Beacon interference

BeachSled

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I see that you are trying to search with the interfering device next to you as "the searcher" and you are receiving interference.

Have you tried to put a beacon in transmit with a interfering device next to it and then use a second beacon to search?

I haven't tried it but wonder how much it would interfere with you being recovered?

I firmly believe that if you are searching for someone you should turn your electronics off when doing so to limit the chances of interference and aid in a quicker rescue. But I find it hard to believe that the searching beacon would have issues searching for you as a victim (with electronics on)?

Just a thought and something I will try out the next time I am out riding.


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RGM

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So tried the test last nite.... Ortovox s+1 beacon on right side of body, bca radio in airbag backpack on left side and remote on left front pack strap, and iphone in left side pockets(tried in pants, and jacket pocket).... And had same results testing with and without radio and iphone.... Tried from all different directions. Absolutely no interference

You basically need to put your electronics right on the beacion before you will get interference. That's why the CAA recommends 30cm away. For those poo poo having your phone on do you also turn your radio off?
 

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Spot in sos mode WILL interfere with them. Well a bca tracker dts anyways. I had mine on me durning the mcbride Avalanche and doing a search pattern every time the spot transmitted an sos signal my tracker would give a false reading. Once I set it down and got far enough away I wouldn't get any false readings. I have tested my beacon in search mode with the spot on and "idle" when I first got the spot and there was no interference. Not really the ideal way to find out the spot interferes with beacons in the sos mode but I thought I would mention this so others are aware.


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rightsideup

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I have not read the thread from the the start but the ford electronic key fob interferes with many beacons. Mine not so much so I have a system where I do not have any interference from any type.
 

imdoo'n

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my feeling was why take a chance, your life is at stake.
 

LUCKY 7

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I didn;t read this whole thread but I spent the last 2 hours testing my beacons(all with new batteries) and was blown away by new phone. My old phone didn't cause any issues but my new phone did and will be turned off at the start of each day.
 

brian h

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after reading this it seems there is arguments from both sides saying to turn off electronics so they will not interfere, to they wont interfere as long as they are 20cm away,but if you go on the avalanche canada site they have about interference and distance, they have 2 different distance for your electronics, one is for when in transmit and the other is for when in search mode. you would think avalanche canada would of tested and would be accurate. in search they state 50cm, in transmit its half that . so if the distance changes from transmit to search that should be taken into consideration when people say in search your beacon is in your hand and not against you,so your beacon will always be the safe 20 cm. im no expert on this just putting on here what avalanche canada has. i have spent the time with my electronics and beacon for locations i care everything and have not seen any interference. imo test for yourself and know your safe. everybody will seem to give different opinion i seem to believe avalanche canada will be the most accurate info and i believe they also have the distance at the higher end just to be safe. did find it interesting how on a previous post one guy tested how old cell phone did not cause interference and new cell phone did, maybe a person should remeber to test any time new electronics is added to there set up. this is not to start arguments just to inform people they can go to a reliable source like avalanche canada and search for there own peice of mind. no matter what you pack for safety its only as good as the operator, so imo practise with your beacon and if you havent taken a ast course i would recomend it.
 
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Zrock

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Not misinformation, smarts. When that phone is on and in your pocket and you go to search for some one it will screw up the readings. That's what happened to me on the simulation. Time is precious and when the adrenalin is flowing you won't be thinking "gee I should turn my phone off so I can find my buried buddy", but hey maybe that's just me

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Their is a perfect example of why clubs, groups, should have simulations once and a while. So you do think clearly when the adrenalin is flowing and do not make mistakes. I know groups of riders that everytime they go out they have a safety meeting before they head out and go over the steps and procedures and test all their equipment. That 1/2 hour safety meeting is nothing in a day of sledding
 

Heimie

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I asked in AST1 about airplane mode, and was told to turn my phone OFF. So, I thought, I have no reception on the mountains I have been riding, why even take it with me? So now it is turned off and in my pack, just in case. Also I have an older digital camera I keep in my handlebar bag for pictures. Seems to work very well for me.

And I would also like to state that for the distances that other electronics should be from your beacon, including GoPros (not sure if anyone mentioned this) it said in my beacon manual (Pieps DSP Sport) the distances required. 50 cms for receiving. That seems pretty far for arms length while running around looking for my riding buddy.

For me, I don't want to take the chance and haven't done much testing, so I am following the manual and the AST1 instructor's advice. I don't know about transmitting distances, but if something happens to me, I don't want anything to make it more difficult for anyone to find me.
 
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2010m8

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Spot in sos mode WILL interfere with them. Well a bca tracker dts anyways. I had mine on me durning the mcbride Avalanche and doing a search pattern every time the spot transmitted an sos signal my tracker would give a false reading. Once I set it down and got far enough away I wouldn't get any false readings. I have tested my beacon in search mode with the spot on and "idle" when I first got the spot and there was no interference. Not really the ideal way to find out the spot interferes with beacons in the sos mode but I thought I would mention this so others are aware.


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I would like to make an update to this and mention that anytime I have asked a supplier/seller (even at sled shows)if they know that they interfere with beacons I always get a surprised look on there face and they have no answer. So as mentioned in other posts on here, do your homework and test prior to use. This one is hard to test but again I want mention a spot in SOS mode WILL interfere and at greater than 50cm distance.
 

ferniesnow

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Spot in sos mode WILL interfere with them. Well a bca tracker dts anyways. I had mine on me durning the mcbride Avalanche and doing a search pattern every time the spot transmitted an sos signal my tracker would give a false reading. Once I set it down and got far enough away I wouldn't get any false readings. I have tested my beacon in search mode with the spot on and "idle" when I first got the spot and there was no interference. Not really the ideal way to find out the spot interferes with beacons in the sos mode but I thought I would mention this so others are aware.


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I would like to make an update to this and mention that anytime I have asked a supplier/seller (even at sled shows)if they know that they interfere with beacons I always get a surprised look on there face and they have no answer. So as mentioned in other posts on here, do your homework and test prior to use. This one is hard to test but again I want mention a spot in SOS mode WILL interfere and at greater than 50cm distance.

It may be a dumb question and maybe I missed something but why would you have the SPOT in SOS mode? You transmit the SOS and then when the signal goes to the satellite the SOS mode should shut off. No?
 

2010m8

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Not a dumb question at all as I didn’t know this as well until spot contacted me later that night after using the sos. This is because I was involved in the Renshaw avy couple years ago. So once a spot is put into sos mode it will continue to transmit your location until the sos is cancelled by pushing the the sos button again or until they get a hold of you or your contacts to verify that the incident is over. This is so they can update SAR with your location if you are on the move from the first point of contact. Just shutting off the spot doesn’t cancel the sos. They will assume that you are still in trouble and the battery in the spot has died. I don’t remember how often it transmits but It will continue do so until it’s cancelled. I hope this helps.
 

ferniesnow

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Not a dumb question at all as I didn’t know this as well until spot contacted me later that night after using the sos. This is because I was involved in the Renshaw avy couple years ago. So once a spot is put into sos mode it will continue to transmit your location until the sos is cancelled by pushing the the sos button again or until they get a hold of you or your contacts to verify that the incident is over. This is so they can update SAR with your location if you are on the move from the first point of contact. Just shutting off the spot doesn’t cancel the sos. They will assume that you are still in trouble and the battery in the spot has died. I don’t remember how often it transmits but It will continue do so until it’s cancelled. I hope this helps.

Thank you. I didn't know this little bit of information.
 
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