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Multiple burials
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Range tests (transmitting)
RECCO system
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Rumors, only rumors
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Testing details
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Upgrades (firmware)
User manuals
Avalanche Transceiver Comparison
Technology:
Analog
Digital
Antennas:
1
2
3
Steve's Score:
Not Tested
1-Star
2-Stars
3-Stars
4-Stars
5-Stars
Other:
Display additional details (displayed on tan-colored rows)
Display discontinued transceivers
Displaying 35 transceivers that match the above criteria.
Product
Brand
ARVA
ARVA
ARVA
ARVA
ARVA
ARVA
ARVA
ARVA
Barryvox
Barryvox
Barryvox
Barryvox
Mammut
Mammut
BCA
BCA
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Ortovox
Pieps
Pieps
Pieps
Pieps
Pieps
Pieps
Pieps
SOS
SOS
Model
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Company website
Corp.
/
USA
Corp.
/
USA
Corp.
/
USA
Website
Website
Website
Website
Website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
Retail price (US)
Discontinued
$299.95
$349.95
$299.00
$279.00
$369.00
$359.00
$449.00
Discontinued
250.00 Euro
680.00 Euro
Discontinued
$350.00
$490.00
$289.95
$335.00
Discontinued
$249.00
Discontinued
$318.95
Discontinued
$315.00
$299.00
$349.00
$499.00
$449.00
Discontinued
Discontinued
$249.95
$199.95
$349.95
$450.00
$550.00
$265.00
$287.00
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Released date
1998
2003 & 2005
2004
10/2009
12/2011
12/2011
12/2011 (US)
1968
2003
11/2011
12/2006
1997
01/2010
1980
1989
1998
1999
2002
2006(?)
~2007
Late-2010
2007
12/2011
?
?
1991&1998
2008
10/2011
2003
2003
Discontinued date
2001
2009
2009
10/2011
NA
10/2011
NA
NA
1994
NA
NA
2007
NA
NA
NA
NA
~1992
NA
~2000
2009
2007
09/2010
NA
NA
12/2011
NA
2007?
2007?
2006
NA
NA
NA
2009
NA
NA
Warranty (years)
~5 years
~5 years
~5 years
~5 years
~5 years
~5 years
~5 years
~5 years
~5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
~5 years
5 years
~5 years
5 years
2 years
2 or 5 years
2 or 5 years
5 years
Specifications
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
DSP Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Antennas
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
2
3
3
2
3
1
1
1
1
2 or 3
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
Analog/Digital
Analog
Digital
Both
Digital
Digital
Both
Both
Both
Analog
Analog
Analog
Both
Digital
Both
Digital
Digital
Analog
Analog
Analog
Analog
Both
Digital
Both
Digital
Both
Digital
Analog
Analog
Analog
Digital
Digital
Digital
Digital
Analog
Analog
Size and Weight
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Dimensions
(mm)
138x84x30
135x80x25
135x80x25
136x80x30
136x80x30
136x80x30
118x78x26
118x78x26
132x75x24
132x75x24
108x68x25
113x72x27
113x75x27
141x83x30
132x83x28
150x85x25
130x80x25
145x60x25
145x60x25
130x80x25
130x80x20
130x80x20
122x74x26
123x79x31
123x79x31
117x71x22
118x77x22
123x83x26
110x58x24
115x74x26
115x74x26
115x74x26
125x75x25
120x70x25
Weight
275 grams
285 grams
355 grams
305 grams
305 grams
380 grams
350 grams
385 grams
340 grams
980 grams
265 grams
315 grams
320 grams
400 grams
330 grams
340 grams
240 grams
315 grams
315 grams
250 grams
330 grams
250 grams
315 grams
360 grams
245 grams
245 grams
230 grams
265 grams
360 grams
360 grams
360 grams
250 grams
250 grams
Controls
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Power on/off
Harness
Harness
Leash plug
Harness
Harness
Leash plug
Press button
Press button
Slide-and-turn
Slide-and-turn
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Turn dial
Turn dial
Harness
Harness
Harness
Harness
Harness
Harness
Harness
Slide-and-twist
Press & twist dial
Press & twist dial
Twist Dial
Twist
Twist
Twist
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Harness
Harness
Send to Search
Pull end
Pull end
Pull end
Pull end
Pull end
Pull end
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Slide-and-turn
NA
Press 3 times
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Push & hold button
Pull end
Earphone plug
Slide-and-turn
Harness
Harness
Slide-and-turn
Slide-and-turn
Slide-and-turn
Slide 2 switches
Button & Flip
Button & Flip
Push Button
Twist
Pull dial
Press 3 times
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Slide-and-pull
Slide-and-pull
Search to Send
Bump end
Bump end
Bump end
Bump end
Bump end
Bump end
Press button
Press button
Slide-and-turn
NA
Press-and-hold
Press-and-slide
Press-and-slide
Press button
Bump end
Earphone plug
Twist dial
Harness
Harness
Slide
Slide
Slide
Bump end
Flip closed
Flip closed
Push Button
Twist
Bump dial
Press for 2 seconds
Slide switch
Slide switch
Slide switch
Twist dial
Twist dial
Analog/Digital toggle
NA
No
Press "-" & "+"
No
No
Press "-" & "+"
Press 2 buttons
Press 2 buttons
NA
NA
NA
Press-and-release
NA
Press 2 buttons
