Title slide

1
Title slide
Avalanche Beacons
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Topics

• Operation
• Searching

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Operation

• Signal
• Volume
• Types
• Testing

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How signal is generated and received
Signal propagation
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Signal Volume

• Orientation
• Distance
• Control

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Daigram of beacon orientation to sending unit
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Daigram of beacon orientation to sending unit
w/antennas
Beacon orientation
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Diagram of how distance affects signal strength
Signal intensity
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Beacon Types

• Analog
• Digital

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Analog

• Output the signal directly with audio or visual

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Five analog beacons

• Barryvox
• SOS F1nd
• Pieps opti-4
• Ortovox F-1
• Ortovox M-1

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Digital

• Process and interprets the signal before output

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3 digital Beacons

• Arva3000
• DTS Tracker
• Barryvox Opto 3000 (Red)

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Testing

• Inside
• Start
• Range

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Start

• Check Batteries
• Check Transmit
• Check Receive

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Determine range
Start tests
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Searching

• Safety
• Phases
• Types

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Safety

• Search Area
• Off / Receive

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Phases

• I. Locate the signal
• II. Narrow the search
• III. Pinpoint / Fine

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Phase I

• Finding the signal

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Diagram of range bubble
Range globe
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Diagram of 2/3 range
Phase I Signal search
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Diagram of sample path using range
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Diagram of how Range covers an area using zigzag
search path
Range Sweep
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Diagram of optimal range to search area allowing
straight downhill search path to get total
coverage
Straight down
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How many Searchers

• Total available
• Area size
• Buried beacons

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Diagram of possible search paths for use with
multiple searchers and large slide areas
Multiple Searchers patterns
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Beacon Orientation

• Types
• Planes
• When

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Diagram of 3 planes and reciprocity of direction
Orientation in 3 planes
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Diagram of 3 1/4 planes to be oriented through by
beacon
Plane reciprosisty
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Diagram of how to orient the beacon in relation
to your body
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Phase II

• Narrowing the search
• Grid
• Tangential
• Multiple burials

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Grid search

• Signal intensity
• Fade point
• Bracket

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Fadepoint

• The spot you are at when you can first detect a
  decrease in the strength of the signal you are
  hearing

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Bracketing

• Orientation
• Volume

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Diagram of a bracket
Bracket Diagram
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Grid search

• Across
• 90 degrees
• Fadepoint
• Constant volume

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Diagram of across and up/down of grid search
based on signal strength
Fadepont diagram
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Diagram of step by step grid search
Grid search diagram
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Tangential

• Flux line
• Orientation
• Signal volume

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Diagram of 3D flux line projected onto an
avalanche path with a tangential line
Tang overview diagram
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Diagram of 3D flux line projected onto an
avalanche path with a tangential line without a
slide in the background
Tang overview Diagram no background
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Diagram of 3D flux line projected onto an
avalanche path with a series of tangential lines
leading ot a fine search
Tang linked arrows
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Diagram of run reorient search technique
3 R 2 diagram
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Phase III

• Pinpoint / Fine
• Interference
• 2 meter diameter
• Snow surface
• 1/2 bracket
• Probing

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Diagram of importance of getting beacon onto snow
in fine search
On to Snow surface
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Interference

• Sensitivity
• Watches
• Equipment
• Metal

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Picture of active and passive beacon interference
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Probing

• Golden Rule
• Equipment
• Grid
• Tangential

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Golden Rule

• Probe unto others as you would have them probe
  unto you.

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Picture of equipment for probing
Probe Shovel
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Diagram of tangential and grid fine search
probing patterns
probingpatterns
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Diagram of probing angle relative to snow surface
Snow surface
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Diagram of probing at flux search snow
intersection
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Diagram of probing along flux search fine search
line
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Diagram of probing along flux search fine search
line at an angle
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Remember

• Morning test
• Wear it
• Everyone off transmit
• Find the Signal
• Narrow the search
• Get on the snow