Personal Locator Beacon

[wmtire]

I have been toying awhile with the idea of purchasing a personal locator beacon (plb) for when I hike deep into the woods, sometimes by myself whilst geocaching. I was hoping that between all the campers/hikers/kayakers/adventurists etc. that we had here on the forums, that someone could tell me more about them.

The older I get, the more I realize that I'm not as bullet-proof as I once fooled myself into thinking I was while younger.

http://www.equipped.org/plb_legal.htm

 

[grill-n-go]

I don't own one but, REI.com offers some comparable products. Search the REI website for "locator". There you can read the reviews of others who bought their product.

 

[Shandysplace]

Plb

As members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary a few years back, we were assigned PLB's as coxswain and crew on our patrol boat. They are very effective provided they have an open view of the sky and are properly registered as many of the alarms are false. Your signal must be verfied by the party you designate in your registration papers before seach and rescue efforts are launched.

 

[wmtire]

I don't own one but, REI.com offers some comparable products. Search the REI website for "locator". There you can read the reviews of others who bought their product.

Excellent idea, I appreciate the suggestion. Customer reviews like below are the reason I think I need one.

http://www.rei.com/product/709917

As members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary a few years back, we were assigned PLB's as coxswain and crew on our patrol boat. They are very effective provided they have an open view of the sky and are properly registered as many of the alarms are false. Your signal must be verfied by the party you designate in your registration papers before seach and rescue efforts are launched.

Thanks. That is the kind of advice I am looking for. I wonder now if they can't get in contact with your other party, if they'll still come rescue you.

 

[PopBeavers]

Last summer, while backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) I found that for about 25 of the 38 miles that DD and I hiked that our cell phones worked. We kept them off so that they did not kill the batteries hunting for a signal. We used them and the end of each day to call DW to tell her our approximate location.

Some FRS radios claim a range of 26 miles. I am not sure that I believe that, but some FRS radios are stronger than others.

Carry a loud whistle and a signalling mirror.

 

[Bill]

As Wayne suggested, I carry a pair of FRS radios when we go out, or one if I go out alone. I figure that if there are two of us, one of us could go for help and still stay in touch. And either alone or together, there is often someone out there in hearing range - or there will be if I am a bit patient. Of course this may not be true in some of the wilder parts of the country - the back country of Colorado, for example - but then, I really don't go out there alone any more.

FRS radios have a reasonable range out here in the desert (but nowhere near 26 miles!), especially from high ground. Probably less under heavy tree cover, and certainly less if you fall into a ravine, or off a cliff, or if you are unconcious and can't use it. A PLB would sometimes be better here.

PLB? FRS? Cell phone? Whistle? Signalling mirror? All great ideas, and they are lightweight and easy to carry. Why not drop two or more of them into your backpack?

Just my thoughts - never had to use any of them (but I carry all but a PL.

Bill

 

[grakin]

As someone who used to do search & rescue work, have a means of starting a fire - and know how to use it. A smoky fire makes finding a person a whole lot easier.

 

[rotor_wash]

Nothing wrong with
another tool to get you out of trouble. Just remember the COSPAS-SARSAT network will decommission 121.5 and 243.0 MHz 1 Feb 2009. No problem if you are getting a new one with the new standard 406 MHz Freq. Just hope the military (think USAR and National Guard) will keep up as their standard is of course the obsolete version. If you are getting the EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon vs, PLB, just remember that it is designed for the nautical bunch and will report issues to the U.S. Coast Guard first. Even if it is the new 406MHz version.
Here's the folks that will come looking for you. Site also has lots of links for the tech side. http://www.acc.af.mil/afrcc/
R_W - I'm not allowed to do SAR, but if you call, we will haul.

 

[KSBASS]

Make sure you have that Garmin GPS in your pack too!
disclaimer: ok I work for Garmin and our stock could use a boost!

 

[countrygirl32082]

Hi WMtire I found this on a website called www.rvtravel.com

I think it can be used in many ways and possibly as the beacon that you seek. Dina

 

[wmtire]

I'll definitely take a look at it, Dina. I'm learning so much about them from everyone's help here. Thanks

 

[Bill]

The good folks at Shandy's Place sent me the link to this article

http://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subUR...65547095927163-lMyQjAxMDI4MDMxMDYzNTA1Wj.html

The SPOT device sounds very intetesting. Not exactly a PLB, and it sounds like it is a subscription service ($), but in addition to an emergency "Help!" message, it can send limited "I'm OK" messages whenever you want.

If you Google "globalstar spot emergency" (without the quotes), there are a ton of references.

Bill

 

[larsdennert]

Another interesting device is http://www.anytrack.com/ It may transmit on cell signals which is less useful but might transmit on the two way pager sat freqs. Basically a new type of lojack to get back that irreplaceable hot rod.