EPIRB & PLB,s

Yendys200 · Member

EPIRB & PLB,s

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I have yet to invest in a EPIRB/PLB or similar - mainly because they are mainly (only) for life threatening situations.

I will be getting one of these before heading off again in 2018.

Spot GEN3 Satellite GPS

Apart from all the usual "EPIRB/PLB" features, I particularly like the ability to have -

'custom message' - sending a pre-programmed message with GPS location to nominated contact/s when out of mobile range - such as stuck in XXXX bush camp but all OK;
tracking - automatically sends and save GPS location, tracking your progress - downloadable to Google Maps;
Check in/OK - when out of mobile range push a button to a advise a contact with a pre-programmed message to advise arrival at your destination and all OK.

I have spoken with quite a few people who work alone in remote bushland and they find it invaluable ... particularly the ability to advise, with the push of a button, that one has arrived at the destination and all is OK - also including the GPS location.

Apart from all that ... I have absolutely no affiliation with the product or company

[EDIT: disclaimer - if not travelling in actual remote country there is little advantage with a EPIRB/PLB or the SPOT GEN3. Particularly if the time to be spent in a 'remote' area is not on a regular basis, then it would perhaps be wiser to simply invest in hiring a satphone for the duration of your 'exposure'. OH, and there are attachments one can now get (AP??) for these new fangled smarty-pants phones that allows it to be converted to a satphone. Not sure of the prices etc but they are apparently good value - they say. Contact Telstra/Optus]

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 28th of December 2017 11:23:55 AM

Tony Bev · Guru

If you are travelling on the bitumen, there will be plenty of other travellers

Just stop and wave your arms, and someone will stop to help

I now no longer stop unless someone puts their hand up, because 99.9999% of the times I have stopped, my assistance was not required

In some of the free camps and rest stops on the Stuart Highway, there are small phone towers, you walk up to within a meter or so, and you will have phone reception

As I do not have a vehicle suitable for off-road, I can not comment, what is the best

Edit to say
Opps, John had posted while I was away from the computer

-- Edited by Tony Bev on Thursday 28th of December 2017 11:44:28 AM

PeterD · Guru

EPIRB & PLB,s - There is actually a third type - ELT. Look at this link, it explains the differences between them. Also don't forget to register the PLB when you get it.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Pete ... am I correct in assuming that an ELT would not be carried by a land-based vehicle, or individual?

ELTs are emergency transmitters that are carried aboard most general aviation aircraft in the U.S. In the event of an aircraft accident, these devices are designed to transmit a distress signal on 121.5, 243.0-megahertz frequencies (and for newer ELTs, on 406 MHz).

Cheers- John

Mackayak · Veteran Member

I do have a PLB for when I am camping and kayak fishing but that spot dose look good and will be looking into it some more.

Ozzie_Traveller · Senior Member

G'day Yendys

You have some good info above - Rocky in particular has given you heaps of stuff too

For us having been wanderers for 40-or so years across inland Oz, and retired motorhomers for the last 15 or so may I add ...
It all comes down to where you are intending to go to [on any main highway vs any remote location up 50+km of dirt road]

If you are simply travelling up the main highways from town to town, no emergency stuff is needed. A good telstra fone is a 'yes' and a good 2-way radio for vehicle to vehicle talking is very useful. For 'normal' travels, sometime each day you will be going past a village - town - roadhouse etc. and they all have telstra fone reception.

If you don't yet have a telstra fone, pop into K-mart [or similar] and buy a $50 simple-to-use fone and put a $50 to $100 credit on it before you go ~ this will give you 3 months to 12 months to use up the fone credit

If you have a breakdown that you cannot fix yourself, the 1st step [as Rocky says] is to wave down someone else ~ it won't be long before someone stops with the tools & repair stuff to get you going again. If it is a bit more that a simple breakdown, then you will find that the professional truckies have other stuff, incl sat fones available, and they can readily call for help as needed. This is where your 2-way radio comes into play, as you can talk to the truckies & other travellers up and down the highway when there is no fone coverage available

Hope this helps
Phil

Nifty150 · Veteran Member

Another option is Garmin inreach. Uses satellite so works anywhere but does require a subscription, and has similar functionality to a PLB. Like Spot, it can send canned messages, but the great advantage is that it allows two way text messaging to individuals or a group. Also links to an iPhone or similar for ease of use, and shows remarkably detailed maps. It can send position updates as often as you want so friends can follow your progress. But its that ability to discuss not so serious problems in preference to sending an emergency call that brings in the helicopters that I value most.

Yendys200 · Member

Thanks to All has given a number of oppositions think I will go with the Spot Gen 3 as I know some guys that fly use these and work well just have to pay subscription yearly but you can suspend it at any time

PeterD · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Pete ... am I correct in assuming that an ELT would not be carried by a land-based vehicle, or individual?

You are correct. You would be silly to purchase an EPIRB as well, they are much more bulky to carry as they have built in flotation to keep them afloat. Another reason for not carrying an ELT or EPIRB is they are coded differently and they would thus be looking for the wrong situation if you activated one (in saying that, if all you had was a beacon not designed for your situation and one was handy you would still activate it if necessary.) When purchasing a beacon, get one that best suits the purpose.

TheHeaths · Guru

Don't know about ELT, but with an EPIRB, when you register it, you are able to nominate other uses such as outback travel, for the unit.

This then alerts AMSA, who receive the signal information when activated, that the unit could very well be in the outback, and the signal is likely to be valid. In this way, those who already have EPIRB's in their boats can make further use of them when they travel.

Of course they are much bulkier than PLB's, so the PLB is probably a better choice for travellers so that it is easier to carry if going walking in the bush.

That said, if you are not going off the road much, a Sat phone can get assistance much quicker in case of emergency, as you are in direct link with the emergency services, and can explain the issue, rather than a simple location signal, that passes on no detail of the emergency.

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Saturday 30th of December 2017 07:07:36 AM