Black Diamond  Recon BT Avalanche Beacon

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For fast, accurate searches in the event of a slide, the streamlined Black Diamond Recon BT avalanche beacon features Bluetooth® capability and soft-touch contact points for improved handling.

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Features

  • 60m circular range and 3 antennas offer pinpoint search accuracy for extended, symmetrical searches
  • Bluetooth connection allows you to manage settings from your smartphone
  • Mark function lets you flag multiple burial locations
  • Harness-style carrying pouch provides comfortable, streamlined storage and fast removal for beacon practice and emergency response
  • Compatible with Pieps iProbe (not included) for added search capability
  • Software updates can be made via Bluetooth or USB (cord not included)

Imported.

View all Black Diamond Avalanche Transceivers

Technical Specs

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

7.4 ounces

Reviews
33 reviews with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

9 out of 10 (90%) reviewers recommend this product

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Most Helpful Favorable Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars
Loooooong Overdue Upgrade
Vern
5 years ago
Upgrading from a BCA Tracker 1 (I know, I know). Does the job and is very intuitive, played around a little searching for my Tracker and very satisfied. To touch on the 2-star review in this thread, if you're changing your batteries in the middle of a backcountry excursion you haven't prepared properly. Preparation is the main tool everyone needs to use when preparing to head into the bc. Making sure your gear checks out 100% BEFORE you go beyond the gates is your first responsibility. Beacon's don't kill people, but ignorance of conditions and gear most definitely does. It's very possible I'm missing something but I don't understand why swapping to lithium-ion is such a priority. As I was told in my AIARE L1 course, alkaline batteries power down gradually to 0% whereas LI's drop off the map - think about your cell phone going from 9% one minute to dead the next. Now, things may have changed over the recent years but alkaline batteries are still more friendly to the environment (POW anyone?), cheaper, and unless you're wearing your beacon outside your gear like a Jerry the difference in lifespan is negligible. Dissertation over, this is a great product. Beacon's are expensive but necessary and this one is great.
Vern
13 people found this review helpful

Most Helpful Critical Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 1.0 out of 5 stars
safety lock broke - not a safe beacon
EatYourGreens
4 years ago
This product lock button failed after owning it for 2 seasons. There is potential fault in the Pieps on/off switch. While there is a lock mechanism intended to keep the switch in position to "send" while skiing, the switch is faulty. After a hard crash I discovered that that the lock/unlock easily switched itself into off mode. Apparently I'm not the only person who has experienced this. Please do a quick internet search on Pieps products before purchasing this and you'll see what I'm talking about. It's not worth risking your life for a faulty product.
EatYourGreens
Seattle, WA
5 people found this review helpful

Customer Images

Chris
Rated 2.0 out of 5 stars

Made cheap

4 years ago

I've now owned both this beacon and previously a pieps beacon that have failed due to cheap plastic/cheap hardware. The pieps plastic cracked inside the battery housing and the batteries would no longer sit flush with the electrodes touching. This led to the beacon switching on and off while skinning or if it was shaken the wrong way. I replaced that with this model and the screw head that holds the housing shut snapped off. I will now be experiencing the joys of drilling out a tiny screw. Otherwise works great, however, this isn't a piece of gear I expect to fail or have to replace every other year. Next beacon I'll be looking elsewhere

Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
Vern
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Loooooong Overdue Upgrade

5 years ago

Upgrading from a BCA Tracker 1 (I know, I know). Does the job and is very intuitive, played around a little searching for my Tracker and very satisfied. To touch on the 2-star review in this thread, if you're changing your batteries in the middle of a backcountry excursion you haven't prepared properly. Preparation is the main tool everyone needs to use when preparing to head into the bc. Making sure your gear checks out 100% BEFORE you go beyond the gates is your first responsibility. Beacon's don't kill people, but ignorance of conditions and gear most definitely does. It's very possible I'm missing something but I don't understand why swapping to lithium-ion is such a priority. As I was told in my AIARE L1 course, alkaline batteries power down gradually to 0% whereas LI's drop off the map - think about your cell phone going from 9% one minute to dead the next. Now, things may have changed over the recent years but alkaline batteries are still more friendly to the environment (POW anyone?), cheaper, and unless you're wearing your beacon outside your gear like a Jerry the difference in lifespan is negligible. Dissertation over, this is a great product. Beacon's are expensive but necessary and this one is great.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
EatYourGreens
Seattle, WA
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

