My 4 year old can find a beacon in under 5 minutes with this thing. The range is not as long as some but it is so simple to use. Multi burials takes practice but that is the case with all beacons.

This is the most logical choice of all the beacons. The Pieps is nice and all, but if you are carrying this for the slim chance you will need it, then lets be real. I have had this beacon for years and aside from replacing the batteries at the start of the season I have had no issue. It is durable, easy to use, and simple to operate even in the toughest situation. If you are looking to get the best bang for your buck, then this is the answer and I just don't see the need to spend another two hundred dollars on something you hopefully wont have to use. However, if you need it, and are in the situation where you need to use it, this device will be reliable and simple as long as you practice before you play.

The Tracker is one of the best beacon options on the market today. Unless you are practicing beacon searches on a daily basis (i.e. ski patrol), this is the product you want for any and all of your winter backcountry adventures. The digital display and direction lights are extremely intuitive, and in a highly pressured situation, you won't be wasting extra time in evaluating your beacon's responses. It is fast and easy to get in and out of search mode, and teaching yourself the basics on this one is about as straight-forward as it gets. A beacon that is truly idiot-proof. The beacon's range is slightly less then that of other brands but if you are following proper avi protocol, that should not be an issue- with point last seen etc. Batteries last a long time, and straps are easy to use and release.

I have found this beacon to be easy to use and understand. The ortovox beacon that I had previously was not nearly as user friendly as the tracker. With it's digital distance display and tracker light direction indicators I found that with a little bit of practice this beacon is easy to use and works well when working to find buried beacons or skiing partners in a hurry. It is simple easy to use and easy to learn how to use. The only aspect that was a little weird is the carrying system. It has a holster that is pretty bulky and can be pretty annoying with a backpace, radio, and whatever else you may have buried in those jacket pockets. I have since gotten used to the system and am quite happy with it. Hope this helps.

This is the only beacon I will ever use. It has a great easy on/off dial and a simple search/ transmit button that really limits user error. Also, the simple directional light monitor accompanied by the audio beep and the digital distance reader makes finding your ski buddy quick and simplifies an often daunting experience.
Simply, the Tracker is just a well designed no frills easy to use easy to learn beacon.

I have been fortunate in my travels throughout the backcountry to have never had to use one of these little devices for it's intended purpose (ie. your buddy's buried.) But I wear it nearly every day, even when I'm inbounds, and it is not cumbersome at all, the harness keeps it right where you want it; both out of the way and easy to access. In all of the beacon practice drills that I have done I have used many different beacons from many different companies, and while the adage 'the best beacon is the one you know how to use' still stands, this one seems to be the most intuitive, easy to learn beacon out there.

I have used several types of beacons and I find the Trackker to be the easiest and the most accurate. After a quick lesson and some practice time you will quickly develop confidence in your retrieval process. Try one out and you will see the difference.

There are a lot of avalanche transievers out there touting there technological superiority, but the bottom line and most important fact about the Tracker is it is the FASTEST! I have been involved in the real deal, avalanche searches with buried victims, and my experience with the Tracker has been nothing short of stellar. This beacon is intuitive and friendly and all my friends use them as well as my wife, a 17-year patroller who still kicks my ass in search contests.

it's all about the practicing and knowing how to use it--but I absolutely think this beacon is straightforward, simple, and I haven't found it to be bulky or weird to wear, perhaps I'm just used to it.

It's the easiest to use, the most affordable, the best. Just look at all the people with red goats (our team) that have rated this thing highly. I really don't think anything more needs to be said. Just keep your eyes out for the Tracker 2, which should be hitting the store later this season.

I just realized that my review from many years ago is still archived and contains a potentially confusing reference:"Membrane buttons can be a bit hard to press if wearing very bulky winter gloves."Starting in Fall of 2004, BCA redesigned the housing with buttons that are far easier to operate with bulky winter gloves, so please ignore that part of my old review!
*****
2009 update -- my complete review is available at:
http://www.wildsnow.com/1605/backcountry-accesss-tracker-avalanche-beacon-review/

Could be considered the standard for ease of use. Official beacon for many patrols and guide services including Ski Himalaya's "Kashmir Powdercats" ski guide service. Very easy to use for folks with little to no experience. Please practice before you go out. Once out, practice in safe conditions on a large slope to dial in the different phases of the beacon search.

great, functional, works like its supposed to... not huge on functions but really its simple to use and would recommend it to anyone looking for a first beacon

The one thing most people will notice with the BCA Tracker is how idiot-proof it really is. Although others certainly have a much longer range, this beacon is perfect for someone new to backcountry skiing - it really doesn't get much easier to use. This is also one of the most affordable beacons available which will be easy on your wallet when venturing into a new aspect of the sport that is considerably expensive. Like everything, there are drawbacks, but if you want something effective and affordable, the BCA Tracker is a good choice.

