How Does
How Does an Avalanche Beacon Work?
What is an Avalanche Beacon?
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Anyone who skis or snowboards in the backcountry understands the importance of an avalanche beacon. Also known as avalanche transceivers, avalanche beacons are used to locate people who have been buried by the snow from an avalanche. Avalanche beacons function as both radios and transceivers.
Avalanche Beacon Signals
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Avalanche beacons submit a signal known as a flux line pattern. However, in order to receive this signal, all the near-by beacons must turned on and in "receive" mode. The signal is a beeping sound, which will get louder as you get closer to the buried person, who is transmitting the signal.
Types of Avalanche Beacons
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There are two types of avalanche beacons: analogue and digital. Analogue avalanche beacons receive a signal from one antenna, whereas a digital avalanche beacon uses two antennas. The newer, digital beacons use the two antennas, along with a microprocessor to provide information about the direction and distance to the buried victim.
eHow Article: How Does an Avalanche Beacon Work?
