would like to give them my business. But Jr's getting to the point that he need's a beacon and I was going to give him my Tracker and up grade.
I talked to them this morning on the phone, and they said they're looking to have them shipping to their retailers by mid-December.
The Tracker 2 has arrived – or at least, *a* Tracker 2 has arrived at my house.
Initial impressions:
- About half an ounce light than the original, a wee bit shorter length, about the same volume overall, but housing is nicely cut away in the center to allow for enhanced grip. (I don’t have the harness – this unit is still officially marked as a Demo model and is for now owned by BCA, not me.)
- The pull-out tab for switching into Search has just the right amount of resistance. The tab is easy to grasp for switching into Search. (The design concept is very similar to the Arva Evolution/A.D.vanced/3 Axes models, but a bit better executed in my opinion.)
- Search tab is mechanically blocked from being pulled out while beacon is Off, and power switch is mechancially blocked from being turned Off while beacon is in Search.
- The beacon will beep if kept in Search for more than 30 minutes or if kept in Transmit for more than 8 hours.
- Fine search phase seems perfect: elimination of all nulls/spikes, distance indicators down to 0.0, and directional indicators shutting down at a point to be determined. (My unit shuts down its directional indicators consistently at a certain distance display, but that distance has yet to be determined for the final production version, as mine is still a demo. In general, keeping on the directional indicators into the fine search phase has its pluses and minuse – the competition ranges from 2.0 to 3.0, with the Pulse offering a 3.0 default and a 0.3 option.)
- Testing for accuracy of multiple-burial indicator light is ongoing.
- Range test is pending.
- Testing for any increase in processing speed is pending.
Details to be published in upcoming WildSnow.com blog.
Glad your keep ing the SV too.
We need a full report on the new bike. Have it on my desk by the morning please.....
Interesting review. Haven't you gone out practicing with it, you know, like, where you're blindfolded, maybe naked and the beacon you're searching for is strapped on the back of a rummaging hedgehog or something to give it that air of realism? When are you putting it through it's paces on the search?