New locator beacon

[thepom]

Just read this in the herald

Tiny locator beacon for boaties, trampers
By Mike Rose
12:43 PM Saturday May 21, 2011

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The new ACR ResQLink 406 MHz GPS personal locator beacon, described as the world's smallest and lightest, is now available here.

The unit features three levels of integrated signal technology: a global positioning system, a powerful 406MHz signal and 121.5MHz homing capability. It has been designed to relay quickly and accurately the user's position to a worldwide network of search and rescue satellites. A built-in strobe light also gives visibility during night rescues.

The ResQLink PLB, released at last week's boat show, is one of several ACR products that will be available here after a distribution deal between ACR and manufacturer and distributor Hutchwilco.

Opinions anyone .....

[Edbear]

Emachizit?

[thepom]

No idea but here,s a pic. http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=284

[XF650]

Comparison here: http://bolty.net/2011/04/28/by-the-numbers-spot-messenger-vs-acr-resqlink-vs-mcmurdo-fast-find-210/

[Padmei]

Very interesting.

I have been putting of the purchase of one of these type of units untill one comes out that can give rescue coordinates/ track routes AND also be used to text different messages to different people - ie a simpler cheaper type of satellite phone/ PLB.All this for a one time purchase price.
They will come soon...

[Willdat?]

In Nelson we can hire PLBs for $30 for a week from Rollos, I have to take one whenever I go tramping now to be allowed to go (recently discovered bee allergy). I'll keep using this service until Padmei's magical idea comes about, the case of the missing Sergeant near Otaki has put me off the SPOT tbh.

[Padmei]

In Nelson we can hire PLBs for $30 for a week from Rollos, I have to take one whenever I go tramping now to be allowed to go (recently discovered bee allergy). I'll keep using this service until Padmei's magical idea comes about, the case of the missing Sergeant near Otaki has put me off the SPOT tbh.

Do you take an epi pen with you? Just in case we are riding together sometime.

Whathappened with the policeyman?

[Crim]

Emachizit?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Other/auction-376624753.htm

and, Padmei, looks like with a subscription you can text on them as well (not sure on the price of that service though)

[Padmei]

"Give clear view of sky" Hmmm does this mean it may be inoperable in the normal bushymountain areas down here?

[Underground]

"Give clear view of sky" Hmmm does this mean it may be inoperable in the normal bushymountain areas down here?
Yes they all have to be able to 'see' a satellite ,thats why they're so effective on our boats (no trees in the ocean)

[thepom]

Buy now price is ok if you have it for five years....works out not too much per annum.....

[Willdat?]

Do you take an epi pen with you? Just in case we are riding together sometime.

Whathappened with the policeyman?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4975134/Missing-police-officer-found-near-Otaki

I heard him talk on National Radio soon after and he sounded very sensible and experienced...

I've got 2 epipens, and will probably take a vial of adrenaline/syringe too, just in case. Ended up in A&E with 5 epipens worth of adrenaline at the end of summer, had just got back from Bulmer Lake up Mt Owen too. I'm looking into immunotherapy but seems like you need to live in a main centre for that to be viable.

[NordieBoy]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Other/auction-376624753.htm

and, Padmei, looks like with a subscription you can text on them as well (not sure on the price of that service though)

That's the aqua link not the resq thingy one...

[NordieBoy]

"Give clear view of sky" Hmmm does this mean it may be inoperable in the normal bushymountain areas down here?

The spot issue is it needs a clearish view to the north? to send messages as it uses a different satellite system to do the messaging than the gps'y bits.

[Woodman]

Just read a book on early antarctic exploration. Those buggers were down there for 2 years living on penguins and seals and no one knew whether they were alive or dead. Makes me think that one of these things wouldn't be a bad idea just in case.

Don't think I could bring myself to eat a penguin. A seal maybe, but not a penguin.

[cs363]

Emachizit?

http://www.helicopterhelmet.com/ACR-ResQLink-PLB_p_628.html

US$319 + shipping, doesn't seem too bad.

[warewolf]

I heard him took on National Radio soon after and he sounded very sensible and experienced...Experienced? He was a senior SAR (search and rescue) co-ordinator! It was a serious technology failure - or more correctly understanding and implementation thereof. When he first noticed the choppers he didn't even consider they were looking for him, as he "knew" he'd sent a message.


Yes they all have to be able to 'see' a satellite ,thats why they're so effective on our boats (no trees in the ocean)'swhy they are so crap in caving areas and steep country. No good under trees. No good against a rock wall (blocks out half the sky). No good in a canyon (blocks out all but a narrow strip of sky). Etc. Some of the cavers & more experienced SAR ppl use a remote antenna on a 5m telescoping pole. Gives them both a better antenna than the built-in one, and gets it up further through the canopy.

But it's still better have one and have to move to clear ground to use it, than not.

[Underground]

The advantage that I see with having one of the Spot type devices is that a message can be sent every 15 minutes or so thus leaving a trail to the last sent message position.
Do they not notify that a message has been 'not sent' like a celphone does? if not it seems like a serious failing.