Beacon JONG

**AKWL** · 10-06-2006, 01:40 PM

I'm starting a beacon JONG thread becasue I am a beacon JONG and don't want to hijack Jon S's thread:

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=63228

I am looking for a beacon this year. I'm a complete backcountry JONG and am planning on some very tame early morning pre-work "backcountry" trips this year.

Looking through the thread, it appears that the best beacon is the one you know how to use.

I am a blank slate - I don't know how to use any of them. For those of you who have a lot of beacon experience, which model do you think is the best?

The Ortovox X1 sounds good to me, but what do I know?

I did a quick google search and came up with the following site:

http://www.telemarkski.com/html/how_beacon_select.html

It was a good article for me, and unless a more knowledgable mag has a major problem with what the article says, I'd reccomend it to other beacon JONGs.

**Boomer28** · 10-06-2006, 01:46 PM

BCA Tracker DTS is pretty much my favorite. It's a digital beacon with a good user interface and is built pretty tough. Harness system is comfortable and easy to use. Remember to get a shovel and probe also, you are as useful as a third tit if you find a burried buddy and don't have the gear to get him out.

**AltaPowderDaze** · 10-06-2006, 01:59 PM

Where do you live? if you are near an REI, I'd suggest that you go in and try a few out. my favorite is the peips dsp, though I still carry the ortovox M2. That will change soon. I am trying to get my hands on the new S1 for less than retail but that may prove challenging. I am not a fan of the Tracker but to each their own.

**powderface** · 10-06-2006, 02:08 PM

You don't need a beacon, just bring your dog. He'll dig you out.

**irul&ublo** · 10-06-2006, 02:11 PM

Discussion of some alternatives here.

**Jonathan S.** · 10-06-2006, 02:41 PM

I'd been thinking of writing up something like that too, although I'm not sure I'd distribute it at avy courses.

Anyway, here goes:

*****

“What’s the best avalanche beacon?”
- The one with which you are intimately familiar through extensive and regular practice.

“Okay, how about, which avalanche beacon should I buy?”
- Well, tell me who you are.

“I’m an idiot!”
- You should not ski in the backcountry.

“How about, I want the most idiot-proof beacon for a typical burial scenario.”
- The BCA Tracker DTS pioneered the use of a multi-antenna digitally processed signal with directional indicators, and is still impossible to beat for speed and ease of use in simple searches. Alternatively, the ARVA Evolution+ seems to be very similar, but has very little distribution in this country (and be sure not to get the “Evolution” by mistake, which despite the nearly identical name is a different design). Also, the new Ortovox D3 might be a close competitor in this category.

“What do you mean by typical burial scenario?”
- Single victim buried less than about one meter.

“What’s atypical?”
- A victim is buried under more than about one meter and/or somehow more than one member of the party has been fully buried in the slide (which is unlikely is safe travel protocols are being followed) and a second victim has to be searched for before the first found victim beacon is uncovered and turned off.

“Maybe I can deal with more potential confusion from my beacon in return for additional features that are potentially helpful in such an atypical scenario . . . but I still want the beacon almost as idiot-proof as those previously mentioned models in a shallow single-victim burial.”
- The Barryvox Opto 3000 can operate in a very idiot-proof manner yet be programmed beforehand so that it can be manually switched over at any point of the search into analog mode, where actually hearing the buried beacons can assist a skilled searcher. Alternatively, the ARVA ADvanced seems to be very similar, but has very little distribution in this country. The Ortovox X1 has both digital and analog searching, but switches back and forth between them automatically, and only a relatively small portion of the search is conducted with both distance directional indicators.

“How about even more features, for more of a learning curve, and more potential confusion in a panic situation, yet more adept for difficult burials?”
- The Pieps DSP (and Advanced version, which adds electronic thermometer, compass, and altimeter) has held the honors in this category for several seasons, but now faces competition from the new Barryvox Pulse and Ortovox S1.

“Oops, I just got laid off and need to save money on a beacon.”
- Wait for a sale.

“I can’t wait.”
- Try to find a used beacon from a reliable source, and stay far away from any dual-frequency beacon (e.g., Ortovox F2, Pieps 2, Ramer).

