Summary: This is an interesting beacon in that it has one antenna, yet the audible tone is digital. The tone increases in both cadence and pitch as you near the victim, and the screen displays digital numbers. Read more about audio feedback here.

Although I have only done moderate testing of this beacon (and it has been discontinued), the ARVA 9000 appears to be one of the most capable of the single-antenna transceivers I have tested (i.e., the long range you would expect from an analog beacon and the best audio and visual indicators of the analogs). It is a shame that ARVA hasn't had a strong US distributor.

Summary: The Evolution+ is an excellent two-antenna transceiver that is similar to the ARVA Advanced, Barryvox 3000, and Tracker DTS. The controls are a little more intuitive than the Tracker DTS. The range is similar to the Tracker DTS. The Evolution+ was replaced by the ARVA Evo3 in late-2009.

Searching: Prior to the 2007/2008 update, the Evolution+ displayed five LEDs similar to the ARVA Advanced and Tracker DTS. Beginning with the 2007/2008 update, the direction indicator is an LCD arrow similar to the Pieps DSP. The audible feedback of all of the ARVA's is excellent.

Multiple Burials: The Evolution+ shows an icon when there are multiple victims. You can toggle the "nose" of the transceiver to enter a scan mode that provides information regarding the multiple victims. Read the details.

Controls: The Evolution+ turns on when the harness is connected. The switch that changes between transmit ("SOS") and search is reasonably intuitive. A bump of the switch conveniently changes from search back to transmit.

Comfort: The Evolution's harness positions the transceiver on your side. The only downside of the ARVA transceivers is they are a little large (47% larger than a Barryvox 3000, 18% larger than a Barryvox Pulse, and 15% larger than a Pieps DSP).

Other: The English section of the owner's manual improved in 2007/2008, but it is still somewhat awkward.

Summary: The ARVA Advanced transceiver is both analog and digital (hence the interesting capitalization of ADvanced in much of the literature). It is otherwise very similar to the Evolution+ except as noted below. The ARVA Advanced was replaced by the ARVA 3Axes in late-2009.

Searching: Digital searching is identical to the Evolution+. However, if you press and hold both the "-" and "+" buttons for two seconds, the transceiver switches to analog mode. You can then use the "-" and "+" keys to modify the sensitivity of the analog signal (similar to a classic analog beacon). This is a quick and easy way to change between modes. If you are an old-school analog rescuer or prefer analog mode when searching for multiple victims, the ability to switch to analog mode is great (and is similar to the Barryvox 3000 and Pulse). The BeaconReviews.com range chart displays two ranges for beacons that have both an analog and digital mode.

Multiple Burials: The ARVA Advanced shows an icon when there are multiple victims. Beginning with the 2007/2008 model (which has a semi-transparent housing, versus the opaque housing of the previous model), you can suppress a victim (they refer to this as blocking) by quickly switching from search, to transmit, and then back to search (i.e., by toggling the "nose" switch). Earlier versions of the Advanced performed multiple victim searches by dividing the search area into nine sections that you move through using the "-" and "+" keys. I wasn't a fan of that technique. If you have an earlier ARVA Advanced, you may be able to return it to ARVA (in France) to have it updated. Learn more about searching for multiple victims using the ARVA Advanced here.

Controls: To turn on the Advanced, you connect the wrist strap to the transceiver (versus the Evolution+ turns on when the harness is connected). Changing to search mode is unusual, but simple (you pull the "nose" of the beacon).

Comfort: The harness is different from the Evolution+ (the Evolution's harness is required to turn the unit on whereas the Advanced slides into a pouch on the harness). Both harnesses comfortably position the transceiver.

Other: Some other reviewers (and the manufacture's literature) say that the ARVA has faster processing than other transceivers. The processing seemed similar to the Tracker DTS and little faster than the Pieps DSP, but I did not attempt to quantify the differences.

Summary: The Evo3 is basically the ARVA Evolution+ with a third antenna to resolve spikes. This is ARVA's easiest-to-use model, with distance and direction indicators.

Searching: The direction indicator on the Evo3 is an LCD arrow similar to the Pieps DSP. The audible feedback of all of the ARVA's is excellent. The Evo3's third antenna resolves spikes flawlessly.

Multiple Burials: The Evo3 shows an icon when there are multiple victims. You can toggle the "nose" of the transceiver to enter a scan mode that provides information regarding the multiple victims. Read the details.

Controls: The Evo3 turns on when the harness is connected. The switch that changes between transmit ("SOS") and search is reasonably intuitive. A bump of the switch conveniently changes from search back to transmit.

