Emergency beacon

Thanks Peter, I'll check the brand, and check on line, got a feeling it's gme.. Cheers Odog

looked at battery replacement for mine.
$200 for a new battery, $299 for a new epirb.
Chose the new epirb option.

Just be aware that the reconditioned PLB that you get back (it is not actually the same one you send in) may come back with a new 7 year battery but doesn't come with the original 7 year warranty that a new item has. It is only a one year warranty.

So while a new PLB comes with a 7 year battery and 7 year warranty the refurbished second hand unit only comes with a 1 year warranty.

Given the small price difference between a refurbished unit and a new unit I would always go for a new unit - so out of date PLBs are in effect a through away item.

Garry

Hi Stelhen, I think some types give rescuers an area to search, while others transmit a current exact (within reason) position, and continue to up date the coordinates, if your still moving.. Technology is always getting better, but you always seem to pay a premium for the latest eh... More stuff to pay for I guess.. Have to keep working.. Ha.. Cheers Odog

Hi Odog

Both of the GME units that I have just been talking about are GPS enabled that will continually transmit the accurate coordinates, even whit moving, and that was how the found that chap the other day up in Queensland.



Cheers


Stephen

Problem with the epirbs are they're big bulky suckers compared to the PLB's. The latter I can take on a walk if I need to.

Hi Scott

Yes they are almost double the size, but I keep mine in a small bag along with my sat phone and other emergency gear, so that extra size would not be a real issue to me.

I am hoping that GME bring out an updated PLB with longer battery life, and if that is the case, will stick with the PLB, if not for the extra battery life and longer activation would go for the EPIRB.


Cheers


Stephen

Think I'd like to have one I can use in both situations, makes better use for your buck.. I'll look into it, and see what works out best for our needs.. They seem to come down in price, then they invent something better, and the price goes up again.. Can't win... Cheers Odog

Hmm
Terry, I am not sure why you say an EPIRB is better than a PLB for land use.

There are a number of reasons that they are better for marine use. ( floats upright, registered to a vessel not a person so you can change crews, automatic activation when immersed in water or the vessel sinks , 2 day lifetime when activated etc).

However while they will work for land use, they are actually not recommended.

Their large size means they may be stored at a hard to get location ( a PLB can and should be accessible to anyone in a vehicle in the event of a major accident) and they are not something you could take with for a walk or to get help.

But the biggest issue is that they need the antenna to be vertical to work properly and they actually use the water as a ground plane to reflect the signal upwards.. They are specifically designed to float this way, but are not designed to be stable this way on land due to the shape.

If you're in a car accident, you may not even get a choice to align the antenna vertically, even if you could find where you packed it.

PLB's have a different antenna system. They can work with the antenna in any direction, though vertical is still optimal. Set it off and you are away.

For occasional boat hire, surely a PLB would suffice if you are less than 2 miles from shore. If more than that, the boat should have an EPIRB by law anyway.

I am curious what makes you believe they are far superior for land use. Would you be kind enough to elaborate. I must be missing something.

Hi Pete,

You have just made a statement about checking the white sticker with the expiry details for the registration of the PLB OR EPIRB.

Are you aware that your department does not send out these stickers any more?

Back in April of this year, I received my 2 yearly reminder about the re registration and emergency contact list of people and phone numbers for my PLB which I completed online and thought that was it. In the past, the new replacement sticker would arrive within a few weeks and I would then place that over my old sticker.

Well not any more, as I got my PLB out to give it a test and realised that I had not received the new replacement sticker. Concerned that my email may not have been received by your department, I contacted them and spoke with a very friendly lady, who asked for mr beacon code, and confirmed that, yes my details were received, but they no longer send out the stickers any more.

So my question to you is, if you are a first time user and register your new beacon, how will we know that it is registered?



Cheers



Stephen

Hi Stephen

I did mention the white sticker as many still have them on their units and many will still be within date for another year. Many people make the mistake that the white sticker date was for the battery and dispose of perfectly good units.

Yep, I know the stickers are gone, I know that they used to have to spend a great number of resources just printing and mailing them out noting there are over 350 0000 registered beacons and that number is growing.

You can check your registration by using the email that you should have received, you can also elect to get a text sent to your phone when you register them. Those emails (printed copy or on phone) and texts can also be used to show water police when you are getting a check.

The main preference is that you register them online so you can log in and check your details are up to date, add pictures and trip plans as often as you like.

