I was at sportmans tonight and wasn't looking for anything in particular, just killin time. I noticed a beacon in the display case for $199.99 the Pieps Freeride. Only thing I didnt like is it only has a 40 meter range. Anyways, is this sufficient? I like the price range and user friendly is a must. I dont need too many buttons to screw with when I'm trying to find a buddy under the snow. Whatre you guys all using?
Recommend me...a beacon
- Thread starter Pebs
- Start date
M
Modedmach1
Well-known member
BCA Tracker.
P
powder Head
Active member
X2 Tracker
S
SledsWest
Well-known member
BCA Tracker or Pieps DSP. Both will work with other brands of beacons (some beacons don't) and are they are both very user friendly and effective. The Pieps is better/easier for multiple burials.
BCA Tracker:
Pieps DSP:
Try this website, they have decent deals: http://www.snowbigdeal.com/servlet/the-Avalanche-Beacons/Categories
BCA Tracker:
Pieps DSP:
Try this website, they have decent deals: http://www.snowbigdeal.com/servlet/the-Avalanche-Beacons/Categories
D
Duke
Well-known member
I like the Barryvox, if the guys in your group are buried, it can tell you whether they have a heart rate or not, they are simple to use. I have the Ortovox S1, It works well but they dont like to get cold? I used a digital Pieps at an Avy course last year, they are a very good unit, simple to use and accurate. I wouldn't buy a beacon that cant search for multiple victims. Good luck, tough choices. Barryvox and Pieps would be my top 2 choices. 
Go to beaconreviews.com and check out what they have to say about each.
A beacon is only as good as the guy using it and the guy using it will only be proficient at using it if he practices often.
Also, if I were to guess by your post, you have not had an avalanche course. You should take one or two or....... Refresh you knowledge yearly.
BigT
A beacon is only as good as the guy using it and the guy using it will only be proficient at using it if he practices often.
Also, if I were to guess by your post, you have not had an avalanche course. You should take one or two or....... Refresh you knowledge yearly.
BigT
My recommendation for the Pieps freeride is don't get it. The only person I would buy this beacon for is someone who I want to find, but I know won't be able to find me. (ie, a young child). The Pieps freeride works fine, but it is rather slow and cumbersome.
As mentioned above, you can't go wrong with the BCA Tracker or the Pieps DSP.
As mentioned above, you can't go wrong with the BCA Tracker or the Pieps DSP.
BCA Tracker
I hear straight from the horses mouth that the tracker 2 will be available in early december
I have been looking at beacons quite a bit and narrowed it down to the DSP or tracker
The DSP had me convinced but I was cought up in the multiple burial issue, apparently this happens .4 % of the time
It's nice and easy to use but the tracker searches in real time with no processing time
The DSP you turn it on to search and wait for it to do it's thing
I have been looking at beacons quite a bit and narrowed it down to the DSP or tracker
The DSP had me convinced but I was cought up in the multiple burial issue, apparently this happens .4 % of the time
It's nice and easy to use but the tracker searches in real time with no processing time
The DSP you turn it on to search and wait for it to do it's thing
BCA Tracker, stupid friendly.
I use:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Mammut-Pulse-Barryvox-Avalanche-Beacon/MAM0047M.html
Your good to go with any of the above but remember the person using it is the real factor in recovering you or you finding your friend.
Hopefully none of us ever get in that situation.
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Mammut-Pulse-Barryvox-Avalanche-Beacon/MAM0047M.html
Your good to go with any of the above but remember the person using it is the real factor in recovering you or you finding your friend.
Hopefully none of us ever get in that situation.
R
RaggedEdgePerformance
Member
Just bought 2 new Pieps DSP beacons from Snow Big Deal. They were great to buy from. They are a service center for Pieps as well, so when new technology comes out you can send your beacon to them and for $20 they will update the beacon software rather than having to purchase a new one! Which ever one you get make sure it a 3 antenna, the Pieps freeride is NOT!
Whats this 3 antennae business?
Another Tracker fan
Pieps DSP is very easy to use, a long range of 60 meters+, Three antennas, and a great mutli person burial system. I believe the tracker is only around 30meters. Also I bet the percentage of multi person burials is way higher than .4% if you only factor in the snowmobile community and not all other backcountry users.
BCA Tracker
With a single anntenna if it is orintated 90 deg to the signal of the transmitting beacon the strength of the signal it will pick up will be much less than if it is aligned with the transmitting beacon signal. With 3 anntenna they are set 90 deg to each other so you don't get this problems as one will be more or less aligned. Easier to explain it with drawings which you can see in most avy books
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