If you practice with and know inside and out how to use your SOS beacon, it is just as good as the digital ones. The digital ones are (or seem to be) more idiot proof, which could be good when the adrenaline is pumping. Last avalanche course I took the SOS beacons had better range than all the digitals. That being said, I bought a new barryvox pulse last year. Older beacons should be sent in for testing and/or reconditioning.