Updating E-Airbag Packs

Covered at The High Route and elsewhere, the established dynamic between avalanche transceivers and EMI (electromagnetic interference) is real and is something we all should be aware of. The potential list of EMI generators is long. And yes, they include the fancy GPS watch tracking your vert and electric avalanche airbags.

As mentioned in the comments by Slim (thank you), Alpride, the manufacturer of the E1 and E2 electric airbag systems, has updates available to help mitigate EMI when wearing E1/E2 airbag packs. We will note, and Alpride states this loud and clear on their site, “…the E2 software is already designed to minimize interferences. Beacons are not supposed to be interfering when the ‘standard distance’ of 50cm is respected.”

Ideally, there is the 20cm and 50cm rule. When your transceiver is in send mode, a distance of 20cm is recommended between the sending transceiver and an EMI-generating device, and 50cm is recommended when you switch the transceiver into search mode. Avalanches are not ideal, so the 20cm rule, in particular, is something to be mindful of, as the forces of moving and locking-up snow are considerable, and 20cm can become 5cm instantly.  

The E1 system update was released in 2022 and is accessible here. This update reduces the frequency at which the unit’s LED lights flash/blink when in Standby-mode and charge mode. The reduction in flash frequency, claims Alpride, helps reduce EMI in some situations. Below Alpride details the updates:

• The E1 software update is drastically reducing the opportunity for a transceiver in “SEARCH” mode to associate the E1 proximity interferences (50-30 cm distance from beacon) with a ghost signal (additional buried subject).
• Proximity interferences for a transceiver in “SEARCH” mode, in certain conditions, are still possible closer than 30-20 cm from beacon (as any electronic device), but the transceiver should not hold the proximity interference as a ghost signal, or only during few seconds, not as permanent additional buried subject (holding time depends on transceiver type).