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