138 x 84 x 30 mm, 275 grams

Analog (mostly)

The ARVAs are French transceivers that are not widely available in the USA. The ARVA 9000 is an older model that was discontinued in 2001.

Summary: This is an interesting beacon in that it has one antenna, yet the audible tone is digital. The tone increases in both cadence and pitch as you near the victim, and the screen displays digital numbers. Read more about audio feedback here.

Although I have only done moderate testing of this beacon (and it has been discontinued), the ARVA 9000 appears to be one of the most capable of the single-antenna transceivers I have tested (i.e., the long range you would expect from an analog beacon and the best audio and visual indicators of the analogs). It is a shame that ARVA hasn't had a strong US distributor.

135 x 80 x 25 mm, 285 grams

Digital

Summary: The Evolution+ is an excellent two-antenna transceiver that is similar to the ARVA Advanced, Barryvox 3000, and Tracker DTS. The controls are a little more intuitive than the Tracker's. The range is similar to the Tracker.

Searching: Prior to the 2007/2008 update, the Evolution+ displayed five LEDs similar to the ARVA Advanced and Tracker DTS. Beginning with the 2007/2008 update, the direction indicator is an LCD arrow similar to the Pieps DSP. The audible feedback of all of the ARVA's is excellent.

Multiple Burials: The Evolution+ shows an icon when there are multiple victims. You can toggle the "nose" of the transceiver to enter a scan mode that provides information regarding the multiple victims. Read the details.

Controls: The Evolution+ turns on when the harness is connected. The switch that changes between transmit ("SOS") and search is reasonably intuitive. A bump of the switch conveniently changes from search back to transmit.

Comfort: The Evolution's harness positions the transceiver on your side. The only downside of the ARVA transceivers is they are a little large (47% larger than a Barryvox 3000, 18% larger than a Pulse Barryvox, and 15% larger than a Pieps DSP).

Other: The English section of the owner's manual improved in 2007/2008, but it is still somewhat awkward.

135 x 80 x 25 mm, 355 grams

Analog and Digital

Summary: The ARVA Advanced transceiver is both analog and digital (hence the interesting capitalization of ADvanced in much of the literature). It is otherwise very similar to the Evolution+ except as noted below.

Searching: Digital searching is identical to the Evolution+. However, if you press and hold both the "-" and "+" buttons for two seconds, the transceiver switches to analog mode. You can then use the "-" and "+" keys to modify the sensitivity of the analog signal (similar to a classic analog beacon). This is a quick and easy way to change between modes. If you are an old-school analog rescuer or prefer analog mode when searching for multiple victims, the ability to switch to analog mode is great (and is similar to the Barryvox 3000 and Pulse). The BeaconReviews.com range chart displays two ranges for beacons that have both an analog and digital mode.

Multiple Burials: The ARVA Advanced shows an icon when there are multiple victims. Beginning with the 2007/2008 model (which has a semi-transparent housing, versus the opaque housing of the previous model), you can suppress a victim (they refer to this as blocking) by quickly switching from search, to transmit, and then back to search (i.e., by toggling the "nose" switch). Earlier versions of the Advanced performed multiple victim searches by dividing the search area into nine sections that you move through using the "-" and "+" keys. I wasn't a fan of that technique. If you have an earlier ARVA Advanced, you may be able to return it to ARVA (in France) to have it updated. Learn more about searching for multiple victims using the ARVA Advanced here.

Controls: To turn on the Advanced, you connect the wrist strap to the transceiver (versus the Evolution+ turns on when the harness is connected). Changing to search mode is unusual, but simple (you pull the "nose" of the beacon).

Comfort: The harness is different from the Evolution+ (the Evolution's harness is required to turn the unit on whereas the Advanced slides into a pouch on the harness). Both harnesses comfortably position the transceiver.

Other: Some other reviewers (and the manufacture's literature) say that the ARVA has faster processing than other transceivers. The processing seemed similar to the Tracker and little faster than the Pieps DSP, but I did not attempt to quantify the differences.

