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TRANSCEIVER TEST 2010The Canadian Ski
Patrol System
and Canadian Ski
Guide Association ABSTRACT AND INTRODUCTION The minimal safety equipment a person must have in the
backcountry in winter is a There has been a great deal of change since the last transceiver test was presented by the Canadian Ski Patrol System in 1999. Transceivers now have a different technical construction and as a result there have been profound modifications in how they are used. As well, some have extra features that may improve finding a buried person. We tested the most common five new
transceivers used in B.C. against the Ortovox
F1, an older, single antenna transceiver,
which is most commonly used in the
province. We first tested the transceivers
with 15 certified mountain guides who use
the Ortovox F1 in their workplace. Each
guide used all six transceivers in a simulated
avalanche. The times to find the two
buried transmitters were recorded. We then
performed the same test with 15 high school
students who had never used transceivers.
The novice high school students were divided
into three groups, each of which used the
transceivers in a different sequence to MATERIALS AND METHODS Four Ortovox F1 transceivers were loaned
from the Canadian Ski Patrol System, Greater The first session took place at Mike
Wiegele's using the heli-ski guides as
"knowledgeable" testers. These guides and
their clients currently use the Ortovox F1.
We created a simulated avalanche 30 by 50
metres in size and buried the transmitters
across the run-out area. The manufacturers'
instructions for each transceiver were
given to each tester prior to use. We
randomly turned on two of the five Ortovox
transmitters then let each tester (guide)
enter at the top end of the "avalanche"
to start a search grid until a signal was
received, at which time he was to follow the
instructions from the applicable transceiver The second session took place at Hemlock Resort near Mission, B.C. We again created a simulated avalanche of the same size and buried the five Ortovox test transmitters across the run-out area. Fifteen "naive" users were divided into three groups and each group had a different sequence of transceivers to test, whereby the use of the first transceivers could lead to improved times with other test transceivers. Using the transceiver manufacturers' instructions, the groups were given a 30-minute instruction course with practice prior to the testing. The same test program was used as with the guides. A time limit of seven minutes was set to find the second transmitter. If this was not achieved, the test was declared "not found." RESULTS The results from the naive users proved more
interesting. Six out of 10 testers failed to find DISCUSSION The Ortovox d3 was easy to use but not as easy to find multiple burials as the S1. Both the S1 and d3 had the best attachment systems.
The simpler the transceiver is to use, the better. Extra functions such as the pulse detection with the Mammut and it is our opinion the probe switch with the Pieps may detract from the primary goal of rescuing the buried person. The "Test Box" for the Ortovox S1 appears to
be a good way to assure full function of each REMEMBER!
source: Canadian Avalanche Centre THE AUTHORS  |
Both the knowledgeable guides and naive
users liked the ease of use and the marking of
multiple burials on the screen of the Ortovox
S1. The screen didn't seem to be affected by
the cold (at times -15C to -20C) as well.
The Mammut Pulse worked well, when
correctly set up. It seemed to have too
many parameters to set however and testers
thought it needed a lock function to stop
a desired setting from being changed.
[Editor's note: Mammut Pulse units tested did
not include a firmware upgrade that is now
on all models and also available to existing
Mammut Pulse owners. "Basic" and "Advanced"
modes were developed, says the company, to
address complication-of-use concerns by some
casual users.] We also feel that the "Pulse"
feature, designed to detect a buried victim's heartbeat, should be tested separately. The
attachment system is good.
The Pieps DSP worked well, but the onoff
slider switch, which sticks out from the
transceiver, seemed to present a risk of being
broken. We also found the deactivation of a
The Tracker DTS did better than we
expected as a two-antenna transceiver
being compared to three-antenna models.
The pinpointing with this transceiver was
more difficult than with a three-antenna
transceiver. However, at field demonstrations
in Europe this September, the pinpointing
speed of BCA's new three-antenna Tracker2
was very impressive. As well, the existing
attachment system has been much improved.
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