My previous post regarding PLBs suggested there is some misunderstanding around them so let's try and clear that up.
EPIRB = Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
PLB = Personal Locator Beacon
Spot = Spot - it's just a trade name
PLBs and EPIRBs are identical in what they can do but differ very slightly in how they are triggered and how long they can run.
PLBs are triggered manually and run for 24 hours plus, EPIRBs can be triggered manually or automatically by immersion in water and run for 48 hours plus.
PLBs are used and registered to a person, EPIRBs are registered to a sailing vessel.
Both transmit a signal on 406MHz (international distress frequency) which contains data identifying the beacon and its location as captured by its GPS this data is transmitted to one of a number of satellites and is then reported to search and rescue.
Beacons have a secondary low power transmitter on 121.5MHz which simply transmits a tone which may be used for direction finding if the beacon cannot get GPS lock.
The Spot messenger operates in a similar manner but uses commercial satellites and allows a wider variety of messages to be sent.
A beacon should *only* be activated in an emergency situation; the following are sited as such: ---- The need for urgent medical evacuation.
Mechanical breakdown where food and water supplies can not be replenished.
Being lost with little hope of reaching outside assistance before food and water supplies are finished.
And similar life-threatening situations. ----
Common sense should rule; if you have plenty of food, water and shelter but you're in a place where another vehicle may not pass for a day or two then wait a day or two before activating.
On the other hand: if it's 40C+ and you only have a day's supply of water then activate now - and promise never to go bush so unprepared again!
A PLB costs about A$300: http://kti.com.au/safety-alert-plb/ https://www.gme.net.au/catalogue/emergency-beacons-and-safety/mt410g.aspx
If you're never far from mobile coverage you don't need one - if you go deep bush then $300 is cheap insurance.
Keep in mind: it may well take search and rescue up to 24 hours to get to you - a brown snake bite or a severed artery will probably kill you before they find you. A PLB is *not* a "get out of jail free card".
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
They can have the battery's changed Mike. To prolong the signal.
I've changed a couple. Quite easy. (GME anyway)
IF you do go serious bush\desert.
It's a good idea to fork out for the one with VHF built in.
To talk the engine noise right over you in cover.
Epirbs can be reg'd to land and sea.
Mine was to my Yacht and Ute.
So they know NOT to ignore if signal deep inland.
Quite a few I know. Yachtsmen.
Take theirs with them when overland.
It's also civil to ring the Number on sheet.
so they add a note to your ID While you away.
and know so.
Haven't done it for a while.(10 yrs or so) But they used to??.
Same as I can screw Mike into my 0-30 Marine HF Kenwood.
" reciever" if in trouble.
Licence loooong run out.
and they say nothing. Emergency
That used to be with me with 30 ft of flat wire\Insulator.
Good as a sat. pre-sat's.
Macka! A useful and on topic post! I'll have it framed :)
>They can have the battery's changed Mike. To prolong the signal. >I've changed a couple. Quite easy. (GME anyway)
Not unless the manufacturers say that the batteries are user changeable they can't. Put it this way... I'm an electronics engineer with 45 years experience and I won't change them unless there is a formal procedure. We can go into the technical reasons if you like but my advice is don't do it. The GME batteries are rated seven years and the KTI ten year so why would you want to? Spend $100 and let the manufacturers do it and give a full check to an aging beacon at the same time.
>Epirbs can be reg'd to land and sea.
I didn't know that but it make sense although I am pretty sure Australian S&R would never ignore an EPIRB/PLB signal where ever it comes from.
>It's also civil to ring the Number on sheet. so they add a note to your ID While you away. Good advice.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
If you go to the AMSA registration site, you can set up your own database, be issued with user name and password, you can then up date your details at any time, change vehicles or boats, fill in a itinerary of your trip, and enter any important details that assist in a rescue.
I'm a bit hands on with most things.
So I just aquired and changed out.
Still flashes when test button pushed.
ALSO.
Gov't accepted when I changed it out too. Updated figures on Rego.
Got a reminder last month that it'll need doing again This AUG.
So they MUST be acceptable for a coupla changes.
THIS one I'll hand in for it though.
Just for a check.
They happy. Icky boy happy too. Hey.
But anybody that goes out of civilised radii, and doesn't take
sensible precautions. Should be ignored if they call for help,
When\If people going there are taking serious risks.
In my eyes.
Responsibility for your actions.
We did when I went out sailing. Most of us solo.
Carried what I needed. Turned off radio etc once off coast.
Unless chatting to mate on his boat. (half a doz of us)
And would only carry EPIRB. If somebody else on boat.
otherwise it stayed in home.
What gives us the right to ask others to risk their lives.
when we went out to where ever, and stuffed up ourself.
We have to be responsible for actions I was told as a tacker.
and still believe so.
