14 DAY TRIAL // If you're a skier, snowboarder, walker or climber that's worried about getting caught in a scary avalanche, then you might find this piece of mountain equipment useful. The Pulse Barryox Avalanche Transceiver is a rescue PDA-sized device that must be kept strapped to your body when wandering in "snowy mountains". The device serves two important functions.
The first is to act as a signal beacon when you're caught in an avalanche. The signal can be detected by another transceiver set in search mode. It uses a simple LCD screen that show rescuers precious indications regarding your position/depth and also info about the distance between them and you. Secondly, the device uses an accelerometer to measure your breathing. These measurements will calculate your health status which is also radioed to the rescuers to inform them of your condition before they start digging. So, you can use it in both search and "searched" mode, depending on your "above" or "under" snow status. It can even track multiple persons at the same time. Pinpointing the location of a buried subject is not possible with a transceiver alone. It takes two to play this life or death game.
The screen is visible from all angles and in direct sunlight which is pretty good considering that you need info pretty fast in a life or death situation. The search strip's width is of about 50 m while the maximum range normally reached 60 m in standard mode and 90 m in analog mode.
The device weighs 210 g (including batteries), measures 113 mm x 75 mm x 27 mm and has a battery life of minimum 200 hours. The Pulse Barryox Avalanche Transceiver retails for half the price of St. Bernard puppy: just 400$.
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