Insert 2 batteries 1.5 V in the back compartment of the
SnowBip RT3, by respecting the marked polarities. Then
close with care the battery door, by tightening the closing
knob. Use only alkaline batteries of primary brand
(Duracell or similar), “AA” (LR6) size (14 mm diameter, 50
mm length).
POWER SUPPLY
VOLUME STEPS IN SEARCH MODE (1 TO 9)
The SnowBip RT3 has as many as 9 standard sensitivity
steps (represented by the figure of the volume,
to
,
which appears on the display), each step corresponding to
a different distance range from the transmitting beacon.
At its switching into the
mode, the beacon sets
automatically at volume
(max. sensitivity), step that then
decreases automatically, step by step, together with the
progressive increasing level of the received radio-signals,
according to the progressive approaching to the
transmitting beacon. Inside each one of the volume steps,
the intensity of the acoustic “bips” generated by the
SnowBip RT3 increases following the approaching to the
transmitting beacon. Once the highest acoustic intensity
has been reached (”saturation” value, beyond which the
intensity cannot rise any more), the automatic reduction of
one volume step springs up, together with a sharp intensity
drop of the acoustic signal (and of the circular bargraph,
which is visually reproducing the intensity value), to allow
the detection of new increases of the acoustic signal, as a
consequence of further approachings.
1
9
SEARCH
9
PRIMARY SEARCH PHASE
You must detect the first, even weak, acoustic signals. In the
lack of useful signals, the SnowBip RT3 sets its sensitivity
volume
on the step . In order to make the first
detections easier, move slowly your beacon from the left to
the right and from up to down. If there are more rescue
people, all equipped with their SnowBip RT3, then draw up
them fan-wise, spaced out up to 40 m each other, distance
to be halved for the rescuers at the avalanche borders. In
this phase using the supplied earphone can be useful.
automatically
9
SWITCH ON - SELF TEST - SEND MODE
Switch-on the SnowBip RT3 to the
position, by rotating
anti-clockwise and thoroughly the knob placed on the back
of the unit. A self-test cycle starts automatically, during
which you can read
few seconds, the
charging state of the batteries expressed in
(per-cent).
With new batteries, the reading can change from 95 to
99%. At the end of the self-test cycle, with successful
result, the “
” message appears followed by a short
acoustic signal. Then the beacon sets automatically into
the
, which is confirmed by a flashing led and
by a “bip-bip” pacifier tone, repeated every 10 minutes
(exclusive feature of the SnowBip RT3). When, at the self-
test cycle, the charging state of the batteries is detected
lower than 10% (down to 6%), then a repeated display
flashing of the battery icon and the “
” (Change battery)
message recommend to the user of changing the batteries
. If the user should not do that, he
would then risk of reaching a threshold (5%), under which
the energy reserve required by official standards for
considering the battery check as positive (at least 20 hours
on SEND MODE plus 1 hour on SEARCH MODE), would
no more be guaranteed. The failure of the battery check is
shown on the display through the flashing of the value “
”
and of the message “
”, together with the battery icon (of
course the beacon’s working would be however allowed,
until the residual stored energy could make it possible).
If, by chance, the self-test cycle should detect a beacon’s
damage (e.g. the break of an antenna) then the flashing
message “
” (Error), followed by “
”, would warn the
user not to trust anymore on his own beacon. The beacon
working would be nevertheless enabled (even if with the
weakening due to the kind of damage) in case this event
should occur just during a tour, but back to home the user
shall have to consider it as no more working and he shall
avoid to use it again on a tour before having it repaired.
ON
%
Ok
SEND MODE
Cb
0%
no
Er
no
on the display, by
as soon as possible
Note: the self-test cycle, even carefully made, cannot however be
considered as exhaustive; the user is therefore invited to return
the beacon to factory, in case he should find out some anomalies,
even if the self-test should end with the message “
”.
Ok
FROM SEND MODE TO SEARCH MODE
For switching the SnowBip RT3 into the
mode,
please press shortly and consecutively
the
key. The SnowBip RT3 gives out a short acoustic signal,
then it displays again the charging state of the batteries
(as %) and finally it sets on listening eventual radio-
signals, at its maximum sensitivity, corresponding to
volume step .