This is the first, and now discontinued, Barryvox transceiver. It was commissioned by the Swiss Army in 1968.

I have done minimal testing with this transceiver. It is similar to other single-antenna beacons.

The VS 2000 Pro is the successor to the Barryvox VS68. It is a single-antenna analog transceiver with tremendous range (up to 120 m). An optional external antenna is available which extends the range to up to 180 m. When equipped with the external antenna this might be the ultimate professional's analog transceiver.

I have been trying to get a review unit (I have even offered to purchase it) since January 2007 (most recently in December 2007), but it doesn't look like it is coming...

The VS 2000 Pro now includes a RECCO reflector. See a brochure.

Summary: The Barryvox Opto 3000 is a dual mode transceiver that starts receiving in analog mode and switches to digital mode as you near the victim. In addition to its dual mode, it has the benefits of two-antenna beacons, offers customization, and is small. This is my favorite two-antenna beacon. Although the Tracker is easier to use, I like the 3000's ability to switch into analog mode and its small size. This beacon has been superseded by the Pulse Barryvox.

Searching: The Barryvox 3000 displays an intuitive arrow to indicate the direction. It does not have the ability to suppress a transceiver during a multiple burial, but it does indicate when there is more than one victim and the analog tone helps experienced users resolve multiple burials.

Two distances are shown for the Barryvox 3000 in the range chart, because it starts in analog mode and then switches to digital mode. You can also manually switch between analog and digital mode.

An article is a popular backcountry magazine mentioned that in their testing the 3000 had a range of only 14 meters when the antennas were in worst orientation (i.e., the transmitting and receiving beacons were perpendicular). That has not been the case in my tests where the 3000 has an average range of 23 meters (view the testing details) in worse orientation versus an average of 27.2 meters for all digital beacons (again in worst orientation).

Controls: The On/Off switch is located on the back of the transceiver and is very intuitive. However, changing from transmit to receive is far from intuitive: you press the Mode button three times. If you press it too quickly (as you might do when your buddy is dying), the mode does not change. To return to transmit mode, you press and hold the Mode button for a few seconds--not easy to do during a secondary avalanche. As an informal test, I often hand the Barryvox to someone unfamiliar with it and urgently ask them to change to receive mode. Nobody has ever passed the test. Of course, if you own a 3000 it is certainly easy-enough to learn how to change modes, but is not intuitive.

Customization: The Barryvox 3000 allows you to modify several configuration options. You enter the customization section by holding both the "+" and "-" buttons pressed during startup. You can then control:

These are great features, although having the same make and model beacons behave differently may be confusing during an emergency.

Comfort: The Barryvox 3000 is the smallest of all the transceivers tested. It has a comfortable harness.

Other: The 3000 can be configured to switch between an analog and digital transceiver with the press of the Mode button (the "S2" setting, above).

Read the full Pulse Barryvox Review

The model number "F2" is a bit confusing, as the F2 was released before the F1 (i.e., in 1980 versus 1989). The naming scheme is based on the fact that F2 stands for "two frequencies." The F2 transmits at 457 kHz, but receives on both 2.275 and 457 kHz. This lets it locate both current and ancient beacons. Learn more about frequencies here.

This now-discontinued beacon was a strong contender during its day, but the wired earpiece is very awkward (the F2 does not have a speaker). The wire gets stiff when cold, it is difficult to connect when wearing gloves, and it is difficult to keep the earpiece in place (there is not a loop that goes behind your ear). I would not want to be buried while my partner on the surface struggled with the earpiece.

The F2 is rumored to suffer from frequency drift which makes it more difficult for digital beacons to locate. (I only tested the transmitting frequency of two units and both were fine.)

Given the transceiver's age, the awkward earphone, the fact that it doesn't not have a visual indication of signal strength, and the fact that I encountered two failures when testing three units (a non-functioning earpiece and a unit with a very short range), I feel it is time to retire all F2s.

