PLB

Willi and others…the Fast Find uses
both frequencies. The 121.5 frequency is still used for honing in on final approach by rescue aircraft. Of course it is not the primary frequency.



The 406 uses the satellite system so that rescue can be activated.



Its true that PLB’s using 121.5 only are obsolete.

Agree with Glenn
I have a SPOT, but not a 406 MHz PLB.

SPOT is required equipment on the three different Yukon River races (1000 miles, 460 miles, 360 miles) for tracking and emergency “help me”. The normal tracking mode is definitely handy for family and friends, as well as for race officials. “Text” messages available in the second generation model are preplanned text only.



Having done the 1000 miler twice and the 460 once, I can say that tracking mode is extremely handy for my pit crew to know where I was with a transmission every 10 minutes, and for them to be able to project future locations on our race route (especially the time to finish). The few gaps from the 10 minute interval were likely due to satellite blockage due to high mountains on the southern exposures.



Many of the people who reported problems with SPOT simply did not understand how to use the immediate send function button. It takes several minutes for a manual “I am ok” location message to be sent out, up to 20 minutes. If you press the send button before the previous message has been sent, it cancels the original message and the clock starts again. Keep pressing the send button and a message will never get out.

I have the "Fast Find"
and it is completely water proof.

I keep it in my PFD pocket.

The battery lasts for five years. You test it once a year.

I like it since there are no annual maintenance fees and you are registered with the Feds.



Guy

Eliminate obsolete purchases

– Last Updated: Oct-25-12 8:13 PM EST –

Just didn't want someone to get a "killer deal"
on a unit that was obsolete, that's all :-)

http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/406vs121.pdf





I’m hoping people don’t
buy their PLB’s on eBay…or a NYC street vendor…

Fast find 4 me…
Peter, I had my “fast find” with me last Sun. while we were out at Goat Rock. If you want more user info,(though I think Glen did a nice overview), check out some of the posts over on TelemarkTips.com,(the search function sucks but the subject has been talked to death). In my decade involved in SAR we had some less than optimal results with the Spot. I’m told their system works better now but for a rescue beacon the PLB’s are superior IMO. One drawback to the PLB’s is the antenna needs to be deployed above the water so could be probematic but not impossible if out of your boat. Feel free to pm me if you care for any further details on the info I provided.



t.george, AKA tOM

I have res q link
I am a plb fan. Not a fan of spot as a primary emergency services contact method but I know for many people it is great. My issue is this - if my wife is expecting contact from me when I am on a trip and she doesn’t get it she will hit the panic button. Its better just to have it understood that I won’t be able to contact her but that I have a way to get emergency help if I need it. I find this is best for her piece of mind when I am on a trip in the far north. Also, not sure if this is still true, but in the past if you traveled up along the arctic ocean you were in the fringe area of the spot (globalstar network) territory and since I do go up there I don’t feel I can rely on it. The res q link is cheap and small, waterproof and it does one thing very well. It reliably brings in the helicopters if you are in a life threatening situation. That is what I am looking for. I do sometimes carry a sat phone as well but I do not call home on - just use it for emergency assistance if needed and to call for the flight out.

To clarify…
…my invitation to PM me was to Peter, someone I know. I guess it was bad formto post it the way I did on a public forum. Apologies to all.



I agree with Glen’s info & RPG’s assesment in this thread. I will not recount any specifics concerning SAR incidents, but I feel I can offer more food for thought on the contrast between PLBs & Spot units/service based on my experiences.



PLB-most complete satalite system/coverage available, shortest comunication path(travels through dedicated official channels)to responders, SOS only comunication, once purchased and registered the battery is the only item in need of maintainance.



Spot-inferior satalite system/coverage, coverage also dependent on subscription(there have been cases where Spots did not work because they were outside of the “subscription” zone), SOS comunication path has had issues with providing complete accurate information(IME), requires a subscription & batteries for maintainance, is capable of multiple types of comunication(when coverage is available).



FWIW, t.george


follow up question
Ok, sounds like PLB is what I want. Something I can activate in an emergency.



Follow up questions: The batteries have a life of 5 or so years. can they be replaced after this? or do I need to buy a new unit?



