ELBs and PLBs locating beacons?

[Edbear]

A lot if discussions about GPS units around, but I have been considering getting a PLB. They are coming down in price and I have a contact where I can get one brand for a good price.

Does anyone carry one? Do you guys think they are worth it on land especially if you are "off the beaten track"?

The one I have been offered is a new mini size, with an RRP of $699.00. It is not much bigger than the traditional box of matches.

[unstuck]

I use these guys, just sent it back today actually, after my weekend trip.:niceone:

Would buy my own if I was using it as much as I would like.

[Jantar]

I have a PLB. I can't comment on how good it is as after 2 years of owning it I have never actually used it.

The battery is good for 5m years, and hope that when I send it away to have battery replaced that I still will never have used it.

[unstuck]

I have a PLB. I can't comment on how good it is as after 2 years of owning it I have never actually used it.

The battery is good for 5m years, and hope that when I send it away to have battery replaced that I still will never have used it.

Good to know it is there though aye, if I ever do a serious trip without one, I would probably need it. That Murphy can be a prick.:yes:

[Edbear]

I have a PLB. I can't comment on how good it is as after 2 years of owning it I have never actually used it.

The battery is good for 5m years, and hope that when I send it away to have battery replaced that I still will never have used it.

Like all insurance I guess. I would hope never to need it for myself but wouldn't it be handy if you came uoon an accident somewhere? With most phones having GPS it would normally be easy to tell the services where you are, but cellphone coverage is still patchy in many places.


Good to know it is there though aye, if I ever do a serious trip without one, I would probably need it. That Murphy can be a prick.:yes:

Murphy should be shot...

[Mo NZ]

This bloke knows all about them.
http://www.groome.co.nz/

[Blat450]

Yup I own one and always carry it with me while trail riding, and hunting. I brought one after I was sitting on a high ridge in fiordland enjoying the view and realized just how hard it would be to find somoeone in there, and how just a broken ankle could end up killing you because you could not get out. Its nice to know if I get in the shit I can still get help.

[unstuck]

Yup I own one and always carry it with me while trail riding, and hunting. I brought one after I was sitting on a high ridge in fiordland enjoying the view and realized just how hard it would be to find somoeone in there, and how just a broken ankle could end up killing you because you could not get out. Its nice to know if I get in the shit I can still get help.

Thats when I started thinking about them too, after falling off a bluff in the eglington valley during an earthquake, by myself.:weep:

[BoristheBiter]

Thats when I started thinking about them too, after falling off a bluff in the eglington valley during an earthquake, by myself.:weep:

Did the same with a knife in the Kaimanawa's, like Jantar I don't know if it is any good.

Funny thing is, you can be five miles from home or 100 miles for no where, if no one knows your there your just as fucked.

[carburator]

res-q-link..

406 gps model.
rrp 599

these are built by artex, same people who have built my me406 in the chopper..

[Road kill]

Pussies,,,:oi-grr:

[Dogboy900]

I used to hunt with a guy who always carried one. He had previously had a stroke while out hunting by himself, only an hours easy walk from the car but he lay there in the cold and dark for 4 hours before his wife rang the farm owner who came looking for him. He couldn't walk but he would have been able to operate a PLB if he had one at the time.

Worth getting I reckon.

[Gremlin]

I have a GME MT410G or something like that. Never used it (thankfully) and hope I never will, for anyone.

I chose it, as mobile coverage is patchy, and even GPS coverage can be patchy, especially in the likes of forests, gullies etc. I figure if I need help, then it's serious enough to need everything I can get, and a PLB has the best chance of getting a signal and raising help.

Stuff like the SPOT uses GPS, and people have said they have failed to get lockons. My PLB does have GPS as well, so it can narrow down my location to a matter of metres, if GPS coverage is available etc.

[Berries]

I had a stroke once while out hunting.



Courtenay Place ROCKS.

[Maha]

A decision to own such a thing could ultimately come down to price, as in a lot of cases.
A potential life saver for sure if emergency services are able to directly get to you without delay.

It's a bit like having an insurance policy, you pay for it but hope you never have to use it.

[BOGAR]

Cost is a big issue but it is coming down as you say. Now days the size of them is to the point you can fit it into a pocket, or even a small bag and hardly notice its there. You get one hoping you never need it but bloody great if you do. I have one and lend it to close friends any time. It is registered to you and you name 3 contacts so as soon as it goes off and is picked up in Wellington they can ring the people on the list. Quickest pick up after activation I have heard is just over 30 min. I don't like them for one reason only, i'm in search and rescue and these things takeaway some of my work, but wouldn't have it any other way :woohoo:.
You can hire them quite cheep but there is the hassle of getting it when you need it and you would only take it on the big trips and not all the time.
I do recommend one even if it takes a while to save up for it.

[unstuck]

I use these guys, just sent it back today actually, after my weekend trip.:niceone:

Would buy my own if I was using it as much as I would like.

This is the link that was supposed to be in this post.:Oops: http://www.rescuebeaconhire.co.nz/

Bloody good service.:2thumbsup

[Flip]

I also like the idea of a personal ELB. However as the cell networks are developed there will be less and less places a cell phone won't work, for 99% of the average punters a cell phone is all you will ever need.

