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Analog beacons indicate a stronger signal
by increasing the volume of the audible tone. The pitch and cadence (i.e., the rhythm)
remain constant. You simply listen to the "beep" that is transmitted by the
buried transceiver. Because it is difficult for humans to identify subtle changes in
volume, analog transceivers allow you to turn down the transceiver's sensitivity.
Digital beacons emit an audible tone that is based on the strength of the signal.
Most (maybe all)
digital transceivers increase the cadence of the tone (i.e., beeping more frequently
as you near the victim).
A
few beacons (e.g., the ARVA's,
Element,
Pulse, and
Trackers) also increase the pitch of the
tone. The combination of increased cadence and pitch is very easy to hear.
The ARVA Advanced,
Barryvox 3000, and
Mammut Pulse give you the option of
a digital signal (increasing the cadence) or volume (by broadcasting the analog tone).
The Mammut Pulse emits an analog tone during
the signal search (where you may be able to
hear a very weak signal) and coarse search,
and then switches to digital (with a smooth increase in both the cadence and pitch)
for the fine search. My fellow testers and I
feel that the Pulse's audio feedback is outstanding.
The Mammut Element and
Pulse (beginning with
version 3.2) include a feature called "directional
tones." This causes the audio to change based on the
direction indicator. When the direction indicator changes direction, so do the
tones. This reduces the need for you to stare
at the direction indicator as you work your way toward your buried partner.
(Directional tones are only available in the Pulse when using the
Basic profile.)
Single antenna beacons indicate the distance to the victim using either a series
of lights (e.g., green, yellow, and red) or an estimated distance in meters. All multiple
antenna beacons display the estimated distance in meters.
The Mammut Pulse displays the distance down to
0 meters. The Ortovox S1,
Pieps DSP,
ARVA Evolution+, and
ARVA Advanced display distances down
to 0.1 meter. The
Barryvox 3000 and
Tracker DTS display the distance down to
0.3 meter. Either minimum (0.0,
0.1, or 0.3 m) is fine. The only time the smaller minimums is significant when you are
searching for a transmitter that is basically on the surface (i.e., buried under less
than one foot of snow).
The distance that is displayed is actually an estimate of the distance along
the flux line rather than the actual distance
directly to the victim. The actual measured distances are shown in the
range chart.
Multiple-antenna beacons display a "direction indicator"
that points you toward the victim (actually, it points you along a curved
flux line that is coming from the victim's
transceiver). Single-antenna beacons cannot
display a direction indicator.
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On some beacons the direction is displayed as an arrow (the
ARVA Evolution+,
Barryvox 3000,
Ortovox 3+,
Pieps DSP, and Mammut
Pulse) whereas other beacons use five lights (the
ARVA Advanced,
Tracker DTS, and
Tracker2), three lights (the
Ortovox X1,
Ortovox Patroller, and
Ortovox D3), or a grid (the
Ortovox S1). The
Mammut Pulse's arrow is unique in that it
floats freely and can point behind you if you are moving away from the victim.All
of the direction indicators are a little inaccurate when they are relatively far from
the victim. This causes the direction indicator to jump around. You should average the
direction as you advance toward the victim. For example, if the direction indicator
jumps between straight-ahead and hard-right, you should average these and head gently
right.
When the signal is first received, it is just as likely that the indicator will point
you 180-degrees from victim as toward him. You should watch the distance indicator to
make sure it is decreasing as you follow the direction indicator. If the numbers are
increasing (i.e., you are moving away from the victim), you should turn 180-degrees.
The default setting for the Barryvox 3000 is to stop displaying the direction indicator
at 3 meters (you can change this
to 0.3 meter using a
custom setting). The default
setting for the Mammut Pulse is to stop displaying
the direction indicator at 3 meters
(you can change this to 0 meters using a custom setting). The
ARVA Advanced,
ARVA Evolution+,
Ortovox Patroller,
Pieps DSPs, and
Tracker2 stop displaying the direction indicator
at two meters. Older
Ortovox X1s did not turn off the lights
while newer X1s and the Ortovox D3 turn
off at two meters. The difference between two and three meters is somewhat significant,
because a circle with a three meter radius contains 28 square meters whereas a circle
with a two meter radius contains only 13 square meters.
Note that having the direction indicator disappear when you get close is a good
thing, because it reminds you to focus on the distance indicator rather than on the
direction indicator to complete your fine search
(the direction indicators get confused when you get very close to the victim—this
is analogous to trying to follow a compass needle when you are standing directly on
the North Pole). The Tracker DTS (but not
the Tracker2), older versions of the
Ortovox X1s, and the
Mammut Pulse (if you enable this feature using
a custom setting) always displays the direction indicator which can be slightly confusing
(i.e., you should ignore the direction indicators when you are within a meter or two
and focus on the distance indicator).
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