Epirb or Spot?

[vegeman]

Good to see all the points being well covered (I'm an outdoor instructor for Mountain Safety Council). I carry a 406mhz (epirb, plb, elt, beacon...all moot now) whenever I go outdoors (bike, MTB, hunting etc), then like the others have wished that I could have remote com;s that wasn't urgent i.e. bike broke - help.

The Spot type is cool for covering emergency, as well as I need help, am ok...type of message.

More units are coming out with more flexibility for customizing messages etc...THEN the latest Satphone incorporates them all now.

For me, I think I'll be saving for one...as it achieves everything albeit still a tad expensive.


In summary, my mates have gone to fiordland for 10 days hunting and this year, they are taking the new Iridium Extreme phone....which has tested out very well. We have put it through some tests...and now the boys are doing it for real. (i'm unfortunately weather bitch)

These new units, are weatherproof, excellent battery, smaller and lighter, can receive FREE email to texts for people wanting to communicate with you, or SMS for .20c from vodafone. The now have Spot type function, and can transmit GPS location at regular intervals. Has a 'emergency' (epirb button now), so thats a one push help. Whats really cool about these new units is that they can driver more status updates from the satellites and service to let you know that the msg has got out which is very assuring for person who is needing help i.e. light goes red for acquiring position, yellow for sending, green that message has gone...very nice.

BUT...its still a phone, so you can call anywhere, and solve all com's issues... Sat acquisition for calls only requires one satellite, so boot up time is fast i.e. <10secs. the iridiums use the low earth orbit, moving sats...so they work everywhere on the planet.

Plans are more affordable, and while the units are still $2K...they are getting down to what I used to pay for the latest cellphones. You can rent these as well.

...

[Padmei]

INteresting. I've been putting off buying a PLB till I could communicate thru them. Sounds like in a few years they will be normal price.

[LBD]

I am happy with the spot messenger...great for tracking rides... and is there in an emergency...

http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view?trip_id=295410

Under normal riding conditions I would not bother, but visiting remote locations at night I consider it good insurance

[Monstaman]

We have a spot 2 for our trip, useful for out in the boonies should shit happen.

We are also using it so our family and friends will be able to see where we are at.

www.spotwalla.com is the site linked with Gooooooogle maps, great technology we have available now.

[Rosie]

I bought a PLB from the States. The place I bought it from had it re-programmed for use in NZ, then when I registered it with our SAR I made note that it was primarily for use in my glider, but I would also carry it when motorcycling in the back country, and my wife may carry it when horse treking. SAR were more than happy to make those additional notes on its potential use.

Oh. Total price for buying and having it re-programmed was US$315.

That is a pretty sharp price Jantar.
I was looking at one of these>> http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/camp...-461954114.htm
or possibly something like this >> http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/kaya...-460674256.htm

I think I'd prefer the P.L.B. with G.P.S. over a S.P.O.T. as it can be registered with S.A.R. which gives them an idea who they're searching for, also I'm pretty crap at paying subscriptions so SPOT is probly not going to work for me.

T.Y. T.I.A. G.B.

*strokes chin thoughtfully* all useful info thanks.
A number of things had me thinking about PLBs during our recent South Island trip.
Even at <$400 out of the states, I'm not quite sure I can justify it... but it's getting closer to being a reasonable price.

[Phreaky Phil]

Good to see all the points being well covered (I'm an outdoor instructor for Mountain Safety Council). I carry a 406mhz (epirb, plb, elt, beacon...all moot now) whenever I go outdoors (bike, MTB, hunting etc), then like the others have wished that I could have remote com;s that wasn't urgent i.e. bike broke - help.

The Spot type is cool for covering emergency, as well as I need help, am ok...type of message.

More units are coming out with more flexibility for customizing messages etc...THEN the latest Satphone incorporates them all now.

For me, I think I'll be saving for one...as it achieves everything albeit still a tad expensive.


In summary, my mates have gone to fiordland for 10 days hunting and this year, they are taking the new Iridium Extreme phone....which has tested out very well. We have put it through some tests...and now the boys are doing it for real. (i'm unfortunately weather bitch)

These new units, are weatherproof, excellent battery, smaller and lighter, can receive FREE email to texts for people wanting to communicate with you, or SMS for .20c from vodafone. The now have Spot type function, and can transmit GPS location at regular intervals. Has a 'emergency' (epirb button now), so thats a one push help. Whats really cool about these new units is that they can driver more status updates from the satellites and service to let you know that the msg has got out which is very assuring for person who is needing help i.e. light goes red for acquiring position, yellow for sending, green that message has gone...very nice.

BUT...its still a phone, so you can call anywhere, and solve all com's issues... Sat acquisition for calls only requires one satellite, so boot up time is fast i.e. <10secs. the iridiums use the low earth orbit, moving sats...so they work everywhere on the planet.

Plans are more affordable, and while the units are still $2K...they are getting down to what I used to pay for the latest cellphones. You can rent these as well.

