Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 139 Location: Lynchburg, Va/ SLC
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:49 pm Post subject:
Hacksaw wrote:
Travis, the S1 is not “still too new.” It has been on the market for 2 seasons now. And there are a number of operations and organizations that like the S1 = the Snowmass Ski Patrol bought 30 S1’s and the German Alpine Club bought 500 S1’s recently. So, I’d say that the market likes the S1.
The market and ski patrol are two seperate entities.
The market pays much closer to MSRP and makes the company money, ski patrols pay pro deal prices and removes actual units from inventory.
The way to see if the market likes the S1 is to check its market share.
The patroller gets pretty mixed reviews.... whereas I think people are itching for a full digi model in this price range??
I've used the Patroller and quite liked it, but i'm used to using analog only tranceivers. _________________ "It's a strange world made up of extreme horizontal and vertical planes. Where you find diagonal, you find skiing."
~Chad Sayers
Fair enough! I'll read better next time. _________________ "It's a strange world made up of extreme horizontal and vertical planes. Where you find diagonal, you find skiing."
~Chad Sayers
Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1483 Location: Amherst, Mass.
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject:
Hunter-Va wrote:
Hacksaw wrote:
Travis, the S1 is not “still too new.” It has been on the market for 2 seasons now. And there are a number of operations and organizations that like the S1 = the Snowmass Ski Patrol bought 30 S1’s and the German Alpine Club bought 500 S1’s recently. So, I’d say that the market likes the S1.
The market and ski patrol are two seperate entities.
The market pays much closer to MSRP and makes the company money, ski patrols pay pro deal prices and removes actual units from inventory.
The way to see if the market likes the S1 is to check its market share.
Hunter
Distributor sales to individual pros (e.g., patrollers, guides, etc.), groups (e.g., ski patrols), and retailers are all at slightly different prices, but they’re all roughly comparable, so the profit margins are all very similar. Now granted pro sales are somewhat of a double-edged sword, since although pro use of particular beacons might influence the buying decisions of the recreational public, diverting too many sales to direct purchase away from retailers has the potential to alienate retailers. (I had that same problem in a prior life when I was an alpine race coach - the more things change, the more they....)
Bottomline though, except maybe for a very few high-profile sponsored skiers who might be getting beacons at prices way below wholesale (and I’m not even sure this happens at all), from a profit perspective, beacon sales are, well, beacon sales. _________________ My Dynafits are powered by GU.
Travis, the S1 is not “still too new.” It has been on the market for 2 seasons now. And there are a number of operations and organizations that like the S1 = the Snowmass Ski Patrol bought 30 S1’s and the German Alpine Club bought 500 S1’s recently. So, I’d say that the market likes the S1.
The market and ski patrol are two seperate entities.
The market pays much closer to MSRP and makes the company money, ski patrols pay pro deal prices and removes actual units from inventory.
The way to see if the market likes the S1 is to check its market share.
Hunter
Distributor sales to individual pros (e.g., patrollers, guides, etc.), groups (e.g., ski patrols), and retailers are all at slightly different prices, but they’re all roughly comparable, so the profit margins are all very similar. Now granted pro sales are somewhat of a double-edged sword, since although pro use of particular beacons might influence the buying decisions of the recreational public, diverting too many sales to direct purchase away from retailers has the potential to alienate retailers. (I had that same problem in a prior life when I was an alpine race coach - the more things change, the more they....)
Bottomline though, except maybe for a very few high-profile sponsored skiers who might be getting beacons at prices way below wholesale (and I’m not even sure this happens at all), from a profit perspective, beacon sales are, well, beacon sales.
I think Hunter-Va's point was not about the manufacturer's profit margins. It was about what retail price the market will bear, and retail market acceptance vs the pro/bulk/wholesale market.
And has anyone actually seen and played with a sample?
I've played with one a couple of times, both indoors and with single beacons. Initial impressions were both its impressive speed and smaller size than the original tracker. Hoping to get my hands on one this fall. _________________ all the good signatures are taken
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Boulder, CO
Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject: Tracker2 update from BCA
Here's an update on Tracker2 from the horse's mouth: production is just getting started and we plan to start shipping next month. But they'll be slow coming. We'll be testing each one individually as they come off the line, to make sure there are no surprises. We are continuing to test and verify the software, to make sure there are no bugs. Software is the last thing to get "installed" in the production process and is the most likely source of surprises if there are any. So far, so good! (But still no promises.)