Comfort: The Evo3's harness positions the transceiver on your side. The only downside of the ARVA transceivers is they are a little large (47% larger than a Barryvox 3000, 18% larger than a Barryvox Pulse, and 15% larger than a Pieps DSP).

Other: The owner's manual could be improved.

Summary: The ARVA 3Axes is basically an ARVA Advanced with a third antenna to resolve spikes. As with the Advanced, the 3Axes allows you to toggle between digital and analog modes.

Searching: As with the Advanced, if you press and hold both the "-" and "+" buttons for two seconds, the transceiver switches to analog mode. You can then use the "-" and "+" keys to modify the sensitivity of the analog signal (similar to a classic analog beacon). The 3Axes' third antenna resolves spikes flawlessly.

Multiple Burials: Learn more about searching for multiple victims using the ARVA Advanced here.

Controls: To turn on the Advanced, you connect the wrist strap to the transceiver. Changing to search mode is unusual, but simple (you pull the "nose" of the beacon).

I have done minimal testing with this transceiver. It is similar to other single-antenna beacons.

Searching: As with all single-antenna transceivers, you (and not the transceiver) must interpret the flux lines to locate the victim (versus multiple antenna beacons that display a direction indicator). Likewise, single-antenna transceivers cannot compensate for spikes (which you can compensate for with good probing). Unlike most single-antenna analog transceivers, the 2000 Pro does not include any visual indication of signal strength.

Controls: The 2000 Pro has a single dial to change between transmit and receive. This dial also controls the reception sensitivity.

Comfort: The harness is made with a narrow strap and positions the transceiver on the front of your chest.

Read the manufacture's brochure.

First, the Ext (which stands for external) is an avalanche receiver, but not a transmitter. This unit is used strictly for searching by professional rescuers.

Second, the Ext comes with a massive, external antenna. The antenna, which is almost a foot long and 1-1/2 inches in diameter, gives the Ext tremendous range.

Third, the Ext includes a high-quality pair of Peltor headphones to help you hear the signal.

The Ext's true strength is its long range. A rescuer can stand at the top of an avalanche field and search a tremendous area. I've worked with a special version of the Ext which can be lowered out the door of a helicopter. This allowed us to search avalanche debris for a possible burial without exposing rescuers to the avalanche hazard.

The Ext requires two hands to operate (one to hold the receiver and adjust the sensitivity and the other to aim the antenna). Because it is intended to be used with the headphones, it can't be used with a helmet.

Given the unique design of the Ext, it isn't really fair to rate it using the five-star approach. If you want to know if an avalanche transceiver is transmitting, the Ext can't be beat and disserves six stars. If you want to search for a buried transceiver, the Ext probably disserves two or three stars due to the lack of a directional or distance indicators (although a skilled rescuer can quickly locate a victim using the handheld antenna). If you want to carry a transceiver with you when you are backcountry skiing, this isn't it.

Searching: The Barryvox 3000 displays an intuitive arrow to indicate the direction. It does not have the ability to suppress a transceiver during a multiple burial, but it does indicate when there is more than one victim and the analog tone helps experienced users resolve multiple burials.

Two distances are shown for the Barryvox 3000 in the range chart, because it starts in analog mode and then switches to digital mode. You can also manually switch between analog and digital mode.

An article is a popular backcountry magazine mentioned that in their testing the 3000 had a range of only 14 meters when the antennas were in worst orientation (i.e., the transmitting and receiving beacons were perpendicular). That has not been the case in my tests where the 3000 has an average range of 23 meters (view the testing details) in worse orientation versus an average of 27.2 meters for all digital beacons (again in worst orientation).

Controls: The On/Off switch is located on the back of the transceiver and is very intuitive. However, changing from transmit to receive is far from intuitive: you press the Mode button three times. If you press it too quickly (as you might do when your buddy is dying), the mode does not change. To return to transmit mode, you press and hold the Mode button for a few seconds--not easy to do during a secondary avalanche. As an informal test, I often hand the Barryvox to someone unfamiliar with it and urgently ask them to change to receive mode. Nobody has ever passed the test. Of course, if you own a 3000 it is certainly easy-enough to learn how to change modes, but is not intuitive.

Customization: The Barryvox 3000 allows you to modify several configuration options. You enter the customization section by holding both the "+" and "-" buttons pressed during startup. You can then control:

These are great features, although having the same make and model beacons behave differently may be confusing during an emergency.

Comfort: The Barryvox 3000 is was the smallest avalanche transceivers until the Pieps Freeride was released.

