Searching: The Pulse has a long range (approximately the same as the Ortovox S1 and the Pieps DSP). The Ortovox S1, Pieps DSP and the Pulse have the widest recommended primary search search width (~50 meters) of the multiple-antenna transceivers.

A unique feature of the Pulse is that if you are headed in the wrong direction the direction arrow will reverse direction (and point behind you). When using the other multiple antenna beacons, you will need to see that the distance indicator is increasing and turn 180-degrees.

The Pulse (and the Ortovox S1) uses an internal compass to help locate the victim. If you do not hold the transceiver level while searching or if you are moving abruptly, messages appear telling you to "Hold Device Horizontally" or to "Stand Still."

Screen During Search

During the primary and secondary searches the audio signal is analog which I find helpful. The analog tone lets you hear faint signals (as well as non-beacon-generated background noise) and can be helpful during multiple burials. During the pinpoint search, the digital audio output increases both the pitch and cadence (similar to the ARVAs and Tracker). You can also toggle the Pulse into a fully analog mode (this requires a menu change which would probably be done in the comfort of your home; you then press both buttons simultaneously to toggle the mode). Learn more about audio indicators.

Multiple Burials: The handling of multiple burials is similar to the Pieps DSP (you select Mark to ignore the current beacon and advance to the next beacon). The Pulse also allows you to unmark a previously marked beacon. Read the details here.

Spikes: Spike handling is excellent.

Controls: The relatively complex controls are the only downside of the Pulse. Various commands require the left, the right, either the left-or-right, or both the left-and-right buttons to be pressed. And holding the left button pressed performs a different function when entering owner information. The engineers got a tremendous amount of functionality out of these two buttons, but the result is a steeper learning curve than the other multiple-antenna digitals (e.g., ARVA, BCA Tracker and Pieps DSP). You will need to read the "Use of Keys" page in the user's manual. (To get into settings, which I can never remember, slide the switch from Off to Send, press either button within five seconds, press the left button to skip the Group Check, press the left button to skip the Vitals Sensor test, and click the right button at Settings.) I think it would have been much more intuitive to have up, down, select, and escape buttons.

Although not as confusing as the two buttons, sliding the main switch normally requires you to press a single release button (which is intuitive), but you must press two release buttons to turn the transceiver off. A small oddity in an excellent avalanche transceiver. Yes, "ease-of-use" and "intuitive" are subjective.

There is a thread on PisteHors.com mentioning that you can slide the Off/Send/Search switch from Off to Send without the switch locking into place. The concern is that the switch may then get bumped and turn the device off. I have been able to put the switch into this nebulous position (although it took a little trying). The solution is to make sure you slide the switch until it clicks. Far from perfect, but not a deal breaker in my option.

Comfort: The Pulse harness positions the transceiver vertically on your side. The transceiver fits into a molded-plastic case that is secured with a small Fastex buckle. The case is designed so the transceiver's screen must be facing toward your body and so the beacon cannot be switched to search mode while in the harness. Good stuff.

Double-Threaded Buckle

The somewhat unusual double-threading of the straps through the buckles makes the harness difficult to adjust. And I find the strap that goes around your waist is too short (I am a fairly thin guy and the strap is almost too snug for me--but I prefer a loose waist strap ala the F1 rather than the snug-elastic feel).

The Pulse is 47% smaller than the BCA Tracker, 18% smaller than the ARVAs, 14% smaller than the Ortovox D3 and X1, and 3% smaller than the Pieps DSP.

Group Check Mode: When the Pulse Barryvox is turned on, the message "Group check" is displayed for five seconds. Pressing either button activates the group check mode. In this mode the Pulse will only receive a signal when held one-meter from a properly transmitting beacon. The beacon automatically exits this test mode after five minutes. This is a quick and easy way to confirm that your partner's avalanche beacon is transmitting (it is also a good reminder to perform a test each time you turn on your beacon). Unfortunately, people who are not familiar with the Pulse may be confused by this power-up message.

