Personal Location Beacon recommendations

[wick p]

Looking for advice from those with experience with PLB in WA bush. I am pensioner but see that some devices are about $400. Although I have had some experience in WA bush I understand the importance of safety and take necessary communication and location devices etc. I think It would be another good back up. Price, size and ongoing costs and usability are a consideration. Thanks.

 

[grubstake]

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the national body responsible for ensuring that only fully Australian Standards compliant models are sold here. These are all the current models:
https://beacons.amsa.gov.au/about/beacon-types.asp#Personal-Locator-Beacon-PLB

Some are larger, some are heavier, none are cheap/dodgy. My recommendation would be to go for one with the longest battery life, as PLB batteries are not user-replaceable. Some claim as much as 10 years of usable life.

 

[Moneybox]

Looking for advice from those with experience with PLB in WA bush. I am pensioner but see that some devices are about $400. Although I have had some experience in WA bush I understand the importance of safety and take necessary communication and location devices etc. I think It would be another good back up. Price, size and ongoing costs and usability are a consideration. Thanks.

We went with two of the smallest with the longest life. They came in a solid zip-up protective case that I fitted to each prospecting harness.

Just be aware that last year I removed mine from the harness so that we could carry it hiking in Queensland. I decided to remove it from it protective case and test to see that it was ok. I couldn't get it out, the zip was corroded so I had to soak it with WD40 for a while and prise it with a screw driver to get it to move. Once it was freed up the zip worked again and the PLB was in perfect condition inside. If I'd have been stuck in the bush I might have destroyed the device trying to get it out.

That reminds me I'd better check them both again.

 

[Moneybox]

Tonight I'm out and about so I sent Mrs M my position before leaving the van.



On my way back I thought it might be worth trying this free app for tracking.



As you can see by the top of each image I'm on airport so as not to affect the metal detector and the result was pleasing. You'll be able to see my location if you enter it and you'll see I'm a very long way from civilization and telephone reception.

 

[Flatlander]

Is that three word app witch I've got I just give missus the three words and she find me

 

[XLOOX]

Just a PLB and no fancy stuff then i would recommend Ocean Signal PLB1 as it is full featured but VERY small and so you can carry it in your pocket with ease.

https://oceansignal.com/products/plb1/

As far as fancy ones go with sat sms or data etc then the playing field is changing monthly as far as services and costs go as starlink and other LEO sat companies are getting in on the data from space game. I will be waiting a couple of years before replacing my Garmin Inreach Mini as by then my phone will prob have full sat up and download builtin....

 

[Hilux]

A possible option may be a latest model iphone, they have an SOS function via satellite.

I tried out the trial / test on my wifes iPhone. It seems quite neat.

 

[wick p]

Tonight I'm out and about so I sent Mrs M my position before leaving the van.

View attachment 16052

On my way back I thought it might be worth trying this free app for tracking.

View attachment 16053

As you can see by the top of each image I'm on airport so as not to affect the metal detector and the result was pleasing. You'll be able to see my location if you enter it and you'll see I'm a very long way from civilization and telephone reception.

I don't understand this. Is this a location app?

 

[Moneybox]

I don't understand this. Is this a location app?

Yes this system was developed by dividing the earth surface into 3m x 3m and 6m x 6m squares all named by three words. It can place you very accurately onto any position on earth. Somebody has argued that four words should have been used but I guess it's a bit difficult to go back now. I feel it's an under utilised application of great value. You can navigate to those three words that I've given you and it will place you on the same 3m x 3m patch of dirt that I was standing on at the time. If you hit the emergency button on your iPhone you'll notice it displays the unique three words of your location, perhaps less confusing than the various GPS coordinate systems we use.

 

[grubstake]

I don't understand this. Is this a location app?

 

[XLOOX]

I don't understand this. Is this a location app?

People contacting Emergency Services are notorious for getting their co-ordinates wrong when conveying them by voice or text especially voice if bad signal or strong accent. Wrong hemisphere is an obvious mistake but tranpsosing or doubbbbling digits can lead to the wrong area being looked at. And a lot of people dont know what those funny ' & '' thingies are and just leave them out when giving coords.

The 3 word system is a way to simplify coord info transfer for the general public.

Not much help without a converter on the recieving end though.