safety lock broke - not a safe beacon

4 years ago

This product lock button failed after owning it for 2 seasons. There is potential fault in the Pieps on/off switch. While there is a lock mechanism intended to keep the switch in position to "send" while skiing, the switch is faulty. After a hard crash I discovered that that the lock/unlock easily switched itself into off mode. Apparently I'm not the only person who has experienced this. Please do a quick internet search on Pieps products before purchasing this and you'll see what I'm talking about. It's not worth risking your life for a faulty product.

Age:35–44
Experience Level:Expert
No, I do not recommend this product
Helpful?
lucksta
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Solid and easy to use!

5 years ago

Love this transceiver, it's easy to use/operate, even with gloves on. I also pair it with the TX-600 dog unit and it works great and is easy to toggle between human and dog signals. Very happy with purchase.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
Sketchy
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Beep beep dawgy

6 years ago

Let me start by saying BD is making beacons cool again, Pieps has been dipping it's design hand into the nintendo 64 controller style for far too long. It perfectly matches my all-black millennial outerwear but the hit of blue is just enough to find it in my pile of gopro's and vape rigs. This puppy even sends harder than I do, it picked up the practice dummy at 55m when the other searchers had to walk in another 10m, a.k.a. that's fluxing good. I can see how some people don't like the SlideLock button because it FlickLocks itself off track or into a different position if you're not careful but lets be real, care is exactly what you should be taking when sneaking into the backcountry and if you're not being careful with your beacon then consider a resort. *Daps all around*

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
Lucas
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Continues the Pieps tradition!

6 years ago

Have used this numerous times, handed off to students, and would trust this just like all my Pieps before it. I appreciate the simplicity of this model. The only thing I've noticed is the slide lock, although an improvement, it looks like it could use some more engineering. Pros: -Trailhead check mode is the best on the market. Checks within 1meter but doesn't get messed up if you're too close, and it goes directly into SEND mode after you let go. I find that most people don't know about this feature but love it once they do. - Like the slide lock better than the old push lock to switch modes, better for larger gloves. However, it appears to need some tweaking. The slide seems to get a little off track and I doubt it will last 5 years. So far so good after a dozen days. - Bluetooth not intrusive and was easy to connect (with instructions). Have not changed settings yet. - Essentially just like my old Pieps.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
Katherine
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Easy to use. Great range.

5 years ago

Glad I upgraded to this beacon. Range has greatly increased compared to my last beacon. Use with mittens on wasn't that difficult. Searching is similar, no surprises. Pinpointing seemed better than compared side by side with a friend's beacon. Settings and use are pretty intuitive. I would give it 5/5 if I didn't need the BT App to change the battery type.

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
JD
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

APAULING CUSTOMER SERVICE

2 years ago

warranty issue still unresolved almost 2 years later. nobody willing to help, nobody who cares, nobody who will listen. just simply repeats the same BS over and over. incredible given how reputable this company is supposed to be. how do they still have a name with this kind of service???? absolutely pathetic

Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
No nickname
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

very simple to use

5 years ago

This might be premature but I unboxed the Beacon and with out even reading the instructions was able to quickly find a beacon in my back field. it is much easier to use than the Tracker I had been using for years. I am excited to try this in the actual snow this winter! (Hopefully for practice only!)

Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
Samantha R.
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Love this beacon

3 years ago

Have used marmot and pieps, big fan of this beacon specifically! Seems like it best adjusts for a multi burial, has a wide signal range and I enjoy the sound/vibration feature so I can keep my eyes on the slope or avy path instead of the beacon before my find search. My personal preference.

Originally posted on blackdiamondequipment.com
1 - 10 of 33 Reviews

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