Anyone who watches the news on a regular basis is well aware that every year, there are people who venture into the wilderness for a day or a weekend of outdoor recreation and, due to either a lack of diligence or, a lack of woodcraft skills, they either become lost or injured and, while some of these people are found in time, others sadly, are not.
However, this needless loss of life could easily be prevented if people would simply choose to purchase and carry with them a simple device known as a Personal Locator Beacon (aka PLB). But, what is a personal locator beacon you may ask?
Personal locator beacons (PLBs) are designed to provide a safeguard in the event of an emergency. They are invaluable tools for adventurers who are out in the wilderness, and can be used to provide an emergency signal when a person is in distress.
PLBs are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry and store when not in use. They are designed to transmit a signal to a satellite that can then be used to pinpoint the exact location of the person in distress. This eliminates the need to search for a lost or injured individual, making it much easier for search and rescue teams to find them.
The signal sent by the PLB is extremely powerful and has a range of up to 400 miles. This allows rescuers to quickly locate a person even in remote and isolated areas. It also ensures that the distress call is not blocked by any physical barriers.
PLBs are also very reliable, with a 99% success rate in sending out the distress signal. Furthermore, they are incredibly affordable, with many units costing as little as $100.
Thus, anyone who ventures into the wilderness for any length of time from an afternoon to an extended expedition should carry one of these devices with them for, while you hopefully will never need it, if you ever do, it will undoubtedly instantly become your best friend!
How they work
For those of you who are not familiar with these simple magic devices, there are two different varieties available from several different manufacturers such as DeLorme, ACR, and McMurdo. However, the distinguishing difference between the two different types of PLB’s is that one type only transmits a distress signal whereas, the other type transmits both a distress call and your exact longitude and latitude via a built-in GPS transceiver.
Also, all PLB’s use a 406 MHz radio frequency to broadcast a distress call which is transmitted to a worldwide, non-geostationary, COSPASS-SARSAT International Satellite Rescue system as well as to any passing military or commercial aircraft which are all required to monitor emergency frequencies whenever they are airborne.
Plus, they also transmit a 121.5 MHz homing signal that helps rescuers to more precisely locate a person once they are on the scene.
Then, once your distress call is received by the system, your longitude and latitude are forwarded to the nearest rescue agency and a rescue team is commonly dispatched to your location within one hour.
Accidental Transmissions
However, because hundreds of false distress calls are accidentally transmitted by PLB’s each year, all of these devices transmitting on the 406 MHz frequency now include a 15, 22, or 30 character serial number called a “Hex Code” which you are required to register with the appropriate agency and which must be updated each year.
Also, in addition to registering your PLB via its hex code, you are also required to include information such as your name, a phone number that the rescuing agency can use to reach someone who can verify that you are in the field and that there may be an emergency, a physical description of the owner of the PLB for on-site identification, and any other information that may useful to the rescuing agency so that they can identify you once they are on the scene.
But, due to the difficulty of locating a person in heavy cover, it should be noted that it’s also a wise idea to carry a coach’s whistle with you as well in case you are lost or injured in a location with limited visibility since, even with a GPS transmitter installed, PLB’s are only capable of transmitting your exact location to within 50 meters.
Therefore, repeatedly blowing long and loud on your whistle with a pause in between each toot will help rescuers to home in on your exact position once they are on the scene. Last, it should also be noted three blasts in a row on a whistle, three gunshots, three flashes from a flashlight, or any other succession of three signals is universally recognized as a distress call and thus, by carrying an additional signaling device, you may be able to get help from people nearby without having to resort to your PLB.
Cost and Operation
Furthermore, these devices are commonly available for around $250.00 which is about equal to the cost of a new smartphone. However, when you compare that to the hours or even days that you will not be forced to endure while waiting for someone to notice that you are missing and then for rescuers to finally close in on your position, it is really a very small price to pay.
Also, each of these devices features a tough, shockproof, polycarbonate, outer shell which is sealed to make the unit waterproof and includes a integral antenna. In addition, they are very easy to operate since all you have to do is extend the antenna and then press two buttons at the same time and the S.O.S. signal, along with your GPS coordinates, will be transmitted to the COSPASS-SARSAT satellite system after a short delay of about 60 seconds to allow you to turn of the unit off in the event that you do accidentally activate it.
