RECCO Avalanche Detector
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This is Steve's summary on using the RECCO detector. You can also download the RECCO user manual, learn about avalanche rescue scene management, and learn about avalanche rescue.

  1. Check for distracting signals:
    • Move 10+ meters from other people.
    • Turn up the detector's sensitivity by pushing the "thumb" control to the right several times.
    • Point the detector at the sky.
    • You should hear only static. If you hear pinging, it is probably on you.
    • Perform a self scan:
      • Turn down the sensitivity by pushing the "thumb" control to the left several times and then turn it up two "clicks."
      • Scan your body. If you find a distracting object, take it off or move it to the back of your body.
  2. Perform a debris scan:
    • Turn up the sensitivity by pushing the "thumb" control to the right several times.
    • Stand in one place and scan the entire debris field while sweeping side to side. Rotate the detector 90 degrees after each sweep of your arm.
  3. Perform a signal search:
    • Traverse making 20-meter (60-foot) search strips while sweeping and rotating the detector. Search on both sides of your search path.
    • Point the detector about 4 meters (12 feet) in front of you as you traverse.
    • If you don't receive a signal, repeat the signal search using 10 meter (30 foot) search strips pointing the detector 2 meters (6 feet) in front of you.
    • If you still don't receive a signal and you believe someone is buried, you can repeat the signal search making micro search strips (e.g., ~2 meters).
    • The "signal search" is completed when you receive a signal.
  4. Perform a coarse search:
    • After receiving a signal, quickly sweep the detector side-to-side to determine the direction.
    • When pointing the detector at the strongest signal, rotate it 90 degrees until you receive the strongest signal.
    • Reduce the detector's sensitivity by pushing the "thumb" control to the left. Do not reduce the sensitivity so much that you lose the signal.
    • Continue in this direction (without rotating the detector) until you lose the signal (you'll lose the signal because you are close to the victim and now pointing the detector too high, not because you turned the sensitivity too low).
    • The "coarse search" is completed when the signal is lost during the coarse search due to your traveling toward the signal.
  5. Perform a fine search:
    • After losing the signal (due to your approaching the victim), point the detector near your feet to the right, left, front, and behind you.
    • When you receive a signal, point the detector at the ground.
    • Reduce the detector's sensitivity by pressing the thumb control to the left. Don't lose the signal.
    • Move the detector forward/backward until you find the strongest signal.
    • Move the detector side-to-side until you find the strongest signal.
    • Probe at the location with the strongest signal.
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© Copyright Steve Achelis 2015-2025 • This is unofficial information.
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