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2011 BCA Tracker 2 Avalanche Transceiver | Reviewed On: March 9, 2011 By lukelubchenco

OUR ADVICE

Solid




AVG USER ADVICE

n/a

Gear Reviews>>Avalanche Gear>>Beacons>> BCA Tracker 2 Avalanche Transceiver
Easy to use... Now if only computers were like this!


The BCA Tracker 2 Beacon is Backcountry Access' response to the call for a triple antenna beacon. Here's the breakdown:

What's New
The Tracker 2 has a third antenna and the abililty to notify you if there are multiple burials or not. The third antenna provides pinpoint accuracy while the two person icon lights up if more than one beacon is detected. The design is pretty, well Rad. With the two main antennas forming an X it looks like something from X-men. The big red button that you would press to go into search mode has been replaced by a big red pull switch that I find easier with gloves or mittens than the orginal button. The harness is slightly different. I miss the old harness, but some testors appreciated the new harness's lightness. Also when you get within close range of the buried victim the arrows turn off to let you know to go into a grid search.



The Good
Three antennas brings BCA into a new realm and picks up where the original Tracker left off. The vertical axis allotted by the new beacon makes searches even easier (yes I said easier!) as well as instantaneous live display keep you moving in the right direction. The pull switch to go from transmit to search is reliable and oh-so-nice!  The Tracker 2 handles multiple burials with ease and does not require switching into a different mode to do so.

The Bad
My only real complaint is a paradox. You can turn the beacon on without taking it out of it's harness, which is nice. But if you do this you can't read what the battery level is. In the future it would be cool if the harness case had a clear window or something to view the battery level without taking it out of the harness.
 
What You Need to Know
A third antenna isn't necessary, but for just over $330, jumping up from a two antenna model (or single antenna version if you've been skiing pow for too long and haven't come out of the white room to check the new stuff) will certainly help. Your friends will thank you if you ever need it! BCA continues to make the easiest, and fastest beacon on the market. They are made in the U.S.A. and stand behind their products 100%. If you need a beacon, get a tracker or tracker 2, they are by far the best options. In the end the best beacon is the one you practice with and know how to use. To that point the tracker 2 is the easiest to use, thus as Chuck Norris would say, "Kicks the most Ass".
 
Product Specs
  • Weight: Approx 6.4oz. (181g) without straps and batteries
  • Size: 5.2in x 3.4in x 1in
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Multiple Burial Indicator: Yes
  • Display: Yes- Realtime meters and directional arrows
  • Price: ~$335  

So easy a 10 year old can use it! Silly parents, tracker 2's are for kids! Image courtesy of backcountryaccess.com

Gear Reviews>>Avalanche Gear>>Beacons>> BCA Tracker 2 Avalanche Transceiver


That's Our Opinion. What's Yours?

Lola wrote on 05/04/11 at 02:09:09 am pst:

Great common sense here. Wish I'd thought of that.

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BJS wrote on 12/14/11 at 08:41:21 am pst:

I regularly carry the BCA Tracker 2, solid, reliable, easy to use. Always have one skiing and ice climbing, though I usually just put it in a pocket and don't use the harness.

I've also started renting them, so you don't have to spend $330 for a trip or two. Cheap daily/weekly/monthly rates.

Contact me at oerentals@gmail.com

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