Gear Review
Backcountry Access Tracker DTS Beacon
Beacon of Choice
By Kim Havell
Ranked #30 - Avalanche Beacons
October 10, 2008
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.
View Details: Backcountry Access Tracker DTS Beacon
Helpful Votes: 8 Yes
Change me.
4 Comments Last Reply: October 2, 2011 By: pet2962422
I think the flux-line concept is so basic to the concept of any beacon's operation that I wouldn't want anybody looking for me if they didn't understand that first. And its literally a 5 minute talk at home with a piece of paper to draw on. In other words, no device can alleviate the need for at least a bare minimum of instruction. Also, doesn't every beacon show the flux-line direction since the actual direction to source is only measurable while in motion?
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
I agree with Grant. For all the different ones i have used this is the simplest. One button to switch modes, a digital distance meter and a light pointing the way. All amazing, easy to use features. Now I agree with NeverComeDown1 that it can be confusing to just drop this in the hands of someone that has never used a beacon. BUT i would never, ever do that to someone. That would put both our lives on the line. Everyone needs to be instructed on how to use a beacon. Everyone needs practice. And even with practice mistakes will be made. So lets put it this way. After teaching several people how to search with their beacons this one is the quickest/easiest to get people up to speed with. One last point. When its go time, and you just watched one of your buddies get buried, simple easy to use is what you want. My hands were shaking so bad the first time i had a hard time working the zipper on my coat. I was really happy that all i had to do was press one big red button. So was my friend.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Hmmm, maybe the issue here is that your ski partners should have their beacons dialed. The tracker is very intuitive, I have seen students who have never used a beacon before become quite proficient with single burial searches in under an hour.
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes
It is confusing to put this in the hands of a novice. Doesn't the direction lights point and follow the flux line and not a direct direction to the burried skier? The novice who uses this beacon must understand the flux signal orientation and not just how to push the button. In my opinion, easy to use beacons can give a false sence of secutiry. If I ski with a Tracker user I always let them ski the line first.
Helpful Votes: 6 Yes