Snowsafe Blog

Transceivers – How do they Work ?

Snowsafe break down how avalanche transceivers work?

Avalanche Transceivers are handheld devices that emit signals. If one of your skiing companions are buried in an avalanche, other transceivers carried by the party pick up the signal being emitted from under the snow.

If you have not been buried then you must force your avalanche beacon into search mode, this will allow you to use the visual or audible display that will assist your search to find the buried victim.

Each beacon must be set to “transmit” mode whilst your ski group is cutting up the powder. When an avalanche strikes you must ensure to set your transceiver to “receive” mode to receive a signal.

When searching for a buried victim, speed really matters, you have 15 minutes to locate and shovel out the victim. Its critical that you understand your avalanche transceiver and you have a full Avalanche Safety Package in order to stay safe within off-piste terrain the avalanche kit includes :

Each manufacturer provides detailed instructions on how to use its technology. Practice using it at home and take an Avalanche Safety Course.

All Transceivers we supply supplied with a carry harness which you wear over the top of your ski jacket or outer layer.

Frequencies and compatibility:

All transceivers on the market today operate on the 457kHz frequency.
They are compatible with any brand or dual-frequency models.
Dual frequency (2.275kHz and 457kHz) transceivers were common up to 1996 before manufacturers made the change to all 457kHz.
It’s Important to do a pre-trip check on your avalanche beacon in-order to make sure it’s working and fit for the mountains, we can do Ortovox Software updates.

Types of Beacons

From the late 1997’s transceivers have evolved massively, from strictly analogue to digital.

Both methods adhere to the international standard and only differ when in search mode.

Analog

The original avalanche beacon was analogue beacon’s only, they transmitted a pulse signal to the user as an audible tone.

The audio tone gets louder and louder when the user is closer to the buried victims transmitting the beacon.

These beacons have also been augmented with LEDs that provide a visual indication of signal strength, and earpieces to increase the ability of the listener to hear the tone.

Digital

Since the 1970’s digital transceivers took the market by storm and still dominate the market, from LCD User-Friendly Interfaces to Flagging Functions For Multiple Burial and the Ortovox transceivers including Recco Reflector. It’s statically proven that digital transceivers offer a higher victim recovery rate.

Digital transceivers take the strength of the signal and the emitted dipole flux pattern and compute distance and direction to the buried transceiver.

In order to calculate the emitted dipole flux pattern, a digital transceiver must have at least two antennas, although most modern transceivers have three.

The digital beacons will then indicate the direction to the victim’s transceiver as an arrow on the display, and provide audio tones such as varying pitch or frequency.

Snowsafe Blogs:

It’s important to stay safe and have the correct training when skiing or snowboarding off-piste please check out further blogs below :

If you would like to feature a blog about your organisation or experience in the snow please feel free to contact us on info@snowsafe.co.uk or 01273 737676. We are happy to take guest blogs linking back to your website.