- Today Verizon announced a major hotspot recall. The recall results from potential fire hazards of the existing equipment.
- The recall applies directly to the Ellipsis Jetpack models MHS900L, MHS900LS and MHS900LPP.
- Verizon is releasing a software patch that mitigates potential problems, but also offers free replacements.
Verizon has offered standalone hotspot devices under the Jetpack branding for years. You can use the Hockey Puck hotspots to connect multiple non-LTE devices to the Verizon network.
Unfortunately, it appears that a number of these hotspots pose a fire hazard. Today the company announced a recall for three of its most popular models. The Verizon hotspot recall applies to the following Ellipsis jetpacks:
If you know you own one of these devices, you can purchase it from a Verizon store and trade it in for a replacement. You can also visit this website for more information. Verizon didn’t say whether the replacement would be the same or a different model.
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What if you have to use your hotspot and you don’t have time to swap it out right now? Don’t worry: Verizon is pushing a software update to the affected devices to minimize potential fires. The update prevents the hotspot from charging while it is in use. If you plugged it in while connected to the network, it will just pull it out of the battery. In order to charge it, you have to shut it down.
The update also lets you see the model number of your device right on the display, so your future replacement can be done quickly.
According to the press release on the Verizon hotspot recall, the danger comes from the lithium-ion batteries inside. You can apparently overheat, which can result in a fire.