Gps epirb

[marks]

anyone got one?

anyone recommend a brand?

Spot works well but needs to be attached to the bike to 'see' the satellites and that story of the poor guy on the last DB1000 who broke his pelvis and couldn't crawl to his bike has given me the shits....

[Eddieb]

The spot talks to a gps type satelitte doesn't it? same as a GPS.

It's not the technology mechanism so much as the quality of the transmitter/receiver chip. A lot of GPS's need to be out in the open to pick up a signal also and quite a few won't even work well under a car windscreen. You could end up no better off unless you really do your research.

[GSers]

anyone got one?

anyone recommend a brand?

Spot works well but needs to be attached to the bike to 'see' the satellites and that story of the poor guy on the last DB1000 who broke his pelvis and couldn't crawl to his bike has given me the shits....

Mark check out this thread

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/116611-Epirb-Spot?highlight

I carry an ACR PLB ( they also offer a messaging service) in my jacket pocket for that very reason and as for the satellite thingy that Eddie is talking about, that is secondary to the locator beacon it first starts off sending out a radio signal on 406MHz straight to a satellite, it also transmits a signal on 121.5MHz for incoming helicopters to home in on and then if the gps has picked up the 3 minimum satellite it will then transmit your position. It all starts working as soon as you push the button. That is as long as you are still in a condition to push the button.

regards GSers

[buggsubique]

The ACR ones looked good and seem to be the most reasonably priced. then theres the mcmurdo ones which can be real small and from memory I think they may have had a longer operating time once activated...can't recall though, but they are a bit pricier.

With the ones coming out with the "OK" button or function then my question is how it affects the battery life as it would seem to be a function we would use a lot? Battery replacements I think can be quite expensive and this is something I never got so far as to check out.

[Padmei]

Mark check out this thread

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/116611-Epirb-Spot?highlight

I carry an ACR PLB ( they also offer a messaging service) in my jacket pocket for that very reason and as for the satellite thingy that Eddie is talking about, that is secondary to the locator beacon it first starts off sending out a radio signal on 406MHz straight to a satellite, it also transmits a signal on 121.5MHz for incoming helicopters to home in on and then if the gps has picked up the 3 minimum satellite it will then transmit your position. It all starts working as soon as you push the button. That is as long as you are still in a condition to push the button.

regards GSers

Hey GSers thanks for the info. i am interested in something like what you have described.
Without going right thru the other thread could you describe what it does in pretty basic language. ie real laymans terms with an example of me falling off the bike, injuring myself & being able to get a message to my wife/ 111 or to nordie to come out with some strops.
cheers padmei

[Racing Dave]

I used my ACR brand (Model PLB-300) beacon on last year's Dusty Butt, and it worked fine.

Within minutes of triggering, my wife was rung by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Wellington, to ask if I was out, and if so where. Her answer co-incided with the signal's location so the helicopter from Dunedin was dispatched.

An hour after pressing the Help button, there it was. After assessing my injury (dislocated shoulder) the pilot phoned the RCC who then phoned my wife to reassure her that there was no critical damage, and I was whisked off to Dunedin for repair.

It's a good and reliable system, worth the $800.

[GSers]

These are the questions I asked everyone.
Question to Maritime Safety NZ
I am interested in signing up to the “I AM OK” Service that ACR are offering. This is to keep my partner informed that I am indeed OK when out of cell phone range.
As you monitor the 406 beacons in NZ can you please confirm that this service will not set off any unnecessary rescue mission if used in NZ.

Reply from Maritime Safety & ACR Distributor NZ
The service is available but still on trial in NZ. The satellite coverage for this service is New Zealand - wide, but to date, I have only managed to get it to send one e-mail and no texts. I think the text part of it will be the most user friendly part and most convenient, but we need to resolve the misalignment between US and NZ cell networks. I am in the process of doing this but it could take a week or two. The test facility which sends the “I’m okay” message cannot initiate a rescue mission as a blocking code in the transmission prevents the COSPAS/SARSAT network from on-forwarding the 406 distress signal. I will let you know as soon as we have the system working correctly

Question to ACR USA.
I am very interested in this service 406Link.com. But I have just got out my PLB300 manual and what it says about the GPS self testing is: Warning to conserve battery power the following test should not be performed more than once during the five year life of the battery pack.
I accept that using the PLB this way of course will use battery life and I have no problem with that but do you have an agent here in New Zealand that can replace the batteries at a reasonable price. At this stage the unit is not due for replacement until 2013 and I don’t want to have to replace the whole unit just because I kept using the Self Test Function to send
“I AM OK” messages.

