Summary - The Opto 3000 is a very advanced
and highly customizable beacon that combines the benefits
of analog and digital technology.
The Opto 3000 is a sophisticated new Swiss design that combines
both analog and digital search technology.
This beacon switches automatically from analog mode, which
allows for a wider search range, to digital mode, which speeds
up and simplifies the search for transmitting beacons.
The Opto 3000 provides direction and distance info in digital
mode, using both visual and auditory clues to help the user
perform a flux line search quickly. The Mammut Barryvox beacon
is also fully customizable, allowing the user to program a
variety of preferences including "real time" audio, directional
info, multiple burial search, and revert to send mode.
This beacon is easy to use with factory settings, but is also
a great choice for the skier that wants the ability to set
all the features exactly how they like them.
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The Mammut Barryvox is a revolutionary Swiss
development in the field of avalanche transceivers. For the
first time analogue and digital search technology is combined
in one device. The analogue mode facilitates a wide search
range while the digital mode, due to its direction and distance
indicators, simplifies and quickens the search for victims
in distances from mid to near range. The Mammut Barryvox is
a mutual development between Mammut and Ascom. Ascom has a
twenty year history to offer, with over 100'000 Barryvox VS-68
transceivers sold. Many specialists from Alpine Clubs, or
involved with research, have along with experts from Ascom
and Mammut, contributed to the development of the new Mammut
Barryvox. They stand for a well conceived and reliable instrument.
The Mammut Barryvox is, weighing astonishingly only 170 grams
including batteries, extremely compact and robust. Due to
an automatic self check, an unmistakable on/off button and
permanent battery monitoring, handling is easy and simple.
The basic functions have been simplified so that a buried
avalanche victim can easily be located, even under stressful
conditions. Professional rescuers and specialists have the
option of activating additional functions. |
Couloir: Want digital simplicity,
but also want advanced features for multiple victims? As
long as you're prepared to read the manual and practice
with the various modes available you can have it all with
the Barryvox Opto 3000.
For those who don't want to fiddle, the default mode of
the Barryvox is plenty adequate. It receives signals at
a healthy distance, and provides accurate distance and direction
information. . . Aside from having to read the manual, the
weak points of this beacon are the LCD screen, which can
be fragile, the membrane buttons, and mediocre processing
time. That's part of what the fancy pouch and strap system
is for, to protect the LCD screen. Be sure to wear it with
the LCD screen against your body. You won't view it until
you pull it out of the pouch, and the strap system is superb
- snug and easy to figure out. As membrane buttons go, these
are pretty good, providing a solid, tactile click when you
press them. Though I say the processing speed is a tad slow,
it is more of a relative term. It's not the fastest, and
thankfully, it isn't the slowest either. If you slow down
(like you should) as you get close to pinpointing it is
fast enough. . . The real value of this beacon won't become
evident until you read the manual. Then its myriad of options
reveal its true inner beauty - customization. . . For some
this beacon seems complicated, but I love the ability to
customize it, and switch in on the fly between classic digital
and analog modes.
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