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Product Description:

Best For:

Everyone. The easiest to use.

The Tracker DTS is designed to be as easy to use as possible and so is a good transceiver for just about everyone. It is great for first time users but seasoned searchers will appreciate it's simplicity and effectiveness in all search scenarios.

The BCA Tracker DTS is a fully digital dual antenna avalanche transceiver.

Ease of Use

The manufacturers Backcounty Access (BCA) have deliberately kept the DTS Tracker as simple to use as possible. BCA have shunned features like digital masking and transceiver counting as their research has shown that all that really counts in the real world is speed and ease of use. When the Tracker detects a signal, the unit shows the user both approximate distance and direction of the victim. The searcher follows the directional information supplied by the Tracker and ensures the distance reading is decreasing and pretty soon they are above the person to be rescued. Like all avalanche transceivers the DTS Tracker requires regular practise to be fast and accurate but in our opinion the Tracker is the easiest transceiver to search with on the market.

Standard Mode

This mode is automatically selected when you turn the Tracker on. Just press and hold the big red button in the middle to enter search mode. Grid search until you receive a signal. Turn yourself and the Tracker until the red light is in the centre. Walk forward whilst checking that the distance reading is going down. Keep repeating until you get there.

Special Mode

The Tracker DTS does have a special mode which allows the searcher to manually mask a person who has been found but not dug up. However this mode can be confusing to some users and is not selected as standard. The user must press a button to enter this special mode.

Maximum Compatibility

An important feature of the DTS Tracker and one that is easy to miss is that of all the new digital transceivers the Tracker is the most backwards compatible with old analogue transceivers. All digital transceivers will detect a correctly functioning analogue transceiver. The problem is that many old analogue transceivers especially old Ortovox F1's have drifted outside the industry standard transmitting window. Now I would stress that this is a problem with the old analogue beacons not the new digital beacons, but BCA have decided rather than reduce bandwidth to increase overall range which would exclude these older transceivers (of which there are many) they would leave the range alone and attempt to pick up as many old analogue transceivers as possible. This is quite a technical point but shows that BCA are committed to avalanche safety as a whole and not marketing driven peformance figures.

About You

If you struggle with gadgets and want the easiest transceiver to use then the Tracker is for you. In normal operation it only has one button that you only have to push once. With practise multiple burial techniques can be used but are rarely needed.

DTS Tracker Features:

Harness -

Included

Batteries -

3 x AAA Included

Weight -

363g including strap & batteries

Battery Life -

200Hrs.(send)

Dimensions -

140x80x30mm

More Information

Avalanche Safety Information

• Avalanche Transceiver FAQ
• 2010 Facewest Transceiver Review
• Avalanche Transceiver Technology & Mulitiple Burials
• Effective Shovelling in Avalanche Rescue
• More Information Like This.....

In the multiple burial demo video below we have used the Tracker 2 but the special mode and method is identical to the Tracker 1.

Media Library:

Customer Reviews of BCA Tracker 1:

Average Customer Review: 9 Reviews    

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BCA Tracker 1 Review

Reviewer: Ian, Edinburgh   (13-7-2010)

Finally bought this transceiver two seasons ago, having hired a range of different models on a number of occasions. Luckily I have not yet had to use it in an emergency (and hopefully that will remain the case!).

I have, however, used it for training sessions and have found it very straightforward to use. The arrows (though only giving a general steer) make things much easier than older sound only models. I’ve also found the distance readout to be generally quite accurate. I tend to think that for the casual user who will not be using/training with the transceiver on a very regular basis simplicity is best and this is probably the simplest model I have used. Only slight downside is that you have to remember to turn the transceiver on whereas some older models I have used turned on automatically when strapped on.

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BCA Tracker 1 Review

Reviewer: Tim Howes, Bristol   (21-2-2010)

Great device. been using this for approx 5yrs now and so far so good. having said that, I haven't had to use it "in anger" and fingers crossed, never will. however I have done "drills" with it and it is very easy to use indeed - in my view, easier than Ortovox models I have seen. battery life is good (3x AAA seem to last about 3wks) and it is comfortable to wear. A little bulky but I don't really care about this. Would buy again.

