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What Avalanche transceiver?

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nagelthebagel
Posts: 205 - Karma: 36
Hey guys I'm kind stuck to know what Avalanche transceiver I should buy, because there are so many different systems out there. Whats your best recommendation? I have no experience with these things. Price: around $300.

Peace
Dec 9 2010 4:40AM
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Chaka
Posts: 424 - Karma: 79
Since you have no idea and you probably have no idea what the different systems do than get a BCA tracker or tracker 2. By far the easiest beacon to use and the best bet for beginners.
Dec 9 2010 5:03AM
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manabadman
Posts: 615 - Karma: 255
yep, the bca trackers are really user friendly and good value for money. probably your best bet.

perhaps one to avoid is the PIEPS transeiver. These are probably the cheapest on the market, and are fine for transmitting if you get buried. If your mate gets buried however, you wont be much use in a search party as its basically a very stripped down transciever and search mode is hardly functional.
Dec 9 2010 6:17AM
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Evilchris
Posts: 2090 - Karma: 43
Look around on TGR, They will be WAY more helpfull than NS. TAKE AN AVY COURSE! A transceiver won't help you at all if you dont know how to use it.
Dec 9 2010 9:19AM
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manabadman
Posts: 615 - Karma: 255
^haha thats true, ns gear talk is more for finding out when your jiberish hoodie is in the mail
Dec 9 2010 11:18AM
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Twig
Posts: 6336 - Karma: 57,086
i've got an ortovox f1 focus, pretty good value, fairly easy to use in search mode too..
Dec 9 2010 11:35AM
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triebby
Posts: 8670 - Karma: 2,189
YES. That being said, you can't go wrong with a BCA Tracker.
Dec 9 2010 11:40AM
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Barsevskis
Posts: 183 - Karma: 138
i suggest the tracker 2. easy to use and a good price
Dec 9 2010 12:10PM
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RedCloud
Posts: 125 - Karma: 21
If I was buying a new beacon today I would get a bca tracker 2 or the ortovox 3 plus. I currently use a bca tracker, a lot of times you can score used trackers cheap. The tracker is super simple but not the for best multi burials. Multis are rare though and mostly avoidable if you ski and tour smart. If u are the only one not buried odds are you will only get one person up anyways. Most of my crew roles with trackers or peeps dsp. The dsp is a good option if you are more spendy. I'm always impressed with their range and multi burial performance when we do drills.
Dec 9 2010 12:42PM
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eatinpow
Posts: 434 - Karma: 16
Peips makes the best beacon, it was won years in a row. It was the first 3 antenna
Dec 9 2010 12:51PM
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eatinpow
Posts: 434 - Karma: 16
Beacon. It is however a little more expensive... Whatever you get, make sure its a 3-antenna beaconr
Dec 9 2010 12:52PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,373
http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/Specifications.asp
Dec 9 2010 1:23PM
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manabadman
Posts: 615 - Karma: 255
here im referring to the pieps freeride avalanche transciever. not the dps although ive read there are issues with using the dps with older analogue transievers
Dec 9 2010 3:58PM
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eatinpow
Posts: 434 - Karma: 16
IVe used a pieps for about 3 years now. Not long after they came out, and i have done countless hours of beacon training with both a pieps and a BCA tracker. And the pieps(DSP) is by far easier to use and locate the victim. And even though it may be only a minute or two or three faster that could mean someones life. And if you look at the review that the above person posted it has 5 out of 5 stars. Its a little pricey but worth it. you can also update it each year so you never need to buy a new one.
Dec 9 2010 8:57PM
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BroNamath
Posts: 113 - Karma: 21
BCA Tracker 2  /Thread
Dec 9 2010 10:45PM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
This. And has previously stated above, the BCA system is very easy to use, but go for the Tracker 2, much better in a multiple burial situation. God forbid you should ever end up in one though
Dec 9 2010 11:23PM
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jca
Posts: 4162 - Karma: 6,261
i like my Barryvox 3000, luckily i havent had to use it outside of practice scenarios.
Dec 10 2010 12:35AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,270
mammut pulse barryvox

unbeatable. expensive but by far the best. bca is good and reliable but i trust my pulse with my life
Dec 10 2010 12:39AM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10434 - Karma: 9,753
the one you'll actually wear & practice with.

For the record I am still using an older barryvox and very happy...
Dec 10 2010 1:44AM
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purpleflurple
Posts: 1452 - Karma: 20
BCA Trakor or trakor 2 big button and easy to use
Dec 10 2010 2:13AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,270
my friend's 6 year old daughter found his buried pack with a mammut pulse. it's that easy to use
Dec 10 2010 2:23AM
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nagelthebagel
Posts: 205 - Karma: 36
Aight thanks for all the info guys
Jan 7 2011 6:00PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
The best one is the one that you can use effectively under high levels of stress. Lots of features and gimmiks are sweet, until your buddy is 6ft deep, your tired, dehydrated, and starting to lose light.

Keep in mind, you have 5 minutes to get to them. Don't want to have to spend 2 of those figuring out how to switch to search mode.

Honestly, take a dry land class, learn what you will need the thing to do, and then research. Then practice, practice, practice. When you get so you can find find a beacon or two quickly every time, practice under stress. Go for a run up a hill in full kit, do some sprints, get your blood pumping. Have a clock going, then try it again.
Jan 7 2011 6:16PM
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B4NE1
Posts: 876 - Karma: 16
I have a Back Country Access Tracker 2 luckily I haven't had to use it yet (knock on wood) it is really easy to use all you do is turn it on with the switch and if need be to put it in Search mode you just pull the toggle down on the bottom.

The tracker DTS is the original and also very good but with its push button search design if you hold the button too long it will switch back to transmit and in a rescue situation every second counts. Plus the Tracker 2 has an increased search radius by approx. 5 meters again i know 5 meters isn't alot but like i said before every second counts.

The Tracker 2 is also easier in multiple burial searchs but i won't get into that in detail cause i could be here for days on how it works.

The best thing is to take a course not only do they teach you how to use the beacon but they teach you how to evaluate snow conditions, and the best way NOT to get in an avalanche is to NOT go into hazardous conditions at all.
Jan 7 2011 6:19PM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
well my girlfriends friends dad owns BCA and i know they put out quality products that are easy to use. get the tracker 2 oh and TAKE A CLASS you cant go wrong and at places like REI the classes are like twenty bucks just because you own the equitment doesnt mean you should be out in the backcountry, consider this
Jan 7 2011 6:54PM
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