Tue 24 Nov, 2009 4:46 pm
Fri 04 Dec, 2009 8:41 am
Fri 04 Dec, 2009 10:19 am
Fri 04 Dec, 2009 3:11 pm
Fri 04 Dec, 2009 7:40 pm
Sat 05 Dec, 2009 8:17 am
Sat 05 Dec, 2009 12:56 pm
Wed 16 Dec, 2009 10:42 pm
Nuts wrote:I'm not sure what you guys have now but i'm happy (and it would be interesting) for it to 'go for a stroll' whenever it's not being used
Thu 17 Dec, 2009 9:16 am
Thu 17 Dec, 2009 10:33 am
Nuts wrote: but %400 dearer to buy...
Thu 17 Dec, 2009 10:42 am
Thu 17 Dec, 2009 11:00 am
Thu 17 Dec, 2009 12:59 pm
Nuts wrote:Obviously, for rescuers to know the point of your last signal must be a Major attribute for situations where you (for whatever reason) havent been able to set off the PLB...
Thu 17 Dec, 2009 4:29 pm
Thu 07 Jan, 2010 11:51 am
Thu 07 Jan, 2010 9:09 pm
Fri 08 Jan, 2010 11:44 pm
Sat 09 Jan, 2010 9:25 pm
johnw wrote:I had my first chance to "road test" a PLB over the Christmas break. Well, as far as you can road test one without actually setting it off, which means doing exactly...nothing. For $20 I hired a GME Accusat MT410G Pocket Pro+ with integrated GPS from NPWS at Jindabyne NSW. I had it for a week or so but the $20 covers up to 2 weeks use. I have been thinking about buying a PLB for a while (and still am). I was doing a few solo day trips around the main range in the Snowy Mtns and planning to head off track in some areas, so thought it might be prudent to take one. Although I know the area quite well and have walked there numerous times, in the past I've had company, and the weather can sometimes play havoc (like Tassie). Anyway I guess the test was a silent success as I didn't need to use it. The NPWS officer was helpful in showing me how to activate the unit should it become necessary, and it seemed impossible to set it off accidentally. However she told me that they have had some instances of people doing just that. Moral - don't fiddle with things. It comes with a nice soft storage pouch in basic black and it didn't seem especially heavy or bulky. Probably about 2 x yellow eTrex's at a guess. I also thought $20 for 2 weeks hire was very good value (plus $100 credit card deposit, which they cancel on return of the unit intact). And my wife seemed happy that I had it.
Sat 09 Jan, 2010 9:47 pm
Sun 10 Jan, 2010 5:29 pm
tastrax wrote:Maybe the NSW government subsidised the purchases?
Wed 24 Feb, 2010 2:35 pm
Tue 13 Apr, 2010 11:53 am
Tue 13 Apr, 2010 11:59 am
johnw wrote:tastrax wrote:Maybe the NSW government subsidised the purchases?
This might answer that bit:
"The Police are providing an additional ten new PLBs in addition to the ten purchased by the NPWS."
Tue 13 Apr, 2010 1:16 pm
eddie the eagle wrote:In my opinion, the strength of the transmitting antennae needed improvement. I wasn't the only one with this opinion, after speaking to SPOT customer service, as they advised me that they'd put a bi-directional antenna and a stronger power source on the SPOT Version 2 unit (SPOT messenger.)
In summary, if I was to look to obtain a unit, I'd look to a SPOT Messenger unit, not a SPOT Tracker. I don't know how the battery life compares for the SPOT 2 units (Spot messengers) vs the original units (that have excellent battery life.)
Wed 14 Apr, 2010 12:12 am
eddie the eagle wrote:...In Part:
"As I'm aware," the Blue Mountains Rescue Squad had to rescue a senior engineer/manager/CEO or similar of a company in about 2006 or so. I think that they found him quickly because of a PLB or an EPIRB.
Correction: http://www.benbro.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=37
His way of saying thankyou was to buy 10 out of his own pocket and donate them to Katoomba police, for loan to walkers in isolated bush to avoid future tragedy, providing that they register their trip details with the rescue services before they leave.
It's kind of taken off from there, with service clubs also donating EPIRBs.
Edit: Info
http://www.orange-nsw.com/hwwchatter/index.php?p=322
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/community_issues/crime_prevention/trek
Tue 20 Apr, 2010 11:17 am
Wed 21 Apr, 2010 12:43 pm
Wed 28 Apr, 2010 5:37 pm
Wed 28 Apr, 2010 6:41 pm
Lizzy wrote:OK change of plans- I bit the bullet & bought a GME 410G PLB $545 - decided that with all the Spot dramas I would stick to the dedicated PLB. Hope I never have to test it out....
Mon 28 Jun, 2010 4:06 pm
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