[EDGE]ucation - Does my cell phone affect my avalanche transceiver?

Рет қаралды 2,070

Жыл бұрын

[Edge]ucation meets myth busters: cell phone interference edition. In this video, BCA co-founder Bruce Edgerly demonstrates the effects of a cell phone when searching with an avalanche transceiver. He uses an old analog transceiver to illustrate what electromagnetic noise sounds like, then replaces the analog transceiver with a Tracker4 to show the effects on a modern, three-antenna digital transceiver.
When your beacon is in transmit mode, there are no tangible effects of a cell phone on a transceiver search, even if they are very close together. In search mode, you can experience loss of receive range and even false readings if your cell phone is within a few inches (or several centimeters) of your searching transceiver.
The bottom line? Follow the “20/50” rule. Store any electronic devices at least 20 cm (8 inches-or one “hand width”-away from your transmitting beacon. In search mode, keep your searching beacon 50 cm (20 inches) away from electronic devices. This is one arm’s length, which is good search technique anyway!
Learn more about avalanche transceivers and shop here: backcountryaccess.com/en-us/c...

Пікірлер: 9

@dereksilkwood5860 Жыл бұрын

I think it would be beneficial to viewers to show this from the alternate perspective of the transmitting beacon, showing that there are no effects.

@enjinnine3074 Жыл бұрын

My cell phone caused my BCA beacon in search mode to detect multiple beacons when only one beacon was near me during a beacon check. It turns out I was just out of cell tower reception, and I believe my phone radio was continuously active trying to find a tower. Cell phone was on a table and not next to my beacon. Backcountry Access, can you confirm that cell phones can have more interference when the radio is active? Seems like more reasons to put your phone in airplane mode than just to save batteries.

@bruceedgerly7948 Жыл бұрын

We can confirm that cell phones do not cause any more interference when they're transmitting. It's the electronics operating the screen that create noise, not the signal itself, which is carried on a completely different frequency than the 457 kHz frequency used by avalanche transceivers. It is likely that the multiple-victim indicator you got was the result of other noise sources or even a "rogue" signal coming from someone else transmitting in the area. Were you in an urban environment?

@enjinnine3074 Жыл бұрын

@@bruceedgerly7948 , Your statement contradicts what I've read by well-known researchers, so I want to make sure I understand. A paper titled "Recommendation on how avoid Interference Issues in companion and organized avalanche rescue" (ISSW 2013) by Manuel Genswein et al. says about cell phones: "...inference may occur during communication (incl. synchronization with the network, communication of text messages and data)...use is restricted to short-lasting emergency calls/messages in minimum distance of 25m to the closest searching rescuer." Are you saying these statements based on their tests are wrong? Are you saying I could be on a 911 call while searching if I hold the beacon at arms length?

@bruceedgerly7948 Жыл бұрын

@@enjinnine3074 That is correct. There is no reason for the person calling 911 to distance himself or herself 25 meters from the searching transceiver. Arm's length is adequate.

@orlindraganov9273 Жыл бұрын

@@bruceedgerly7948 how about a smartwatch which is connected to the phone via bluetooth and also uses gps localization? Tracker 3 if it matters...

@bruceedgerly7948 Жыл бұрын

@@orlindraganov9273 Put the smartwatch on your non-searching arm so it will be at least 50cm away if you have to do a search. The screen on your smartwatch is the concern, not the Bluetooth or GPS transmissions.