Snowsafe Blog

Don’t Venture Into the Unknown Without Testing Your Transceiver! ⛔️🤳

When winter is over, most of us generally pack away our winter gear and bring out the summer equipment. However, that doesn’t mean that you should neglect your Avalanche transceiver or expect it be suitable when you need it again.

Due to how important a transceiver is for ensuring your safety out in the unknown, it’s vital that you check it’s in good working condition before you set off.

Plenty of people accidentally head out into the mountains without first checking if their transceiver is working correctly.

It could require an update, there could be an issue with the hardware itself or the batteries may be corroded or need replacing with new ones.

It’s important to make it a habit to check your transceiver before heading out after a long period of time.

When out in the mountain, it’s good to develop a habit of checking it every morning to see if the batteries are functional and if the hardware is working fine.

Daily Transceiver Checklist

Before heading out, gather in a group and check your transceivers together. This will ensure that everyone’s transceivers are working correctly.

1. Please ensure your transceiver is not in close proximity of electronic devices such as smartphones, watches, Go-Pros.
2. Before turning the transceiver on, open and check the battery compartment to ensure there is no corrosion.
3. Turn the transceivers on and state each other’s battery levels, changing them if needed.
4. In the event of multiple burial, ensure everyone knows how to switch off their partners’ transceivers.
5. One person switches to transmit while the others form a circle around them while switching to search mode.
6. Those in search mode tip their transceivers down slightly so that they can see the transciever’s screen.
7. The person transmitting in the middle should move towards each transceiver while watching the screen to ensure that the distance decreases.
8. Once it’s confirmed that the transceivers are receiving the signal, those who are searching should switch to transmit and properly stow their transceivers.
9. The person that was previously transmitting should now switch to search and move their transceiver near each of the transmitting ones to confirm they are working and transmitting correctly.
10. Finally, that person should switch their transceiver back to transmit and stow it. It’s important that this transceiver is not turned off again.

While these 10 vital steps above may look time-consuming and complicated, it only takes a couple of minutes and is an efficient way to check that each avalanche transceiver can transmit and receive properly. It’s a relatively simple approach that checks to make sure each transceiver is working correctly.

See short clip below of how to perform an avalanche beacon test:

Software Updates

Occasionally, your transceiver may require a software update in order to fix certain issues. The internal software can be updated if you are experiencing issues or if it’s been a while since you last bought the device.

You may need to look at the manufacturer’s website or speak to support in order to learn how to do this.

Transceiver Not Working in Resort?

If your beacon is not working when in the resort and there is no one with a backup or spare then you may be able to hire an avalanche transceiver from the resort that you are visiting.

Guides will only allow you to ski in the group if you have a avalanche beacon. 

For your Ski Travel Insurance to be valid when skiing off-piste outside of resort boundaries you must ensure you are wearing one. 

Hiring an Avalanche Transceiver

When hiring an avalanche transceiver, make sure that it is functioning correctly with the test outlined above. Alot of hired transceivers are old and lack in functionality. 

Make sure that the battery isn’t corroded and speak to the resort for more information on how to operate it if you’re unsure or if the brand is different from what you’re used to.

Hiring transceivers can sometimes be more expensive then owning one, you can pick up a good avalanche transceiver such as the BCA DTS Tracker or Ortovox Zoom Plus for just £179.00.

10% OFF Transceivers and Avalanche Safety Kits. 

Thank you for taking time to read our blog, if you have a old or non functioning beacon and looking to upgrade we can offer you 10% off Avalanche Transceivers and Avalanche safety packages using coupon code TEST10 at the checkout.

Snowsafe Blogs:

It’s important to stay safe and have the correct training when skiing or snowboarding off-piste please check out further blogs below : 

• Off-Piste Equipment Checklist 
• Top tips for surviving an Avalanche
• Avalanche Safety Courses
• History of Avalanche Transceivers and How they have Evolved 
• What are the differences between the BCA Tracker, Tracker 2, Tracker 3
• Could there be an app on your phone that is an Avalanche Transceiver?
   
• Difference Between Ortovox Zoom+, 3+ and S1+ Transceivers?
• Boy,12, Buried in La Plagne Avalanche for 40 Minutes
• SAR Recco Rescue Helicopter

If you would like to feature a blog about your organisation or experience in the snow please feel free to contact us on info@snowsafe.co.uk or 01273 003925. We are happy to take guest blogs linking back to your website.