SEARCH
3 times
MODE
9
Note: the sensitivity of volume step
is very high and it has the purpose
of detecting radio-signals at a great distance from the transmitting
beacon; such a high sensitivity must be however used just on
open field, and not inside or around of buildings, which are always
seat of polluting and unbearable radio noise, which would wrongly
affect the displayed readings on the unit.
9
BEACON DESCRIPTION
LCD DISPLAY wide size, with automatic
back-light (see display readings at page 3)
“MODE” KEY for setting the operation mode
SEARCH mode: press shortly 3 times
SEND mode: press for at least 2 seconds,
up to the acoustical signal
·
·
WARNING LED
to testify the SEND mode operation
EARPHONE waterproof OUTLET
SERIAL NUMBER indelibly engraved
BATTERY DOOR with waterproof protection
DOOR SCREW with D-ring and coin-groove
means for hand operation
LOUDSPEAKER with automatic
compensation of the atmospheric pressure
ELASTIC HAND STRAP with clip hook
fastening to the body harness system
LIGHT SENSOR for driving
the display back-light (in SEARCH mode)
ROTARY SWITCH
to turn ON and OFF the unit
NAME LABEL sticking area
COMPARTMENT for 2 alkaline BATTERIES
1.5V (“AA” or “LR6” size)
VOLUME STEP-DOWN KEY
to reduce the distance range
(min step = 1: see the display window)
VOLUME STEP-UP KEY
to increase the distance range
(max step = 9: see the display window)
Outside detail of the battery door,
with RESCUE PROCEDURE memo label
1
4
USER MANUAL
ARVA 457 kHz
ARVA 457 kHz
ELECTRONIC AVALANCHE BEACON
ELECTRONIC AVALANCHE BEACON
ARVA 457 kHz
ARVA 457 kHz
ELECTRONIC AVALANCHE BEACON
ELECTRONIC AVALANCHE BEACON
USER MANUAL
USER MANUAL
CODE 7431300
SNOWBIP RT3
SNOWBIP RT3
DIGITAL 2-ANTENNA AVALANCHE BEACON
DIGITAL 2-ANTENNA AVALANCHE BEACON
FITRE S.p.A.
Electronics & Telecommunications
20142 Milano – Italy
via Valsolda, 15
phone: +39.02.8959.01
fax: +39.02.8959.0400
email: [email protected]
web site: www.fitre.it
Branch offices in Rome and Venice
Company Quality System
UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 certified
AC 8114 – ed. 0404 – ENG
• ARVA SnowBip RT3 (
User Manual
© Fitre S.p.A. – All rights reserved • The information contained in this publication are not binding and are subject to change without notice
code 7431300)
IMPORTANT WARNING
Just the fact of carrying with you the powerful SnowBip
RT3 can’t protect you against the avalanche risk!
The maximum care is always recommended when
facing avalanche hazard areas.
Always carry with you a probe and a shovel, in
addition to your ARVA, to shorten the rescue operation.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Your SnowBip RT3 is warranted for 3 years
from the purchase date against damages to
the product due to manufacturing defects.
This warranty does not then cover damages
to the product due to uncareful use or to
normal wear and tear.
Batteries and accessories (including
earphone and carrying items) are excluded
from this warranty.
GIFT-BOX CONTENTS
·
·
·
·
·
·
ARVA beacon SnowBip RT3
body harness system
twin-set earphone
2 alkaline batteries 1.5V AA size
storing cloth-bag
this user manual
TECHNICAL DATA
·
·
·
battery life: 450 hours in SEND mode,
plus 10 hours in SEARCH mode
operating temperature: -30 to +55 °C
storing temperature: -40 to +70 °C
Wear the harness system with the light grey
straps over your shoulders and adjust the
length of the upper and lower straps; the
beacon hand strap must be fastened by its
clip hook to a shoulder strap buckle, so
avoiding the risk of losing the beacon itself
when using it out from its sheath for
searching operations.
HARNESS WEARING UP