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Menu
Menu
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Display
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Digital display
Yes
Yes (LED)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LCD)
Yes (Graphic)
No
No
Yes (LCD)
Yes (LCD)
Yes (Graphic)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LED)
No
No
Yes (LCD)
Yes (LCD)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LED)
Yes (LCD)
Yes (Graphic)
Yes (Graphic)
No
No
No
Yes (LCD)
Yes (LCD)
Yes (LCD)
Yes (LCD)
No
No
Lighted display
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Searching
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Recommended search strip
40 meters
40 meters
40 meters
40 meters
40 meters
50 meters
50 meters
75 meters
~110 meters
40 meters
50 meters
50 meters
40 meters
50 meters
40 meters
60 meters
35 meters
30 meters
40 meters
Up to 40 meters
50 meters
Up to 50 meters
30 meters
50 meters
50 meters
50 meters
20 meters
20 meters
Points to victim
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes (15 m)
Yes
Yes (grid map)
Yes (grid map)
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Direction indicator
NA
Arrow (LCD)
5 LEDs
Arrow (LCD)
Arrow (LCD)
5 LEDs
Arrow (LCD)
Arrow (floating)
NA
NA
NA
Arrow (LCD)
Arrow (LCD)
Arrow (floating)
5 LEDs
5 LEDs
NA
NA
NA
NA
3 LEDs
3 LEDs
3 LEDs
Arrow (LCD)
Victims on map
Victims on map
NA
NA
NA
NA
Arrow (LCD)
Arrow (LCD)
Arrow (LCD)
NA
NA
Displays distance
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Distance indicator type
Meters (LED)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Audio only
Audio only
Audio only
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LED)
Meters (LED)
Audio only
Audio & 3 Lights
Audio and Strength
Audio and Strength
Meters (LED)
Meters (LED)
Meters (LED)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Audio only
Audio only
Audio & 2 lights
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Meters (LCD)
Audio & 7 Lights
Audio & 7 Lights
Auto returns to Send
No
No
No
No
No
No
Off, 4, or 8 mins
Off, 4, or 8 mins
No
No
NA
0, 4 or 8 minutes
8 minutes
Off, 4, or 8 mins
Optional (5 mins)
Optional (5 mins)
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
2 minutes
½, 1, 1.5, or 2 mins
1 or 2 minutes
No
No
No
Off, 3, 5, or 8 mins
No
No
No
No
No
Audible Search
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Speaker
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Earphone jack
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
3.5mm (32+ ohms)
3.5mm (32+ ohms)
3.5mm (32+ ohms)
No
No
Audible technique
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Volume
Volume
Volume
Cadence or Volume
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence & Pitch
Volume
Volume
Volume
Volume
Cadence
Cadence
Cadence
Cadence & Pitch
Cadence
Cadence
Volume
Volume
Volume
Cadence
Cadence
Cadence
Cadence
Volume
Volume
Multiple Burials
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Multiple burial indicator
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes (1 light)
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Shows number of transmitters
No
1 or >1
1 or >1
1 or >1
1, 2, >2
1 or >1
1..5
1..5 (menu)
No
No
No
1 or >1
1, 2, or >2
Yes (menu)
No
1 or >1
No
No
No
No
No
1 or >1
No
Up to 3
Up to 3
Up to 3
No
No
No
1 or >1
Up to 3
Up to 3
Up to 3
No
No
Multiple burial mode
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Expert Mode
Expert Mode
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Other
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Altimeter
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
Compass
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
GPS
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Batteries
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Battery type and count
AAA x 3
AAA x 4
AAA x 4
AAA x 4
AAA x 4
AAA x 4
AAA x 4
AAA x 4
AA x 2
AA x 2
AAA x 3
AAA x 3
AAA x 3
AAA x 3
AAA x 3
AA x 2
AA x 2
AA x 2
AA x 2
AA x 2
AA x 2
AA x 2
AA x 1
AAA x 3
AAA x 2
AA x 4
AA x 2
AA x 2
AA x 1
AAA x 3
AAA x 3
AAA x 3
AA x 2
AA x 2
Battery indicator
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
None
None
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Blinking light
Blinking light
LCD 3 Bars
LCD 3 Bars
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Bars/Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
None
None
None
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Green/Red lights
Green/Red lights
Test Results
9000
Evolution+
A.D.vanced
Evo3
Evo3+
3Axes
Axis
Link
VS 68
VS 2000 Pro
VS 2000 Ext
Opto 3000
Element
Pulse
Tracker DTS
Tracker2
F2
F1
M1
M2
X1
D3
Patroller
3+
S1
S1+
Pieps 1
Pieps 2
457 Opti 4
Freeride
Tour
DSP
DSP Advanced
F1-ND
F1-SB
Steve's Score
3
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
Not Tested
2
3
4
5
5
4
5
1
3
3
3
1
2
3
5
5
5
0
0
3
3
5
5
5
3
3
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