Arva Neo BT Pro Review

The Arva Neo BT Pro is an ultra-capable transceiver with several professional-level features. It offers best-in-class range, a flagging function with a scroll, a group check function, an internal motion sensor and auto-revert function, a sensor for electromagnetic interference, the ability to switch between digital and analog search modes, the option to switch between alkaline and lithium batteries, and is Bluetooth compatible to manage settings and software from your smartphone. Although it struggles with accuracy, especially during multiple burials, any competent user could easily navigate these issues.

Performance Comparison

Speed

When we examine a beacon's speed, we consider how quickly the processor can relay information to the screen. We also consider any bugs that might occur during both the coarse and fine search phases and how those might cause a user to slow down in their search. The Neo BT Pro has a speedy processor and relays information quickly, which is particularly useful in the fine search phase. It is also particularly fast at processing multiple burials at shorter distances, a scenario where many other beacons experience a lag.

Interestingly, where we had issues related to speed is at the maximum extent of its range. At these distances, the Neo BT Pro struggled to lock into an accurate distance, which made starting a coarse search more challenging. It would also sometimes misread the distance as we neared the fine search phase – the numbers would suddenly drop from double digits to less than three meters, and we would have to unexpectedly drop to our knees to search the snow surface.

Interface

We appreciate a beacon that has an intuitive button layout and whose functions are easy to access. We want a simple, straightforward interface that doesn't impede our ability to perform a rescue – we want to focus on the task at hand, not be thinking about how to operate our transceiver. Professional-level beacons tend to pack in a lot of functions, with typically only a few buttons to access them all. Compared to other beacons of this caliber, the Neo Pro BT is relatively straightforward to operate.

Most of the functions are easy to access, and you can easily switch from digital to analog mode while conducting a search. The flagging function allows you to seamlessly scroll through multiple signals, and the group check function is accessible anytime from send. Our only complaint, which is quite small, is just that the Neo Pro BT requires a connection to the phone app to switch into pro mode. While this is a quick one time adjustment of settings, we appreciate when all modes can be accessed directly on the beacon.

Notable Features

The Neo Pro BT is easily among the most feature-rich models in our review. Some of our favorites that we feel greatly improved the usefulness of this beacon include the ability to manage up to four signals at a time, the ability to use Bluetooth to manage settings and software with your smartphone, and, in particular, the incredibly easy group check function.

It can be challenging to run an efficient function check of your group's beacons at the trailhead, but the Neo Pro BT couldn't make it easier. After initial boot-up just press the flag button while the "Group Check" icon is flashing, and voila! It eliminates the signal lock to quickly check the send signal of your partner's beacons. One thing we particularly love about this particular group check mode is the ability to enter it at any time while in send – which is not true of other high-end beacons in our lineup.

The other particularly handy feature is this beacon's ability to sense electromagnetic interference. There has been a lot of research conducted recently on how other electronic devices negatively affect your beacon's ability to perform properly. To help avoid any potential issues, the Neo BT Pro includes a sensor that can identify occurrences of EMI, indicated by a small icon at the top of the screen directing the user to move the other device an appropriate distance away from the beacon.

Accuracy

While fine-searching with the Neo BT Pro, we were able to land within 25 cm of a probe strike each time for a target buried up to 1 meter. This level of accuracy is where all of our award-winning beacons land and is common for most of the beacons in our test. When we test accuracy we only allow for one single bracket to see where the beacon lands.

During the coarse search, the Neo BT Pro struggled to achieve an accurate signal at the maximum extent of its range. After acquiring a signal, we would often need to walk in slowly because the distance would jump up and down for about 10 meters before locking into a consistent descending distance. As we neared the fine search phase (around 10 meters), the beacon would sometimes rapidly drop from double-digit distances down to 3 meters. This would catch us off guard, forcing us to slow down and bracket to make sure we were still on the right path.

Multiple Burials

Guides, patrollers, or other avalanche workers pay attention – this is one of the few beacons we endorse as suitable for professional-level companion rescue assessments, like the AMGA and ACMG's Ski Guide and the A3 Pro 1 avalanche rescue assessment. The Neo BT Pro will display up to four signals simultaneously, and any additional will be noted with a plus symbol and can be cycled through using the plus and minus buttons on the front. In our testing, this model was generally able to differentiate beacons quite well, even if two beacons were in close proximity (less than 2 meters).

The Neo BT Pro can also easily switch between digital and analog modes for more advanced applications. The advantage is any signal lock can be completely turned off, letting the beacon jump freely between signals while allowing the rescuer to hear them simultaneously. This design is essential for "micro-strip" searching, which is many professionals' go-to troubleshooting technique for complex situations involving multiple close proximity burials. What is particularly nice about the analog mode of the Neo Pro BT is that it still labels the number of beacons while also giving the current distance to the closest one.

While all of the Neo BT Pro's functions work as advertised, it does struggle a bit with accuracy in multiple burial scenarios. The weird distance drop we mentioned before seemed to get worse the more targets we added to the rescue. While we never had to repeat a search for a target, it was a quirk we needed to anticipate. Compared to other models, the range at which the Neo BT Pro picked up multiple burials after acquiring the first signal was much shorter. At distances where other beacons would have four signals displayed, the Neo BT Pro would only have picked up two or three.

Range

With a range of 80 meters with ideal coupling – as measured by Arva – the Neo BT Pro offers the longest range on the market. But our testing simulated real-world rescue scenarios, where you don't generally have ideal coupling, so we averaged the distances at which we would acquire a signal most often. The average range of the Neo BT Pro was still 62 meters, which is outstanding among the beacons we tested.

We think people typically put too much weight on the maximum range – in our experience, it doesn't actually help people find a buried target that much faster. However, if we're talking about the Neo BT Pro nearly doubling the search strip width of many other beacons on the market, that does absolutely make a difference in a rescue. The ability to walk straight downhill versus having to descend in a zig-zagging pattern is so much more efficient. Considering that the search field of an avalanche large enough to bury someone is often just slightly smaller than a football field, this is a pretty big advantage.

Should You Buy the Arva Neo BT Pro?

The Neo BT Pro is a capable beacon suitable for a wide range of users. It is an ideal option for all but the newest backcountry skiers and riders only because there are beacons that are easier to use during the fine search. But even for the person about to take their very first avalanche course, if you're committed and plan on practicing your rescue skills regularly – as you should! – this is a relatively affordable option that allows for an immense amount of growth. Even for the aspiring or seasoned professional, the Neo BT Pro does as well as any other we tested during the AMGA's four-beacon avalanche rescue assessment, which is one of the more demanding drills for an avalanche transceiver.

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