See the review of the M2 for general information on Ortovox analog transceivers.

The Ortovox F1 is Ortovox's single-antenna, pure-analog beacon. It was, and continues to be, a very popular analog avalanche transceiver. The first F1 had no lights (1989). In 1990 one light was added. In 1994 the beacon was renamed the F1 Focus and three lights were added (red, yellow, and green).

Although the F1 lacks the ease-of-use of a digital beacon (i.e., it does not have distance or direction indicators), it has a long range, simple controls, and a small size. If you are willing to learn how (or already know how) to use an analog beacon, the F1 is a solid avalanche transceiver. This was my favorite beacon for many years. See the review of the M2 for general information on Ortovox analog transceivers.

The gray M2 was released in 1999 and the blue M2 in 2001. The M2 is very similar to the M1.

Summary: The M2 is a solid performing single-antenna beacon.

Searching: The long single antenna in the "M" series provides a long range. However, as with all single-antenna transceivers, you (and not the transceiver) must interpret the flux lines to locate the victim (versus multiple antenna beacons that display a direction indicator). Likewise, single-antenna transceivers cannot compensate for spikes (which you can compensate for with good probing). Although I was a big fan of the Ortovox single-antenna beacons for many years, I personally feel that the advantages of multiple-antenna transceivers no longer make single-antenna beacons the best choice for most users.

The M2 is primarily an analog beacon. The audio signal is always analog (the volume increases, but the tone and cadence remain constant). The digital portion of the transceiver kicks in when you are within approximately 30 meters (and the distance indicator displays 40 meters). At this point the M2 displays the distance (but not the direction) to the transmitting beacon.

Controls: All Ortovox transceivers turn on via the harness: when you put it on, it turns on. Most of the other transceivers turn on via a switch. People familiar with the Ortovox approach have reported that they sometimes forget to turn on the manually-switched transceivers. You know what they say about teaching those old dogs new tricks! Changing to search mode is fairly intuitive.

Comfort: All of the Ortovox harnesses are comfortable. The M1 and M2 are relatively large. The long banana-style allows for a long and effective, albeit single, antenna.

Other: The Ortovox M1 and M2 were recalled for a replacement battery door. If you have an M1 or M2, you should get the new (free) door.

Summary: The Ortovox X1 was released as a two-antenna dual mode (analog and digital) transceiver in 2002.It was later changed to a three-antenna (still dual mode) transceiver (Ortovox told me they would give me the actual manufacturing date...). I have tested both the two- and three-antenna variations. Per the comments in the Searching section (below), I find this transceiver unacceptable (I tested four units).

Searching: The X1 begins in analog mode using a single antenna. When the transceiver senses a flux line distance of approximately 40 m (the physical distance is something less than 40 meters) the distance indicator appears. The direction indicator (lights) do not appear until the distance displays 15 m (and the actual distance is closer to 12 meters). Unless you are skilled at locating a victim without direction indicators, the lack of a direction display until you are closer than 15 meters is too short. And if you are skilled at locating a victim without a direction indicator, then the F1 or M2 are more than adequate. Also, the directional indicator (three lights) is slow to respond to searcher movement and jumpy (similar to the Ortovox D3).

According to Ortovox, when the three-antenna version of the X1 is within two meters of the victim, the lights turn off and the third antenna is enabled similar to the Ortovox D3. However, in my testing, the X1 (both two- and three-antenna) was unable to resolve spikes.

Although the X1's analog range is very long, the fact that the direction indicators do not appear until 15 meters (versus approximately 35 meters for the Tracker and 50 meters for the Pieps DSP and Pulse Barryvox), and the fact that even the three-antenna model cannot resolve spikes, make the X1, in my opinion, unacceptable.

Controls: The controls on the X1 are simple and easy to use.