For a single burial, or a multiple burial where you can turn off each beacon as it is found, this beacon is amazingly fast for a novice, and gets even faster with more practice. However, multi burials in which each beacon stays on as it is found can be very tricky and require significant practice. Also, although the shorter range (as compared to analog beacons) is almost always not a problem, occasionally it can interfere w/ the search if the beacons are aligned such that the range is at its absolute minimum. Membrane buttons can be a bit hard to press if wearing very bulkly winter gloves.

This beacon is super simple to use. Everything on this beacon is simple and straight forward. Its display is bright, clear, and easy to read/use. If you are looking for an inexpensive beacon to get the job done that is super easy to use, this is your best bet. It does lack some of the bells and whistles of other beacons, which can make multiple burials a bit more difficult. But this one is pretty much the standard in avalanche safety and for good reason.

There is a reason this is the de-facto beacon. It's intuitive, easy to use and just works.

At the same time, make sure you practice using it. It might seem like a piece of cake to find you buddies beacon in your back yard but when you in the heat of the moment and your adrenaline is pumping, the practice will pay off (and save someones life). Learn to use it well and you won't be disappointed in this beacon.

Easy, accurate, well respected. I highly recommend this for all levels of backcountry travelers. The ONLY beacon I like more is the Pieps DPS standard.

compared to side by side tests with my freinds' mammut beacons, this one is clearly easier to use and faster at finding hidden beacons when doing field practice. everyone was able to find hidden beacons faster with the BCS tracker...idiot proof is a good thing in a beacon because most people are idiots when stressed by an emergency...less bells and whistles truly is more when it comes to rescue equipment...

Much simpler than the Pieps beacon or old analog beacons. Not the best technically but simplicity matters at least as much when in an adrenaline-filled search

I've got an old unit circa 99 model and bought this one last season. Basically the same ten years later. Thought there would be some advance's here. Tried some other beacons last year in a beacon park in BC and was pretty amazed some other more advanced units out there. Going to upgrade. Cheesy harness also

There has been some positive and negative about this beacon, having used the Ortovox F1 and the new S1. I'm set on this beacon. Are there advantages to a super expensive beacon like the S1 sure but what you sacrifice (processing speed) is not worth the extra dough. I don't need a thermometer, inclinometer and compass. I need to find my buddy fast. This beacon does the job and it has done it a little too well. That is why you see companies throwing meaningless extras onto their beacons. There are advantages to a 3rd antennae that you don't get with this beacon (wait for the tracker 2 - january 2009,if all goes well). The DTS simply is the best, most reliable and easiest to use around. This is more than adequate for any backcountry enthusiast who has had any sort of. Stay safe!

I am not very familiar with other beacons, but so far the tracker seems super easy to use. Pretty compact and very straight forward when using. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get a beacon for the first time. Hope this helps someone.

After taking an avalanche class last year through Exum mountaineering, I decided to purchase A BCA Tracker. This beacon is extremely affordable, allows you to locate multiple burials and hone in on one, and is very easy to use as long as you know how to use a beacon. Batteries last a long time, the strap to wear the beacon is very comfortable and you almost don't notice its there. Definitely a great buy

I'm a beacon newbie and approached my first outing at the Snowbird RTC with trepidation. The beacon however, performed flawlessly and was very intuitive. I found myself getting to within a meter of the targets very quickly (2-3 minutes).

I've got two of these, One for me, one for my girlfriend. They rock and are easy to use.

My Public Service Announcement: If you turn it on, and the battery meter (those two numbers) reads anything less than 30, especially if you've had it in a warm car, REPLACE THOSE BATTERIES. Less than 30 or so is effectively zero...

(dorky explination here: The battery meter is actually a volt meter of the battery. New 1.5v batteries give off like 1.7v or so, older ones give off 1.3 or so. The Tracker guestimates the amount of battery life left on the voltage. The lower the voltage, the less accurate this measurement is.)

Batteries are cheap! Your life isn't! Thank you, carry on.

Also, Don't store the thing over summer with batteries in it.

