anyone have a BC Link Radio??
- Thread starter Brian32
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MtnT4R
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I've had one for 3 seasons now and love it. I consider it an essential piece of gear and nobody in my crew leaves the ropes without one. First and foremost, they are professional grade radios. Good transmission range, excellent battery life(4 days of standby time in extreme cold so you dont have to worry about recharge on hut trips) and the ability to switch to 120 different subchannels: this is invaluable when it seems like every yahoo on the slopes is chatting on every FRS and GMRS frequency- making lift accessed BC communication a nightmare.
Having the 'smart mic' is one of the best features- it locks onto the radio itself so you can stow it in your backpack or vest and run the mic right to a shoulder strap or avalung. It doesn't get in the way and you never have to fumble in a pocket to grab your radio, or check the frequency or battery level(power and volume are right there too).
My only complaint is the frequency selector wheel doesn't have a lock, so you have to check it before transmitting to make sure you're still on your group's channel.
$150 sounds a bit steep, but I think its well worth the price when you consider that the overwhelming majority of avalanche injuries and fatalities are caused by the Human Factor, and most of those are caused by breakdown in communication. Being in constant communication is essential: the first guy down can point out terrain hazards nobody sees from the top, let you know about stability problems or if he had to change the safe zone to meet- likewise you can tell your buddy he's parked in the slide path and to move his ass off the danger zone. Trying to communicate any of that by shouting or hand gestures is basically impossible. Not to mention that we occasionally lose each other in thick trees and can regroup much more easily than by waiting and shouting and guessing.
When the consequences of communication failure might literally mean your life or the lives of your friends, I'd definitely say don't half ass it: buy the best. And honestly, I don't really like a lot of BCA's products(other companies have superior products at better prices), but with the radio they nailed pretty much everything, and they really don't have any decent competition.
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