If you re in the market for a beacon, the following guidelines may help you understand the differences between the options available.
All beacons transmit and receive analog signals.
The difference is in the processing of that signal. Analog beacons convert the inaudible radio signal of the transmitting beacon into an audible tone, echoing the strength of the original, pulsed signal. Digital transceivers, on the other hand, sample the received signal digitally, perform a mathematical algorithm on that information, and then output visual and audio signals. The real difference between beacons is not in the digital or analog processing of the signals, but in the beeps and flashes it emits to us, the searcher. Right now what we call digital beacons provide better visual clues with directional lights and a distance display, while their audible beeps are of varying value.