How to Choose an Avalanche Transceiver

An avalanche transceiver, also called a beacon, is a small electronic device that sends out a radio signal. If someone is buried, their partners switch their own transceivers to search mode and follow the signal to them. All modern transceivers use the international standard frequency of 457 kHz, so they work with each other whatever the brand.

A transceiver is one part of a set. It helps your partners find you, but they still need a shovel to dig you out and a probe to pinpoint you, and everyone needs the training to use them. Avalanche safety courses run in the Alps and North America, and a qualified guide can teach you as well. A transceiver doesn't change the risk of being caught in the first place, so check the local avalanche bulletin before every trip.

Digital transceivers are the standard now. They use several antennas and a microprocessor to turn the signal into a visual display and an audible tone, showing the direction and distance to the buried person. Analog transceivers give out beeps that get louder as you get closer, which asks for more practice and skill.

Modern transceivers use three antennas, so they give an accurate reading however the buried transceiver is positioned. Older one- and two-antenna models are less reliable at close range, which is when precision counts. We’d go for a digital, three-antenna unit.

Two numbers describe how far a transceiver reaches: the maximum range and the search strip width, which is how far apart you can run your search lines. Current digital transceivers quote a maximum range of roughly 60 to 80 metres and a search strip width of around 50 to 70 metres. A wider strip means fewer search lines across a big debris field, but range is only one part of the picture, and how well you can use the transceiver matters more than a few metres either way.

Transceivers run on standard AAA batteries, or AA on some models, not on rechargeable ones. Several makers say alkaline only, and some allow lithium AAA, so use the type your manual specifies. Never fit rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can create electronic noise that can give false readings in search mode, and rechargeable cells can lose capacity suddenly.

Fit fresh batteries at the start of every season, check the battery level before each trip and replace them when the level drops to the point your manual gives, which is often around 40 to 50%. Carry spares, since cold drains batteries faster.

• Wear it on your body under at least one layer of clothing, on the front of your body in send mode, not in your pack, so it can't be separated from you in a slide
• Switch to send mode before you leave and keep it there for the whole trip
• Keep other electronics at least 20 cm away in send mode and at least 50 cm away in search mode, since phones, radios, GPS devices and cameras can interfere
• Do a group check at the start of every trip
• Practise searching in a realistic setting before you need to, and practise multiple burials too, since they're an advanced skill

Modern transceivers all work together on 457 kHz, but very old units from before that standard, on 2.275 kHz, don't work with them. Some brands also send extra data on a separate frequency.

RECCO reflectors are small passive chips built into ski and snowboard jackets, pants, boots and accessories. They bounce back a radar signal from a RECCO detector, which professional rescue teams use in ground and air searches. The reflector can't search for anyone, and it isn't a substitute for a transceiver, so it's an extra layer of protection and not a replacement.

Makers set a recommended service life and advise regular checks and software updates, so follow your manual. BCA, for example, gives a recommended service life of five years, and Mammut suggests checking for firmware updates before each season. If your transceiver is old, or you've bought a second-hand one, check its age and service history.