Blogs

GPS.ORG.NZ Forum on PLBs

Timwiel: Hi there - and thanks in advance for any answers given.  I am after recommendations for a PLB or EPIRB for a kids/teenage camp situation. I am the camping manager at a camp in South Otago and we run a lot of off-site outdoor pursuits camps such as horse trekking, motorbike camps and starting again this year a tramping camp. 
 
We are keen to equip ourselves with a simple to use PLB or EPIRB for  emergency situations but I have the following questions:
 
1. What is the best particular device (Brand and model) in your opinion and why?
2. Where is the best place to purchase one with good support?

Guwapo: From memory the Scout shop in Filluel St, Dunedin has them for hire. Not sure of the details.

Kiwi Moose: Ring up Tony and ask www.kiwigps.co.nz - he's a helpful fella!

Kiwilegend: That's a difficult question to ask, as most people that have one never actually use it, or even know for sure that it actually works. So effectively, as an owner, you have nothing to base an opinion on, and what's more, no need for service/support, since you rarely/never get into a position where something goes wrong. The one thing that they do need is battery changes, which have to be done at a factory approved service facility, and I'd guess that any brand you can
buy locally would have such a place, but probably in d'Auckland. Perhaps if there was such a place in Dunners, that might be the decider? And/or enquire as to that cost, and factor that into your decision.

Timwiel: I asked this question in the LandSAR forums and they recommended getting in touch with NavCom in Dunedin which I have done - their guy Alan recommends the GME MT410G for us. Taking into account the good point that Kiwilegend makes that until you need it you don't *really* know how good it is does anyone have an opinion on this model?
 
Oh and I will be sure took ask Alan about battery replacements as well. Thanks kiwilegend, kiwimoose and Guwapo for your comments.

BaldEd: I've had a GME MT410G since they were released for use in NZ. Battery life is 7 years. Mine's due for battery replacement in Jul 2014, unless I activate it earlier. There are now smaller/lighter PLBs on the market - but I know of no comparison test between models.

Bitsprayer: I have a ACR ResQlink+ cost $620, battery lasts 5 years, has to go to Auckland for replacement I think cost about $200, this model also floats, is is nice and small, but like the other say, you wont know how good it is until you need it. I think at the end of the day as long as it work when you need it most, more of as should have them.
 
kiwigps.co.nz
 
Cheers Bitsprayer

Kiwitonita: There's a good test / review site here for one of the popular beacons, McMurdo FastFind: www.equipped.com/McMurdoNewFastFind. This model is 99% the same as the Kannad SafeLink Solo, having the same parent company and both made in the UK. Another well known brand is ACR from Florida with the ResQLink which is the smallest/lightest available at present. Look for other PLB tests on this site too.
 
A NZ registered beacon will be received at the Wellington Rescue Coordination Centre regardless of which country you're in. Once the Centre establishes your position and contacts your pre-registered list of people etc they pass on the info to the appropriate SAR people where you are.
 
Costs etc are summarised here, all have GPS built in so are able to transmit your location along with your 15 character ID code and recommended battery change interval is 5-6 years:
 
McMurdo Fast Find $650. Distributed by Bright Ideas, Auckland who also do the battery replacement / test. If the beacon is used for a rescue and you submit a story suitable for their web site, the battery / test is free. About 170g weight.
 
Kannad Safe Link Solo $580 Distributed by RFD, ChCh, Nelson, Auckland with several service locations incl. ChCh. $180. About 170g weight.
 
ACR ResQLink $620 Distributed by Hutchwilco, Auckland. Serviced by West Haven Marine, Ak, about $250. About 130g weight. All 3 listed here.
 
All have a built in test facility, limited to about 60 activations which allows you to test the circuitry and battery condition. One chap I was talking to thought one test a month on average was not enough so I suggested he was better off not venturing into the bush at all. Or otherwise get a back-up beacon. It may be that in 5 years the battery test shows everything fine. You don't have to change it in 5 years, that's just the end of the warranty period and is a comfortable safety margin as the shelf life is about 10 years. Another option is to sell it after 3 years and replace with whatever is the latest/ lightest at the time. All are waterproof and float with the provided neoprene pouch. All have to be able to transmit 5 watts (not continuous) for 24+ hours at -20 degrees in 5 years time. If used and rescued, you can switch off the beacon. Thus there are situations where the rest of the party (say - tramping) can carry on with the beacon knowing that it can be used again.
 