This Tracker DTS got the NOD!! Who else has one like this.Was the comment from the Diammond Helli guide out at Powder Mt.Thats what they like to see out there. Great stuff that is REAL easy to use.I like the way it straps on and has a little cup like pocket that it fits in while you skiing.Comfort was great, fit, light weight, very nice.This is what I'll buy my sons when we start backcountry skiing together next year NO DOUBT.Thanks for making me feel safer out there in the backcountry.

This Beacon is the best on the market for people just beginning to venture out into the backcountry, It doesn't have lots of the bells and whistles lots of the more expensive beacons have but when it comes down to simplicity the tracker has what you need, it is also very easy to learn with and with enough practice it can be just as effective as the pricier beacons within its range.

I have used several beacons and this is the easiest to use. Although i personally use a different piece this is the one I bought for my brother. I feel safe in his novice hands with this beacon, even though I let him lead the way on most descents. We have been practicing a lot lately and his skills are improving much more rapidly than mine did, and I am positive that this tool is an integral part of his rapid discovery. I hope to have many more days with him.

This is a solid beacon for the price its probably one of the cheaper things that can save our life or your buddies life. It works well and is easy to use, anyone who understands flux lines can use this beacon. That being said please get some training before you take this out and trust yours or anyone else life on it. If you go to a place to train (many resorts have them) there is probably someone there who will give you the quick 10 min run down on what to do.

This little beacon is about as good as it gets. Turn it on, strap it on, and forget about it. The harness is pretty comfortable, and when you need to use it you'll be thankful they put it on a leash. Thankfully I have never had a need for this little guy in a real world scenario, but having done practice drills with it, I can't imagine improving on its method. Every time I go out and practice with other experienced beacon users, the people with Trackers are always there first. Thats mostly due to the dual antenna design and the way that they pick up the transmitting beacon and zero in on the flux line.

If you are looking for a lifeline in the backcountry, this is it. As with all safety gear, learn to use it before you go trusting your life or others with it.

The tracker is a solid buy. It's got a straight forward interface and is quick and easy. Like any transceiver, it takes practice practice practice!!

Keep it simple, stupid. While it is easy to use, reading the manual and practicing with your friends or at one Utahs awesome beacon training parks is very important.
(I would have given it 5 stars but BCA now has the tracker 2 with 3 antennas. That just makes a little more sense.)

Great beacon....so incredibly simple and accurate. After doing some test runs at the beacon field the instructor of the AST1 course had set up some scenarios half way down the mountain. Two different scenarios, three bured beacons each time and a group of five searchers pulled out all three beacons each time in under 10 minutes. Not bad considering most people had never used them...

The kind of equipment you don't really want to have to actually use! In practice it is very good. Overall easy to use, but since my purchase I heard (not confirmed) that other units may transmit farther. That could be very important some day. You should check it out.

Basic. Idiot-Proof. Effective. Bought this guy upon moving West. Thanks heavens I've only had to use it once, but it worked, and worked well. What else needs to be said?

At the pressure of my snowmobile riding buddies I needed to find a beacon. I chose the tracker based on the ease of use and am very happy I did. I consistently am one of the first to locate a hidden transceiver when we practice in mock scenarios. Easy to use, almost idiot proof... Just the way I like it.

REM7600 in Idaho

Trackers are great. Grabbed 2 of these for myself and my wife as we're getting more into winter backcountry activities and had tremendous success with them during an Canadian Avalanche Association course we took. Others were using Pieps SOS F1-ND transceivers, and while they worked ok, my wife and I were finding people using our Trackers on average maybe a 30 secs to a minute faster as complete newbies.

This beacon is incredibly easy to use. Put it in the hands of someone who's never used a beacon before and they'll figure it out in two minutes. Practice with it regularly and you get incredibly fast.

It has lackluster support multiple-burial situations (the importance of which is a hot debate I won't go in to here), just be warned if that's important to you. Otherwise make sure to read the manual and turn off beacons as you find them.

The harness is much improved over the old version. It's a little bulky, but not uncomfortable.

Bottom line, I use this and all my partners do as well. I'm willing to trust my life to it and so are they.

I bought this beacon based on the reviews of other people on the site and other friends. I just took my Avalanche Level I and the instructor recomended this beacon as the best too. We used it a ton in the class and it worked great with all the other beacons everyone had. Overall great device very ergonomic and easy to use. Make sure to practice multiple burials a lot. Tricky w/ any beacon.

i have used this as a back up beacon and it works well. though i believe there are far better ones (i like the pulse).

