Almost all transceiver "range" tests measure the distance at which an avalanche transceiver can receive a viable signal. You can read the results of my extensive reception range testing. This page presents the results of tests to measure how far a transceiver transmits a signal. Rather than telling you how well your transceiver will locate your partner, these tests indicate how easy it will be for your partner to find you.

In November 2008, I took nine models of avalanche transceivers into the snow-covered Utah mountains. Following the basic testing criteria used in my reception range tests, I placed each transceiver in transmit mode and then measured the distance where a Pieps DSP and an ARVA Advanced could receive the signal. I measured the distance that each of these avalanche transceivers would lock onto the transmitting signal and beep at least ten times without interruption. I then averaged the two distances. Note that the transmission ranges look relatively short compared to the reception ranges. That is because I was using an ARVA Advanced (which has a relatively short reception range) and because I required a very strong signal (i.e., at least ten beeps without any interruption, whereas for reception range tests I permitted an occasional missed beep). In the real world, the transmission range will be longer.

The following graph shows how far the tested transceivers transmitted a viable signal. As with traditional range testing, avoid the tunnel-vision trap of believing that range is the only important criteria—it isn't. Range is certainly important, but the difference won't matter if you are not proficient at searching, probing, and shoveling. And as with the reception range tests, variances of 5 meters are probably immaterial.

Since I only performed 18 transmission tests (versus more than 190 reception tests), these results are less conclusive than the reception tests. That said, the overall difference of less than ten meters is relatively small. My tentative conclusion is the transmitting ranges of the beacons are very similar.

Keep in mind that these ranges were with the antennas in best-case orientation. In worst case orientation (with the transmitting antenna vertical), the ranges would be reduced by approximately 50 percent. The Ortovox 3+ take a unique approach to this by selecting a different antenna based on the transceiver's physical orientation (learn about it here).

You can click on the transceiver names (or bars) in the following graph to read more about that avalanche beacon.