Buying a used beacon?
- Thread starter 97exc
- Start date
I don't see anything wrong with buying a used beacon as long as you can test it before you buy it. Make sure it sends and receives. Is certainally cheaper to buy used than new.
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CO_MapMaker
Well-known member
My ol SOS beacons are holding up great, bought them in '99. Hmm, may be time for a new Tracker 2!
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Bogus71
New member
I would think that most people that are conscientious enough to shell out the money for a beacon are careful with their investment. I would inspect the beacon for any signs of physical damage and open the battery door to make sure the battery compartment doesn't show any signs of corrosion. Finally, test the beacon and make s sweet deal.
Always depends who ya buy it from. Some people take great care of theirs and treat it very gingerly. i have seen others drop them and not think anything of it. Gotta say it's a gamble so know who you are buying it from.
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phatboyfilms
Well-known member
ck it first!
I would've told you no worries about using a used one, until someone showed me mine wasnt working.... The person selling it may not know if its really working either - just because it turns on doesnt mean much.
make sure you test it before you buy it. like i said, mine quit receiving last yr, but it turned on & looked like it was working. no physical signs of damage either.
this is how i was told to test ( i believe its in another post here): separate beacons out of range, then turn one to search & start moving closer to each other. note the distance when it picks up the signal (mine didnt pick up until within 10'). If you do it the other way (start close & walk away), i was told it can hold the signal it locked in when close & falsely appear to be working.
hope that helps someone. if the beacon works, used is great!
I would've told you no worries about using a used one, until someone showed me mine wasnt working.... The person selling it may not know if its really working either - just because it turns on doesnt mean much.
make sure you test it before you buy it. like i said, mine quit receiving last yr, but it turned on & looked like it was working. no physical signs of damage either.
this is how i was told to test ( i believe its in another post here): separate beacons out of range, then turn one to search & start moving closer to each other. note the distance when it picks up the signal (mine didnt pick up until within 10'). If you do it the other way (start close & walk away), i was told it can hold the signal it locked in when close & falsely appear to be working.
hope that helps someone. if the beacon works, used is great!
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rookie23
New member
ya ...like phatboyfilms said...just cuz they turn on doesnt mean they work properly..found this out the hard way...had an older SOS beacon..decided to upgrade to a new peips last year at the snowsho. rep showed me they have a function to test the Hz or frequency or whatever of another beacon...apparently the crystals in them can be damaged and not send a super accurate frequency..so when you search for it, it will lead you many feet away from teh actual beacon. mine was bad..led me 9' from actual beacon. my friends old sos was still good...so if u could find a beacon to test the used ones? 
Never bought a new one.......not sure why you would. mine are used and work very well.
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insanity
Member
Have you ever had to test them out in a real avy? The antenna inside them do wear out. So unless the beacon is only a couple years old I'd stay away from a used one. You'd be amazed at how many people don't even properly understand how these things work.
IMHO
fwiw,
they do wear out. most beacon manufacturers don't even repair beacons over 5 years old. they tend to drift from the 457 frequency as they age and that leads to a host of problems. the pieps dsp has a function on it to test the freq drift if you can get your hands on one. a departure of 80 or more is a failed beacon.
