Direction and Distance Indicators

Audible Indication

Analog beacons indicate a stronger signal by increasing the volume of the audible tone. The pitch and cadence (i.e., the rhythm) remain constant. You simply listen to the "beep" that is transmitted by the buried transceiver. Because it is difficult for humans to notice subtle changes in volume, analog transceivers allow you to turn down the transceiver's sensitivity.

Digital beacons emit an audible tone that is based on the strength of the signal. Most (maybe all) digital transceivers increase the cadence of the tone (i.e., beeping more frequently as you near the victim). Some beacons (i.e., the ARVA's, Pulse, and Trackers) also increase the pitch of the tone. The combination of increased cadence and pitch is very easy to hear. The ARVA Advanced, Barryvox 3000, Barryvox Pulse give you the option of a digital signal (increasing the cadence) or volume (by broadcasting the analog tone).

The Barryvox Pulse emits an analog tone (which is good for long distances and multiple burials) during the primary search (where you may be able to hear a very weak signal) and secondary search, and then switches to digital (with a smooth increase in both the cadence and pitch) for the pinpoint search. My fellow testers and I feel that the Pulse's audio feedback is outstanding.

Distance Indicators

Single antenna beacons indicate the distance to the victim using either a series of lights (e.g., green, yellow, and red) or an estimated distance in meters. All multiple antenna beacons display the estimated distance in meters.

The Barryvox Pulse displays the distance down to 0 meters. The Ortovox S1, Pieps DSP, ARVA Evolution+, and ARVA Advanced display distances down to 0.1 meter. The Barryvox 3000 and Tracker DTS display the distance down to 0.3 meter. Either minimum (0.0, 0.1, or 0.3 m) is fine. The only time the smaller minimums is significant when you are searching for a transmitter that is basically on the surface (i.e., buried under less than one foot of snow).

The distance that is displayed is actually an estimate of the distance along the flux line rather than the actual distance directly to the victim. The actual measured distances are shown in the range chart.

Direction Indicators

Multiple-antenna beacons display a "direction indicator" that points you toward the victim (actually, it points you along a curved flux line that is coming from the victim's transceiver). Single-antenna beacons cannot display a direction indicator.

Ortovox S1

On some beacons the direction is displayed as an arrow (the ARVA Evolution+, Barryvox 3000, Pieps DSP, and Barryvox Pulse) whereas other beacons use five lights (the ARVA Advanced and Tracker DTS), three lights (the Ortovox X1, Ortovox Patroller, and Ortovox D3), or a grid (the Ortovox S1). The Barryvox Pulse's arrow is unique in that it floats freely and can point behind you if you are moving away from the victim.

All of the direction indicators are a little inaccurate when they are relatively far from the victim. This causes the direction indicator to jump around. You should average the direction as you advance toward the victim. For example, if the direction indicator jumps between straight-ahead and hard-right, you should average these and head gently right.

When the signal is first received, it is likely that the indicator will point you 180-degrees from victim. You should watch the distance indicator to make sure it is decreasing as you follow the direction indicator. If the numbers are increasing (i.e., you are moving away from the victim), you should turn 180-degrees.

Disappearing Direction Indicators

The default setting for the Barryvox 3000 is to stop displaying the direction indicator at 3 meters (you can change this to 0.3 meter using a custom setting). The default setting for the Barryvox Pulse is to stop displaying the direction indicator at 3 meters (you can change this to 0 meters using a custom setting). The ARVA Advanced, ARVA Evolution+, Ortovox Patroller, Pieps DSPs, and Tracker2 stop displaying the direction indicator at two meters. Older Ortovox X1s did not turn off the lights while newer X1s and the Ortovox D3 turn off at 2 meters. The difference between two and three meters is somewhat significant, because a circle with a three meter radius contains 28 square meters whereas a circle with a two meter radius contains only 13 square meters.

Note that having the direction indicator disappear when you get close is a good thing, because it reminds you to focus on the distance indicator rather than on the direction indicator to complete your pinpoint search (the direction indicators get confused when you get very close to the victim--this is analogous to trying to follow a compass needle when you are standing directly on the North Pole). The Tracker DTS (but not the Tracker2), older versions of the Ortovox X1s, and the Barryvox Pulse (if you enable this feature using a custom setting) always displays the direction indicator which can be slightly confusing (i.e., you should ignore the direction indicators when you are within a meter or two and focus on the distance indicator).