Is your avalanche beacon obsolete?

[Boston Racing]

Ill take a guy that knows his analog beacon over a chump with the best beacon.......any day of the week.

Know how to use what you have and become proficient with it

 

[Summitseeker]

I put my SOS analog beacons in the drawer at the beginning of last season and have not seen them since. I upgraded to the digital Pieps and yes.....I know how to use it. I also have an ABS pack , Spot, GPS and my life is worth more than $350.00 it took to upgrade the beacon. I did not want my family saying....."IF" he had a digital beacon he could have been alive today.


I also found the SOS analog a PITA while in seach mode in avy training compared to this digital Pieps.

 

[backcountryislife]

Remember, the beacon isn't for you, it's for the other guy. You don't train or upgrade for yourself... it's for everyone else. you can be found with an old pieps 457 as easy as with a new one.

 

[turboless terry]

At an avalanche class a few years ago I was told that after 5 years old a recievers signal can get off just a little and that, at the very least you need to send them in and get them checked. Whether it is true. I don't know. Why chance it.

 

[backcountryislife]

At an avalanche class a few years ago I was told that after 5 years old a recievers signal can get off just a little and that, at the very least you need to send them in and get them checked. Whether it is true. I don't know. Why chance it.

I know the S1 & pieps DSP both have a test function that can measure drift on other beacons. If you do have an older beacon, it's a good idea to find someone with one of those & do a quick check... sure wouldn't hurt.

 

[Flange]

Remember, the beacon isn't for you, it's for the other guy. You don't train or upgrade for yourself... it's for everyone else. you can be found with an old pieps 457 as easy as with a new one.

Exactly! They all transmit the same when under the snow. The differences becomes obvious when your on top of the snow!

 

[summitboy]

I'll take that challenge on the SOS verse my Pulse any time of the day ! Bring it, don't sing it ! Just because your proficient in using it doesn't make it fast. ?Range, ease of find, speed and also the fact that your old beacons are old (they may not work like they did when they were new, sending and receiving) make them dangerous to you and others around you.

Ask any good Avy instructor and he/she will tell you its time to get rid of the old style beacons and crews will become more proficient, and reduce errors in searches. Just ask or better yet take AST1 and go out in the field and watch why your single antenna beacon is dangerous ! I watched 3-4 guys in our AST1 throw there old SOS beacons away after the course and purchase new Pulses/DSP's. It just makes sense

We don't let guys in our group ride with analog single beacons. I'd rather dig up a spare new one and know i have just that much better of a chance of being found !

 

[Flange]

Just ask or better yet take AST1 and go out in the field and watch why your single antenna beacon is dangerous ! I watched 3-4 guys in our AST1 throw there old SOS beacons away after the course and purchase new Pulses/DSP's. It just makes sense

Yup seen it too. I've been involved in two AST 1 field sessions and both times watched more than one person struggle badly with their analog beacon. Definitely an experience thing. If you practice alot, you can be good with them. Unfortunately we all know that this thing called "practice", seldom takes place. Its been my observation that the new digital beacons take less "practice" to become proficient with them.

 

[roughrider99]

seen a wicked deal on a peips dsp for 350. almost bought it but realized i would be 100 bucks short on tuition payment