A Standard Frequency for Avalanche Beacons
ISSW 1986
Currently, two different frequencies are in use in Europe for avalanche beacons. After an in-depth presentation of the selection criteria and the performance of both frequencies against them, a brief analysis of the current state of standardization efforts in Europe documents the stron tendency to converge to 457 kc.
European Law and Standards Affecting Avalanche Beacons
ICAR Convention 2000
In the past two years, new directives issued by the European Government have led to a change in the legal status of avalanche beacons and to an overhaul of the European standard EN 300 718 for avalanche beacons. The standard will be harmonized throughout Europe and also provide some technical improvements.
Determining the Width of a Search Strip for Avalanche Beacons
ISSW 2000
The width of the coarse search strip that is applied when
scanning an avalanche is a major factor influencing the time
to locate buried victims. Wider search strips help in reducing
this time. If the width is chosen too large, there is some
risk of not detecting a buried person.
Various methods have been proposed and used for the determination
of the optimum width of the coarse search strip. The results
obtained by these methods are widely varying because of their
dependency on the ability of the testing persons. Also, some
methods make assumptions about density functions. These assumptions
are not very solid. All of these methods require a substantial
number of experiments to obtain useful data.
A new method is proposed which, while reducing the testing effort
considerably, removes as much dependency from the testing person's
ability as possible. The method can also be applied to multiple
antenna beacons. The results provided are at least as accurate
and reliable as the results obtained by earlier methods.
Compatibility of Avalanche Transceivers
The Avalanche Review 2004
In their recent story published in the Avalanche Review Edgerly and Hereford propose some actions to be taken to improve on the compatibility among avalanche transceivers. Most of their general conclusions are appropriate, but some important details require a clarification. In particular, new standard requirements should not lead to inferior performance.
On the Effects of Receiver Bandwidth on the Performance of Avalache Beacons
ISSW 2006
Contrary to transmitter frequency tolerance, the receiver bandwidth
is not standardized for avalanche beacons. Some transmitters even
transmit outside the specified tolerance range. This may give raise to
compatibility problems.
If the receiver bandwidth is widened to accommodate even out-of-band
transmitters, receiver performance will be degraded. If the receiver
bandwidth is made too narrow, this causes unpleasant audible effects
and renders proper digital signal evaluation impossible. Simulation
results for various settings are presented in audible and display format.
They indicate that the optimum bandwidth for achieving long range is
less than what would be required for good performance against transmitters
that operate at the limits of the frequency tolerance. This can be
mitigated by making the receiver adaptive to the transmitter's frequency.
Receiver bandwidth should be optimized for best performance in terms
of range. Out-of-spec transmitters should be replaced.
Avalanche Transceivers & Multiple Burials
TAR 2008
Avalanche beacons and multiple burials are a controversial issue. By evaluating properly selected signal features and by using suitable classification algorithms, it is possible to resolve multiple burial situations correctly in most of the cases, thus providing good guidance especially to users that never or rarely practice multiple burial searches. Some modifications to the standard EN 300 718, however, would make the process even more reliable.
Electromagnetic Compatibility of Avalanche Transceivers
Submitted for presentation at ISSW 2013, withdrawn after publication of similar paper by Genswein in TAR Vol. 31, No. 4, April 2013.
Every once in a while, the issue of ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) of avalanche transceivers is popping up. There are at least three mechanisms by which avalanche transceivers may suffer some kind of interference from other equipment. Besides the best known interference to a searching receiver, there may also be interference to a transmitting transceiver or even to a transceiver in any state. After explaining the mechanisms of interference, some hints are given on how to check for various types of interference.
"Field Line" Search Revisited
Poster presentation at ISSW 2014
The avalanche transceiver field line search is actually not a search along the field lines, but along the path given by the projection of the field lines onto the plane of the searching transceiver. The shape of the magnetic field that is emanating from a buried transceiver is investigated. The projection of the field lines onto the plane of the searching transceiver is calculated in a three-layered space: air, snow and soil. It depends on the orientation of the buried transmitter's antenna and on the dielectric properties of the individual layers. Some rules for optimized searching can be derived from the results of these calculations.
"Field Line" Search Revisited
ICAR Conference 2014 South Lake Tahoe, US
The avalanche transceiver field line search is actually not a search along the field lines, but along the path given by the projection of the field lines onto the plane of the searching transceiver. Some rules for optimized searching can be derived from the results of these investigations.
Barryvox History
August 10, 2017
The history of the Barryvox started almost 50 years ago.
And the product is still very popular, which is not very
common for an electronic device. The document describes
the beginnings and the many facets of the Barryvox up to
the most recent versions.
The document also covers the very first transceiver that
was invented by John Lawton and the frequency and
standardization issues.
Search Path
ICAR Conference Montreux 2022
Distance and direction information on the display of an avalanche transceiver operating in search mode depend on the incident field lines of the magnetic field that is produced by a buried transceiver. The two of then determine the path that a user will walk when doing a search. The search path is usually not a straight line towards the location of the buried transceiver, but may take an unexpected detour. The SearchPath program can be used to simulate search paths depending on many parameters such as different snow and soil layers, burial depth, buried transceiver orientation, searching transceiver elevation above the snow surface, number of antennas in the searching transceiver. The tool is useful for personal investigations/studies, designing challenging training scenarios, preparing graphics for documentation and manuals and for developing new (better?) transceivers.