GREAT IDEA, NEEDS MORE WORK

I purchased this beacon after using an Ortovox M2 beacon for four years. I have worked in the ski industry for two years and am well trained with analog beacons so was skeptical at first about how much these beacons take away from thinking as I was used to. At first glance the user interface was really simple to use. After three weeks of using the beacon and putting it through its paces I came to this conclusion that I could not use this beacon with a clear conscious. The user interface was great, simple to use and made multiple burials a snap (also great for those who are not as well practiced at their searches). The only downfall (and a huge one) is the range, or lack there of. In comparison to the Ortovox F1, the range of the Pulse was consistantly about 1/3 that of the F1's distance ...unacceptable. I could not keep this beacon, knowing what one day it might cost someone their life so it went back and I am back to an Ortovox F1 until the technology improves in the digital beacon field.

Great improvement

My first try out was at a avalanche training center at Andermatt, Switzerland I was able to test my response time over the older digital Mammut Barryvox, and the signal response was infinitely faster. The ability to shut off signals already found totally eliminates the confusion with multiple burials. With a little practice it's easy even for a beginner. Be careful though when using outside the US though, the Vital status feature is transmitted on a frequency only valid in the area you buy it. Apparently the frequency used by the rest of the world is illegal in the US. (Thank You US Army). But this only applies to the vital status feature, which only works if everyone in your party has a new pulse Barryvox anyway. Otherwise great product!

obviously an excellent choice for all

I watched someone with no skills take this beacon for the first time ever and find 4 "victims" faster then some pros. The simplicity of the tool is excellent! I am not convinced that motion technology will assist in triage scenarios of multiple burials, but the beacon is fast and easy, so it wins huge kudos from me. Seems like they need to universalize the beacon some more, but in general this beacon blows away peips and is a close second to the Ortovox S1.

EASY and FAST

I had the opportunity to try this beacon out in a controlled environment. It is a super easy beacon to use. The compass feature gives the beacon the very accurate readings. Another great aspect of this beacon is the multiple burial function. It shows you the signal that is closet to you and you are able to check each individual one off as necessary. Remember the only way this beacon is effective is to practice.

Cheating

When I took an avy course this winter, everyone else in my group complained that I was cheating (in jest of course), but thats how much faster and easier my searching was in comparison to others using BCA trackers and F1s. It was very handy for helping direct a group search for multiple burials as I could reliably declare how many were buried and to tell people which signal for them to pay attention to (to direct subgroups of searchers to different beacons). Still as with most beacons, I found its important not to move too quickly while searching. The beacon would sometimes get confused if you tried to move very quickly and then it would ask you to stand still while it reacquired its target. The symptoms of confusion usually were that it might try to send you the long way on the flux line. The cure for this was to stop moving and let it figure it out quickly. I wouldn't consider this a flaw as with all digital beacons its important not to "outrun" them.