New avalanche transceivers: Several new and innovative avalanche transceivers are being released for winter 10/11. Chris Semmel and Florian Hellberg from the DAV's safety research department have put the new and revised avalanche transceivers through their paces and evaluated them. Here is a summary of the most important innovations and results
Tracker 2 from BCA
The three-antenna device from the American manufacturer first appeared in winter 09/10, now with new software. Market price, approx. 250 €.Short description: Three-antenna device without(!) marking function of already localized spills. Available with new software that increases the range. After the initial signal reception, the search or signal tracking in the area of maximum reception is problematic, but then works excellently with display values below 30 m.
Arva Evo3
Very affordable three-antenna device, new for the 10/11 season. The Evo3 replaces the previous Evolution+. The market price is currently around €200.Short description: Three-antenna device with uncomplicated operation. A transmitter, i.e. a spillage that has been found, can be hidden. In the case of multi-person burials, where more than two transmitters are in close range, the device is overwhelmed.
Ortovox 3+
See also the detailed practical test by Patrick Fux.
Simple three-antenna device, newly released for the 10/11 season. Market price: approx. 290 €.Short characteristics: Innovative automatic variation of the transmitting antenna (it always transmits the horizontal, powerful antenna), which means that the 3+ is recognized earlier by other receivers. The range of the device is only satisfactory. The acoustic signal is only reproduced with a time delay. Directional guidance is not clear in the coarse search due to signal loss and distance jumps (see also the test report).
Good solution for multi-person burials: the fade-out function for already located burials works well. With many transmitters in the reception range, you are guided on a serpentine course to the close range.
Ortovox Patroller digital
New avalanche transceiver released for winter 10/11, which is a combination of the two previous devices X1 and d3. Market price approx. 190 €Short characteristics: Very low range values (10 m!) with the most unfavorable antenna constellation (coupled position). The third antenna (Z antenna) is so weak that the device is practically not a three-antenna device. With an upright transmitter, it is easy to lose the signal during the approach.
The device can detect a multi-person burial, but does not offer any technical support for solving such difficult burial scenarios.
Other new products are due to appear in the course of winter 2011:
- The Vector avalanche transceiver from Pieps
- The avalanche transceiver Link from Arva
Revised avalanche transceivers 2010/2011
Barryvox Pulse from Mammut
The Barryvox Pulse is one of the flagships on the market. The device is available online from €320.
With the new software, version 3.01, there is unfortunately no longer a 360° display. The reason for this is a lost patent dispute. But even with the new software, the device has lost none of its good performance. Only a 180° error must now be recognized by the searcher himself on the basis of the increasing distance display. The device reliably solves all crucial functions, including the difficult multi-person burial.
Ortovox S1
The top model from German manufacturer Ortovox is available from €320.
The software has also been further developed for the S1, which has significantly improved the coarse search.To the manufacturer
Conclusion:
With the current avalanche transceivers, "you get what you pay for" applies. This means that the expensive devices, above all the Barryvox Pulse from Mammut, the Pieps DSP and the Ortovox S1, lead by a clear margin, but this does not mean that these devices have no weaknesses (see also the evaluation chart).
Of the cheaper devices, the Arva Evo 3 performs better than the significantly more expensive Ortovox 3+. Contrary to its name, the Pieps Freeride must be described as unsuitable for ambitious freeriders. Unfortunately, the device is only convincing in terms of price (available from approx. 125 €). However, the significantly more expensive Ortovox Patroller LVS (from approx. €180) also receives less convincing ratings and has some significant weaknesses in the particularly critical fine search mode.
Source: DAV-Sicherheitskreis, Chris Semmel and Florian Hellberg. Many thanks!
