Page 17 - 2009 AMA Winter

Pieps Freeride Price: £115
Antennae: 1 Type: Analogue
The Freeride is quite different to most transceivers, in that it is tiny. It weighs in at just 110g including the battery. If ski mountaineering races are your thing this could be just what you are looking for. It is also the cheapest transceiver on the market.
However, with just one antenna this is a very slow device to search with unless you are highly experienced. Overall I think this unit is highly specialised, and should only be considered by those who count every gram and are thoroughly practised in its use.
Overall Rating 2/5
Pieps DSP Price: £240
Antennae: 3 Type: Digital
The Pieps DSP is an excellent
transceiver. It is simple to use, and is
very efficient during multiple burials.
The ‘mark’ function is quick to engage. The
Pieps DSP Advanced includes the same fea-
tures as the Pieps DSP plus it includes a tem-
perature display, compass, bearing compass, and barometric altimeter. Personally I think this is a case of ‘bling’ on a transceiv- er and I see no point in paying the extra for the DSP Advanced.
However, the DSP is still a good transceiver. The only real negative I could say about this unit is that the on/off switch is magnetic, and it can therefore be turned off by a very strong radio signal (such as a ski patroller with a chest mounted radio). The odds on this actu- ally happening are very small, however.....
The following are no longer in production – Arva 9000, Barryvox VS68/VS2000, Ortovox F2/M1/X1, Pieps 1/2. If you are still using these you should first check which frequency they operate on. If it is not 457KHz, please post them to a mountaineering museum, or throw them in the bin. If they do work on 457 KHz you should still send them to the manufacturer and ask them to check the anten- nae.
Where to buy them – Most UK outdoor shops don’t stock transceivers as it is such a niche market. Two places I would rec- ommend you try are www.facewest.co.uk and www.snowsafe.co.uk. Both will deliver to your door.
Training – Please remember that a transceiver is only as good as the person using it. Spend some time training at the start of every season, and make the training hard! When I was in the Army I lost count of the number of times I was asked to find a transceiver buried three inches under the snow in a car park. Instead, find a slope, and deep bury several transceivers in rucksacks. That way people will understand the importance of probing and the com- plexities of multiple burials.
Other Equipment – Remember that a transceiver is no use with- out a shovel and a probe. Shovels should be metal to deal with icy debris, and probes should be at least 2.4m long and not too skin- ny (the ones that fit inside shovel handles break very easily).
About the Author
Stuart Macdonald is a former Royal Engineer, and now works as a Mountain Guide in Chamonix, France. He is also the Equipment Officer on the Committee of the Association of British Mountain Guides. He regularly guides and instructs military groups in the Alps and can be contacted via www.stuartmacdonald.org.
Tri-Service Bouldering League 2009-10
Overall Rating 4/5
7 Oct 09 4 Nov 09 2 Dec 09 13 Jan 10 13 Feb 10
– Boulders, Cardiff
– The Climbing Works, Sheffield
– Craggy Island 2, Sutton
– The Climbing Academy, Bristol
– The Indy Wall, JSMTC(I), Anglesey
The league is open to serving regular and reserve personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF
Registration @ 1200 - Competition starts @ 1230
25 blocs – 4 hours Best 3 scores to count
Entries on the day - £10 per competitor
For further details read the DIN or contact the organiser Maj Pete Skinsley on: 96161 5778 or 01793 785778
or email: amavicechairsport@armymail.mod.uk
ARMY MOUNTAINEER 15