There’s a couple of good quotes from that :
The video clearly shows that when a GoPro camera is on and in close proximity to a searching avalanche transceiver it can cause interference.
But we know that already and have done for years. It’s not highly original to go and test every device you can think of to prove a premise that’s already proven.
However, Barkhausen did find that within a range of 17 inches, electronic devices will alter the ability for a transceiver to search for a signal properly. Above 17 inches, interference is minimal, but within that distance, problems are persistent
Or, 40cm in metric. We already knew that as well. In fact I said that above
Clearly, more study is needed to be able to provide full conclusive data regarding different brands and products that represent the most risk for users.
I can’t see why we need more study. We already understand the science pretty well. You can’t go and test every device combination because that would be impractical and, by definition, you’d never complete the task. You can also reliably predict the result of pretty much every test.
I happened to be out with some guys preparing for their winter IML yesterday and we were messing around a bit with transceivers. I pointed out to them there was a good argument for turning your transceiver on with it stowed in the harness and on your body with all your usual gadgets in the usual places. The reason for this is a device like the Mammut Pulse does a fairly elaborate self check. That check will show up gadgets too close by or generating powerful interference. Or, turn it on holding it where you’re going to search with it. Or, better still, do both from time to time. I appreciate some people aren’t going to be as organised (sad) as me, but I do keep the same stuff in the same pockets and place in my sack all the time.
By and large this isn’t a big deal for anyone. We’re all carrying loads of stuff (me: two phones, gps, camera and sometimes a radio). We talk about going “radio silent” before starting a search but that can be a real pain if things are buried in internal pockets.
But there’s obviously a particular problem with a helmet or chest cam and that’s because it’s on your head and you’ll usually bring your transceiver in search mode to within 40cm of your face to read it*. So, turn it off. Which is a shame, there’s several good reasons to have footage of searches.
* unless you’re a ski tourer and your average age means a) you’ve not got a helmet b) there’s no camera on the helmet you’re not wearing and c) your eyesight isn’t great and you hold everything at arms length to read these days anyway.