As a ham radio operator I can legally get into the national repeater system and any of the numerous local repeaters from most places in NZ with a relatively simple and low cost handi-talkie. There is always somebody listening on these ham networks who would be happy to forward on a emergency call. I also have all the SAR frequencies and all the other emenrency service repeaters programmed in to my handi-talkie.

If I am out in the landy with the HF SSB set (short wave) I can talk to folk on the other side of the world in simplex (set to set).

[Edbear]

res-q-link..

406 gps model.
rrp 599

these are built by artex, same people who have built my me406 in the chopper..

This is the one I can get.

[unstuck]

This is the one I can get.

That is tiny. Be good when the price comes down.:yes:

[Edbear]

That is tiny. Be good when the price comes down.:yes:

If I can get ten sales, I can get them for $550.00 ea. incl, GST. Has to be paid up front though, I can't afford to carry that kind of money.

If anyone seriously does want one, PM me.

[unstuck]

If I can get ten sales, I can get them for $550.00 ea. incl, GST. Has to be paid up front though, I can't afford to carry that kind of money.

If anyone seriously does want one, PM me.

Thats not too bad, but for the amount of times I would use one in a year at the moment, its not really economical. Maybe If I retire next year.:2thumbsup

[Edbear]

Thats not too bad, but for the amount of times I would use one in a year at the moment, its not really economical. Maybe If I retire next year.:2thumbsup

Now if I was a salesman... :innocent: I'd ask you all sorts of questions to make you afraid not to get one... :pinch:

[unstuck]

Now if I was a salesman... :innocent: I'd ask you all sorts of questions to make you afraid not to get one... :pinch:

Not afraid to get one, it,s just cheaper for me to hire one when needed. At the moment.;)

[huff3r]

FCO does them for $489 for one thats just bigger than the average pocket :msn-wink:

http://www.fco.co.nz/online-store/products/GME-406mHz-GPS-Receiver.aspx?pid=293495&menuFrom=3103364#Cross

[unstuck]

FCO does them for $489 for one thats just bigger than the average pocket :msn-wink:


Thats pretty good.:2thumbsup

Getting lower already.

[huff3r]

Thats pretty good.:2thumbsup

Getting lower already.

They are actively trying to make them cheaper, to encourage people to use them. They just dropped the price of their EPIRB for boating to the same as well.

[unstuck]

They are actively trying to make them cheaper, to encourage people to use them. They just dropped the price of their EPIRB for boating to the same as well.

Good news. Makes sense though. I think they will come down a fair way yet too.:2thumbsup

[Ender EnZed]

res-q-link..

406 gps model.
rrp 599

+1

It seems like a lot of money for something you have no intention of ever using, but when you add up the cost of the rest of your protective gear (helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, boots) what does it come to? I'd guess an easy $2-3k for most serious motorcyclists. Spending or saving an extra 600 bucks on standard gear might get you some better workers' conditions and a fancier brand but; should you fuck up and actually need it to count, it's unlikely to do you as much good from down a bank on your average cellphone-coverage-free NZ back road as a PLB.

[Gremlin]

I also like the idea of a personal ELB. However as the cell networks are developed there will be less and less places a cell phone won't work, for 99% of the average punters a cell phone is all you will ever need.

That's a big 1% left then. Plenty of places I've been with no coverage. Days of riding with no coverage, and even towns with no coverage. But I guess it's a very small price to pay for the best roads! :2thumbsup

[Edbear]

I do think a PLB is a good investment and I will be getting one for myself. As has been noted, cellphone coverage is still very patchy in NZ and one of the reasons why is that it is not cost-effective for the big Telco's to expand the number of towers for such small pockets of population. They can't recover their costs in many places. It is a problem the Govt. recognises and so do the Telco's and big businesses. It's just that NZ has so diverse a topography it would require hundreds of cell-towers that would never be covered cost-wise.

Satellite phones are very expensive, and the modern PLB's are very effective and cost efficient, I think, anyway.

[carburator]

I have a GME MT410G or something like that. Never used it (thankfully) and hope I never will, for anyone.

I chose it, as mobile coverage is patchy, and even GPS coverage can be patchy, especially in the likes of forests, gullies etc. I figure if I need help, then it's serious enough to need everything I can get, and a PLB has the best chance of getting a signal and raising help.

Stuff like the SPOT uses GPS, and people have said they have failed to get lockons. My PLB does have GPS as well, so it can narrow down my location to a matter of metres, if GPS coverage is available etc.

I do not like spot, the lock on for SAR is not great, the artex not only transmits a gps location but also transmits a locator beacon as well.
we use it for hunting but also out fishing in the boat as the latest model is water proof and floats..

[carburator]

This is the one I can get.

after reading the spec's given the price id spend the extra $49 for the artex
also I don't have to buy ten to get that price either plus the artex comes
with a strobe , first aid kit, survival mirror and whistle and a head lamp
( ok so some xtra goodies )