Reply from ACR USA
We currently are running tests in New Zealand to make sure the system is working properly, since New Zealand is at the outer edge of our coverage zone, but our tests have been going great, and you shouldn’t have any problems using the service. The only issue we currently have is that New Zealand cellular carriers have a different protocol for text messaging that we need to get resolved with our system. Currently the “I’m Ok” messages via email are working, but not the SMS/Text messages. Hope to have this resolved shortly.
Your PLB-300 will work just fine with the 406Link.com system. The Warning you reference in your email is for the GPS Acquisition Test which should only be done once during the life of your battery. Your PLB can not transmit GPS coordinates during a self test unfortunately, but you can take advantage of the “I’m Ok” messaging service which works off of a basic PLB Self Test. These basic self tests are recommended to do at least once per month, but your model can actually do up to 420 Self Tests before the battery witness seal will deactivate the self test function so that you do not start using the 24 hours of Emergency Life remaining in your batteries.

Looks like this thing should eventually get off the ground so as soon as I hear that they have the text messaging working properly I will post again.

Have a look at there web site
http://www.406link.com/demo.html
as stated by ACR you can send 420 I am OK message before that feature is looked out so that the PLB still has 24 Hrs battery life for an emegency. There are better models with more features they may not be sending text but to an email account is all go. Hope this helps
P.S The National distributor in AKL can replace the batteries not sure of the price
regards GSers

[marks]

thanks for the responses guys

Do PLB/EPIRBS's work in dense bush as most of the Mungatooks ain't exactly open

seems to be a choice between :

GME MT410G $599 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Boats-marine/Parts-accessories/Safety/auction-352978475.htm)

McMurdo Fastfind (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Other/auction-351955383.htm) $738

and KANNAD XS-4 (http://www.salcom.co.nz/Product-Details.aspx?ID=103) GPS $630

[GSers]

thanks for the responses guys

Do PLB/EPIRBS's work in dense bush as most of the Mungatooks ain't exactly open

seems to be a choice between :

GME MT410G $599 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Boats-marine/Parts-accessories/Safety/auction-352978475.htm)

McMurdo Fastfind (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Other/auction-351955383.htm) $738

and KANNAD XS-4 (http://www.salcom.co.nz/Product-Details.aspx?ID=103) GPS $630

Mark check out post 3 above.
I think the price reflects whether they have a built in GPS reciever not all models do
GSers

[KiWiP]

My choice if I had the money
Breitling EPIRB (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Jewellery-watches/Watches/Mens-watches/Other/auction-351979687.htm)

[cooneyr]

thanks for the responses guys

Do PLB/EPIRBS's work in dense bush as most of the Mungatooks ain't exactly open

seems to be a choice between :

GME MT410G $599 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Boats-marine/Parts-accessories/Safety/auction-352978475.htm)

McMurdo Fastfind (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Other/auction-351955383.htm) $738

and KANNAD XS-4 (http://www.salcom.co.nz/Product-Details.aspx?ID=103) GPS $630

As mentioned above the price reflects the inclusion of a GPS unit in the PLB (EPRIBS are for boaties). The benefit of the GPS is to help limit the search area (few meters squared) compared to the non GPS units (5km squared if I recall correctly). If the GPS equipped units don't have satellite reception they "should" operate as if a non GPS unit. In dense bush when you might loose GPS reception that is probably exactly the time you need it. When in the open you don't need it cause they can see you. Not really ideal.


My choice if I had the money
Breitling EPIRB (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Jewellery-watches/Watches/Mens-watches/Other/auction-351979687.htm)

Only problem is that it transmits on the old frequency (121.5MHz) this frequency is not monitored now where as 406 is. Changed in feb 09. More info on official website here (http://www.beacons.org.nz/).

I'm a firm believer in having the unit in a jacket pocket vs being on the bike for exactly the reason mentioned above. If you have a bad crash, chances are your not with your bike at the end of it. Mine lives in the right pocket of my jacket if anybody needs it when out and about with me.

Cheers R

[KiWiP]

Only problem is that it transmits on the old frequency (121.5MHz) this frequency is not monitored now where as 406 is. Changed in feb 09.

Sorry should have made it clear it wasn't a recommendation more a wish list item for when I win the lottery. It is a watch for people with more money than judgement. If you can afford a watch like that you can afford a backup vehicle to follow you :yes:

[GSers]

Hey GSers thanks for the info. i am interested in something like what you have described.
Without going right thru the other thread could you describe what it does in pretty basic language. ie real laymans terms with an example of me falling off the bike, injuring myself & being able to get a message to my wife/ 111 or to nordie to come out with some strops.
cheers padmei

If you are injured and need assistance open it push the panic button and wait for the helicopter. With my PLB I have I can only send one message to an email address that says I am OK but the more expensive ACR models have more features First you need to register with there web site and donate them an annual fee of course.
regards GSers

Dave !!!!!!! Remember there is no such thing as Yeti's