As others have said, this is probably the easiest to use and one of the fastest beacons made. In a burial, the last thing I want is to mess with some complicated contraption. The distance and directional readouts are awesome, as is the audible indicator- just so long as you understand the beacon and don't over-rely on these features. It seems to be pretty durable and has handled getting wet in the snow and from prespiration well. It is a bit bulky, but you can rig it so it rides comfortably under your jacket, even with skins and what not in there too. Bonus, it is also one of the cheapest beacons available.

I really like this beacon, and it's amazing how simple it is to use. On big days, I even wear this guy in-bounds on the steep stuff since the bulk is pretty low. Sure, professional guides and patrollers might have newer gear, but for the price point, ease of use, functionality and track record - this has been a great choice.

It is amazingly fast and easy as a beginner to find single burial. Not only as a beginner but pros use it too. The guys of TGR (Teton Gravity Research) used it when making Soul Purpose. People like Jeremy Jones and Victoria Jealous used it. SO it’s simply the best out there right now.

Couldn't ask for more in a beacon, easy to use, good instructions, took it out on a 3 day backcountry skiing course and had no problems with our beacon search drills.

I love this beacon because it's so easy to use, and that's what counts, right? The harness is easy to put on and comfortable too.

Just got finished using this during a 3-day backcountry outing in BC. A few thoughts:

Pros:
Rugged construction. It seems unlikely that this will break easily if you are caught in a slide.
Big membrane button is easy to use with gloves.
LED directional lights are obvious and simple to follow.

Cons:
At about 40-45 meters it loses the signal. Sometimes it drops even earlier.
It will follow the flux lines, so when first getting the signal you will likely be lead in the wrong direction.
Within 5m I was surprised how erratic it was. You must hold the device close to the snow and keep it oriented in one direction.

That said, I still think the Tracker is fine device and if you train with it you'll quickly learn it's quirks.

What can I say? I bought this over other brands because the price is right --and I don't need a beacon every day. I feel safe in the wilds of Utah. Be sure to test it out before you get out there and you too can be secure. Don't forget the trail mix!

really simple to use, you don't even have to take your gloves off. there are other beacons that work better for multiple burial searches. but this one you don't even have to think about, just put it in search mode and follow the arrows.

This beacon is great and easy to use but I do question the reliability. Mine just hit 5 years and died. Not sure if anyone else has had these problems but I have to say I was very disappointed. I looked at several other beacons but have decided to wait to see what the Tracker 2 looks like and how it performs. Heard it was on delay b/c they could not get the new builds to be reliable, hopefully they can get it together.

I just picked this beacon up because I was looking for something easy to use and accurate and its perfect.

easy to use, very percise, best value.

This is the first beacon I, chose this after reading many a review and am very happy with it. The strap get kind of uncomfortable after a day and the multiple search function is useless, but I knew that before I bought it. I spent several days in a transceiver pit and generally the tracker lead me directly to where I wanted to go. With single searches the tracker worked much faster than the F1 my partner was using, and he's much more experienced than I using it, when doing multiple searches we used the range adjustment on his to null out unwanted signals and hone in on the new one, then my tracker to find it. For the record after seeing a novice like me use the tracker and get repeated accuracy he has ordered one also.
One thing I did keep forgetting to do was activate the Auto revert mode when I switched it on, worth noting

This beacon is great it's impossible to know not how to use it. Though it can be a little uncomfortable sometimes since its a little bulky. But theres only two buttons. so you can't really screw it up.

The Beacon has performed magnificently. It takes a little practice to master locating other beacons and it is extremely easy to use. Even multiple signals become fast to locate. The harness is great as it is very comfortable and allows usage of the search feature while keeping the beacon attached to yourself. Overall it is easy to learn, easy to use and easy to wear.

The Tracker is the best beacon I've tested. In practice sessions I have found all hidden beacons (in trees, under rocks, buried 3 ft.). It starts receiving at 40 meters but really starts to locate at 36 meters. Locate time on any hidden beacon for me was 3 minutes or less from 100-yards away. I highly recommend it.

I took my new BCA Tracker DTS beacon to Level 1 Avalanche training. During our two days of field work I compared it to the beacons used by my classmates. It did not have quite the range of one other beacon. It was however far and away the easiest to use. For a user like me, two to three days a month, the BCA Tracker DTS was definitely the right choice.

This is what all my backcounty partners use. Super easy to use - hopefully I'll never have to.

