Update avalanche transceivers winter 2014/15

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Tracker 3 | The only new avalanche transceiver for the 2014/15 season

Long announced, the all-digital three-antenna device Tracker 3 from BCA (the company is now part of K2) is now finally available in stores and replaces the Tracker 2. The aim when developing the Tracker 3 was to once again develop a fast and extremely easy-to-use device.

We will be able to test the new Tracker 3 avalanche transceiver shortly, until then we will give you a summary review of the strengths and probable weaknesses of the new device. A detailed test report will be published in the 2015 season

Strengths of the Tracker 3:
- Signal processing in real time
- Extremely fast and direct guidance of the searcher to the buried victim
- Indication of whether several people or transmitters have been buried
- Simple and intuitive device operation
- Sog. Big-Picture-Mode: The signal isolation is removed and all received signals are displayed one after the other in distance and direction. However, inexperienced users and laypersons often seem to be overwhelmed by this function.
- Great size, successful appearance (reminiscent of a smartphone)
- Very good carrying system

Weaknesses of the Tracker 3:
- The Tracker 3 does not have a "real" marking function, instead the device offers an SS mode (= signal suppression), in which the strongest signal is suppressed for one minute. The developers assume that this time is enough to sufficiently track the signal of the next buried victim so that their signal is received as the strongest.
- Short range for receiving buried victims: the recommended search strip width is 40 meters, which is considered rather ambitious or "optimistic" by serious testers.
- Signal tone takes some getting used to

Tracker 3 - preliminary impression

The Tracker 3 avalanche transceiver from BCA can do what most other avalanche transceivers can do well: locate a buried victim quickly and easily. A great look and a convincing carrying system make the device quite promising. However, the special features for experienced users and experts do not seem to be able to keep up with the top avalanche transceivers from Mammut, Ortovox and Pieps.

The device is available from around 280 euros.
Device dimensions: 11.5 x 7.1 x 2.4 cm.
Weight: 315 grams, including carrying and attachment system

Software updates - Pieps and Arva

The other device innovations are improvements to the device software. These so-called firmware updates are usually free of charge and are highly recommended because they eliminate identified weaknesses and can significantly improve the performance of the devices.

Pieps
The Austrian company Pieps offers the so-called 2.0 update for its DSP Sport and Pro devices. This update should also be carried out if the firmware 1.5 released in January 2014 has already been installed. The new device software eliminates a serious problem that was identified by the German Alpine Club's security research: If two buried persons are searched for or two signals are received with the old device software, it happens quite often that when transmitter 1 has been marked as "found", transmitter 2 can no longer be located either. The new software should therefore be installed by your nearest Pieps dealer, who also carries out the avalanche transceiver service. The new software also includes a group check mode. Further information...

Arva
Arva is offering new software (5.0) for its Link, Axis and ProW avalanche transceivers. This software enables a new function called "Dynamic Interference Management". The Neo models for the 2014/15 season also enable this function in their device software 3.0.

What this new "operating system" can do: There are probably few sports in which people carry more electronic gadgets around with them than freeriding. Ski resorts are correspondingly overcrowded with electronic services and signals. (This is not the place to rant about this development ...) Because avalanche transceivers are highly sensitive to electromagnetic signals, other electronics can interfere with the function of the transceivers. In such cases, the "Dynamic Interference Management" is to be activated on the Neo and ProW models. However, this function significantly reduces the range of the device, although the influence of external sources of interference can be minimized. In an undisturbed normal environment, the recommended search strip width is 60 m, whereas in "minimum level/SR 30" it is 30 m and in "maximum level/SR 15" it is only 15 m.

Attention! The same problems with the marking function of transmitters marked as found as with Pieps also occur with the Arva models: The new software does not solve these problems! The successor device Evo4, which has a "real" marking function, is to be presented at ISPO 2015.

Source of the information mentioned here: the risk management specialist magazineBergUndSteigen