IPOD and BEACON ISSUES !!!!!

[Rixster]

After reading a recent post with a link to an article warning people against using your IPOD while snowmobiling because of interference with your beacon. I was a little freaked out, I ride with my ipod EVERY time I ride. I really dont like singing to myself. So I did a test. Let me list the equipment that I used. I own 2 beacons. A Pieps DSP and a BCA tracker. Both are now 3 years old. They are both great units. I have a ipod touch 2nd generation. I had my son hide my BCA tracker with the ipod right next to in PLAYING. I searched for it with my pieps. Found it with no problems at all. Went right to it. Next I had him hide the pieps with the ipod playing music next to it, and searched for it with the BCA. Again found it with no problems at all. Next I had him hide the pieps and I held the ipod, playing music in my left hand and the BCA in my right. I could not find my other beacon. The BCA freaked out, ran me around in circles, display went from 1 meter to 15 meters and everywhere in between. As soon as I turned off my ipod the BCA went back to normal and I found the hidden beacon with no problem. Swapped beacons and had the same problems with the pieps. Again as soon as I turned off the ipod it corrected its self and took me right to the hidden beacon. I did notice the if I got the ipod about 4 feet away from the searching beacon then it started to operate normally. So I guess What I found was if I was burined with my beacon on and my ipod playing People could find me. BUT if I am searching for someone I have got to turn my ipod off first. It is VERY obvious that something is interfering with the searching beacon when the ipod is next to it playing music. I am NOT telling you that your beacons will act the same and PLEASE DONT take my experience and run with it. Test your own equipment and if you are questioning it DONT ride with a ipod. Is your life worth some music? Is your friends life worth some music?
So long story short. If you are looking for someone buried TURN OFF ALL your electronic devices first !!!!

 

[Spaarky]

Good post!!!!! I started the thread just to look for some ear buds that would stay in while riding. Then my eyes were opened quickly!

 

[UtahEdge]

Have you done any testing with GPS devices to see if it messes with with the beacon too?

 

[Scott]

Good stuff.

Good ideat to test both the searching beacon and the transmitting beacon.

 

[EagleRiverDee]

I suspect phones would have a similar effect.

Thanks for the great post!

 

[Oregongirl]

I think that as part of the rescue protocol all electronics should be powered off. Have the person calling for help on the cell phone step away from the search area to make the call.

Better safe than sorry, I always say. The least amount of possible interference the better.

 

[JesseJames]

Thanks for posting this. Jesse