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Description

Reliable and easy to use.

Through years of development and field testing, Backcountry Access has made the Tracker DTS Beacon incredibly intuitive so it's fast and easy to use when you're under the stress of a real search. It's no wonder that the Tracker DTS is one of the most popular beacons in the backcountry. The digital display shows you both the distance and direction to your buried buddy, and in addition to standard single-search mode, the Tracker DTS includes a special mode which will give you the distance and direction to all signals in a narrowed search range. This may be the difference between saving one of your friends or both of them, so practice, practice, practice.

  • Dual-antenna system allows quick and accurate searching
  • Special multi-burial search mode gives your friends better odds if more than one of them ends up under the snow
  • Direction and distance indicators make searching quick and efficient—just turn until the center arrow lights up, follow the transmission curve until the number reaches zero, then fine-search, probe, and shovel
  • Beacon automatically switches back to transmit mode after 10 minutes of inactivity in case you get caught by hang fire
  • Comfortable, easily accessed chest harness for touring
  • 200-hour batter life on transmit mode keeps you up and running most of the season
  • Wide body and large buttons make this beacon easy to manipulate with gloves on

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Backcountry Access Tracker DTS Beacon

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Here's what others have to say...

5 5

sooki

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

Love it. I have not had to use it in a real burial. In practice it is reliable and easy. These beacons are used everywhere. The newer-age ones have more features for multiple burial scenarios and provide a more direct path. This works fine for me. Unless you want to spend more money, I wouldn't get anything else.

5 5

Zakk the Bear

Member since 

I always travel with my own Avy kit, i know how to use it all, and while I personally own this beacon, the friends I have traveled with from Chile to Niseko to the Sierra BC, when they have rented gear, have been handed this beacon. It is very simple to use with the KISS model search mode. I love the on/off on the back of the device and battery life is very good. The price is very reasonable as well. I luckily have never had to use mine, but if you are going to be headed out into Avy country, this is an economical addition to your gear. Get it, practice with it, and be safe.

3 5

willhuff.net

Member since 
Groups:

but mine is off by about 1.5 meters most of the time. If I'm depending on this thing to save my own or another's life, then I want it to be as accurate as possible.

5 5

Alex Laugeman

Member since 
Groups:

Can't say much else that the other reviews...this thing is the simplest which is key for if/when things get hairy. Multiple burials of 3+ people though may get a little tough though. Definitely a good first beacon for someone looking to start getting into the backcountry. I wish the harness was a little bit bigger, but all in all I love it.

4 5

Travis Tzioumis

Member since 
Groups:

This is a great beacon to get into the backcountry with. It is easy to use and to read. It doesn't have the range of more expensive beacons (this model has a range of about 40 meters compared to others I have seen that can detect a signal at about 75 meters) or the functions but it gets the job done, the display is simple to read and does not complicate your search. For the price you can't beat it. Remember to practice with it(and the rest of your avy gear) in order to feel comfortable before you have to actually use it in an avalanche situation.

4 5

Ryan Gibbs

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

I got the BCA Tracker years ago when I started travelling in avalanche terrain. The interface is simple and the beacon has been reliable over the years. The harness system is good and I personally like the switch on the back because it is nearly impossible to inadvertently turn off.

The beacon works fine for someone who is looking for an entry level beacon. Two antennas rather than three means a more pronounced flux line curve into the buried victim. Very simple to use on single burial scenarios and with the right training and practice, multiple burial scenarios are not very difficult.

The beacon really does not shine on 3+ person burial scenarios, stacked victims or vertical burials partly due to the lack of a third antenna.

This is a great affordable option for an entry level user.

Is this a good beacon for mountaineering...

chrp187461

Member since 
Posted on

Is this a good beacon for mountaineering use?

Ryan Gibbs

Member since 
Responded on

The Tracker DTS is a good entry level beacon for anyone that travels in avalanche terrain. It is easy to use, reliable, and accurate. It was really a breakthrough for beacons, but it only features two antennas. There are many 3 antenna options now that increase the speed and accuracy of searches (particularly multiple burial scenarios). If you rarely find yourself in avalanche terrain it is a perfect entry level beacon. As you become more experienced using it, you may find that you wish you had several functions not available on the DTS like marking burials.

5 5

Lindsay Simpson

Member since 
Groups:
  • Gender: Female
  • Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Not as full featured as some more expensive competitors, but it's easy to use, work's well, and points you to where you need to go. Zero complaints!