You'll also come across the Spot Messenger type devices. These certainly have their place but are not to be regarded as a last resort means of summoning emergency aid. They are great for tracking and reporting in OK or reporting I need help (but not life threatening) or a real emergency but be sure you have a clear view of the sky for a good 20-30 mins. Cost about $280 but have a annual subscription of US$115 for the basic service and an optional US$50 for 10 minute tracking. Battery is 3AAA, lithium only. More advanced Spot models can transmit a custom message that you first type into a Bluetooth phone. Messages are received in the US.

Stretch0: From what i understand the price of battery replacements is high so possibly hirage of the beacons would be a better option. I am sure contacting your local camping / hiking store and they will be able to put you onto the right people possibly you may be able to wrangle a deal for hireage who knows or even arrange for a sponsorship for the required units !!! Would be worth checking out all the options before deciding on purchase against hiring !!

Stretch: I recently purchase one of the lightweight ACR models from the states for the equivalent of $NZ340. Getting the the country code reprogrammed to NZ costs about $NZ70.

Purecaffine: I have the McMurdo FastFind 211; I could have hired, but I figure I can't know when I'll need it and given the statistics of the number of people who die within a quarter mile of their car I'm better off just buying it and having it with me at all times. And I do - it's in my EDC and goes everywhere with me, to work, to the shops.
 
How many times have you seen on survival documentaries people who owned a beacon but just that one time they needed it … they didn't have it.
 
Plus if I own it I know I'll take good care of it. Rather than it being like a rental DVD where it gets thrown around and might not work when you need it. That's probably not the case, but as I could afford it, that's what I did.

Stretch: Totally agree. I did a bit of research before buying an ACR model a few months back from the states and getting it reprogrammed. The exchange rate at the time was 75c, and I had a mate bring it into NZ instead of me having to ship it. The purchase plus local reprogramming came to $420, so definitely worth pursuing that approach if you want to save some coin - the exchange rate is even more favourable now, at over 80c.
 
Technically, there doesn't seem to be much difference between brands - they all have to meet the required standard as mentioned earlier: 5W transmit for 24hrs at -20degrees C after 5 years in your pack. GPS accuracy dooesn't come into it - the Cospas / SARSAT format truncates the GPS coordinates from your PLB to 100m accuracy anyway. That's probably due to the accuracy of GPS back in the day when the SARSAT system was developed, and GPS Selective Availability was still turned on, etc. All the more reason to get a PLB with 121.5MHz homing. Aircraft and/or search parties will be able to home in on you.
 
I bought the ACR model with built in buoyancy. In hindsight, unless you will primarily be carrying it in marine environments, I would get the same model, but without the built in buoyancy and just use a neoprene pouch. I've seen the two versions side by side, and the built in buoyancy is much bulkier.
 
In summary, do your research and make a choice. Any 406MHz PLB is better than no PLB. Just be sure to take it with you.

Purecaffine: Wow that's pretty good; I got my McMurdo from Australia - cheaper than getting NZ even with exchange rate.
 
And the point about homing beacon good too - although of course everyone considering getting a PLB should remember that if you care that much to
get a PLB then you should also carry a whistle, signalling mirror, hand-wind torch, matches etc as a backup or to supplement the PLB.

Tassiedevil: Can you give me details where you go to for reprogramming in NZ?

Tgsnoopy: I'd suggest also considering adding a strobe light for night and smoke flare for day under bush cover, might make the poor spotters job a lot easier. They aren't that expensive, big & heavy and may just help save your life. Make sure your matches are waterproof ones.

Rediguana: The ACR ones (which I just got one very recently, still to register) comes with bonus whistle, signaling mirror, strobe and first aid kit for free