**Cirquerider** · 10-06-2006, 03:22 PM

^ Very nice Jonathan, here is a new questions for your collection:
"My parter has no experience in backcountry and we haven't had much chance to practice. Who should take first tracks?"

**skinnyskier** · 10-06-2006, 03:37 PM

I'm pretty happy with my Barryvox, but are the new beacons enough better in a multiple-victim scenario to warrent an upgrade?

I guess most people will want to wait and see how the Pulse and S1 perform in the real world but they sure look cool.

**bfr** · 10-06-2006, 11:25 PM

After a lot of research...I went with the Mammut Barryvox Opto 3000 last year. Love the ease of use, size and dual mode. Probably are less expensive options...but the price wasn't an issue for me. Bottom line, whatever you get...practice and practice some more. You want using it to be second nature.

**carl jay** · 10-07-2006, 04:47 AM

great little guide thingy johnathon

**Meadow Skipper** · 10-07-2006, 09:27 AM

If I was lying under 3 feet of avy debris, I'd want my avy-JONG buddy to be using either a Tracker or a Barryvox Opto 3k to look for me. They're the most intuitive of the ones I've used. The Pieps DSP seems pretty JONG-friendly too, but I don't have any experience with it. I carry a Barryvox Opto 3k.

The Barryvox Pulse and Ortovox S1 both have a lot of promise and some killer features, but - and this may be just me - they're first-year technology, and I kinda hate to be involved in a beta-test under burial conditions. I'd be interested in those after a season or two of market availability.

Pros (practice >1X/week) can kill it with an Ortvox F1 or M2, but now we're talking about the realm of the non-JONG.

Practice, practice, practice.

**BakerBoy** · 10-07-2006, 07:07 PM

I'll be buying either the Pulse or the Ortovox S1 after the first year, just so I can find out how one actually works in person... The S1 definitely has my interest...

**hutash** · 10-09-2006, 06:19 PM

Here is a review I found by somebody with way more time then I have.

http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

It would be nice to know in advance what type of burial you are going to have to deal with, but until they perfect that technology, I feel it is best to be prepared for the worst case, so I went with the Pieps model.

**pechelman** · 10-09-2006, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by powderface

You don't need a beacon, just bring your dog. He'll dig you out.

only if you remember to bring your avalanche bacon

seriously though, I do like my peips dsp.

**Trickster** · 11-14-2006, 10:36 PM

I think the best Tranceiver on the market right now is the new Peips (Peips II, I think) It has twice the range (50-60m) during the search mode than other on the market. It also has a lock out mode for multiple burials, kinda seems like overkill but who knows. Unfortanatley it wont change the range of your partners beacon so they still only have a 25-30m range if you are buried- unless your friend has a Peips II. Regardless I have a 10 year old Ortovox and I it is as fast and dependable as any, you just have to practice alot.

**Chainsaw_Willie** · 11-15-2006, 12:07 AM

What's the best way to practice? I can't afford two beacons...

**nutcase** · 11-15-2006, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by Chainsaw_Willie

What's the best way to practice? I can't afford two beacons...

Get a buddy with one (*cough* me *cough*) or find someplace with a practice facility. Xtal actually has a pretty cool practice facility outside of the campbell basin lodge. BTW- I am definately taking Avi I in the next couple months - you should think about it too.

**AltaPowderDaze** · 11-15-2006, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by Trickster

I think the best Tranceiver on the market right now is the new Peips (Peips II, I think) It has twice the range (50-60m) during the search mode than other on the market.

i don't think peips has their new beacon out yet and they just began telling their reps about it a month ago in response to they hype over the s1 and pulse. it should be available by next year, though one of the reps said maybe late this season. i'm not holding my breath for that one, though i have a feeling it will surpass what the s1 has going for it. for now, i think the peips dsp is the best consumer and pro beacon on the market. others tend to be one or the other but this one really makes things easy.

**corn dog** · 11-15-2006, 09:39 AM

I got one of the arva advanced beacons from mountaingear a couple of weeks back. I like at least as much as my old barryvox so far, probably more. Might be a few flipped on ebay.