Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Tech Tips: Barryvox S Group Check Mode

Best Practices: Why To Use The Barryvox S Group Check Mode

It is the simple things that keep us alive and allow us to thrive--and the simple beacon check before headed out in the backcountry is no different.

While doing trailhead beacon checks I have found beacons that are not on, beacons that have dead batteries, and beacons that can send but not search. Simply put, a beacon check can save your life. But is it so simple? Can a beacon check be done incorrectly? What is the “best practice?”

Of course, just about any beacon check is better than no beacon check. The simplest form of a beacon check involves turning your beacon to SEARCH and moving towards your partner, who is in SEND. The number on your beacon should get smaller and smaller as you get closer, confirming that your 
A diagram of a simple group check from the Barryvox S Extended Reference Guide



partner is sending a signal. If you are testing multiple partners at once, they should all spread out 3m apart and walk past you, and you should see a low number on your screen with each pass.Is this good enough? Not exactly.