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| Pieps DSP |
 The
Pieps DSP and Tour
can be updated (read about updating other transceivers) via
the earphone jack. The ability to update your beacon is important, because it allows
you to get enhancements and new features without purchasing a new avalanche transceiver.
To determine which version of the software you have, press and hold the DSP's "((("
button and turn on your transceiver. (On earlier models of the DSP, hold down the "?"
button and turn on your transceiver. Newer models may display the version number on
startup.)
The cost to upgrade (in the USA) is around $20. Contact a
Pieps Service Center for
additional information.
Version 8.2 adds the ability for the DSP to search for a Pieps TX600 Transmitter.
(The TX600 is frequently attached to dogs or equipment.) You can read a brief summary
of the new features in this
press release.
Version 6.2 includes all of the previous enhancements, plus enhancements dealing
with the iProbe.
Version 5.0 includes the Smart Transmitter,
iProbe support, the ability to
test the transmitting frequency of
another beacon, an "old beacon mode" (where the little men blink if
a continuous carrier is detected), improved
Mark and Scan functions,
and an improved self-test. You can read a brief summary
of the new features in this press
release.
Version 4.0 includes a new feature called a Smart
Transmitter. Here is a brief explanation of this feature. (I tested this in
version 4.0 and again in 5.0.)
Consider two cars at an intersection with their turn signals on. If the cadence
of the turn signals is not identical, there will be times when the lights of both
cars are blinking at the same time, periods when they are partially overlapping,
and periods when the lights are blinking independently. This also happens with two
transceivers. There are times when both transceivers are transmitting a "beep"
at the same time ("signal overlap"), times when they are partially overlapping,
and times when the beeps do not overlap. Unfortunately, when the beeps overlap,
the searching transceiver treats this as one beep. This makes it difficult for the
searching beacon to distinguish between multiple victims.
With the Smart Transmitter feature of the Pieps DSP, the DSP continually scans
for a second transmitter while it is transmitting (i.e., it is receiving and transmitting
at the same time). If it receives a signal from another transmitter (as happens
during a multiple burial, but also while standing next to your buddy), the DSP will
adjust the cadence of its "beep" so it isn't overlapped by the other
beacon's "beep." I have tested this feature several times and it works
well (it takes one to two minutes for the DSP to analyze the other beacon and adjust
its cadence). The Smart Transmitter feature works when there is only one
other beacon transmitting and that beacon is relatively close (approximately 5 meters).
Some people have expressed concerns that the DSP's changing cadence will
confuse the searching transceiver. I expect that the "confusion" caused
by the DSP's changing cadence (which only happens once and occurs within two
minutes) is less significant than the confusion caused by signal overlap issues.
You can read this
very technical paper regarding the overlapping of signals during multiple burials
or this abbreviated report.
This version includes a handy frequency tester that allows you to test the frequency
of your friend's beacon. The image to the right shows a Pieps DSP checking the
frequency of a Tracker DTS. Learn more about the Pieps frequency tester
here.
Version 3.1 also improves the
Mark function which is
used during multiple burials.
2005-2006 Season, version 2.8
Version 2.8 was released during the 2005-2006 season. This version dramatically
improves the DSP's ability to locate out-of-frequency transmitters (i.e., older
analog transceivers). It flashes "500" if the transmitting beacon is out-of-frequency.
Learn more here.
|
December
2006,