Black Diamond Guide BT Avalanche Beacon
With a massive 60m circular range, mark/scan function, Bluetooth® and an auto-adjusting antenna switch, the professional-grade Black Diamond Guide BT beacon offers industry-standard performance.
- Huge, 60m circular range, 60m search strip and 3 antennas offer pinpoint accuracy for extended, symmetrical searches
- Self-check function ensures antennas are always accurate
- DSP (Digital Signal Processor) picks up beacons transmitting drifted signals
- Bluetooth connection allows you to manage settings, software updates and battery optimization from your smartphone
- Mark and scan function lets you flag multiple burial locations
- Reliable direction and distance indication from the point of original signal
- Integrated inclinometer makes it easy to assess slope angles
- Continuous carrier mode allows use with with older analog beacons
- Housing features soft-touch contact points for improved handling
- Harness-style carrying pouch provides comfortable, streamlined storage and fast removal for beacon practice and emergency response
- Compatible with Pieps TX600 Mini Transmitter (sold separately) and iProbe (not included) for added search capabilities
- Software updates can be made via Bluetooth or USB (cord not included)
Imported.
View all Black Diamond Avalanche Transceivers| Best Use | Backcountry Skiing |
|---|---|
| Analog or Digital | Digital |
| Range | 60 meters |
| Antennas | 3 |
| Multiple Burials | Yes |
| Marking Function | Yes |
| Batteries | 3 AAA |
| Dimensions | 4.5 x 2.9 x 1.1 inches |
| Weight | 7.9 ounces |
Review this Product
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Works fine until snow contact
Used maybe three times then died because of water damage. Was practicing rescues and I guess it got too much snow on it and the battery area corroded such that it no longer turns on. This is the 2nd BD product I've lost to battery corrosion. Seems silly getting snow on an avy beacon would kill it almost instantly...
Recall is completely mismanaged
Consider avoiding until the recall is complete. The voluntary recall is ridiculous - my tracker gets stuck in different positions and you have to make sure it switches (I absolutely do not trust it in an emergency - I have to remove my gloves to switch it and then wait until I'm sure it has switched as it sometimes requires a few toggles), and the bluetooth doesn't work. They ask for a video. I send a video. They confirm that it has failed video inspection (!!!) and ask me to send it in for evaluation. I ask what I'm expected to do in the meantime. They say, send it in and, literally, "hang tight." It is still ski season, folks! For a company like Black Diamond, this is the second time I've been baffled by their lack of care for a defective product. I'm now going to purchase a non-BD device, and will assume that BD will just take my money on their recalled device they have already determined has failed inspection. Completely unacceptable.
High end beacon for advanced back-country
As a backcountry patroller and member of SAR, I look for a beacon that I can use on a daily basis as well for if a bad day occurs and I'm looking for multiple burials of public. This beacon is a nice step up from another Pro model I have been using. But before using this beacon, DO download and read/learn the manual. With so many features, you should be comfortable with them before you need them. With that said, it is designed so you can use this beacon right out of the box. The manual is needed to dig deeper in to the features that make this an advanced level beacon.
Many excellent features & improvements.
I had a yellow/gray PIEPS pro for awhile. Worked great until the little plastic door hinge broke. (Not the plastic pin, but the outer plastic that held the pin in. Bad design as it’s right on the edge of the unit...) New PIEPS/BD pro unit is redesigned better for where that pin hinge is located. I also love how it can be turned on, and put away. No need to wait and watch it go through it’s self check. Now it vibrates if the self check is good. Processor seems much faster as well. I have not tested the full circular 60m range yet.
Many excellent features & improvements.
I had a yellow/gray PIEPS pro for awhile. Worked great until the little plastic door hinge broke. (Not the plastic pin, but the outer plastic that held the pin in. Bad design as it's right on the edge of the unit...) New PIEPS/BD pro unit is redesigned better for where that pin hinge is located. I also love how it can be turned on, and put away. No need to wait and watch it go through it's self check. Now it vibrates if the self check is good. Processor seems much faster as well. I have not tested the full circular 60m range yet.
Mixed Feelings
If I could give this three and a half stars I would. It's processor is incredibly slow and takes a while to get used to. I have had a couple instances with ghosting but only two or three with the 6 days I've practiced with it. Sliding the device on and from send to search mode is always difficult but that's good (I sometimes have a hard time doing it with gloves). Overall, I hope Pieps releases an update so that the processor is faster but it is a pieps beacon so the processor is obviously slow compared to other manufacturers.
Intuitive, Easy To Use Transceiver
I'm an avalanche educator who practices and teaches rescue skills often, and I just switched to the BD Guide this season. I LOVE this beacon. It's very easy to use, even for multiple burials. The range is excellent, the processor is fast, and I love that I can get updates for it via the Pieps app. I have spent a bunch of time in the beacon park with it and the flagging function works great, even with 3 or 4 burials. I find the carrying harness to be simple and comfortable. Can't recommend this beacon enough!
Best transceiver I have worked with yet
Any doubts I had transitioning from the Pieps to BD transceivers are totally gone. (they are the same, I am just skeptical of new things) This is an awesome transceiver. The new sliding switch between stop and send is a much needed improvement on the older Pieps lock button. I am a Ski Patroller and have done many personal drills and side-by-side tests comparing the BD Guide vs other respected transceivers brands that are issued to our Patrol (cannot mention the brands). From my experience the BD guide out performs it's competition in all areas. The faster processing speed makes it easier and faster to follow the signal from first signal, all the way to the fine grid search. I always time myself and can say I am consistently faster with the BD Guide. I have also experienced ZERO ghost signals present in other transceivers.
So far so GREAT!
I've had a variety of Ortovox transceivers for years and after being unsatisfied with my last model, I decided to make the leap to the Black Diamond Guide BT. I did plenty of research on other modes and went into some shops to get some hands-on play time. I'm really happy with the features and functionality of the Guide BT and as an avalanche professional I'm looking forward to taking it into the backcountry with me!
Black Diamond Guide BT Avalanche Beacon
I purchased this beacon for a week long backcountry trip to Kokanee Glacier Cabin because I had an older single antenna beacon. The learning curve was very quick an easy. It has a lot of great features that the older beacon did not have. I am very happy with the Guide BT and really like the fact that I can update the software with my phone. It also has nice training scenario's on the phone app.