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BCA Tracker DTS Review

Reviewer: William Redmond, Chew Stoke   (9-12-2009)

If you're planning on spending time off piste this year then you are going to need to think about one of these.
There appears to be a number of decent transcievers out there a at the moment. A few of my friends swear by their Pieps DSP units which seem to be unavailable in the UK at the moment.(No, we have them available here. That leaves the Tracker and the more expensive 3 antenna units.
The Tracker is probably the easiest unit I've ever used. I found an hour out in the park with another Tracker long enough to get confortable with it. This is going to be very important to the majority of Tracker users who want something simple and reliable.
The harness is comfortable for all but the largest users and when fitted is barely noticable. Recommended.

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BCA Tracker DTS Review

Reviewer: JOSEPH YEADON, Hindhead   (3-12-2009)

I bought my DTS tracker in 2008, and have used it on two week-long off-piste courses in the Alps (day tours) with instructor/guide plus 7 others.
In the inevitable 'can't go off piste until you can use a transceiver' tests, I was able to find single and multiple burials far quicker than those with more complex (or simpler) transceivers - the direction and distance indicators were great for following flux lines, providing you don't rush and allow the display to update.
It's range isn't as good as analogue/hybrid devices - so I would recommend this to an occaisional user skiing with other - but a regular/advanced user would need something with a longer range.
One serious point, though, having seen others struggle with cheap transceivers, is that cost should not be a factor when choosing your avalanche gear!

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BCA Tracker DTS Review

Reviewer: Paul Wright, Sheffield   (9-10-2009)

The transceivers I've used most are the Tracker and the Mammut Barryvox (older type, not the Pulse). My regular ski buddy uses a Tracker but I personally prefer the Mammut unit, which is smaller, lighter and offers a 'conventional' analogue mode with sensitivity adjustment for more demanding search situations.
However, the Tracker's ease-of-use is great and its 'narrow angle' search mode works well enough. I have no worries at all about being searched for using a Tracker - with a bit of practice it's an excellent beacon. If size and weight are your top priority, there might be better options but the Tracker is in my view a really good product, very easy to use and probably the most proven and robust of the digital transceivers.

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BCA Tracker DTS Review

Reviewer: Richard Johnson, Corsham   (25-8-2009)

I bought the Tracker DTS with a group of friends, none of us had any experience with trackers. We sat down and watched the DVD and then went out to ask the lifties how to use them - they almost laughed at us - how to use can be explained in a couple of minutes. However mastering them was all down to practice.
Within a few hours of using them we were all confident in either organising or performing searches. It's completely fool-proof, and the battery level indicator when you turn it on is especially reassuring. Best £200 I've ever spent.

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BCA Tracker DTS Review

Reviewer: jim brady, Balsall Heath   (31-7-2009)

Having practised with many different types of transceiver the Tracker has proved to be, by far the easiest to use. There are alternative produces with a greater range, or better performance in multiple burial situations but for "non professional" use I would recommend the Tracker. The harness that comes with the unit has a quick release system which also helps with the speedy deployment of the transceiver, a small but important feature when time is of the essence.

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BCA Tracker DTS Review

Reviewer: Alastair Thomson, EDINBURGH   (30-7-2009)

I have a couple of these that I lend to family members when touring. They are easy to use both in the inital and final stage of a search and are idiot proof.
There is no steep learning curve as with some of the older models. For folk not using transcievers every day this is an ideal tool. They take you quickly to the target.

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BCA Tracker DTS Review

Reviewer: James York (Staff), Halifax   (17-6-2008)

The DTS Tracker combines a clear display with loud audio signals to provide a very user friendly transceiver. The signal distance and direction is displayed very clearly which avoids confusion in search situations. The lack of manual controls also helps the user to concentrate on the search. Having used Ortovox transceivers in the past I found the Tracker much simpler to use and while practicing, search times definitely decreased. This has given me extra confidence and I would recommend it to beginner and experienced skiers alike.

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