Wilderness Medicine Updates Fast Push #1 - Beacon Interference
Feb 9, 2023
This installment dives into the crucial topic of avalanche beacon interference. It highlights how electronics and certain clothing materials can disrupt beacon signals, providing essential distance guidelines for safe use. Learn that radios and cell phones must be kept at least 50 centimeters away during searches. The discussion emphasizes the imperative of understanding these nuances for safer backcountry experiences. Tune in for this timely advice that could make all the difference in avalanche safety!
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Follow Manufacturer-Centered Guidelines
- Follow industry guidance developed by avalanche centers and six major transceiver manufacturers to manage interference risks.
- Rely on shared standards from ARVA, BCA, Black Diamond, Mammut, Ortovox, and Pieps when planning gear layout.
Electronics Interfere Via Flux Lines
- Avalanche beacons use electromagnetic flux lines and any device generating an electromagnetic field can disrupt them.
- The growing number of personal electronics and heated clothing in the backcountry increases the interference risk.
Two Critical Interference Moments
- Interference matters in two moments: while transmitting (pre-trip) and while searching (on-scene), with different mitigation options.
- You can fix search-mode interference in real time by distancing or turning off offending devices, but not once you're buried.