PRODUCT SUMMARY
By powderjunky

THE GOOD
The BCA Tracker DTS is very easy to use and reliable. It comes with a nice chest harness and it can easily be operated while wearing mittens. It is simple which is good, because when sh!t hits the fan, no one thinks clearly and ease of use translates to faster recovery times in panic situations.

THE BAD
Range is the Tracker's biggest let down. First it no where clearly states anywhere what unit of measurement the distance displayed is. After much digging in the instruction manual online there are hints that it is meters. However our field test shows that the unit of measurement is closer to feet than meters. Once you have determined just what unit of measure is being used its not very good at the long range searches. Anything under 100 yards in this day and age is just pathetic. The measurement readings are far from accurate, look down at the review specs table below for more info.

Another annoyance is that you have to turn it on. Some beacons, once you strap in the chest harness turn on automatically, I would like to see that with the Tracker.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The tracker is a great beacon for those who are on a budget. It will save lives if needed and doesn't require a phd to use. However, practice is what will make a beacon the most useful and the more you practice with the tracker the better it will be. The range is disappointing but not debilitating and if you want better range I suggest an ortovox model. The Tracker is the beacon I own and I am satisfied.

OUR ADVICE


AVG USER ADVICE

Carol wrote on 12/12/08 at 08:56:40 am pst:

I can't believe how off those measurements are! 45 feet max? That seems really weak.

Their Advice

Trent Leary wrote on 12/18/08 at 6:27:49 pm pst:

The measurements of the tracker are in meters, and they are reading the signal of the flux lines. This explains some of why the readings at 10 feet (actual) show up as 6 meters. Imagining a flux line that would measure 6 meters (19 feet) is pretty extreme, so the readings still seem suspect. But it's an important point to remember...

Their Advice

Hot Chocolate wrote on 12/18/08 at 7:15:24 pm pst:

That's a great point Trent. We should have made it more clear that beacon signals read flux lines, not direct distances.

Always a good reminder to get to know and practice with our beacons!

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 12/18/08 at 7:57:16 pm pst:

Trent you are right about the fluxes. We should have mentioned that. The variations still don't match with the claim that the tracker gets 50 meters of range. Unless we are dealing with some real wide fluxes!

Their Advice

Bruce Edgerly wrote on 12/19/08 at 09:09:59 am pst:

Don't you think the statements about Tracker's range in your Tracker review were kind of extreme? I have never seen an avalanche beacon get 100 meters of receive range. So to call anything less than 100 meters "pathetic" is a real stretch. Also, you probably know this, but it's important to pay close attention to the orientation of the transmitting versus the receiving antennas when you're doing range tests, as this makes all the difference in the world. The International Commission on Alpine Rescue (ICAR) recommends that beacons should not be evaluated based on their maximum range (with ideal antenna coupling and full batteries), as this never happens in the field; ICAR says they should be evaluated on their "effective range," which is the range they get under worst-case conditions, including poor orientations and with weak batteries. The search strip width used during the primary search is dictated by the effective range, not the maximum range (also known as "marketing range.")

Their Advice

Hot Chocolate wrote on 12/19/08 at 09:46:44 am pst:

Bruce,

Thank you again for all of your expertise and opinions! We truly appreciate your comments.

It is our hope that we all learn more during beacon week about how to safely enjoy backcountry skiing.

In saying that 100 yards was a pathetic range, we were referring to all beacons on the market today. It just seems like if we can travel to Mars, we should be able to develop electronics that can pick up a signal at least 100 yards away! This opinion stems mostly from frustration... It can take a really long time in difficult snow conditions to traverse back and forth down a large slope until the Tracker (or other beacons) pick up a signal! It is our hope that beacon manufacturers will put less effort into the multiple burial scenarios and focus more on increasing range and accuracy.

Their Advice

Sid wrote on 12/20/08 at 4:57:32 pm pst:

I agree with the tester. May main concerns are durability, range, and ease of use. I think all beacons don't even touch on the first two issues. The tracker does have usability going for it!

Their Advice

Freeheelgirl wrote on 01/04/09 at 01:09:57 am pst:

I think the Tracker itself is great - cheap, easy to use, and huge improvement on my old Pieps. However, I hate the harness SO MUCH that I actually made myself a new one. Being short and female, the Tracker harness made an unsightly potbelly bulge somewhere below my sternum, and wasn't super-easy to access under my outerwear. My new custom harness hitches it up on my chest, where I can access it better without unzipping all my layers, and where doesn't make me look like I spent all summer eating jelly doughnuts.

Their Advice

downhilldeb wrote on 01/08/09 at 9:48:49 pm pst:

I have recently been issued a Tracker by our SAR team, so I decided to see if I might like it better than I did when it was first issued to me in 2000, when I was patrolling. My personal beacon is an Arva, which I like very much. The Tracker lacks in range, I can not stand the pause I get on the fine search, and I think it falls very short in multiples, just to list a few complaints. The main selling point for it has always been ease of use. I find that very weak. Do we really need folks who can't figure out how to use a good beacon travelling in avalanche terrain? The one thing good I would have to say is, I guess if I had to choose between going out on a body recovery for someone without a beacon, or someone who has on a Tracker, I guess I would pick someone who is wearing a Tracker. But, if they are without a beacon, it at least gives the avy dogs in the field training. I would recommend buying a better beacon and using your brain before you get into a situation that requires you have to use your beacon, because if you do find yourself in such a situation, your brain is your BEST tool. I do not know many, if anyone I work and ski with that would choose the Tracker as their personal beacon, if given a choice. Who cares if your beacon is figure flattering, really!

Their Advice

Maciej Pike-Biegunski wrote on 03/02/09 at 9:04:26 pm pst:

A few points:

1)Range is realistically as good as anything else out there-really.

2)LED display won't freeze up like an LCD screen can

3)You have to practice regularly with any beacon. If you go for a ride, you'll shaken up no matter what. You need to be able to use your beacon on autopilot.

The only real negatives with this beacon are a less than comfortable harness and the 2 antenna setup. 3 antenna beacons do theoretically pinpoint faster, but refer back to point #3.

You can find these new for $200, and they're easy to use. Good price on a good product-not much else you can ask for.

Their Advice

fred wrote on 02/17/10 at 08:47:36 am pst:

The Tracker has a weak range of max 24 meters. In the best position. So 50 m is only reserved for the Puls (barryfox). It's an 2 antenna device the has a problem with pinpointing when the searched beacon is in a wrong position and burried more then 1 m deep. The new tracker with 3 antenna has this problem fixed.
I have had the old one and it is an perfect beacon for a good price. It's fast and "fool proof". I made all my tests with the old one. Now i Bought the new one. yeah.

Their Advice