Pieps DSP avalanche transceiver

[Dr. Crash]

Haven't seen it but an overview and a link to the user manual are available at Liberty Mountain (http://libertymtn.com/catalog.php?type=product&id=WM21181&aid=).

Price is $350 for the base model, $425 for the one with gizmos (temperature, compass, altimeter). $350 is an extra $50 on top of a Barryvox (retail, not after your typical REI 20% coupon or other deals) and you get a triple antenna that supposedly can count the number of buried victims. Anybody has seen a test somewhere yet?

The above link also links to the user manual for the beacon.

drC

[Summit]

Temp/comp/altimeter are BAD THINGS to put on a beacon... you do NOT want to encourage the user to have hte beacon off and in his hands so he can check out the gee wiz factors because the snow monsters *wait* for exactly that moment to bury em in white diahhreah.

[bad_roo]

If you could only have these functions enabled when the beacon was transmitting then I don't see it as wholly bad. Yes, they add complexity but if it can encourage more people to wear beacons then maybe it's a smart marketing move.

[Dr. Crash]

I think Summit's point (and mine a while ago) is that some dumb people will then put the beacon in an easily accessible place to be able to read that info, like on their outer layer, or in a pocket, etc. And then the risk is that you'll find the beacon, but no body attached to it. If it had a remote display it'd be cool though.

drC

[bad_roo]

Fair point.

[Beaver]

Looks like a pretty nice tranciever. I think I would bail on all the extra crap though. It sure would be nice to be able to go play with all the trancievers on the market before buying a new one.

[Woodsy]

I have trusted my life to a pieps for years & been waiting for this ( the basic model) before I went digital.
looks like they done good
anyone shopping for my X-mas present knows what to get now.

[Summit]

Cash: external display is a damned good idea. TELL PIEPS!

[Mountain Junkie]

Interesting that they put so many features in the beacon regarding multiple burials. Granted, multiple burials can get confusing, but proper backcountry technique should only put one person at risk (of course, that's easier said than done). I wonder if these features were put in for a perceived need, i.e. there are a large number of accidents with multiple burials, or if it's a marketing feature to try to differentiate the product. Either way, it's good to see beacons enter the 20th century.

I don't think the gizmo inclusion is a good idea. I was actually thinking about this awhile back about tacking on extra stuff to a beacon. However, I came to the conclusion that a beacon is a safety device-it should do it's job and do it well. Plus, as mentioned before, the less screwing around you are doing with the beacon, the better.

[cj001f]

Originally posted by Mountain Junkie
I don't think the gizmo inclusion is a good idea. I was actually thinking about this awhile back about tacking on extra stuff to a beacon. However, I came to the conclusion that a beacon is a safety device-it should do it's job and do it well. Plus, as mentioned before, the less screwing around you are doing with the beacon, the better.

The altimeter/compass seem like a decent idea to me. Not for regular use, but as a backup. Example when it'd be nice - your skiing with your altimeter & compass in the pack (fairly common for me). Hit slide, pack gets lost - now I have a backup. Or the battery on your altimeter/compass craps out - now you have a backup. Think of it was free redundancy for your equipment.

[Dr. Crash]

Originally posted by cj001f
Think of it was free redundancy for your equipment.

$75 redudancy to be precise (yes, it will likely save weight and space).

drC

[char]

Is this just me or does it seem counterproductive to put a compass inside an electronic device? My Silva gets thrown off just being near the car.