New Transceiver = Ortovox 3+

[Hacksaw]

In December I was at an Ortovox sales/tech rep meeting in Salt Lake City. At this meeting we where shown (and tried it out) the newst Ortovox transceiver. It is called the 3+ and it is an amazing transceiver. Here is the press release that was issued today.

Ortovox Sportartikel GmbH, the technological leader in backcountry safety equipment, will introduce a new avalanche transceiver, the 3+, at the upcoming OR and ISPO shows.

The new 3+ transceiver offers signal analysis and flagging. According to Marcus Peterson, Ortovox USA, "The bar has now been raised as to the minimum technology any new beacon should have." The 3+ has a unique display to show direction and distance, and a hash-mark system for pinpoint search. Its three antennae are supported by ground-breaking transmitter technology and a power management system exclusive to the 3+. All these select features are encapsulated in a new sleek, space-age, shock-resistant case. The 3+ is updatable like the S1 Sensor for any future improvements. This revolutionary beacon offers the best price/performance ratio in the industry.

Marcus Peterson
ortovoxusa@aol.com
603-746-3176

[MakersTeleMark]

Can you highlight the differences with the S1?

[summit]

So does this replace the D3? Fit between the S1 and the D3?

[Sirshredalot]

Replace the M2 perhaps?

[skiberly]

I heard it out-preformed the S1 and the tracker in the trials. Especially during pinpoint searching.

[summit]

OMG... just heard some details on this thing... SICKNESS. There will be only three beacons on the market worth looking at: S1, 3+, and Pulse.

[Hacksaw]

OMG... just heard some details on this thing... SICKNESS. There will be only three beacons on the market worth looking at: S1, 3+, and Pulse.

I'd put it as S1, 3+ and D3....

[Hacksaw]

Can you highlight the differences with the S1?

Basically, the 3+ has all the best features of the S1 plus a lot more....

[Hacksaw]

Replace the M2 perhaps?

The M2 is no longer in the Ortovox product line.

[nickinbc]

Basically, the 3+ has all the best features of the S1 plus a lot more....

So when they say 'best price/performance' does that make it more expensive than the S1?

[SDW]

Hacksaw - Ortovox currently sells 4 models. Will the 3+ replace a current model, or will they be selling 5 different models next season?

[Hacksaw]

So when they say 'best price/performance' does that make it more expensive than the S1?

Ortovox will announce the price at the OR show.

[Hacksaw]

Hacksaw - Ortovox currently sells 4 models. Will the 3+ replace a current model, or will they be selling 5 different models next season?

That to I think will come out at the OR show.

[Hacksaw]

So when they say 'best price/performance' does that make it more expensive than the S1?

Hacksaw - Ortovox currently sells 4 models. Will the 3+ replace a current model, or will they be selling 5 different models next season?

Well, Marcus said I could post some more information about the Ortovox product line for next season and the retail prices of each transceiver.

Ortovox will still have the F1 Focus for $249.00.

The current "Patroller," will go away, and will be "replaced" by the all digital "Patroller Digital." The Patroller Digital is basically the old D3. But, the harness system will change to the older tried and true ribbon style harness that the F1 has always used. Remember the Patroller Digital is a 3 antenna transceiver that has the multiple burial indicator light and that activates its third antenna at three meters instead of 1.5 as other transceivers do, for better pin-pointing. The Patroller Digital will retail for $299.00.

The new 3+ transceiver will retail for $349.00. This is an amazing deal for such an outstanding transceiver.

And the S1 transceiver will retail for $499.00.

[Jonathan S.]

activates its third antenna at [...] 1.5 [meters] as other transceivers do

I'm pretty sure that no avalanche beacon waits until an estimated 1.5 meters to activate its third antenna.

[Dobish]

the d3 is pretty close to that when it actually picks up anything with the third antennae...

i do know that marcus just bought a tracker 2 to try out..

[Jonathan S.]

Original generation D3 was originally activated at 2m, and my testing seemed to confirm that.
But the latest version activates the third antenna at any distance essentially once the beacon senses that its default two-antenna search algorithm could benefit from a third antenna.

[Jonathan S.]

OMG... just heard some details on this thing... SICKNESS.

When I read this earlier, it sounded kind of ridiculous.
But now that I just heard some additional details, I am very impressed.
And at a $349 price point -- wow!

[Hacksaw]

When I read this earlier, it sounded kind of ridiculous.
But now that I just heard some additional details, I am very impressed.
And at a $349 price point -- wow!

[Hacksaw]

i do know that marcus just bought a tracker 2 to try out..

Of course Marcus is buying a BCA Tracker 2. He has over 15 years of experience with avalanche transceivers, and he won't publicly comment on a certain model until he's actual tried it out.

[moonlightdbag]

damit...just placed an order for a patroller. when is this new bad boy gonna be available on shop form?

[Dobish]

damit...just placed an order for a patroller. when is this new bad boy gonna be available on shop form?

not for a while.

[Jonathan S.]

Retail arrival scheduled for September 1.

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

OMG... just heard some details on this thing... SICKNESS. There will be only three beacons on the market worth looking at: S1, 3+, and Pulse.

Can you elaborate at all? Interested in how this compares to the S1 (which although I do not own, I used a couple of weeks ago at a beacon facility and was VERY impressed).

[Jonathan S.]

Can you elaborate at all? Interested in how this compares to the S1 (which although I do not own, I used a couple of weeks ago at a beacon facility and was VERY impressed).

I'm working a preview blog at WildSnow.com, which should be up in a couple days (or sooner).
I'll have a weeklong loaner in early February, with a complete review to follow.