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July, 2025

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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
15 years ago
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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.
15 years ago
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manabadman
Posts: 616 - Karma: 256
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.
15 years ago
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Evilchris
Posts: 2090 - Karma: 44
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.
15 years ago
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manabadman
Posts: 616 - Karma: 256
^haha thats true, ns gear talk is more for finding out when your jiberish hoodie is in the mail
15 years ago
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Twig
Posts: 6476 - Karma: 63,254
i've got an ortovox f1 focus, pretty good value, fairly easy to use in search mode too..
15 years ago
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triebby
Posts: 8670 - Karma: 2,190
YES. That being said, you can't go wrong with a BCA Tracker.
15 years ago
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Barsevskis
Posts: 183 - Karma: 138
i suggest the tracker 2. easy to use and a good price
15 years ago
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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.
15 years ago
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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
15 years ago
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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
15 years ago
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/Specifications.asp
15 years ago
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manabadman
Posts: 616 - Karma: 256
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
15 years ago
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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.
15 years ago
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BroNamath
Posts: 113 - Karma: 21
BCA Tracker 2  /Thread
15 years ago
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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
15 years ago
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jca
Posts: 4185 - Karma: 6,391
i like my Barryvox 3000, luckily i havent had to use it outside of practice scenarios.
15 years ago
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
mammut pulse barryvox

unbeatable. expensive but by far the best. bca is good and reliable but i trust my pulse with my life
15 years ago
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iggyskier
Posts: 10462 - Karma: 10,255
the one you'll actually wear & practice with.

For the record I am still using an older barryvox and very happy...
15 years ago
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purpleflurple
Posts: 1452 - Karma: 20
BCA Trakor or trakor 2 big button and easy to use
15 years ago
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
my friend's 6 year old daughter found his buried pack with a mammut pulse. it's that easy to use
15 years ago
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nagelthebagel
Posts: 205 - Karma: 36
Aight thanks for all the info guys
15 years ago
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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.
15 years ago
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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
15 years ago
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