• Tracker DTS
• Tracker Demos
• Tracker Professionals
• Tracker Rescues
• Tracker FAQs
• Owner's Manual
• Tracker Practice

Tracker DTS FAQs

Why carry an avalanche beacon?
Why the Tracker DTS
Digital Technology
Analog and Digital Technology
Compatibility
Battery Power
Standards
Cell Phones
Range
Transceiver Tests
Multiple Burials
Cold Weather Performance

Question #1:
Why carry an avalanche beacon?

Answer:
Traveling and recreating in avalanche country has inherent risks due to the time and distance from organized assistance should an emergency occur. In the event of an avalanche burial, the only chance of survival is through “companion rescue,” or immediate recovery by a member of your own party. When no visual signs (i.e., exposed body parts) are evident, transceivers are the only proven effective way to locate a completely buried victim while he or she is still alive. Every one in your party should wear one and know how to operate it.

Question #2:
Why the Tracker DTS

Answer:
Quite simply, ease of use. The Tracker’s simple, visually based readouts make it simple to learn and master. Its dual antenna give it precise distance and direction information and its lightning-fast micro-processor digests all this information and translates it to easily identifiable instructions (keep the center light lit and keep the numbers decreasing). With only two buttons accessing three functions, the Tracker is friendly for even the most intimidated user.

Regardless if you’re a first-time beacon user or a weather-hardened guide, regardless of a single-burial, deep burial, or multiple-burials, the Tracker will help you find your companions fast, effectively, and, hopefully, alive.

Question #3: Digital Technology
What is the difference between digital and non-digital (analog) beacons and how does that make the Tracker DTS better?

Answer:
The Tracker has two major advantages over analog avalanche beacons: digital processing and a dual-receiving antenna. Digital processing removes the searcher from the process of having to interpret the victim's signal. Rather than the searcher walking in a "grid" or "tangent" search pattern, stopping regularly to determine the signal's "fade points" and turn down the sensitivity control, the Tracker's microprocessor does all that internally. It receives the signal, filters out extraneous noise, adjusts the sensitivity, determines the direction, measures the distance, and provides information to the user in clear visual displays. This is much less time-consuming and training-intensive than grid or tangent searching.

The Tracker is the first beacon with a dual-receiving antenna. This enables the Tracker to be extremely precise in determining the direction of the victim's signal. As a result, the user has a very precise indication of which direction to travel to stay on the electromagnetic flux line of the transmitter's signal. He or she never has to stop to realign the beacon, but can do that "on the fly." In the final phase of the search, the user can pinpoint along the flux line, and does not need to perform a time-consuming grid like all analog beacons and single-antenna ‘digital’ beacons.

These factors significantly shorten the time it takes to perform a search–especially among recreational users, who generally do not practice enough to be proficient with an analog or single-antenna beacon. And in avalanche rescue, nothing is more important than saving time; after 15 minutes in the snow, chances for survival decrease dramatically.

Question #4: Analog and Digital Technology
Other dual-antenna beacons use both analog and digital technology. Does that make them better?

Answer:
No. The major advantage of digital technology is that it is easier to use and learn, and faster to search with. By making a beacon both analog and digital, it becomes very confusing and hard to master. The result is that both ease-of-use and search time is greatly compromised.

At the same time, the value of the analog is diminished for those few truly practiced with analog. To make an analog beacon have digital capabilities and a digital beacon have analog capabilities compromises the capabilities of both. In an attempt to be everything to everybody, analog/digital products do not have the advantages of either. "Keep it simple" should be a driving design principle for all safety equipment. Sadly, these do-all devices violate that design covenant.

The single, true value in analog/digital technology is that it serves as a bridge from archaic analog-only beacons to modern, digital only technology. Those comfortable and practiced with analog technology are often hesitant to embrace change. This "transition" technology eases the transition for some. The vast majority of users (approximately 95%), however, don't have this issue. Like analog before it, these multi-technology beacons will disappear when the transition is complete.

Question #5: Compatibility
Is the Tracker DTS compatible with all other 457 kHz transceivers? Is it compatible with analog beacons?

Answer:
Yes. The Tracker DTS sends and receives signals at 457kHz (the worldwide standard as of January 1996). It is fully compatible with both analog and digital beacons operating at that frequency.

Question #6: Battery Power
The Tracker requires more power than an analog beacon. Does this mean it has a shorter battery life?