Plus, they also feature a “test” function which enables you to test both the unit’s battery and its functionality without transmitting a false distress call. Last, each of these units features an integral battery with a shelf life of up to six years that can be stored at temperatures ranging from -22° F to 158° F and, they will usually transmit for a full twenty-four hours before the battery dies.
Consequently, if everyone who chose to enter the wilderness for a bit of recreation would choose to purchase and carry a PLB instead of their cell phone (which is unreliable at best in remote locations), then the stories we see on the news each year of people wondering off of the trail and becoming lost or injured and not being found or rescued in time would quickly become nonexistent and the needless loss of life could easily be prevented!
Also, because PLB’s are small and relatively lightweight, they are convenient to carry and require little more room in your pocket, day pack, or back pack than a smart phone. But, most importantly, if you are one of those unfortunate people who suddenly finds themselves in need of a rescue, then you will thank yourself a thousand times over that you had to foresight to purchase this small, electronic, insurance policy and, your family will thank you as well since, simply by having a PLB with you when you enter the wilderness, your chances of surviving an emergency situation will be drastically increased!
Here is the bestselling PLB for you to check out:
- No Subscription Required
- 406 MHz Emergency Distress Signal / Homing signal
- LED Strobe and Infrared Strobe
- Global Coverage / Cospas-Sarsat / MEOSAR
- GPS and Galileo GNSS
- Compatible with the ACR Bivy Stick and the ACR ResQLink Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) series
- Carabiner with Velcro can be utilized to attach your PLB or Bivy Stick to a backpack, lifejacket, or any type of outerwear
- Protective pouch has a belt attachment - allows it to attach to a variety of belt widths in addition to the straps of a backpack or lifejacket
- AIS (Automatic Identification System) Locating Signal
- Return Link Service (RLS) Functionality
- Smartphone connectivity via NFC (Near Field Communication)
- 406 MHz Cospas Sarsat Distress Signal (MEOSAR Compatible) | 121.5 MHz Local Homing Signal
- Global Coverage | No Subscription Required
- Once activated, an SOS distress signal with GPS position is sent direct to Search and Rescue forces worldwide using the 406 MHz Emergency Distress Signal with 121.5 MHz Homing Signal (No Subscription...
- Small, rugged, lightweight personal locator beacon that is buoyant and includes attachment clips including a belt clip, oral inflation tube clip, straps and lanyards for increased wearability for...
- Send pre-canned non-emergency self test and GPS test messages to multiple contacts via text message (SMS) and email with a customized message using the optional 406Link testing subscription
- Global Coverage using the 3 satellite constellations of COSPAS-SARSAT, which sends your distress message directly to Search and Rescue agencies worldwide without the need for a rescue monitoring...
- A bright LED Strobe light as well as an Infrared Strobe light ensures multiple visual signals to rescuers
- HQRP® Replacement Battery;
- Battery Voltage: 9V; Capacity: 1500mAh; Li-MnO2;
- 200 Days Warranty!
- Compatible with ACR Resqlink Personal Locator Beacon, model PLB-375 A3-06-2703
- This Personal Locator Beacon is pre programmed for registration with the US country code. Whilst it will function anywhere around the world, the initial point of contact during an emergency situation...
- If you require registration outside of the US, please purchase our alternative listing for 'McMurdo Fast Find 220 PLB - Programmed for Rest of World '. We include at no charge a reprogramming service...
- Registering your Personal Locator Beacon is required by law in most countries. Registering is very important because should your beacon ever be activated, it is how Search and Rescue Teams will know...
- PLBs have been proven, tried and tested in some of the world's most remote locations and treacherous conditions. Even in extreme conditions and situations, the FastFind 220 activates easily. Just...
- This PLB should only be used in situations of grave and imminent danger to life. False alerts endanger lives and cause expensive disruption to Search and Rescue services. Deliberate misuse of the...
In summary, personal locator beacons are invaluable tools for anyone adventuring outdoors, as they can provide the peace of mind of knowing that help can be quickly summoned in the event of an emergency. They are also very reliable, easy to carry, and affordable, making them an essential piece of safety equipment for any outdoor enthusiast.