I hope that helps

Pete

Thanks for that Pete.

I just wish more people would take the time out and take their safety seriously and buy a PLB or EPIRB.

I think of the case a few weeks ago where a man nearly 80 went missing in the northern Flinders Ranges. Hundreds of man hours involved and to this very day, his body has never been found and most likely never will. Just hope he died a very quick death, and did not have to suffer for days in pain. If he had a PLB, there would have been a positive outcome.


Cheers and thanks.



Stephen

LOL thanks for the Stephen. I renewed about 3 weeks ago and have been telling my wife to keep a look out for the letter with the sticker.

......"Are you sure we haven't received a letter from AMSA with a sticker in it. - We must have got by now...."

...."no. stop asking. I will tell you when we get it..."

It is hard to find on the website. Boats and planes need to keep a copy of the reciept on them but not PLB.


I love this from the website.....the new systen is easier.. Easier for who?


The reason for this change is because Australian beacon owners have brought to AMSA’s attention a number of issues relating to stickers. As a result, AMSA will move to an easier and more mobile method of proving beacon registration.

As vessel and aircraft owners are still required by law to provide proof of beacon registration if asked by authorities, you must use one of the following alternative methods from 15th September 2015:

Email registration
Carry a printed copy of your email registration confirmation

SMS registration
Save your SMS registration confirmation in your phone

Post printed registration
If you don’t have an email address or mobile phone, request a copy of your registration confirmation be sent to you by post and carry it with you when using your vessel or aircraft.

Mobile beacon system
Owners and inspectors will be able to enter the beacon’s HEX ID into a new beacon system on their mobile device to confirm whether the beacon is registered. Further details will follow closer to September 2015.

Hi Malcom
Is that a silly question or what or are you ignorant about the dangers of remote travel?

In the event of a serious event that could involve injury, you may not be in a fit mind or others travelling with you may not know how to use the sat phone.

First of all you have to turn in your sat phone, Aquire a signal then know what procedure is required to send a text message, and who to send the message to.
The GPS data is not sent automaticly, and if the data is sent via a text message, does the person at the other end know where you are or who to contact to get help? What happens if the message that you send as a text message is not answered for many hours after because the person at the other end has a flat battery, or their phone is turned off, or they simply do not here the message come in?

With a PLB or EPIRB, it ia a very simple matter of releasing the antenna, and everthing else happens automaticly. The signal transmitted from your emergency beacon is picked up by dedicated satellites and the information is immediately picked up in Canberra. Because every beacon has its own unique code, they know who you are, and the names and phone numbers of 3 people that you nominated when you register the unit.

The response team will know where you are and to get things moving straight away. From the question that you have just asked, you do not take seriously the lives of you travelling companions seriously, or you are a fool to think that because you have a sat phone, you are safe and help with be automaticly sent.

How many times have I said here on forum posts, with the cheap costs of buying a PLB or ELPIRB, they should be compulsory to every vehicle that heads into remote areas.



Stephen

No need to be smart mate, it was a serious question and even if I had all the answers it does not hurt to reiterate them and help others. Your vehemence does not help with this.

The Isatphone can dial 000, sending gps co-ords is easy enough.
Yes it does require some degree of coherence on the part of the sender but 000 will respond even if no verbal coherence is observed. Your unit also requires activation so maybe not a huge difference in actual operator (sender) functionality.

All other info mentioned noted and thanks for that.

Malcom

Hi Malcom

I am not being smart, but just stating honest facts.

Yes you can dial 000 but the operator on the other end will not know where you are if you can not read out your for co ordinates, let alone where you are from a set of numbers. It's bad enough hearing reports from 000 operators in built up areas, let alone in remote areas, where they have no idea that you are not in a street, or where your nearest police station is.

For less than $250 the GPS enabled PLS are the cheapest insurance policy anyone can have, and it costs you nothing to keep it ongoing, as registration is free.

And here is another situation where our sat phones are useless......you car gets swamped and your phone is dropped into water, it is dead, while on the other hand, your in the water with your PLB, just release the antenna and it is all taken care of.

There was a case a few years ago, where a fishing boat was swamped well out to sea off the Queensland coast. Of the three men on board the boat, the only man saved was the only one with a GPS enabled EPIRB. As the unit continually transmits your co ordinates , he was located more than 10 kilometres from where the boat went down, while his mates were never found.

Do yourself a favour and go out an buy a PLB for the peace of mind for your loved ones.



Cheers


Stephen