Great for the casual user. During a critical situation the ease of use is paramount.

However, when testing if the transmitting beacon is situated vertically the range is severely diminished.

This was my first Beacon, and a phenomenal one for a first beacon at that. I just upgraded to the Pieps due to requirements for work (patrol), however when I hand a beacon to a friend who doesn't have one to use... it will be this one. There are a couple inherent problems with the tracker- definitely take the time to get to know these. They are by no means debilitating, just things you need to be aware of.

Simple classic design. Everything you need and nothing you don't :)

This is my first Digital beacon. Its very easy to learn, and will switch from transmit to search very quickly. It picks up a signal and gets you there fast, however once within a few meters its hard to determine the exact location unlike an analog.

Hey dude from Canada: the auto revert was removed after the first generation Tracker and now you have to tell it to do that by holding down the yellow button when you turn it on. Easiest beacon to use, by a long shot.

This is by far the easiest beacon to use. It's so simple that I found practicing with it is kind of redundant. It's like practicing walking on flat ground (sober). The range is pretty lame, but realistically I think it would be plenty in almost any real-life situation.

Easy to use, comfortable harness. Unless you're a professional, I can't imagine using another beacon.

I've had this for over 6 years now. It still works like a charm. Thankfully, I haven't had to use it in any emergencies. But I've practiced w/ it at several beacon courses and it's easy to get it dialed in to the target quickly.

The tracker is easy to learn, lightweight, and very user friendly.

It is a must if you want to ski any backcrountry at Mt. Baker. I have never used a beacon before my last trip, and I do not know why. I can not believe I have skiied any backcrounty before without a beacon. The money is worth a life.

Very easy to use beacon! Consistently had the quickest times in beacon drills, even with inexperienced users. Experienced users were super quick - which means practice, practice, practice.

This beacon is ideal for resort backcountry. No nonsense, easy to use. If the bulk of your backcountry consists of ducking ropes and hiking off the lift then this is the beacon for you.

The reviews that I read about the tracker nailed it's performance. It's fast and very accurate. My time locating my friends beacon over 35 meters was only 2-3 minutes. I wish my friend would sell his outdated beacon and by the Tracker. That's NO joke!

These are very easy to use. I'd suggest playing hide-and-go-seek with them in the dark or out in the snow just to familiarize yourselves with these (or any other for that matter) beacons so when the real situation hits, you're already primed and ready. These are fool-proof and so easy to figure out you could have children working them as well. These will communicate with most other beacons (all current models). Things I don't like are the weight and the harness...it's quite bulky and swings around a lot even when sinched down.

Anyone could pick this up and use it. However if you train you can get quite fast with it. Dose reacted a little slow when doing the fine point of the search, Also is lacking in long distance range (only really about 30m)
However it works and i maged to save my buddy with it so thats the bottome line

this is my first beacon, and really dont think i'll ever need a different one. the thing is super easy to use/train with. and its pretty low bulk so wearing it under your jacket is that bad! Also with the batteries, so much life to it!

Lots of the pros rely on this one and so I hopped on board and have been very satisfied. Listening to guys like Jim Conway talk about their preference of this beacon over others convinced me to buy this one and I have been very satisfied and assured with it out in the backcountry. It gives a very accurate signal for searches and hopefully nobody will ever need to find mine outside of a drill.

This beacon is easy to use. Tested it out through a few beacon drills and I carry it with me on all my tours. So far I haven't had to use it in a real life/death situation (hope I don't have to), but with the drills and the Tracker's simple design, I think it will work well for me when the stinky stuff hits the fan and the adrenaline's pumping.

Hey it's a great unit. Simple operation and very provides a very quick search time, albeit I've only practiced with it. The unit does take up space underneath your jacket and leave you feeling like you've gained a small tumor.

I used this beacon for a few days and was satisfied with it. I prefer the peips dsp, seems to be easier to use and have better range.

I used this beacon in my avalanche level 1 class and it is very intuitive. We went through a bunch of mock burials and it was easy to follow the signal right to the pack we had buried. It is precise so be sure to move slow when you are bracketing the signal. The harness places this beacon right above your hip and you barely notice it until you need it. When you do need it, it come out on a little cord that keeps it close even if you drop it (if your a klutz like me). For a simple beacon, this is the one to buy.

I just got this beacon, and i am completely happy with it. It is as simple as they advertise, and it is very solid. All there is to using it is pressing the red button to switch from recieve to transmit, press the yellow button for multiple burials, and the on/off switch on the back.