Also, once activated, is that unit now dead for life (guess this goes back to whether the battery can be replaced, but also whether it can be reset)? I heard report of someone who activated theirs as a way to tell the Coast Guard their location (even though they were in VHF contact). I’d like to know this should I be helping someone else in distress - if it isn’t life threatening and it will cost me the PLB, then I may not offer that option.



Muchas gracias.

Battery life and replacement
The international specs for 406 beacons (PLB, EPIRB, ELT) require that the device be able to transmit the SOS signal for at least 24 hours when activated even after five years of age.



Some PLB’s say they can broadcast for more than the minimum 24 hours, and McMurdo is apparently now advertising a battery that has this capability for six years.



After the battery life period, you need to send the unit in for a new battery. Same thing if you activate it (and live). You must send it in for factory replacement. But who knows, maybe they will have user replaceable batteries in the future.



I have seen unofficial chat forum statements to the effect that a PLB manufacturer may replace a battery for free after a successful rescue because successful rescues reflect well on their product. I don’t know if this is true.

Self test after deployment,
I’ve secondhand info that the mcmurdo can be repacked and the cover “resealed” with duct tape, then the battery test performed & if good you’re set to go again. This is not a factory authorized procedure. After deployment they instruct you to send the unit in or take it to an authorized service center where they will test the battery, replace if needed and place a new cover on the unit. The cover is suposed to be a one time use; the primary reason for the cover is to prevent accidental deployment.



So bottom line for me is, if I need to deploy it, I won’t hesitate. I’ll self test the battery and reseal it myself if the battery still checks out strong.

to answer one question
the rules are that you are not to use a plb except in a the event of imminent threat to life. The reason for the rule is that you are summoning helicopters and it is very very expensive and puts others at risk.

True but do that in New Hampshire
and it may well be that you will be soon looking at a bill.



I think one case in NY( in the Adirondacks) landed the guy in jail.



At any rate this will engender a tangent discussion.

thus advantages of SPOT for some
If paddling in a less remote area then there are other options such as calling on VHF or even a cell phone. Sometimes you want a more measured response such as a knowledgeable friend could provide. Sometimes the goal is just to let the spouse know weather has delayed you a day or so. For some trips I’d want nothing less than a good 406 PLB but for others that’s overkill and lacking in more handy features.

the situation was…
The situation was where the Coast Guard instructed the person to trigger it, as they were not able to find them easily without it. I doubt that even in State that are getting a bit ambitious with the charging for expenses wouldn’t do so just because this was tripped (though,m in those cases, you might already be on the bill for calling it in in the first place).



Not sure where I read or heard about it, but I do remember noting this fact.

Country of Registration
PLBs are meant to be bought from and registered

in a user’s own country of residence.



Anyone know the exact rules of playing along an

International Border like the Great Lakes North America ?



If the country of permanent residence is USA

and I’m up in Tobermory, Georgian Bay, all is good , right ?

You register in the country where you
live.



You can use it worldwide. I have had my PLB on my PFD(now there is a tongue twister) for two years. Not that I trip every day but I have used it for about a month or two in Canada.


As my fading memory recalls…
…in North America an incident that originates from a registered PLB starts a two pronged responce. A SAR begins in the jurisdiction of origin by sending resources to the coordinates and an investigative effort begins in the country of registration by following up on contacts provided when registered. The investigative will try to gather info like travel itinerary, how the subject is equipped/prepared, medical issues and any other info to help with planning should initial contact fail.

the big bill
is better than the alternative.

That is correct -

– Last Updated: Oct-26-12 11:09 PM EST –

register in home country - use anywhere in the world. The quality of the SAR response will ultimately depend on the quality of the SAR folks nearest your location. In US and mainland Canada it is generally excellent. Can't comment on other countries.

SPOT is fine for what it is and can be a lot of fun to use so folks can follow your progress etc. No way I would rely on it for emergency response in life and death situations. But that is just me.

I carry my plb every time I go out no matter where I am. I figure at my age if the ticker explodes on me the PLB might give me a fighting chance even on a local waterway. They have gotten so small that you can carry it in a pfd pocket or hanging in a case on a belt. the prices have come down as well. And no recurring fees - just the battery replacement thing. But I have found at current prices often it makes sense just to buy a new up to date model for a little more than the battery replacement.

The other thing is that we all know if you are a responsible paddler the chance that you will ever actually have to use your plb is extremely low.