Comfort: As with the other Ortovox transceivers, the harness is very comfortable.

Other: In my testing the X1 handled frequency drift poorly (I had to be within two meters of a transceiver that was transmitting +200 Hz off frequency before the direction arrow was displayed).

The D3 is a three-antenna digital transceiver (versus the X1 which is a dual mode analog and digital). It displays the distance indicator and direction indicator when it first locks on to the transmitting beacon (at approximately 30 meters in my testing).

The third antenna is intended to eliminate spikes during deeper burials. However, according to Ortovox the third antenna doesn't become active until the transceiver is within 2 meters of the victim (at which point the direction indicator turns off). In my testing the D3 (as with the X1) suffered from spikes. I did a quick follow-up test at 1 meter, but spikes were still present (and 1 meter burials have relatively small spikes anyway).

I tested two different D3s and in my testing the direction indicator (as with the X1) was jumpy, often alternating between "turn right" and "turn left" or sending me around the victim (and off the flux lines). During spike testing, the distance indicator was slow to sense changes in the distance and to detect reversing of direction.

Considering the jumpy direction indicator and the fact that this three-antenna beacon behaves like a two-antenna beacon (i.e., it doesn't eliminate spikes), I find it almost unacceptable. I am not trying to slam Ortovox; I am trying to tell you the results of my testing.

Summary: The Ortovox S1 has a unique flip-phone design where flipping the transceiver open switches it to search mode. The S1 displays information on a Palm-like screen and uses icon-based menus. To search for a victim, you follow a stick-figure image of a victim on the screen (rather than using a traditional directional indicator that points to the victim).

Read the full Ortovox S1 Review

Summary: The Pieps DSP is a small beacon, it has one of the longest ranges of the digitals, it allows you to suppress a transceiver during a multiple burial, its third antenna is excellent at dealing with spikes during deeper burials, it handles frequency drift well, it has a simple user interface, and it can be upgraded via the earphone jack. The Pieps DSP is currently one of the top-rated avalanche transceivers on BeaconReviews.com.

Read the full Pieps DSP Review

The Pieps DSP Advanced includes the same features as the Pieps DSP plus it includes a temperature display, compass, bearing compass, and barometric altimeter.

Read the full Pieps DSP Review

The sales information for the SOS F1-ND touts it as a digital beacon, but the only thing digital about this beacon are the LED lights. The sales pitch also implies you can follow the lights, but that is not true unless you know how to line-up the transceiver with the flux lines. Bottom line: this is a single-antenna analog beacon.

Summary: Other than the "digital" marketing, the SOS F1 is very similar to the Ortovox F1.

Controls: The SOS turns on by twisting a 90° bayonet plug similar to the Ortovox F1, X1, and D3. You enable transmit or receive (search) modes by moving a slide switch.

Summary: The Tracker from Backcountry Access (BCA) is a popular and easy to use beacon. The Tracker set the standard as the first two-antenna transceiver. However, it has one the shortest ranges of the digital beacons and some of the newer digital beacons have easier to use controls.

Searching: Intuitive blinking lights indicate the direction. The Tracker senses changes in direction quickly. If you get off-course by a few degrees, the lights promptly indicate a change of direction.

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The Tracker's multiple burial feature takes some serious practice. The pinpoint search can be a little confusing, because the directional indicators (lights) continue to point (often away from the victim) no matter how close you are to the victim. To compensate, ignore the directional indicator and use the distance numbers when you are within 1 or 2 meters of the victim. Because the Tracker has two-antennas, it is unable to resolve spikes.

Controls: Turning the Tracker on is obvious. Changing to search mode is easy, but not intuitive (you press the large red button until the letters "SE" are displayed at which point you release the button). There is a yellow button that narrows the range to help find multiple burials. This works fairly well, but requires practice. If you turn the Tracker on while pressing the yellow button, the Tracker will automatically switch from receive to transmit mode if it doesn't receive a signal in a few minutes.