Answer:
No. The Tracker uses the same amount of power in transmit mode as any other beacon. In search mode it requires more. Therefore we have a larger power supply (three AAA alkaline batteries). The Tracker is designed to meet the European standard for all avalanche transceivers: it will search for at least one hour after transmitting for 200 hours. We suggest replacing your batteries before the power display reaches zero percent, at which time there is still some reserve power supply.

Questions #7: Standards
Does the Tracker DTS meet all international standards for avalanche beacons?

Answer:
Yes. TÜV Product Service, the leading third-party product-testing agency in Europe, certified the Tracker DTS on October 30, 1998. It is also fully CE-certified for export into Europe and FCC-certified for use in North America.

Question #8: Cell Phones
Do cell phones have an effect on the searching capabilities of the Tracker DTS?

Answer:
The Tracker DTS appears to be less susceptible to electrical interference than other modern transceivers. This is due to such factors as shielding on the Tracker's two receiving antennas, its grounded printed circuit board, and tighter noise rejection algorithms. Cell phones in close proximity to a transmitting Tracker have an insignificant effect on the transmit signal, though diminished receive range may occur.
To assure optimal performance for ANY avalanche transceiver, the user should turn off cellular phones and any other electronic equipment while doing an avalanche transceiver search.

Question #9: Range
How does the limited range (up to 50 meters) of the Tracker affect its ability to perform a successful search?

Answer:
The ultimate measure of a beacon's effectiveness is search speed, not receive range. The Tracker DTS has proven to be the fastest beacon on the market in both short- and long-range scenarios–most notably among recreationalists, which comprise over 95 percent of beacon users. Long reception range is only valuable if it increases search speed, which isn’t the case. For most users, receiving weak signals at long range can actually be counter productive and confusing.

Keep in mind that most beacon manufacturers, regardless of stated maximum range, recommend 20-meter search-strip widths. This is based upon the goal of a thorough primary search and the understanding that the transmitting beacon may be in a poor transmitting orientation or have low battery power. Maximum range is, in fact, a poor measure of beacon performance.

Question #10: Transceiver Tests
Some transceiver tests indicate that the Tracker DTS is generally faster than other beacons, but not significantly enough to justify replacing an old beacon. Is this digital "revolution" just a bunch of hype?

Answer:
The Tracker has repeatedly proven itself to be the fastest beacon for professionals and, especially, for recreationalists. Tests by cynics have tried to prove otherwise but showed that even pros (who are highly adept with their beacons yet newbies with the Tracker) had faster search times with the Tracker.

In fact, the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol found that their pro patrollers averaged 120 percent faster with the Tracker than with their existing fleet of Ortovox and Pieps. They have since replaced their entire fleet with Trackers. The Austrian, Swiss, and German alpine clubs did tests on their own members, who are mainly recreationalists. They declared the Tracker to be the fastest, easiest, and most reliable beacon for their members.

To answer the question with a question: What would you want your buddy to be searching for YOU with.

Question #11: Multiple Burials
Some experts have said the Tracker DTS is not user-friendly for locating multiple burials. Is there any truth to this?

Answer:
No, in fact it’s just the opposite. The Tracker’s normal search mode has automatic signal isolation capability. That is, within 10 meters, the Tracker will lock onto the strongest signal. Using Special mode, an advanced user can determine the approximate distance and direction to the next victim without “gridding” or turning off the first beacon. This has been proven to significantly decrease multiple-burial search times.

Hybrid digital-analog beacons will lock onto the strongest signal similar to the Tracker. The difference is that acquiring a second signal becomes a problem since they lack a Special mode. To further complicate things, their processor is significantly slower than the Tracker’s making it difficult to differentiate between the found (yet not recovered) signal, and the next signal.

With an analog beacon, the user can only isolate the stronger signal by fine-tuning their sensitivity and finding the most optimal beacon orientation. This can be difficult since the searcher must audibly differentiate between all transmitting beacons. This is even more difficult if the beacons are buried closely or deeply.
While the Tracker is the fastest and easiest beacon in the world to use, multiple-burials are difficult. Read BCA’s Advanced Tutorial for specific technique and practice, practice, practice!

Question #12: Cold Weather Performance
Will cold weather decrease the performance of your digital displays?

Answer:
No. Cold-weather performance would only be an issue with a LCD (liquid crystal display), which can cease to operate at around -20 degrees Fahrenheit (about -30 Celsius). The Tracker DTS has an LED (light emitting diode) display, which actually increases in efficiency as temperature decreases. Please note that the operating temperatures stated in the Tracker DTS owner's manual are simply a restatement of the European standards; most of the Tracker's components are rated to operate at well below these standard temperatures.

Back to Top >>