Which TRANSCEIVER Has the Best RANGE??

[@bruceedgerly7948]

Nice work, but you seem to confuse the terms "receive range" and "search strip width." What you measured in the video is "useable maximum range," which is the actual distance away from the transmitter at which you receive consistent distance and direction displays on the searching transceiver, with optimal (in-line vs. parallel or perpendicular) antenna coupling between transmitter and receiver. The International Commission on Alpine Rescue (ICAR) recommends that the published search strip width should be 1.4 times the useable maximum range. This is why you'll see the search strip widths published by the manufacturers are always larger than the useable maximum range that you measured (this can vary between passes, so they require making 10 measurements instead of just one, then taking the average). Keep in mind that the search strip width (SSW) ideally is twice the useable range of the transceiver, as the SSW is the maximum distance you should maintain between each searcher (with multiple searchers) or between each switchback (single searcher) to prevent leaving any gaps in the signal search. However, transceivers almost always get less range than the "maximum useable range" due to poor antenna coupling between transmitter and receiver, electromagnetic noise, and other less-than-ideal factors. Multiplying the maximum useable range by 1.4 (instead of doubling it) to get SSW takes this all into account to come up with a conservative guideline for estimating search strip width. ICAR recommends publishing SSW, not "range," since range (worst-case, minimum, useable, maximum, etc.) can be interpreted and abused in so many ways. As to the differences between actual distance measured and the distance shown in the display, most manufacturers acknowledge that the distance shown is the longest possible distance between the searcher and the transmitter. Since transceivers are following electromagnetic flux lines, which can vary from straight to very curved, they can only make a rough estimate as to the actual distance, at least until you get very close where the signal is very strong. Better to overestimate the distance from afar than to underestimate, so searchers don't think they're closer than they really are. Full disclosure: I work for BCA and you work for Mammut/Barryvox (Mountain Sledder is owned by the Canadian distributor for Mammut in the snowmobile market).

[@Smetaniza]

That's super interesting. Thanks for the insight!

[@sleddermag]

Thanks for your insight, Bruce! It's great to hear from the people who are involved in the creation of these things...they're obviously the experts when it comes to the technology and how it works. One point I will make in response is that I don't "work for Mammut/Barryvox" in any way, shape or form. I'm the Editor-in-Chief of Mountain Sledder, which is run fully independently of its parent company and any of its associations. I take our journalistic integrity and our commitment to fact-based and unbiased content very seriously. I have no horse in this race, the outcome mattered to me not one whit (other than I think the information is helpful and interesting for our audience) and I think we clearly demonstrated a level playing field for every transceiver that we tested. Thanks again for your input. ~Pat

[@brianlumley176]

Good work very interesting evaluation’s. Thanks for that

[@SledPemberton]

Some good info there guys. What I would check again is what orientation of the transmitting beacon will give you the least range then take 1/2 of that for your strip search. When testing My Pieps Pro for interference with my Zoleo on, it went from 50 meters down to 20 meters so make sure that you are aware of the effect of all your electronic gear and if you need to turn it off or not while searching.

[@sleddermag]

Yes, good point. If the transmitting transceiver is in a less ideal orientation, the search strip width (range) of these searching transceivers could be even less. For this test we assumed the longest antenna (y-axis) is what is used to transmit, but we don't actually know. It would be interesting to try several different orientations like you suggest to find out. Another reason why users should get to know their own transceivers well to find out its limitations. Great comment and thanks for watching!

[@martinplot124]

Good job guys 👌 thx for the review

[@Butters2079]

Would be good to see the opposite of this test. I.e same transceiver in search mode testing how soon it picks up a signal from each. Most people’s priority is probably knowing their signal is as strong as possible !

[@Deadlyshu]

Excellent video thanks guys!!!!

[@hollywood93c87]

Awesome video 👍

[@bottomowashington]

some good discs you got there. i throw the jerm thunderbird

[@sleddermag]

that disc is like a 4-stroke mountain sled-reliable and overstable lol

[@craigbosko2229]

I'm a owner of MANY avalanche transceivers (NOT BEACON'S, THERE'S A 100% DIFFERENCE AND BCA DOES NOT MAKE BEACON'S,THEY MAKE TRANSCEIVERS). But I own and use the BCA TRACKER 2 AND TRACKER 4, I prefer the t4. Range on the t2, search pic's up at 55 m on a regular basis, even at 57m.Ive also picked up at 62m, it works like a charm.--T4, 55m as well as 57m .Range is just as important as AUDIO AND VISUAL AND THE T4 HAS IT ALL,in fact it wouldn't surprise me that the audio could create a avalanche from the t2 and t4.---I'm also the owner of 3 "original" BCA TRACKER DTS TRANSCEIVERS.One of them came with the original box,harness including the D rings, and the owner's manual and the tracker work's like a charm.

[@franka7691]

Thanks a lot! Has any other transceiver beaten the Barryvox since you posted this 4 months ago?

[@sebb4theworld]

Really interesting to see! Out of curiosity, have you given the Ortovox Diract Voice another go to see if it’s range really is as bad as it seems here?

[@northeastnebraskafarming117]

Im really dissapointed in the ortovox i love the voice so easy to use really want to consider it but that worries me

[@mediamatiquemultimedia7121]

Add a Barryvox VS 68 (The First One) and you'll be surprising.... Busines is business

[@sampep]

Good stuff guys! Would be cool to try the Barriovox S in extended range or mode 2.

[@xtidnab]

would like to see the opposite, which one sends the best and strongest signal, which would seem to make finding the person most successful...

[@sleddermag]

Great idea! Thanks for watching

[@cmc9823]

The “guide” and the “s” premium versions had slightly less range than their more basic versions. Are the additional features limiting that range a little do you think?

[@sleddermag]

Good question! That's what was so fun about this experiment, that we learned a lot but it also raised some new questions that we don't have answers for. Thanks for watching!