M2 beacon? ya or na?

[ripdaeast]

I'm going to get a beacon this year and can get a pro-deal on ortovox. I was thinking the M2 looks pretty good but was kinda concerned by H-man's thread. Is it just the battery door problem?

Also looking at the F1 and X1, but it sounds like analog+digital is the way to go so that nixes the analog F1.

Anyone have good things to say about this transciever?

What beacon is better, or is it really just personal preference?

Thanks.

[cj001f]

personal preference?

Is the way to go.

That said a directional beacon like the Tracker, Pieps DSP, Barryvox, Arva9000 or Ortovox X1 is faster in the hands of most people, and require less practice for speed, than non directional beacons like the M1, M2, F1, SOS etc.

[yesIsaidyes]

in the short range, however (<4 meters), the analog are much faster (because there is no digital "delay") and easier to make pinpoints with. I second the PP approach though, I have an M1 and I think its really fun to work with, more fun than my wife's Tracker which is good because the M1/M2 takes more work to master. Also, for multiple burials, Tracker is MUCH better...

[cj001f]

in the short range, however (<4 meters), the analog are much faster (because there is no digital "delay") and easier to make pinpoints with.

They can be. All the test numbers I've seen show average find times to be quicker with directional ("digital") beacons though. Rs2

[ripdaeast]

since the M2 and x1 are analog AND digital I'm assuming they're good for short range as well, or do they have problems switching over from digi to analog?

I'm finding it hard to get a feel for the different beacons by just reading their features, so it helps to hear what people say about them.

Why do you think the tracker is better for multiple burials?

and what makes the M2 harder to learn?

What makes the M2 "fun to use?"

Sorry for the barrage of questions and thanks for the comments!

[cj001f]

since the M2 and x1 are analog AND digital I'm assuming they're good for short range as well, or do they have problems switching over from digi to analog?

There's 2 kinds of "digital" beacons.

Those with directional arrows - like the Tracker, Pieps, etc - that point you towards the beacon and the other "digital" beacons that just have an LCD screen with a signal strength indicator instead of a few LEDs to indicate signal strength. "directiona" beacons are faster and easier overall for most people. This article explains it better than me:
http://www.couloirmag.com/articles/c...n%20review.pdf

[yesIsaidyes]

Why do you think the tracker is better for multiple burials?

The Tracker has a special button for multiple burials that limits the scope of the search area to something like 30 degrees, meaning when you find the first beacon, you press the button and know that any signal coming to you (with the found beacon at your back) is the second beacon. This will be very confusing to conceptualize until you try it.

and what makes the M2 harder to learn?

its harder to learn because for the initial search it relies on sound (like older analog beacons) which means you have to learn sensitivity to sound - unlike the tracker where you use visual cues the whole time

What makes the M2 "fun to use?"

Remember, I mean "fun" in the sense of practice only - the audio cues are actually kind of cool because the analog feature gives the beacon a bigger range, meaning you can listen very closely and hear a faint beep before the Tracker will pick up anything - I guess I mean the challenge makes it fun because the beacon can be a great, very precise tool the more you practice (some avy pros say faster than the Tracker, I don't know myself)...

[wstdeep]

I had the same questions so I proformed an M2 as well as a couple of Trackers so I could practice with each including multiple burials etc.

Without going into every nuance and detail I was simply WAY faster and efficent with the Trackers in every situation but especially multiple burial situations. I know the greater range of the Ortovox is a point of contention but my experience was that I could close down the range while acquiring a signal way faster than I could getting one at a long distance and working from there. And Multiples as I stated were not even close in terms of speed. Add in the OH SHIT factor that a real emergency provides and the simplicity and no adjustments the Tracker provides did it for me. I had the unpleasant situation of having to use my Tracker in a real emergency (successfully) and I can assure you there is one person who is very happy that I kept the beacon that I did.

If you can get Proform on both why not do what I did and get one of each to work with...at about $200 a pop you'll never have a problem selling the one you decide to get rid of.

[Meadow Skipper]

If you can commit to practicing often and you can get a pro deal on the M2, go for it. IME, people that practice regularly (like weekly) with analog beacons are as fast as most people with digitals. If you aren't going to practice often, go digital.

The battery door deal should be resolved on all new M2s.

[cj001f]

IME, people that practice regularly (like weekly) with analog beacons are as fast as most people with digitals.

and unless you've got alot of spare time, there are other places to spend your avy study time that can make more of a difference saving your (or your partners) life than fiddling with a beacon weekly. Like learning about avys to stay out of them in the first place.

[Meadow Skipper]

and unless you've got alot of spare time, there are other places to spend your avy study time that can make more of a difference saving your (or your partners) life than fiddling with a beacon weekly. Like learning about avys to stay out of them in the first place.

Yeah, or it could be that you've got twenty-thirty minutes every week, like when you're gearing up at the trailhead or waiting on people. But come to think of it, the people I know that are fast with analog beacons are mostly patrollers or bc fanatics.

And FWIW I don't practice for when I get caught - I practice for the other people that get caught. I still spend all the time I can learning so that I don't get caught.

[H-man]

I have both the M2 and a Tracker (old version). I have only a little experience with the Tracker. Here are my experiences.

I use the M2 because it is what I have the most practice with and am most comfortable with. I think this is most important. I find that in single burials, I get to the beacon faster 9 out of 10 times due to the extended range. in multiple burials I find that I realize it is a multiple burial sooner with the M2 because of the range and the two distinct audio clues.

With the Tracker, in a multiple burial scenario that the beacons are close together, it is easier to get an idea where the second beacon is once you get the two signals and then to differentiate it from the first signal to pin point it.

FYI, the battery door is not an issue with my M2 problem. I have the new door and am using a prominent negative terminal battery.

[ripdaeast]

Anyone have any experience with the ortovox X1? It seems more similar to the Tracker (since it's directional) and supposedly easier to use than the M2.

[AltaPowderDaze]

Anyone have any experience with the ortovox X1? It seems more similar to the Tracker (since it's directional) and supposedly easier to use than the M2.

shorter range if i recall correctly. it was very east to use though and for singles i prefer it to the tracker. you should also look at the pieps dsp. it's a solid beacon and the new ones already have the ghosting issue solved.

[cj001f]

look at the pieps dsp. it's a solid beacon and the new ones already have the ghosting issue solved.

my upgraded DSP still has some ghosting issues, but I still like it. There were some issues with the initial X1 (and a bunch of hype), but after the rework it ended up decent.