Summary - The Pieps DSP is the only three
antenna digital beacon on the market. The DSP has the largest
search range of any digital beacon and a sophisticated and
easy to use multiple burial search mode.
Pieps returns to the forefront of avalanche beacon technology
with the DSP. This is the first digital beacon to process
info from three separate antennae, and has a longer search
range than any digital beacon on the market.
This beacon really shines in multiple burial situations, where
the number of victims is shown on the visual display. Signals
from found victims can be "masked", and a Scan feature tells
you how close you are to multiple victims. In single burial
situations the Pieps works similarly to the Tracker, providing
a visual display with distance and direction as well as an
audio signal.
We expect this beacon to be very popular this winter, combining
ease of use with advanced search capability.The DSP Advanced
is the same as the DSP, with the addition of temperature, compass,
and altitude readings. |
Enhanced by the latest DSP technology (signal
processing with a digital signal) and a triple-antenna system,
the PIEPS DSP not only offers an exceptional 60 meter range
but also greatly simplifies the rescue procedure, even in
the case of multiple burials. The DSP is the first beacon
ever to display the number of victims. As soon as the PIEPS
DSP picks up signals, the approximate distance and direction
to the strongest signal are displayed on a large LCD plus
the number of burials within range is represented on the LCD
matchstick men. Another revolutionary first for the PIEPS
DSP is the highly useful SCAN feature. Press the SCAN key
while in SEARCH mode and the DSP will scan the entire receiving
range and return an overview of all buried devices within
range classified in three groups:
Reading 1: Number of burials within a distance of approx.
5 meters
Reading 2: Number of burials within a distance of approx.
20 meters
Reading 3: Number of burials within a distance of approx.
50 meters
The optimized multiple search, the absolute highlight of the
PIEPS DSP, is based on a separation of signals via the digital
signal processor (DSP). If there are multiple burials, this
is clearly indicated by the number of matchstick men. By default,
the PIEPS DSP will automatically search for the strongest
signal. Once the position of the first burial has been located,
a searcher can "MARK" the signal of the first burial. Once
"MARKED" the first signal is now suppressed and the PIEPS
DSP will automatically search for the second strongest signal
and so on and so forth until all victims are located.
PIEPS DSP ADVANCED: The ADVANCED model comes equipped
with all of the features of the DSP plus additional options:
Temperature Display, Compass, Bearing Compass and Altimeter.
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Couloir: "This could
be the new face of easy to use, especially for multiple
victim scenarios. With three antennae and a more complex
processing algorithm, the Pieps DSP not only exhibits the
largest range of a digital beacon, it practically eliminates
"spikes." .
. . . The really cool part about this beacon is its ability
to "mask" a victim. One of the problems in multiple victim
scenarios is how to ignore the first victim found (without
turning the victims beacon off) so you can simplify your
search for the next victim. The Pieps DSP offers a feature
called Mark, whereby you can mask a beacon from being received
and concentrate on others.
. . . Pieps DSP clearly has the longest range of any multiple
antenna beacon, thanks to a narrow, 24 Hz receive filter.
To counter narrow focus of this filter, the controlling
microprocessor sweeps the filter across the full 200 Hz
bandwidth where legal signals should be found, but woe to
those with beacons that have drifted more than the transmit
tolerance call for. The presence of the third antenna helps
reduce, if not eliminate the phenomenon of "spikes", where
a digital beacon suddenly indicates the signal is further
away and bounces left and right.
. . .Another feature worth mentioning is the Scan feature.
Press this button and the beacon will tell you how many
victims are within 0-5 meters, 0-20 meters, and 0-50 meters.
This can help in refining a multiple victim search. I did
not notice any ghosting in this mode. One final note. Many
of the features of this beacon make it desirable for multiple
victim scenarios. In the case of a single victim scenario
it worked as easily as a Tracker, only with an increased
range, slower response time, and a weak audio signal. All
in all the Pieps DSP is promising. With a few revisions
it will justify a higher price."
Skiing magazine:"With three antennae, the Pieps DSP has the broadest range and likely won't experience 'spikes,' signals that are near, but not exactly at, the buried victim. Gripes: The processor eats up battery power. Props: Efficient and compact, it has an easy multiple search function."
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