5 5

Holly Russon

Member since 

This is a great beacon- it's easy to use and accurate. Good size, easy to handle, and most important it's pretty fool-proof. Glad to have this beacon in my kit.

5 5

Eric Carter

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

Easy to use. Pretty bombproof. Good battery life. Carrying strap is moderately comfortable. Not the lightest out there but oh well. I want my searcher to be using one of these, not fumbling with some complicated computer. BCA has an awesome warranty/service department that makes it even easier!

5 5

Anthony Mahre

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

In the unlikely event that I am buried, I hope all of my ski partners have THIS device since it is for the most part fool proof and very accurate.

Simple and accurate...period
4 5

Fletcher H

Member since 
Groups:
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

I bought this for my brother who is learning avalanche awareness and doing a bunch of mountaineering. He say's it is easy to use and has learned how to find another beacon very fast!

5 5

Cameron Wilkins

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

exacty what you want in the backcountry. simple,reliable,fast and comfortable.

Understandably, the harness keeps the...

Bob shattuck

Member since 
Posted on

Understandably, the harness keeps the beacon handy, but is there any reason one could not put it in a dedicated (chest) pocket? . . . thanks (my research hasn't dug this one idea up yet)

Ben Taggart

Member since 
Responded on

It's not uncommon for people to have jackets and other outer layers removed or torn up in long, violent slides. Having the beacon strapped on underneath the outer layers maximizes the chances that it'll stay with you during the slide.

Bob shattuck

Member since 
Responded on

Ben, hope this gets to you. BIG THANKS, for the answer . . . if you're in SF and looking for fellow sierra enthusiasts, say hello. BOB

DylanBC

Member since 
Responded on

Bob, I have three reasons to add to Ben's:
1. Batteries work much better if they stay warm, and will stay warmer if they are deep in your layers. This doesn't make much difference when spring skiing at +5C in BC, but can make a difference when out at -20C in the Yukon - not huge probably, but possible significant
2. If it is always in the same place, you don't have to thrash around trying to figure out which layer it is in that day or at that moment
3. (Probably the most important of my reasons) During the course of a day, you might put on and take off layers ten or twenty times (sometimes I go from three layers with shell to shirt-sleeves and back and again inside an hour)... it would be bad if the beacon ended up either getting dropped or put into your back-pack.

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure about a jacket getting ripped off during a slide, at least if it is properly zipped up as it always should be on a descent, but being in a jacket certain increases the risk of it getting smashed.

Bob shattuck

Member since 
Responded on

DylanBC, thanks for the input. Much appreciated . . . I went for it yesterday and (goat sale!) bought the TRACKER

5 5

Adam Reinhard

Member since 

Easy to use! Simple. Safe. Effective. Bottom line if you play in the backcountry get one and learn how to use it!

5 5

Jeffrey Miesbauer

Member since 
Groups:

The Tracker is the first beacon I ever used and it just seemed too simple. I bought one once I moved to Utah and took an Avy 1 course with Exum (so should YOU!). The Tracker never got more complicated throughout all our training and my own personal practice. It makes so much sense to me that I can't imagine using another, or ever needing one...so much that I bought my girlfriend one so she could have the same simplified search interface when we're out together. Hopefully we'll never have to really use it.

P.S. BCA is one of the best companies in the industry because they sponsor classes and beacon practice parks for everyone to use. You dollar is your vote, so vote for a company that does something to address the risk associated with selling avalanche gear to the mountain-going masses. Buy BCA and take a class. It just makes sense.

5 5

BP Fraser

Member since 

Works very well. I trust this little guy anywhere.

may be a little older than some of the other brands. But VERY functional and simple to use.

5 5

Nate Moon

Member since 

The first beacon I've owned, and I love it, super simple to use, just so long as you practice with it, and you make sure the people you're with know how to use their equipment and their heads. Never used it outside of practice scenarios, but I have the peace of mind to know I could help someone if the shit hits the fan.

4 5

Ian

Member since 
Groups:

This beacon is the tried and true dual antenna that all backcountry travelers need. Most beacons are created equal but this one is one the most simple to use along with the easiest to get used to. One day out of the box in the beacon test centers and you will get the hang of it. If you do go into the backcountry please take more than just this with you. Take a class first then take a partner with a shovel in probe! BE SAFE!

bme3833474

Member since 
Responded on

So ... why did you give it only 4 stars?

View all contributions... Be patient, it might take a while.