Owner Information: You can set owner information, such as your name and email address, which will be displayed when the Pulse is turned on. This is certainly handy, although the data-entry felt extremely time consuming until I discovered (by reading the manual) that holding the left button pressed moves backwards through the alphabet.

Vitals Data: If the victim and searcher are both using Pulse transceivers (which have been configured for use in the same region, see below), the searching transceiver will report if the victim is alive by sensing tiny movement (hence the name Pulse). With multiple burials, a small heart is displayed next to victims who have any movement (e.g., breathing or arterial pulses) which can presumably be used to triage which victim to locate first.

The "vitals data" obviously requires that the Pulse is carried close to your body so it can sense motion. There is a "Vital Sensor Test" where you lie as still as possible on the ground to see if the transceiver will sense the motion of your body.

After unburying a victim who is wearing a Pulse, the rescuer can press either of the buttons to display the length of time the beacon did not experience significant motion (i.e., the "burial" time) and the amount of time the victim was still moving slightly (i.e., the "still alive" time). If the rescuer presses either button again, the display will rotate through six previous burial periods. The six burial periods are undeniably confusing (I had to contact Barryvox for an explanation), but they may be necessary if nobody checks the beacon when the victim is first unburied (so you can access information that would otherwise be overwritten by movement while transporting the victim).

The vitals information is transmitted to other Pulse transceivers using a separate radio signal (referred to as W-Link). Unfortunately, the allowable radio frequency varies between regions (e.g., Region A in Europe and Region B in North America). And the FCC does not allow beacons that are sold in the USA to support Region A. If you purchase a beacon in the USA and you will be traveling to Region A, you can send your transceiver to a service center to have Region A enabled. That is impractical for most of us.

Certainly Mammut is proud of the uniqueness of the vitals data. I think the feature is valuable for a fleet (e.g., a backcountry ski service, snowmobile tours, etc) where all members of a party wear Pulse transceivers and everybody is in the same Region. And there are not downsides to this feature. However, I personally see only a small benefit in the vitals data--the Pulse would get five stars from me even if it did not have this feature.

Revert to Send: The Pulse will automatically switch from receive mode to send mode after eight minutes to ensure that you will be transmitting if you get buried by a second avalanche. Several other beacons do this, too. The Pulse (and now the Ortovox S1) is unique in that it only returns to send mode if there has not been any user interaction (e.g., button presses) or major motion during the eight minutes. It also gives an audible signal before reverting (which is unique and very helpful). The advantage of the Pulse's more restrictive reverting is that it is less likely that a searcher will unknowingly return to send mode during a search (which can seriously confuse the other searchers). The auto-revert mode can also be changed to four minutes or disabled.

Compass Calibration

Compass Calibration: The Pulse has an internal compass that helps the direction arrow update more quickly. The compass needs to be calibrated periodically (by slowly rotating the beacon 360°). You are prompted to do this when you replace the batteries. The users manual implies that you should also calibrate the compass if you travel a long distance, but of course the beacon will not prompt you in this case. It is not clear how the performance will be affected if the unit is not calibrated (i.e., if you travel a long distance and do not recalibrate the compass). The internal compass is not available to the user for navigation.

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Pulse Barryvox

Screenless Mode: If the screen on your Pulse is broken, you can enable a special mode by holding both buttons pressed and then switching from Off to Search. You will then be in analog mode (without any distance or direction information) and can change the volume using the buttons. This is explained on a sticker that you adhere to the back of the transceiver. This is typical of the Pulse transceiver: it has many extra features that will only be used by true power-users; most of these extras are well hidden from the average user.

Upgrading: The Pulse Barryvox will support software upgrades (similar to the Pieps upgrade) in the future, but the pricing and service center details have not been finalized.

This beacon unquestionably deserves five stars.

View the comparison table for more information regarding the Pulse Barryvox.