RECCO Tabs Making Their Way

Crag Dweller wrote: Uh, yeah, it seems some are commenting w/o reading. Your post is a good example. Yes, as it stands, RECCO receivers are sold only to organizations. If, however, RECCO started selling them to individual consumers, they would be doing so in an effort to compete w/beacons. Considering RECCO tabs are becoming more ubiquitous, I have a hard time believing the people who run the company haven't at least looked at the option.

The Recco radar transmitter requires a large battery pack and antenna which do not fit in ones pocket or under clothes. You did not visit their web site did you? It's all there, especially the part about how it is not intended to replace other avalanche recovery tools.

Train your dog to be an avy dog.

Rick Blair wrote: The Recco radar transmitter requires a large battery pack and antenna which do not fit in ones pocket or under clothes. You did not visit their web site did you? It's all there, especially the part about how it is not intended to replace other avalanche recovery tools.

yes, i have. as i said, i understand how it currently works. i'm commenting on the potential problems should the company develop the product further. the fact that the current models aren't intended to replace beacons does not mean they wouldn't consider it in the future. the fact that they're making transmitters to receive the signals of both RECCO tabs and beacons is an example of the product's evolution beyond it's original intent.

and, with that evolution, they have a strong value proposition. it's a device that works with both RECCO tabs and beacons. all they'd need to do is make the power consumption and the transmission device more efficient so they were more convenient.

honestly, if i didn't already have a beacon, i would hope they would go that direction. if i could buy a device that would allow me to locate people in the backcountry who weren't wearing a beacon but had a RECCO tab, i would. that is, if i hadn't already spent the money.

My first post was a little surly. I think there are probably physical limitations on how small the Recco radar unit can be. The antenna probably cannot be much smaller and it probably has considerable power requirements so the batteries probably need too be hefty as well. Probably a EE on here who could set it straight on the potential for shrinking this stuff.

Beacons didn't settle on a single frequency until less than 10 years ago, tech changes.

I think of it as a highway VMS sign as to a static cantilever while driving in the dark -- one broadcasts various messages of pertinent info -- travel times, accidents, ice on roadway, etc (that would be your beacon); the other tells you there is a pending highway exit up ahead which your headlight shines on and then back to you with its reflective tape (that would be the RECCO tab).

your eyes can see both (this would be the device the responders incorporate).

Both types of signs are useful in our roadways.

Hand held affordable RECCO pairs for partners = doss, for body recovery at least.

What about a telescoping probe that reads a snowcrust in seconds, with a reading of % chance of a slide, potential scale of slide, optimal path forward.

What about floating Avi-ferratas, that stay on top of the crust, allowing one to tour up with a following ascender, and compressed helium charges that fill one's suit allowing you to float above an avalanche on the decent. Hopefully the Bond producers read this blog.

As my grandfather, who shoveled coal for 20 hrs a day, says: "whatever you can afford."

Buff Johnson wrote: Also, keep your eyes out for a Today show. There will be discussion on rescue technology & cost impacts. Don't have the details as of yet.

A quickie-doo follow-up.

A feature on SAR teams, technology and avalanche rescue will air on The Today Show Wednesday morning, December 30.

Post-Edit -- Scratch that, they postponed it until a later date..