With the recent tragic loss of another solo traveller in the outback, I'm wondering just how many GN's actually carry an EPIRB in their van, or a personal unit when exploring, fosicking, fishing etc.
I'm hoping EVERYONE has one. The outback is just as hostile as the sea and anyone venturing 3klm off shore MUST have one by law.
And it's not just for being lost. It can be used for any potentially life threatening situation.
I'm thinking that EVERY off-road van should come with one. From now on, every Patriot and Blue Heeler I sell, will have one included as part of the equipment (unless they've already got one).
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Was due to be retired by now, the GFC & some greedy, corrupt people put that back a cpl of years.
Personal EPIRB's on my list as a must when I really do get going. Don't understand why more travellers don't have them.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Education and some sort of "I know everything" attitude. A couple on another forum in particular.
They reccon that their sat phone do the same job BAAA NAWW. I'm actually sick of one old boiler, I think she may be a retired teacher or something. Has a negative or better way comment on everything.
Never mind, I just hope we don't read about her missing some day.
I have 2 EPIRB's in the boat, one is connected to my life jacket. They come with me in the bush.
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Was due to be retired by now, the GFC & some greedy, corrupt people put that back a cpl of years.
I didn't think of a personal EPIRB, just associated them with boats! Although not going too deep into the bush as the hi-ace rattles a bit, will look at getting one next town. Would only be used in life threatening emergency, but a comfort to have. Thanks for the idea.
The question must be asked, what is life threatning, I carry an epirb and have done for years and rest asured if needed I will sey it off. If I was in the middle of a city and felt the need to set it off I would. So my answer to when it should be used is that any time that you percieve YOU are in imdiate danger, use it, deal with any fall out later cheers blaze
Have been carring one for years, and have the latest. they must be regested, when you get one, and they send you a stiker to put on it to say that . Yes jimricho it must be life or death to turn it on... I do a lot of fishing at times... I picked mine up from RaysTentCity, for around $270..... Bob n Bev
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Land Rover Discovery Chipped TD5 Manual ,Air Springs, Anti Sway. T.C. Auto level. Van, Roadstar 21.6 Voyager 4000 all sola powered.
Apart from marine use, where they are a legal requirement if venturing off shore, I fail to see the need for one unless venturing into remote locations. I would not consider any of Australia's major sealed highways to be remote locations.
Using one in the middle of a city would not be appropriate use and would most likely incur a serious fine or worse for improper use. They are not suitable for use as a personal alarm to protect against criminal street attacks and would be useless as such due to the response time. Using one to summon help for a breakdown would also be illegal use, unless the consequences of the breakdown were to lead to life threatening circumstances eg on a remote desert track.
If you don't intend to venture off the "blacktop" it would be a waste of money unless you intend to do some serious bushwalking or need one for marine use.
Apart from marine use, where they are a legal requirement if venturing off shore, I fail to see the need for one unless venturing into remote locations. I would not consider any of Australia's major sealed highways to be remote locations.
Using one in the middle of a city would not be appropriate use and would most likely incur a serious fine or worse for improper use. They are not suitable for use as a personal alarm to protect against criminal street attacks and would be useless as such due to the response time. Using one to summon help for a breakdown would also be illegal use, unless the consequences of the breakdown were to lead to life threatening circumstances eg on a remote desert track.
If you don't intend to venture off the "blacktop" it would be a waste of money unless you intend to do some serious bushwalking or need one for marine use.
I agree Jim, I'll stick with my HF radio, or a better option than an epirb would be a sat phone, at least you can talk to somebody with HF or sat phone, and get help on the way asap.
I agree Jim, I'll stick with my HF radio, or a better option than an epirb would be a sat phone, at least you can talk to somebody with HF or sat phone, and get help on the way asap.
(I've lent my sat phone to Dunco for a while)
And you wouldn't have both why?
BTW, mobile phone batteries are notorious for failing in cold weather, just ask a certain former Victorian Minister.
For those who may want more info, I have one of these and it lives in my day pack and goes with me on bush rides, fishing trips, camping etc. Never used it, hope I never have to, but it's there for me. http://www.ja-gps.com.au/GME/mt410g-plb/
Cheers, J
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Was due to be retired by now, the GFC & some greedy, corrupt people put that back a cpl of years.
Apart from marine use, where they are a legal requirement if venturing off shore, I fail to see the need for one unless venturing into remote locations. I would not consider any of Australia's major sealed highways to be remote locations.
Using one in the middle of a city would not be appropriate use and would most likely incur a serious fine or worse for improper use. They are not suitable for use as a personal alarm to protect against criminal street attacks and would be useless as such due to the response time. Using one to summon help for a breakdown would also be illegal use, unless the consequences of the breakdown were to lead to life threatening circumstances eg on a remote desert track.
If you don't intend to venture off the "blacktop" it would be a waste of money unless you intend to do some serious bushwalking or need one for marine use.
I agree Jim, I'll stick with my HF radio, or a better option than an epirb would be a sat phone, at least you can talk to somebody with HF or sat phone, and get help on the way asap.
(I've lent my sat phone to Dunco for a while)
I have travelled into very remote places and have even gone where there are no roads just tracks and sometimes no tracks at all. Did we have an epirb?, yes has it ever been used? no.
We also have a Sat phone and a HF radio with us when we do these trips and the only time that the HF radio is used is to inform home where we are and to skite about it. The Sat phone was never used due to call costs but when nturned on had signal allways.
We have had the odd drama but have managed to sort things ourselves.
My thoughts are akin to those above.
IE. if you stay on formed roads that are used regularly then there would be little chance of you really needing an EPIRB however a Sat phone is quite handy.
When I travel on my own I do not go to the real remote places so I think an epirb is overdoing it.
Cheers Dodg.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
Doug, Did you look at the link? BTW, the former minister for tourism (super fit, ex commando), had a full signal on his phone, but when he tried to use it the extra load flattened his battery. (cold) PLB's have a 7 year battery life. I just can't see why anyone would decide against having this amazing technology that might just save their life one day. But, each to their own. I know I'm not as fit as I was, the bones are a bit more brittle etc, and one day I might need it, (or come across someone else who does)
J.
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Was due to be retired by now, the GFC & some greedy, corrupt people put that back a cpl of years.
For those who may want more info, I have one of these and it lives in my day pack and goes with me on bush rides, fishing trips, camping etc. Never used it, hope I never have to, but it's there for me. http://www.ja-gps.com.au/GME/mt410g-plb/
Cheers, J
Please don't get me wrong John. These are all circumstances where it makes very good sense to carry an EPIRB. I was mainly hoping that my previous posts would convey the message to members who are not familiar with them that there are very strict legal and practical limitations regarding their use.
Also, unfortunately many people fail to appreciate the limitations of mobile phones and that it is often impossible to provide reliable communication in remote and/or mountainous terrain.
I actually thought they were now called PLB's... (Personal Locator beacon). Doesnt matter really, but we have one, as we do go a bit off the beaten track. However, every time we've been off the beaten track in NT or WA this year, theres dozens of others there too.
Often wondered what we'd do in an emergency, as the PLB is a last resort gadget. If nobody else in the vicinity had a sat-phone or HF radio that worked, and Mr D was having another heart-attack I guess I'd have to use it.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Saturday 30th of July 2011 04:29:33 PM
