Old-school ski bums take note: If your avalanche beacon has been around long enough to have come with a VHS instructional video – or even a CD-ROM for that matter – Ortovox is offering a $75 credit toward one of its new 3+ beacons, allowing you to up your transceiver game, and your chances of being found should you become buried in an avalanche.
From now until January 1, 2017, older transceivers of any make or model can be retired at a participating Ortovox dealer, where they will be recycled, and traded-in for a credit toward the triple-antenna Ortovox 3+ digital beacon.
“If you have an analog single-antenna, or even digital, double-antenna transceiver, now’s the chance to get your buddies off your back – because if they’re not ribbing you about your vintage beacon, they should be,” said Tom Mason, Ortovox brand manager. “Antiquated beacons are a liability not only to you but to those around you. Despite the competence of the user, older technology is vulnerable to performance-deteriorating forces, often unnoticed. The goal of this program is to retire these transceivers from field use.”
For a list of dealers and mail-in instructions, visit ORTOVOX.com.
The multiple antenna technology works by analyzing the position of its antennas and automatically switching to the best transmission antenna, similar to the way a smart phone adjusts display in response to horizontal or vertical orientation, regardless of what kind of transceivers searchers are using. The 3+ also includes Recco technology, making it more visible to search-and-rescue operations. The 3+ transceiver retails for $339 ($264 with trade-in credit).
Based in Taufkirchen, Germany, Ortovox is one of the leading supplier of avalanche transceivers, avalanche rescue and safety equipment, with a complete line of mountain products that includes technical apparel and accessories, ABS-packs and backpacks for professional and recreational use.