Reviews of Discontinued Avalanche Transceivers

Pros: Excellent fine search, "orientation-based transmitter."

Cons: Modest range reception range, quirky searching.

Pros: Basically an ARVA Advanced with a third antenna.

Cons: Basically an ARVA Advanced.

Pros: A very capable single-antenna transceiver in its day.

Cons: One antenna, two-digit display, bulky.

Pros: A very capable single-antenna transceiver in its day.

Cons: One antenna, two-digit display, bulky.

Pros: Toggles between analog and digital.

Cons: Shorter range, bulky.

Pros: Analog and digital modes, longer third antenna, good audio.

Cons: Non-intuitive interface.

Pros: Analog and digital modes.

Cons: Compared to the Pulse, there are more buttons and the functionally is not as well implemented.

Pros: Simple interface.

Cons: Short range, poor handling of spikes, sluggish direction indicator, two-digit display.

Pros: Long reception range, marking.

Cons: Less consistent marking.

Pros: The "Pros" of the Pieps DSP plus additional features unrelated to searching.

Cons: Additional features unrelated to searching.

Pros: All the "Pros" of the DSP Sport plus longer battery life, frequency testing, inclinometer, scanner, and slightly longer range.

Cons: Potential problem with switch.

Pros: Great price, excellent perpendicular reception range, easy to use, mitten-friendly, good harness.

Cons: Fewer features than the Powder/Recon. Potential problem with switch.

Pros: A very capable transceiver, the Pieps Tour was replaced by the Pieps DSP Sport.

Cons: Inconsistent marking.

Pros: Long range, easy to use, good marking, good audio.

Cons: Nothing significant.

Pros: Interesting "scan" mode.

Cons: Confusing marking of multiple burials, bulky.

Pros: Improved multiple burial features (compared to Evo3).

Cons: Confusing marking of multiple burials, bulky.

Pros: Very similar to the Tracker DTS.

Cons: Doesn't resolve spikes. Bulky.

Pros: Long range, small. Excellent analog transceiver.

Cons: Many (e.g., no direction or distance indicator).

Pros: Similar to the Ortovox F1.

Cons: See the Ortovox F1 "Cons", bogus "digital" claims.

Pros: An Ortovox F1, plus a dog/snowmobile transmitter.

Cons: See the Ortovox F1 "Cons", bogus "digital" claims.

Pros: Two frequencies for the olden days.

Cons: Single antenna, terrible earpiece.

Pros: Inexpensive and tiny.

Cons: No direction indicator, short range, can't resolve spikes, non-intuitive controls, dangerous.

Pros: Long range. Excellent analog transceiver.

Cons: Many (e.g., no direction indicator, can't resolve spikes, etc).

Pros: Long range. Excellent analog transceiver.

Cons: Many (e.g., no direction indicator, can't resolve spikes, etc).

Pros: Small and light, excellent perpendicular reception range

Cons: A proximity sensor that potentially creates more problems than it solves.

Pros: Easy to use, mitten-friendly, customizable.

Cons: Larger. Reports "false alarms".

Pros: Easy to use, mitten-friendly, analog mode, customizable.

Cons: Larger. Reports "false alarms".

Pros: Easy to use, mitten-friendly, customizable.

Cons: Larger. Reports "false alarms".

Pros: Small. Toggles between analog and digital.

Cons: Can't resolve spikes, non-intuitive controls.

Pros: Analog and digital (sort of).

Cons: Short range, two-digit display, only three direction indicators.

Pros: Simple interface.

Cons: Short range, two-digit display, only three direction indicators.

Pros: One of the first transceivers.

Cons: Uses an old, obsolete, frequency.

Pros: Better than the Pieps 1.

Cons: Uses an old, obsolete, frequency.

Pros: One of the first 457 kHz transceivers.

Cons: Many (e.g., no direction indicator, can't resolve spikes, etc).

Pros: Similar to Pulse in features.

Cons: Compared to the Pulse, there are more buttons and the functionally is not as well implemented.

Pros: Great range, direction indicator, and audio. Toggles to analog, small, excellent perpendicular reception range.

Cons: Steeper learning curve for enhanced features.

Pros: Small and as functional as the existing BD/Pieps transceivers.

Cons: Discontinued after only two years.

Pros: Radically different grid-like search display. Lots of features.

Cons: Questionable functionality. Too many features. More expensive.

Pros: Radically different grid-like search display. Lots of features.

Cons: Questionable functionality. Too many features. More expensive.

Pros: Accurate direction indicators.

Cons: Short reception range, can't resolve spikes, two-digit display, non-intuitive controls, no marking of multiple burials.

Pros: Simple controls, mitten-friendly.

Cons: Larger than most, no marking, two-digit display, moderate range.

Pros: Revolutionary design.

Cons: Overly ambitious features. Recalled.

Pros: Long range for professional rescuers.

Cons: Receiver only (not a transceiver).

Pros: Can be used with a powerful external antenna.

Cons: Many.

Pros: Available in 1968.

Cons: Many.

Pros: Analog and digital (sort of).

Cons: Short digital range, some models can't resolve spikes, two-digit display.

Pros: Simple, "orientation-based transmitter."

Cons: No marking, short range, two-digit display, non-upgradeable.

Pros: Safer alternative to having your transceiver auto-revert to transmit.

Cons: More electronics. The price.

Pros: Novel.

Cons: May be unnecessary.

Pros: Unique. Saves the canine who might save you.

Cons: Dogs require food and love.