New Transceiver = Ortovox 3+

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
:):):biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Can you highlight the differences with the S1?

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

Replace the M2 perhaps?

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

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

Can you highlight the differences with the S1?

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

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Originally Posted by Sirshredalot

Replace the M2 perhaps?

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The M2 is no longer in the Ortovox product line.

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Originally Posted by Hacksaw

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

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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?

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Originally Posted by nickinbc

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

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Ortovox will announce the price at the OR show.

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Originally Posted by travis

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

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

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Originally Posted by nickinbc

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

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Originally Posted by Travis

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

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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.

:biggrin:

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Originally Posted by Hacksaw

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

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

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.. :)

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.

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Originally Posted by Summit

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

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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!

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Originally Posted by Jonathan S.

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!

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;););););););):biggrin:

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Originally Posted by Dobish

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

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by moonlightdbag

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

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not for a while.

Retail arrival scheduled for September 1.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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).

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Originally Posted by Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer

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).

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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.

Saw that today actually ^^^^^^^^.

Here's the url:
http://www.wildsnow.com/2345/ortovox...-beacon-revie/

I would like to see one Hacksaw. Any chance you will have one around the Summit/Vail area anytime soon?

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Originally Posted by GoldenBear

I would like to see one Hacksaw. Any chance you will have one around the Summit/Vail area anytime soon?

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I'll let you know when I get one. Then you can have a look at the 3+ and also finally take the S1 clinic.

Hmmm. Maybe it is time to post my S1 in Gear Swap.

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Originally Posted by Hacksaw

I'll let you know when I get one. Then you can have a look at the 3+ and also finally take the S1 clinic.

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If you could let me know when this is going down I'd appreciate it as well.

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

If you could let me know when this is going down I'd appreciate it as well.

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We'll see. It all depends upon my schedule and when I get the 3+

http://www.skicanadamag.com/Features...nsceivers.html

any news on when the 3+ will hit the streets?

I checked it out at OR and it is a pretty cool beacon, I would definitely like to play with it. They are using an accelerometer just like the iphone to calibrate it's orientation when buried. This way it will change the send power to the antennae that is oriented vertical to give the search beacon the strongest signal.

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Originally Posted by capulin overdrive

any news on when the 3+ will hit the streets?

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I believe that they will be in the stores next fall.

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Originally Posted by Hacksaw

I believe that they will be in the stores next fall.

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thanks!


been trying to decide if i should wait on it, or pull the trigger on something else.

Had a demo today – very impressive.
I’ll have my unit into Monday, and writing up my WildSnow.com review over the weekend, so if anyone has any specific questions about the 3+, just let me know, and I’ll try to incorporate the answers into my review.

If you could do a side-by-side feature comparison with the s1, that would be helpful.

Good idea -- especially since many readers will be wondering why get the S1 if Ortovox is coming out with yet another signal separation beacon at such a lower price point.

Here are the items that my comparison table includes so far -- please let me know if you would to see anything else added to the list:

Retail price
Weight- oz
Weight- g
Batteries
Antennas
Companion check
Transmit > Search
Range- optimal alignment
Range- worst coupling
Controls
Secondary search mode display
Fore/Aft indicator?
Analog accoustical mode?
Pinpoint search mode display
Multiple burial indicator
Marking procedure?
Marking removal?
Emergency revert to Transmit
Automated revert to Transmit upon searcher immobility?
Seconds for automated revert to transmit
Survival enhancement?
Volume control?
Screen contrast adjustment?
Additional functions?