...

Have you got more details on this phone ? Is this on the Iridium network or the Global Star ? In the past when I looked into the Iridium neywork, it had a high running cost, I think it was about $50US per month. If I can get a Sat Phone with a reasonable running cost I will be keen, especially using it overseas.

[buggsubique]

Hey does anyone know, or has anyone actually had an overseas EPIRB / PLB (ACR specifically) reprogrammed with the NZ country code (512 I think?). Jantar mentioned above that he had his done overseas on purchase from the supplier, but I have found GPS City to be really well priced at $US280, but they seem to be saying it must be purchased in NZ for the NZ code. I'm waiting for a reply to this query from them as they are very well priced units.

Matt

[R650R]

Been looking at getting one of these as I often go mountain biking and sea kayaking by myself.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=500462211 KANNAD GPS PLB EMERGENCY BEACON NZ$ 569.

During the last big mountain bike crash down a bank, upside down in some blackberry the thought occured to me that it might be a good idea to position whatever device you have somewhere that you can reach it with restricted movement or injury.
For normal ride tracking to see where you've been the free google "my tracks" android app works well.

Like the satphone idea, seen some awhile ago around the $1250 mark. Trouble is then you can never tell the wife/mistress/boss that you were out of calling area/busy lol

[buggsubique]

As someone else pointed out here a PLB is no good if you can't reach it. For all my helo flying over here in Africa my EPIRB is kept in my thigh pocket on the combat trousers - hopefully arm's reach in a crash. When scuba diving a lot of people leave their gauges trailing behind / beside them and it can be difficult to snag them and pull them around front when they need to be read. I personally always run them through my chest strap so they are always directly in front of me and easy to grab.

When I get my PLB it will probably be strapped onto the front of my shoulder strap when I ride. That way should I have a broken back, shoulder, arm whatever, I should still be able to reach it with either hand. Additionally it will be plainly visible to any other riders assisting me after an accident and they can then activate it if I am unable.

A good practice is to always keep the same stuff in the same place so it becomes habit for checking before a ride, and becomes instinctive to find - even in the dark if you have to.

[ADVGD]

Hey does anyone know, or has anyone actually had an overseas EPIRB / PLB (ACR specifically) reprogrammed with the NZ country code (512 I think?). Jantar mentioned above that he had his done overseas on purchase from the supplier, but I have found GPS City to be really well priced at $US280, but they seem to be saying it must be purchased in NZ for the NZ code. I'm waiting for a reply to this query from them as they are very well priced units.

Matt

Each country has an individual 406 code. When you purchase a 406 MHz distress beacon, make sure it is coded for New Zealand. The New Zealand Country Code is 512. If you buy one from overseas or over the Internet, it could be an expensive mistake. When an overseas beacon is activated in New Zealand, the satellite may notify the wrong rescue coordination centre, which could mean a long, potentially life-threatening delay in your rescue.


This may also be of use

ELT - Emergency Locator Transmitters are distress beacons that are fixed in aircraft.
EPIRB - Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons are for maritime use and designed to float
upright in water. They may be fully automatic, auto & manual or fully manually operated.
PLB - Personal Locator Beacons may be used as personal distress beacons in all environments. They
are not designed to float upright in water but may be carried to supplement a vessel’s EPIRB. They are
designed to be carried on your person and are manually operated.

Tony at Kiwi GPS is a good option if you have questions, I purchased an ACR ResQLink PLB through him, his prices are very good

Cheers

Josh

[Gremlin]

I carry one of these: http://www.gme.net.au/products/emerg...ns/plbs/MT410G I do put it in my luggage however, as being a big device, it could cause some serious injury if I had it on my person.

Also did a small eval between spot and plb here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...829-09-2011%29

[buggsubique]

Well I have found a place in NZ that will reprogramme to NZ 512 for $80. So this means that from the states I can get a GPSMAP 62SC, Ram Mount and an ACR PLB for around $900.

I do believe I will... I'll order on Monday or thereabouts. PM me if you want a beacon for yourself included in my purchase for cost and a proportional slice of the freight. Link is a couple of posts above to see the product.

Matt

[Kenb]

http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/J...e-strobe-light

[R650R]

The Kannard one is also on special at T7 at moment. I went with GME one after doing the coastgaurd VHF course, has 7 year battery for about same price. Something I picked up from them about VHF radio/Epirbs/PLB vs cellphones in emergency was the following: If you phone 111 for help you need to 1) que with all the other calls. 2) be able to speak (ever had a good hit in the ribs etc) and describe location 3) As police are footing the bill for rescue they have to establish first the level of the emergency before expensive resources like helicopters or coastgaurd boats are dispatched.
When an Epirb or PLB activates it goes straight to RCCNZ who control and dispatch SAR resources. That five or ten minute delay in the chopper taking off might be the vital difference between life and death or closing weather conditions.

[Phreaky Phil]

If you go down the Spot route, have a look in the US for them cheap. I saw them for $99 US when we were there.