Overview: The Ortovox S1 is unlike other avalanche transceivers on two fronts. First, it has a flip-phone design where flipping the transceiver open changes to search mode. Second, the S1 displays multiple burials on a Palm-like screen. You line-up one of the victims on the screen and walk toward him (rather than using a traditional directional indicator that points to the victim). As you move toward the first victim, you can see other victims pass you on the sides. It is a matter of personal preference if you prefer this design or the more traditional follow-the-blinking-light (or arrow) approach.

Stop Hand

Searching: To switch into search mode, you press a button and flip open the Star-Trek-like lid. I found that if I turned on the S1 and then opened the lid (within a few seconds), a "stop" hand would usually appear and remain for at least a minute (other users reported this, too). The hand could be quickly cleared by closing and reopening the lid. The hand could be avoided by first opening the lid and then turning the unit on.

Primary Search

During the primary search (when you are seeking an initial signal), a little man is shown walking a zigzag path on the screen. This is a good reminder of what you should be doing, although someone unfamiliar with the S1 could find the extra screen activity confusing. The S1's recommended search width is 55 meters.

A supine man is displayed on the screen when you receive a signal. You then perform the secondary search by turning until the vertical line that is displayed on the screen is on top of the man. The S1 (and the Pulse) uses an internal compass to help sense when you turn.

Tilt		Warning

If you do not hold the transceiver level while searching, a "tilt" symbol is displayed indicating that you should hold the unit level. Likewise, a triangular "warning" icon is displayed if you should stop moving while the S1 processes information.

When you are within approximately 3 meters of the victim, a "patented circular illustration" is displayed (see below) to complete the pinpoint search. The illustration uses a combination of highlighted circles and four arrows to indicate if you are moving closer to, or away from, the victim. I found this reasonably intuitive, although I prefer to focus on the distance number which was very responsive.

"Circular Illustration" During Pinpoint Search

The audio feedback on the S1 increases the cadence of the beep as you near the victim (as do the Barryvox 3000, Ortovox X1, Ortovox D3, and Pieps). The ARVA and Pulse transceivers increase the cadence and pitch which is a little more intuitive.

I encountered an oddity during the primary search that I also pointed out when I tested a pre-production version. If you are near the limits of the S1's range when you first receive a signal, the S1 sends you straight ahead relative to the position you were holding the transceiver when the signal was received. This is okay if it was pointed in the general direction of the victim, because the S1 will correctly point you toward the location of the victim when you get closer. But if the S1 is pointed 90-degrees to the victim when the signal is first received, it will lead you away from the victim.

As shown in the above illustration, if the S1 is pointed 90-degrees from the victim when it first receives a signal and the transceiver is near the outer limit of its range, the S1 will lead you away from the victim. This is only a problem if the transceiver is not pointed toward the victim and you receive the signal near the edge of the S1's range, but it can be very confusing. During my testing, I could easily reproduce this behavior (as did Jonathan in his comparison of the S1, Pieps, and Pulse). If I got within about 30 meters (100 feet) of the victim, the man shifted to the correct location and the S1 directed me to the victim.

Multiple Burials: The S1's ability to display the victim on a map is truly unique. As shown in the illustration to the right, up to three victims can be displayed simultaneously with the distances to each. This is a cool display, although during an actual search, the rescuer is focused on the closest victim and doesn't really need to see the other victims.

During my testing, the S1's ability to suppress a victim during a multiple burial was excellent (and similar to the Pieps DSP and Pulse Barryvox). You press a button to suppress the current beacon and advance to the next beacon. The S1 (as with the Pulse) also allows you to unmark a previously marked beacon. Read the details here.

Spikes: In my testing, the S1 was flawless in dealing with spikes.

Controls: You turn the S1 on with the twist of a dial. To change to search mode, you press a release button and flip the lid open.

The S1 and Pulse both use menus. The Pulse displays the menus using text (in a user-selected language), whereas the S1 has an icon-based user interface. A few screens, like the one shown to the right, can be a little difficult to interpret.

You navigate through the S1's menus using two buttons. The bottom button moves through the menu icons and the top button selects the highlighted icon. You can use the pixel-based screen to display a compass, check battery levels, display version information, display an inclinometer, etc. Whether you find the added features helpful or prefer the simplicity of the Pieps and Tracker is a matter of personal preference.

Comfort: The S1's pouch-style harness is excellent. The shoulder strap is actually labeled "shoulder" to help you sort out the typical harness tangle, and the waist strap is non-elastic (my preference, as I dislike the constrictive feeling of elastic around my torso).

At 360 grams, the S1 is 13% heavier than the Pulse, 24% heavier than the Pieps DSP, and 10% lighter than the Tracker.

Other:

Summary: The S1 has an innovative interface, a good range, solid spike handling, and good multiple burial features. The menus and user interface are intuitive, although some people may find them confusing during an actual avalanche search.