The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·07529·Announced 2007-02-12

Atmel Microcontrollers in Honeywell Communicators Recalled for Software Lock-up

Atmel is recalling microcontrollers in Honeywell digital cellular communicators because a software issue can cause the device to lock up, potentially failing to transmit alarm signals.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (security alarm) where the device may fail to transmit emergency signals, but the source explicitly states there have been no reports of injury or property damage.

Plain-English summary

Atmel Corp. is recalling approximately 4,000 microcontrollers used in Honeywell Digital Cellular Communicators, Model 7845GSM. The recall is due to a programming issue that can cause the microcontroller to enter an unrecoverable lock-up state. This failure could result in a service interruption and prevent the communicator from transmitting an alarm signal in the event of a fire or property invasion.

Honeywell has received 39 reports of the microcontroller entering this lock-up state. There have been no reports of failure to report an emergency, nor any reports of injury or property damage. The affected communicators were sold to commercial installers nationwide from July 2006 through October 2006 for about $250. These devices can be used as a primary means of security communications for residences or businesses.

Customers who have not been contacted directly should immediately contact Honeywell for information on how to receive a free replacement communicator with updated software. Installers that purchased the communicators have already been contacted directly. For additional information, consumers can contact Honeywell at (800) 573-0154 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company's website.

The recalled product

Product
Atmel Microcontrollers used in Honeywell Digital Cellular Communicators
Manufacturer
Atmel Corp., of San Jose, Calif. (microcontrollers)
Category
Consumer Product — Home Security Systems
Hazard
Affected units
4,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · service interruption

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