Other: The 3000 can be configured to switch between an analog and digital transceiver with the press of the Mode button (the "S2" setting, above).

Advertisement

Pulse Package

Read the full Barryvox Pulse Review

This now-discontinued beacon was a strong contender during its day, but the wired earpiece is very awkward (the F2 does not have a speaker). The wire gets stiff when cold, it is difficult to connect when wearing gloves, and it is difficult to keep the earpiece in place (there is not a loop that goes behind your ear). I would not want to be buried while my partner on the surface struggled with the earpiece.

The F2 is rumored to suffer from frequency drift which makes it more difficult for digital beacons to locate. (I only tested the transmitting frequency of two units and both were fine.)

Given the transceiver's age, the awkward earphone, the fact that it doesn't not have a visual indication of signal strength, and the fact that I encountered two failures when testing three units (a non-functioning earpiece and a unit with a very short range), I feel it is time to retire all F2s.

See the review of the M2 for general information on Ortovox analog transceivers.

The gray M2 is very similar to the M1. It was first released in 1999 and the blue version was in 2001. Manufacturing of the M2 was discontinued in 2009.

Summary: The M2 is a solid performing single-antenna beacon.

Searching: The long single antenna in the "M" series provides a long range. However, as with all single-antenna transceivers, you (and not the transceiver) must interpret the flux lines to locate the victim (versus multiple antenna beacons that display a direction indicator). Likewise, single-antenna transceivers cannot compensate for spikes (which you can compensate for with good probing). Although I was a big fan of the Ortovox single-antenna beacons for many years, I personally feel that the advantages of multiple-antenna transceivers no longer make single-antenna beacons the best choice for most users.

Advertisement

Ortovox M2

The M2 is primarily an analog beacon. The audio signal is always analog (the volume increases, but the tone and cadence remain constant). The digital portion of the transceiver kicks in when you are within approximately 30 meters (and the distance indicator displays 40 meters). At this point the M2 displays the distance to the transmitting beacon. Although the M2 does not have a direction indicator that points to the victim, an arrow on the M2's display darkens when it receives the strongest signal (i.e., when it is aligned with a flux line).

Controls: All Ortovox transceivers turn on via the harness: when you put it on, it turns on. Most of the other transceivers turn on via a switch. People familiar with the Ortovox approach have reported that they sometimes forget to turn on the manually-switched transceivers. You know what they say about teaching those old dogs new tricks! Changing to search mode is fairly intuitive.

Comfort: All of the Ortovox harnesses are comfortable. The M1 and M2 are relatively large. The long banana-style allows for a long and effective, albeit single, antenna.

Other: The Ortovox M1 and M2 were recalled for a replacement battery door. If you have an M1 or M2, you should get the new (free) door.

Searching: The X1 begins in analog mode using a single antenna. The distance indicator appears when the transceiver senses a distance of approximately 40 m. The direction indicators (lights) do not appear until the distance displays 15 m. Unless you are skilled at locating a victim without direction indicators, the lack of a direction display until you are closer than 15 meters is too short. And if you are skilled at getting within 15 meters of a victim without a direction indicator, then a single-antenna Ortovox F1, M2, or Freeride may be a better choice. Also, the directional indicator (three lights) were slow to respond to searcher movement and jumpy (similar to the Ortovox D3).

According to Ortovox, when the three-antenna version of the X1 is within two meters of the victim, the lights turn off and the third antenna is enabled similar to the Ortovox D3. However, in my testing, the X1 (both two- and three-antenna) was unable to accurately resolve spikes.

Although the X1's analog range is very long, the fact that the direction indicators do not appear until 15 meters (versus approximately 35 meters for the Tracker DTS and 50 meters for the Pieps DSP, Barryvox Pulse, and Tracker2), and the fact that even the three-antenna model cannot resolve spikes, makes the X1, in my opinion, unacceptable.

Controls: The controls on the X1 are simple and easy to use.

Comfort: As with the other Ortovox transceivers, the harness is very comfortable.

Other: In my testing the X1 handled frequency drift poorly (I had to be within two meters of a transceiver that was transmitting +200 Hz off frequency before the direction arrow was displayed).

Searching: As with the Ortovox X1, the Patroller begins in analog mode using a single antenna. The distance indicator then appears when the transceiver is approximately 40 m from the transmitter. The direction indicator lights appear when the distance is approximately 15 m. The directional indicator then does and excellent job of guiding you to the transmitter. This approach, using a single antenna until you are within 15 meters and then displaying a directional indicator, is by design. Unfortunately, unless you are skilled with an analog transceiver, the lack of a direction indicator until you are 15 meters from the victim is simply too limiting.

