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2 Distance Indicator/Battery Power Display Distanzanzeige/Batterieladungsanzeig Indicateur de distance/Témoin de batterie Indicatore di distanza/Display del livello batteria Indicator de distancia/Estado de bateria 10 5 3 Transmit Light Sendekontrolllampe Témoin d’émission Spia luminosa di trasmissione Indicador de transmisión 9 Loudspeaker Lautsprecher Haut-parleur Altoparlante Altavoz Search/Transmit Button Sende-/Empfangsschalter Sélecteur mode recherche/émission Pulsante ricerca/trasmissione Bot
Disclaimer: No avalanche beacon can save lives without a fully trained user. Practice frequently with your Tracker before going into the backcountry. Learn and understand the inherent dangers of backcountry travel. Become educated in avalanche hazard evaluation, route selection, and self-rescue. In addition to your beacon, always carry a probe and shovel—and always travel with a partner. Make sure all rescue equipment is functioning properly before venturing into the backcountry.
Avalanche Awareness ENGLISH This is a basic introduction to avalanche safety and awareness. We encourage you to read this manual thoroughly. On our website, you will also find a list of avalanche instructors and guides. We strongly suggest taking an avalanche course in your area before venturing into the backcountry. Before leaving, call your local avalanche forecast center and determine the danger level in the area you intend to visit.
Avalanche Awareness If you are caught in an avalanche: • Yell “avalanche” and wave your arms to alert your group. • Deploy your avalanche airbag if you have one. • Try to escape the slide by grabbing trees or rocks or ‘swimming’ to the side. • Try to keep your airway clear of snow. • When you feel the slide slowing, thrust a hand upward in hopes of it being seen. • Place your other hand in front of your face to increase the air space. • Remain calm, breathe slowly and conserve your air.
Quick Reference ENGLISH This quick reference page is an introduction to proper use of the Tracker DTS. For more detailed information, read the entire manual and consult our website: www.backcountryaccess.com. Basic functions On/off: Push and turn the on/off switch on the back of the Tracker to the "on" position. It turns on all LEDs, displays battery power in percent, and enters transmit mode. Change batteries well before they reach 20 percent.
Quick Reference Objective: Locate signal •If no "last seen point," search entire path •Rotate Tracker horizontally •Max 40m between searchers or switchbacks SIGNAL SEARCH >40m 20m 40m 20m 20m avalanche path COARSE SEARCH 3–40m FINE SEARCH < 3m Objective: Move quickly to 10m, slowly to 3m •Keep flashing light within center 3 windows •Move quickly in direction Tracker is pointing •Make sure distance is decreasing •Slow down at 10m Objective: Locate smallest distance reading (strongest signal) •Use T
Familiarization Remember, beacon searches are only part of the avalanche rescue process. It is equally important to practice the probing and shoveling techniques found later in this section. FAMILIARIZATION Adjustment/Fitting The Tracker DTS can be worn with or without its harness. The manufacturer recommends securing it with the harness. When used with a harness, the Tracker DTS should be worn underneath your outer garments, as shown in Figure A.
Familiarization the Tracker cycles through all LED's, then indicates the remaining battery life in the battery power display/distance indicator v. A reading of 95 to 99 percent indicates fully charged batteries. The Tracker will enter transmit mode (tr). The flashing transmit light w confirms the unit is in transmit mode. Power Supply The Tracker DTS operates with three AAA alkaline batteries. Use only high-quality alkaline batteries of identical age and brand.
Familiarization Operating Instructions If auto-revert is not engaged, the Tracker will sound a short alarm every ten minutes to remind the user that he or she is in search mode. Special Mode: Special (SP) mode is an advanced feature designed to assist expert searchers in specialized multiple burial situations. These situations are typically only found in guided groups where victims are in close proximity and one rescuer can start shoveling while a professional guide resumes the transceiver search.
Operating Instructions When searching, keep the Tracker DTS at least 12 inches (30 cm) away from electrical equipment, including cell phones. Turn all electrical equipment off if possible. The search process includes four phases: the signal search, the coarse search, the fine search, and the probing/pinpointing phase. Signal Search: The signal search refers to the process of establishing a search pattern and looking for a signal.
Operating Instructions ENGLISH Figure D Signal search Rotate the Tracker slowly in your hand, but move rapidly down the search path. Do not abandon your search path until you have captured a strong, steady signal. Ignore irregular signals, which can sometimes be caused by electrical interference. your direction of travel (Figure E). The four lights { on either side of center tell you which way to rotate the Tracker to engage the center light.
Operating Instructions Move your beacon very slowly in a straight line along the surface of the snow during the final three meters of the fine search. Ignore sudden fluctuations in distance and direction, often followed by no distance reading and/or "SE" in the distance indicator. These “spike readings” mean you are very close. The lowest reading will be near this point.
Operating Instructions Multiple Burials If you begin to receive more than one set of signal data, you probably have several victims within your receive range. Stay in search (SE) mode, and focus on the closest distance reading, attempting to engage that signal in the center search light. If you are roughly the same distance from both transmitters, the Tracker will often flash “SE”.
Operating Instructions Micro-Search Strip Method: This technique is more useful in smaller debris areas, like those often encountered in guiding exams. The user remains in SE mode and crisscrosses the debris pile in strips three to five meters apart until the next signal is detected. For detailed instructions on using the special techniques above, see our Advanced Tracker Manuals at www.backcountryaccess.com. Special Mode: For greater efficiency in close-proximity multiple burials, use special (SP) mode.
Operating Instructions If after finding a victim, no further signals are detected in SP mode, continue the search if there are still missing victims. Revert to search mode and perform a signal search of the remaining unchecked areas within the debris pile. Resume your signal search at the point where it was originally abandoned. For more details on multiple burials, please refer to our website: www.backcountryaccess.com.
Technical Specifications TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS • Frequency: 457 kHz • Batteries: Three AAA/LR03 alkaline batteries. Do not use rechargeable, lithium, Oxyride, PowerPix or any other non-alkaline battery. • Battery life: minimum 1 hour in search mode after 200 hours in transmit mode (approximately 250 hours in transmit only or 50 hours in search only) • Search strip width: 40 meters • Weight: 12.8 ounces (363 grams), including strap and batteries; 8.
Declaration of Conformity according to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014 Manufacturer: Backcountry Access, Inc. 2820 Wilderness Pl. Ste. H Boulder, Colorado USA 80301 Telephone No.: 303-417-1345 declares that the: Product name: Tracker DTS 457 kHz Avalanche Rescue Transceiver conforms to the following specifications: EN 61000-4-2 / 1995 EN 61000-4-3 / 1995 EN 55022 / 5.1995; Class B ETS 300 683 / 06.
Warranty Information Limited Warranty The manufacturer, Backcountry Access, Inc., expressly warrants the workmanship and components of the Tracker DTS for five years after the date of retail purchase. All parts will be either repaired or replaced free of charge, including labor, by the manufacturer. This warranty does not cover damage to the product caused by improper use or excessive wear and tear. Direct all warranty claims to your retailer or distributor.
