The Pieps Pro IPS was recalled on November 21, 2024 due to "an issue with the size of the battery compartment." This transceiver should be returned to Pieps/Black Diamond to be repaired. Learn more about this recall.
Summary: Pieps has once again pushed the innovation envelope on avalanche transceivers. The IPS is a high-end, high-priced avalanche transceiver with state-of-the-art features.
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Antennas
The IPS has a unique fold-out antenna that switches the transceiver into search mode. It is a cool concept: Moving the x-axis antenna away from the transceiver's electronics reduces the electronic interference caused by the beacon which (presumably) increases the IPS's reception range. It also makes it obvious when the transceiver is in search or send mode.
The IPS analyzes the signal on both antennas simultaneously. All other multiple-antenna transceivers alternate between analyzing the signal strength on the two antennas. I haven't used the IPS enough to know how beneficial this is while searching, but I expect it to be significant. Learn more about this unique feature.
Interference
Pieps is so proud of the IPS's ability to deal with interference that the transceiver was named "IPS" which is an acronym of "Interference Protection System."
The IPS is designed to deal with both electronic and metallic interference.
Scanning
The IPS has two "scan" modes that are helpful when searching for multiple burials. Both scan modes are activated by pressing and releasing the Scan button when searching (i.e., when the antenna is extended).
The "regular" scan mode displays the number of transmitting beacons that are within 5, 20, and 90 meters. This mode is similar to previous Black Diamond/Pieps transceivers and provides a quick overview of the situation (e.g., "We have 1 transmitter within 5 meters and 3 transmitters within 20 meters."). You need to watch the screen closely as the scanned information is only displayed for a few seconds. You should also hold the transceiver still while scanning.
The "detailed" scan mode is an advanced feature that can be enabled using the Pieps app (view my suggested app settings). When enabled and the scan mode is activated, each time the Function button is pressed, the distance and direction to the next transmitter will be displayed and a box will highlight the appropriate stick figure at the bottom of your display. This is wickedly cool and relatively easy to learn.
Comfort
The IPS is about the same size as a Tracker 4 which is a little bigger than a Barryvox S2.
The harness is a plastic frame (similar to the Barryvoxes) with a very unique rubber retention strap. It is easy to extract the transceiver from the harness and to activate search mode when wearing bulky handwear.
Analog Mode
If enabled (using the Pieps app), you can activate a pseudo-analog mode by pressing the Scan button when in search mode until you hear analog audio. I am a big fan of being able to hear analog audio, but the analog audio on the IPS (as with the Pieps Guide) is unusually noisy, and unlike the Barryvox S2, the Pieps transceivers do not display the distance or direction when in analog mode! As implemented, the analog mode on the IPS is almost worthless.
Create a Beacon Park
As with the other Pieps/Black Diamond avalanche transceivers that are Bluetooth compatible, you can use the Pieps app to create a mobile beacon park using multiple Black Diamond/Pieps transceivers. Learn more about this on YouTube.
Inclinometers
The IPS has a built-in inclinometer that can be enabled using the Pieps app. When enabled, pressing and holding the Scan button for three seconds while in send mode enables the inclinometer.
Knowing the angle of a slope is critical to understanding the likelihood of an avalanche. However, a significant disadvantage of using your transceiver to measure the slope is that you'll need to take the transceiver out of its secure location and hold it in your hands. If an avalanche strikes, it's likely your partners will unbury your transceiver rather than you. In fact, the IPS's user manual states, "Never use the inclinometer in avalanche-prone terrain!" It is far better to use a dedicated avalanche inclinometer app (disclaimer: that's my app).
Other
The IPS has a "backup mode" (other manufacturers refer to this as "standby mode") that can be activated using the Pieps app. Learn more about this feature.
The IPS (and BD/Pieps Pro/Guide) vibrates when it first receives a signal during the signal search. This allows you to look for clues on the avalanche debris during the signal search rather than look at the transceiver's display. It also vibrates when you turn it on and when you change from search to send.
In my limited testing, the IPS's spike handling was outstanding.
The group check is similar to other modern transceivers. To activate the group check, turn on your transceiver and press the Function button when the icon showing three people is displayed. This icon is only displayed for three seconds.
App Settings
View my suggested app settings for the Pieps app.
The Pieps Pro IPS is on par with the Barryvox S and Barryvox S2. These are the most capable avalanche transceivers at the time of this writing. The IPS has an outstanding scan mode, it handles interference well, and its unique fold-out antenna gives it a spectacular reception range.