Why has this taken so long? Lots of time and effort went into our real-time display. Increasing our processing speed while adding a third antenna was not easy. It took some very sophisticated programming. We have also invested a lot of time and effort into making the beacon perform equally as well in all temperatures. We have developed an "auto-tuning" procedure where the antennas re-tune themselves in the field as the temperature changes. We have always tried to make our beacons as tolerant as possible to variables beyond our control, such as off-frequency transmitters, external noise sources, and temperature variations.
For further updates on Tracker2 and our Float 30 airbag project, tune into our blog (http://www.backcountryaccess.com/blog) and Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/backcountryaccess).
Thanks for your patience!
Edge
Bruce Edgerly
VP/Co-owner, Backcountry Access, Inc. (BCA)
Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 5264 Location: 4-corners, NOT BOZEMAN!
Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the update Bruce. Will the new beacon be software upgradable?
Thanks again. _________________ “at core, men are afraid women will laugh at them, while at core, women are afraid men will kill them. And probably because they deserve it."
I hope not. I want a beacon I can throw the batteries in and go skiing. Shouldn't even need to read directions. _________________ Pittsburgh, it's in Pensylvania
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Boulder, CO
Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject:
Yes, Bunion, the software will be upgradeable through an optical communication port. Leo, this in no way makes it less user-friendly. We have designed this beacon for you, buddy. Out-of-the box easy. You've got more important things to think about than clustering with your gear.
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 4873 Location: Kicking it Wet-Coast style...Oregonian style that is ;-)
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject:
Figured I would bring this back from the dead...they say the first of Dec. 2009 they will be released...all the parts are in they say and all that is left is putting them together. Come on BCA...YOU CAN DO IT!!! _________________ Ski bum Dad and owner of Yeti Social/Marketing Director for Ski Oregon!
Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1483 Location: Amherst, Mass.
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:27 pm Post subject:
The Tracker 2 has arrived – or at least, *a* Tracker 2 has arrived at my house.
Initial impressions:
- About half an ounce light than the original, a wee bit shorter length, about the same volume overall, but housing is nicely cut away in the center to allow for enhanced grip. (I don’t have the harness – this unit is still officially marked as a Demo model and is for now owned by BCA, not me.)
- The pull-out tab for switching into Search has just the right amount of resistance. The tab is easy to grasp for switching into Search. (The design concept is very similar to the Arva Evolution/A.D.vanced/3 Axes models, but a bit better executed in my opinion.)
- Search tab is mechanically blocked from being pulled out while beacon is Off, and power switch is mechancially blocked from being turned Off while beacon is in Search.
- The beacon will beep if kept in Search for more than 30 minutes or if kept in Transmit for more than 8 hours.
- Fine search phase seems perfect: elimination of all nulls/spikes, distance indicators down to 0.0, and directional indicators shutting down at a point to be determined. (My unit shuts down its directional indicators consistently at a certain distance display, but that distance has yet to be determined for the final production version, as mine is still a demo. In general, keeping on the directional indicators into the fine search phase has its pluses and minuse – the competition ranges from 2.0 to 3.0, with the Pulse offering a 3.0 default and a 0.3 option.)
- Testing for accuracy of multiple-burial indicator light is ongoing.
- Range test is pending.
- Testing for any increase in processing speed is pending.
Details to be published in upcoming WildSnow.com blog. _________________ My Dynafits are powered by GU.
Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1483 Location: Amherst, Mass.
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:32 am Post subject:
With updatable firmware - as on the Ortovox S1, Pieps DSP, Barryvox Pulse, and now the Tracker 2 - there is no such thing as the final settings. The DSP is now on version 6.2, the S1 is on its third firmware version (although the differences beween the second and third are fairly minor), and the Pulse is also on its third firmware version (although the differences beween the first and second were fairly minor). Beacons are becoming much more like computer software applications that can change significantly over time, even if the hardware doesn’t change physically. _________________ My Dynafits are powered by GU.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
All of the comments above are owned by the
poster, telemarktips.com is not responsible in any way for the
content. The views expressed by the posters are not necessarily
those of Tt.com, its management or owners. Ski safe, be happy,
rip it up, smile on your brother and sister!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
