What is it
The i-Probe is a tension probe with a digital receiver built into the tip. On the handle is an on/off button and the battery compartment (1x AA). The receiver works according to the EN300718 standard, i.e. it detects 457 kHz transmitters. If you come within about 2 meters of such a transmitter, you will hear an acoustic signal (beep). From a distance of about half a meter, the beeping becomes a piercing continuous tone.
The continuous tone is effectively considered a probe hit. If the signal comes from an avalanche transceiver with "i-probe support" (Pieps DSP from software version 5.0 and all newer Pieps avalanche transceivers), the signal is suppressed by the i-probe after approx. 8 seconds. The signal can then no longer be received with a searching avalanche transceiver until the tip of the i-probe is removed from the continuous tone radius (approx. 50 cm to the transmitter).
What can the i-Probe probe do?
What it says on the tin is what it does. All the features work without any problems. The whole thing is easy to operate, there is only one button. Some minor teething troubles from earlier models have now been eliminated. The probe is slightly heavier and bulkier than other probes of the same length. However, this is not of a magnitude that you would notice as a normal person who sometimes pockets an extra cereal bar.
Do I need it?
Apart from the higher price, I don't see any fundamental disadvantages with the i-Probe compared to normal probes. If you forget the battery or the receiver breaks, you still have a normal, functioning probe. I find the acoustic signal very helpful when probing; there is no need to poke around insecurely on ground that might be a backpack or something similar. You should use the i-Probe regularly for practice purposes to get used to it, otherwise it's easy to forget to switch it on under stress - at least that's what happened to me, even if it was just an exercise. Of course, you shouldn't rely completely on the beeping and also practice the classic sensing of backpack/avalanche victim/meadow conscientiously.
The signal suppression functionality only works with Pieps devices, but would of course be interesting for multiple burials, provided you use the probe correctly and leave it plugged in after a hit.
The i-Probe is 260 cm long in the longest version, you could say that the receiver adds another 50 cm of "digital length". Of course, you could also argue that a longer probe would be better, but that is not an argument against the i-Probe, but against short probes per se.
Conclusion
Is it absolutely necessary? - No.
Is it helpful? - I think: Yes.
Manufacturer's product video:
