History
In 1968, Dr. John Lawton invented the first effective avalanche transceiver at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory in Buffalo, New York, with the first units being sold in 1971 under the “Skadi” brand name. This unit, functioning at 2.275 kHz, converted the radio frequency to a simple audible tone that a human can hear. By following the tone to where it was louder, the beacon operator could use it to locate the buried beacon by using a grid searching technique.
In 1986, IKAR adopted the frequency of 457 kHz. In 1996 ASTM adopted the 457 kHz standard.
The following are the currently accepted international standards for Avalanche Transceivers operating on the 457 kHz frequency.
- 457 kHz, frequency tolerance ±80 Hz
- 200 hours transmitting at +10C (assumed inside protective clothing)
- 1 hours receiving at −10C (assumed handheld)
- operation from −20C to +45C
- carrier keying (pulse period) 1000±300 ms
Now that the frequency 457 kHz had become an international standard, and that the problems of range had been discussed and analyzed, everyone was most interested in the ease of use. With a new generation of entirely automatic apparatuses existing on the market containing a microprocessor that analyzed the beacons signals or pulses to determine both the direction and distance of the victim, a new digital age was born. In 1997, the first digital beacon was introduced at the Winter Outdoor Retailer show by Backcountry Access under the brand name "Tracker". The Tracker DTS soon became the most widely used beacon in North America and is still sold and used by many backcountry enthusiasts. Today, consumers have a wide range of choices for digital beacons from companies like Ortovox, Arva, Pieps, Mammut, and Backcountry Access. Although beacon technology is constantly evolving and improving, practicing and being familiar with your beacon remains the most important aspect for performing timely rescues and preventing avalanche fatalities.
Read more about this topic: Avalanche Transceiver
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