Ortovox has recalled about 3,000 of its S1+ Avalanche Transceivers because they can fail, resulting in an inability to transmit a discoverable signal during an emergency situation, even as the unit appears to be powered on and functioning properly.
The Ortovox S1+ transceiver, pictured to the right, is used as a beacon to locate an individual in the event of avalanche burial. The flip-case design transceiver is black with green accent stripes on the top sides. ORTOVOX and S1+ are printed on the top of the device. In the open/receive position the top half of the transceiver displays a blue screen with green border that displays an image and distance reading of the buried individual. The transceivers measure about 5 inches long by 3 inches wide by 1 inch thick in the closed/transmit position. All transceivers manufactured from 2010 through 2014 are included in the recall. The manufacture date is printed inside the battery door on the back of the transceiver with a roman numeral representing the quarter of the year and a two digit number referring to the year.
Ortovox has instructed consumers to shop using the recalled S1+ transceivers immediately and return them for a free repair.
The transceivers, which Ortovox manufactured in its native Germany and which were imported by Deuter USA of Longmont, CO, were sold at outdoor specialty retailers, ski shops and directly nationwide from July 2010 through April 2015 for about $490.
