Whether you're touring with a splitboard or snowboarding off-piste, if you're moving in potential avalanche areas, you should never start without an avalanche transceiver - avalanche transceiver for short. The avalanche transceiver is used to locate avalanche victims and can be life-saving in an emergency. In the event of an avalanche, the avalanche transceiver can be used to locate the victims and pinpoint their exact location. Afterwards, these avalanche victims still have to be rescued, for which a complete avalanche protection equipment includes an avalanche probe, an avalanche shovel and for self-protection also an avalanche backpack in addition to the avalanche transceivers in any case!
Avalanche beacons & avalanche transceivers Whether you're touring with a splitboard or snowboarding off-piste, if you're moving in potential avalanche areas, you should never start without... learn more »
Whether you're touring with a splitboard or snowboarding off-piste, if you're moving in potential avalanche areas, you should never start without an avalanche transceiver - avalanche transceiver for short. The avalanche transceiver is used to locate avalanche victims and can be life-saving in an emergency. In the event of an avalanche, the avalanche transceiver can be used to locate the victims and pinpoint their exact location. Afterwards, these avalanche victims still have to be rescued, for which a complete avalanche protection equipment includes an avalanche probe, an avalanche shovel and for self-protection also an avalanche backpack in addition to the avalanche transceivers in any case!
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How do avalanche transceivers work?
The most important thing first: always carry your avalanche transceiver directly on your body, because if an accident should occur, you can always be sure that you always have the avalanche transceiver at your side. You should avoid stowing your avalanche transceiver in bags, backpacks or holders, or only use devices specially made for an avalanche transceiver. Because in an emergency, seconds count!
But now to the actual function of the avalanche beacons. They have a transmitting mode and a receiving mode. If the device is set to transmit mode, the avalanche beacon sends a signal at regular intervals (intervals). This signal is standardized according to ETS 300718 on the frequency 457 KHZ and can thus be easily located by any avalanche beeper.
In search mode, which can be activated easily and quickly in an emergency, the avalanche transceiver can be used to quickly determine the exact location of a buried victim. An almost 100% precise location without valuable time is possible.
The avalanche transceiver in your avalanche safety equipment
The avalanche transceiver is an essential part of your equipment, but above all it should be able to be used correctly! With all our avalanche protection tools, we strongly recommend that you attend a workshop or seminar with avalanche safety training. To make the best use of your tool in an emergency, you or your group should always have the other important components with you on your ski tours: Avalanche shovel, probe and avalanche backpack.
What should a high-quality avalanche transceiver be able to do?
The most important feature is quick location in an emergency. In an avalanche burial, every second counts. After only a few minutes, the victim's chances of survival decrease drastically. In addition to rapid location, avalanche beacons must be relied upon in every case. This means that in addition to reliability and long battery life, as well as ease of use, interfering signals should also be reduced as much as possible. But don't worry, a modern avalanche transceiver from BCA has everything you need for a successful avalanche rescue
Prepare and use an avalanche transceiver correctly
Before heading out into the backcountry with your skis or snowboard, it's imperative to do an avalanche beacon check. You should check all basic functions and check the battery status. If you are traveling with a group, exchange your devices with each other and check each other. Otherwise, tests can also be carried out at a check point in the ski area. In the event of an avalanche, it is also imperative that all persons who are not buried in the snow switch their devices to search mode.
During the search, the search area is divided into so-called search width strips, which should always be around 20m, regardless of the maximum range of the device. If a signal is intercepted, it can then be located in the coarse search and localized in the fine search. The avalanche transceiver offers a marking function: if there are several helpers on site who can start digging, the first buried victim can be marked and the next one searched for.
Summary function and facts of the avalanche transceiver
In an avalanche, fast action is required. For this reason, an avalanche transceiver should be as easy to use as possible. In addition to weight and size (ideally small, light and handy), the avalanche transceiver should also be very easy to use. So that you do not have to bother with overcomplicated handling in an emergency situation and get the decisive time advantage.
A high transmission and reception range are of course also very important for an avalanche beacon. By default, most devices come with a range of between 20 and 40 meters. This range should not be fallen short of in any case, because so an accurate location is unnecessarily complicated.
Modern avalanche beacons also have very low energy consumption. High life and operating time as well as a long battery life are crucial. The device must work in an emergency! It is always important to test it before a tour.
Tips for the safe use of avalanche beacons
Remove batteries out of season
You won't really use your device in the summer when it's sunny and you'll stow it with your other snowboard and ski gear. It's a good idea to remove your device's batteries, as they can leak and destroy your beacon.
Update and upgrade your beacon
Just as you constantly update your PC or smartphone with software updates, you should do the same with your beacon. The best thing to do is to check at the beginning of the season whether there are new company products or other updates from the manufacturer and update your device. This way you are well prepared.
Secure attachment to body
Ideally, the device should be in the carrying system provided or in a firmly closable pocket (zipper) or a holder provided in front of it on your avalanche protection backpack. General backpacks or open pockets (even those with a Velcro closure) can easily be torn off or open in avalanche conditions.
Avoid sources of interference
On the road in the mountains, you probably don't have a network anyway, so at best, turn off smartphones, cell phones and other technical devices, as these can interfere with an avalanche transceiver in an emergency. From experience reports it is OK to carry your technical accessories at a distance of > 40cm with you. In case of emergency, you can then switch them on to make the emergency call. Tip: Just in case, attach the PIN number visibly to the outside of your smartphone or cell phone during the tour.
The most important thing first: always carry your avalanche transceiver directly on your body, because if an accident should occur, you can always be sure that you always have the avalanche transceiver at your side. You should avoid stowing your avalanche transceiver in bags, backpacks or holders, or only use devices specially made for an avalanche transceiver. Because in an emergency, seconds count!
But now to the actual function of the avalanche beacons. They have a transmitting mode and a receiving mode. If the device is set to transmit mode, the avalanche beacon sends a signal at regular intervals (intervals). This signal is standardized according to ETS 300718 on the frequency 457 KHZ and can thus be easily located by any avalanche beeper.
In search mode, which can be activated easily and quickly in an emergency, the avalanche transceiver can be used to quickly determine the exact location of a buried victim. An almost 100% precise location without valuable time is possible.
The avalanche transceiver in your avalanche safety equipment
The avalanche transceiver is an essential part of your equipment, but above all it should be able to be used correctly! With all our avalanche protection tools, we strongly recommend that you attend a workshop or seminar with avalanche safety training. To make the best use of your tool in an emergency, you or your group should always have the other important components with you on your ski tours: Avalanche shovel, probe and avalanche backpack.
What should a high-quality avalanche transceiver be able to do?
The most important feature is quick location in an emergency. In an avalanche burial, every second counts. After only a few minutes, the victim's chances of survival decrease drastically. In addition to rapid location, avalanche beacons must be relied upon in every case. This means that in addition to reliability and long battery life, as well as ease of use, interfering signals should also be reduced as much as possible. But don't worry, a modern avalanche transceiver from BCA has everything you need for a successful avalanche rescue
Prepare and use an avalanche transceiver correctly
Before heading out into the backcountry with your skis or snowboard, it's imperative to do an avalanche beacon check. You should check all basic functions and check the battery status. If you are traveling with a group, exchange your devices with each other and check each other. Otherwise, tests can also be carried out at a check point in the ski area. In the event of an avalanche, it is also imperative that all persons who are not buried in the snow switch their devices to search mode.
During the search, the search area is divided into so-called search width strips, which should always be around 20m, regardless of the maximum range of the device. If a signal is intercepted, it can then be located in the coarse search and localized in the fine search. The avalanche transceiver offers a marking function: if there are several helpers on site who can start digging, the first buried victim can be marked and the next one searched for.
Summary function and facts of the avalanche transceiver
In an avalanche, fast action is required. For this reason, an avalanche transceiver should be as easy to use as possible. In addition to weight and size (ideally small, light and handy), the avalanche transceiver should also be very easy to use. So that you do not have to bother with overcomplicated handling in an emergency situation and get the decisive time advantage.
A high transmission and reception range are of course also very important for an avalanche beacon. By default, most devices come with a range of between 20 and 40 meters. This range should not be fallen short of in any case, because so an accurate location is unnecessarily complicated.
Modern avalanche beacons also have very low energy consumption. High life and operating time as well as a long battery life are crucial. The device must work in an emergency! It is always important to test it before a tour.
Tips for the safe use of avalanche beacons
Remove batteries out of season
You won't really use your device in the summer when it's sunny and you'll stow it with your other snowboard and ski gear. It's a good idea to remove your device's batteries, as they can leak and destroy your beacon.
Update and upgrade your beacon
Just as you constantly update your PC or smartphone with software updates, you should do the same with your beacon. The best thing to do is to check at the beginning of the season whether there are new company products or other updates from the manufacturer and update your device. This way you are well prepared.
Secure attachment to body
Ideally, the device should be in the carrying system provided or in a firmly closable pocket (zipper) or a holder provided in front of it on your avalanche protection backpack. General backpacks or open pockets (even those with a Velcro closure) can easily be torn off or open in avalanche conditions.
Avoid sources of interference
On the road in the mountains, you probably don't have a network anyway, so at best, turn off smartphones, cell phones and other technical devices, as these can interfere with an avalanche transceiver in an emergency. From experience reports it is OK to carry your technical accessories at a distance of > 40cm with you. In case of emergency, you can then switch them on to make the emergency call. Tip: Just in case, attach the PIN number visibly to the outside of your smartphone or cell phone during the tour.