When the Patroller is within two meters of the victim (2.1 meters, actually), the direction indicator lights turn off (a good thing).

As with the Ortovox D3 (and unlike all other three-antenna transceivers), the Patroller struggled to resolve spikes. In my testing, the Patroller and D3 performed a little better than two antenna transceivers at resolving spikes, but a careful pinpoint search repeatedly centered the transceiver over the spikes rather than the victim.

Although the Patroller's analog range is extremely long, the fact that the direction indicator does not appear until 15 meters (versus approximately 35 meters for the Tracker2 and 50 meters for the Pieps DSP, Barryvox Pulse, Ortovox S1), and the fact that even with three-antennas it does not accurately resolve spikes, makes the Patroller a less than optimum choice for most people. However, if you are skilled with an analog beacon, the long reception range is very impressive .

Controls: The controls on the Patroller are simple and easy to use.

Comfort: As with the other Ortovox transceivers, the harness is very comfortable.

As with the Ortovox Patroller (and unlike all other three-antenna transceivers), the D3 struggled to resolve spikes. In my testing, the Patroller and D3 performed a little better than two antenna transceivers at resolving spikes, but a careful pinpoint search repeatedly centered the transceiver over the spikes rather than the victim.

Advertisement

Ortovox D3

I tested four different D3s and in my testing the direction indicator (as with the X1) was jumpy and sluggish (frequently slow to change the direction indicator when 20+ meters from the victim.

Considering the jumpy direction indicator and the fact that this three-antenna avalanche transceiver does not accurately resolve spikes, I'm under-impressed.

Advertisement

Ortovox S1

Summary:

Read the full Ortovox S1 Review

In electronic years the Pieps 1 is Precambrian. It transmits and receives on the old 2.275 frequency, uses an easily bumped push button to switch between transmit and receive, has an awkward earpiece, etc. I'm thankful for the engineers who designed this, but if you own one, retire it yesterday. (Shameless plug: I collect retired transceivers—old and newer. If you retire an transceiver of any age, please consider adding it to my collection).

The Pieps 2 was a significant improvement over the Pieps 1, but it too transmits and receives on the old 2.275 frequency. Retire it.

Summary: New for the 2009/2010 season, the Pieps Checker is a tiny device that you can use to test avalanche transceivers. It's primarily intended for backcountry guides so they can test their client's beacons before heading out in the morning (and maybe after lunch). It has a maximum range of 100 cm (1 meter).

The Pulse and S1 have a test mode similar to the Checker. The DSP has a frequency tester that displays the accuracy of the transmitting beacon, but not its signal strength.

Advertisement

Pieps DSP

Summary: The Pieps DSP is a small beacon, it has one of the longest ranges of the digitals, it allows you to suppress a transceiver during a multiple burial, its third antenna is excellent at dealing with spikes during deeper burials, it handles frequency drift well, it has a simple user interface, and it can be upgraded via the earphone jack. The Pieps DSP is currently one of the top-rated avalanche transceivers on BeaconReviews.com.

Read the full Pieps DSP Review

Advertisement

DSP Advanced

Read the full Pieps DSP Review

Summary: Other than the "digital" marketing, the SOS F1 is very similar to the Ortovox F1.

Controls: The SOS turns on by twisting a 90° bayonet plug similar to many of the Ortovox transceivers. You enable transmit or receive (search) modes by moving a slide switch.

Searching: Intuitive blinking lights indicate the direction. The DTS senses changes in direction quickly. If you get off-course by a few degrees, the lights promptly indicate the new direction.

Advertisement

Tracker DTS

The Tracker DTS' multiple burial feature takes some serious practice. The pinpoint search can be a little confusing, because the directional indicators (lights) continue to point (often away from the victim) no matter how close you are to the victim. To compensate, ignore the directional indicator and use the distance numbers when you are within 1 or 2 meters of the victim. Because the Tracker DTS has two-antennas (unlike the Tracker2 which has three antennas), it is unable to resolve spikes.

Controls: Turning the DTS on is obvious. Changing to search mode is easy, but not intuitive (you press the large red button until the letters "SE" are displayed at which point you release the button). There is a yellow button that narrows the range to help find multiple burials. This works fairly well, but requires practice. If you turn the unit on while pressing the yellow button, the Tracker DTS will automatically switch from receive to transmit mode if it doesn't receive a signal in a few minutes.