 Poster: A snowHead
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We've just completed a comprehensive review of seven models of transceiver. We believe this is the most comprehensive comparison available for UK consumers. It features in-depth descriptions of features, videos of single and multiple burials and summaries including recommendations. The review also includes the ever popular Barryvox Pulse and the new BCA Tracker 2.
Read it here: http://www.facewest.co.uk/Transceiver-Review-2010.html
Facewest
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Good reviews, and pretty similar thinking to what I found on an IML training course a couple of weeks back. Doesn't seem like you looked at the performance on deeper burials (1m+). We did some experiments with this and found it was where the new 3-antenna transceivers really come into their own. The "hotspots" found on the pinpoint search phase with a 3-antenna unit corresponded very closely with the position of the buried transceiver, meaning only 1 or 2 goes with the probe were required to hit the target. The old 2-antenna units (e.g. old Barryvox) were not bad, but generally were out by a distance similar to the burial depth, meaning a lot more probing was required. A notable exception to this was the Tracker 1 - we found it really seemed to "lose its head" in this situation and could be very far out. Old school single antenna units were really down to the skill of the searcher, but at best were as good as the older digital units.
Didn't try the Tracker 2 - we had the S1, Pulse, Opto 3000 (old Barryvox), Tracker, M2 and F1 to play with.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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F1 is still what I want people looking for me with.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Have you tried the new stuff? No way in hell do I want people looking for me with an F1, especially if they're noobs.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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i find the F1 pretty easy to use and can't see any advantages from other units for single burials. and the F1's range seems to be about 20m extra so while someone with a different unit is still looking for a signal, the F1 owner is following a flux line straight (well, not quite straight) to the victim
multiple burials is a different thing but thinking how I actually ski, it is almost always one at a time; safe area to safe area if there is any risk at all. and quite a lot of the time i am only skiing with one other person
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I also consider myself to be pretty competent with an F1 and I agree with most of what you say Arno, but the other way in which the F1 is less effective than the new kit is with the scenario which is the most likely but which hardly anyone seems to practise - a single, deep burial.
There's no doubt that an F1 is much less accurate in this situation. On our course, even a top IFMGA guide with a good 10 minutes of fannying about was still over 1m out, whereas even new users of the S1 or Pulse were spot-on.
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| stevomcd wrote: |
I also consider myself to be pretty competent with an F1 and I agree with most of what you say Arno, but the other way in which the F1 is less effective than the new kit is with the scenario which is the most likely but which hardly anyone seems to practise - a single, deep burial.
There's no doubt that an F1 is much less accurate in this situation. On our course, even a top IFMGA guide with a good 10 minutes of fannying about was still over 1m out, whereas even new users of the S1 or Pulse were spot-on. |
That sounds like spiking, where you get a false positive. The new devices are very good at eliminating this problem.
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Wouldn't you be probing at this point?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Wouldn't you be probing at this point?
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Yes, but with an F1 you'll have to probe a circle maybe as much as 1.5m diameter, so you'll likely be probing for a couple of minutes. With a Pulse, S1, etc. you'll probably hit the target on the first or second shot with the probe (that was our experience anyway).
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Facewest.co.uk, it is a shame you refer to the Pulse sometimes as the Barryvox Pulse" and sometimes as the "Barryvox" in the article and tables, especially since there are quite a lot of the previous Barryvox beacons still out there. Better to refer to it consistently as the Pulse?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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stevomcd, not the people I ski with.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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It's good to see the reviews of transceivers.
Ultimately, however it comes down to practise. People can go out and buy a really good transceiver but if they don't practise it will not turn them into an overnight expert. "All the gear and no idea".
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FAQ
