Small backup, big effect? Pieps has launched another safety feature on the market with the Pieps Backup. In winter 2014, I tested whether it is worth investing in the Backup and what it can really do.
What is the Pieps Backup used for?
In the event of an avalanche during a companion rescue and losing your avalanche transceiver, this transmitter gives you another option for being found.
How does it work?
The Pieps Backup is switched on at the start of the tour in the same way as the avalanche transceiver, it recognizes the avalanche transceiver and indicates this by flashing. The other avalanche transceiver must be in the immediate vicinity. The Pieps Backup behaves passively from the moment it detects an avalanche transceiver (check mode). If there is no avalanche transceiver in the vicinity from the outset (e.g. defective avalanche transceiver), a warning tone sounds as soon as it is switched on.
If the backup does not receive an active transmitter, for example if the avalanche transceiver is lost in an avalanche, and the backup is not moving (stationary in an avalanche), the backup switches to transmit mode after 20 seconds and beeps. It then transmits like any avalanche transceiver on the frequency of 457 kHz. This means that you can be located again by your comrades or the rescue service.
What does the Beep Backup do when the comrades / rescue service arrive?
As long as the backup transmitter is not set in motion, it remains in transmit mode in emergency mode. It also remains in this mode when the rescuers arrive and it locates new active avalanche transceivers.
Conclusion
It's my first season with the Pieps Backup. It's now quite normal for me to use it together with the avalanche transceiver. The Backup doesn't bother me at all in my closed trouser pocket (can of course also be attached with the carrying strap of the avalanche transceiver - see photo) and I don't feel like I'm carrying any more stuff on the mountain. I hope that I won't need the backup! But in the hopefully non-occurring case of a secondary avalanche or even the loss or failure of my own avalanche transceiver, I still have the option of a successful rescue.
