Which PLB / EPIRB

[Dutchy]

Hi guys,
I'm in the market for a PLB (EPIRB is for off shore marine)....
Options are McMurdo fastfind 220, GME 410G with GPS or ACR ResQ link with GPS....

http://www.chsmith.com.au/Boating/Safety-Equipment/EPIRBs-and-PLBs.html

GME has best battery life and floats without a bag.... McMurdo and ACR are smaller and lighter... Still thinking GME (cheaper too)....

What do you think?

[Strider]

GME410g is around twice the size of the others and heavy too. I went with an ACR ResQlink+ (buoyant)

[GPSGuided]

Why not that Ocean Signal PLB1 rescueME? There's at least one thread on this on this forum and there are good prices around.

[Dutchy]

GME is $289, Mc Murdo about $320, ACR $345.... Last two only float with bag (weight + size?)

Do i count my dollars (longer life, cheaper) or weight and size? (I'm no gram counter, trust me!)

[Strider]

ResQlink+ is also inherently buoyant.

[icefest]

Why not that Ocean Signal PLB1 rescueME? There's at least one thread on this on this forum and there are good prices around.

This.

You are carrying it the entire way. On every walk. Every ounce gram grain molecule atom hadron quark.. err, Pick the one with pretty colours (or just the one you like best).

[Dutchy]

Pick the one with pretty colours (or just the one you like best).

They're all yellow!

[Scottyk]

Why not that Ocean Signal PLB1 rescueME? There's at least one thread on this on this forum and there are good prices around.

yep this is the smallest, lightest and must be the best option for what we do I think

[Chris]

Try these links if you want more info Dutchy.
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=13793
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=13327&hilit=PLB
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1709&hilit=Epirb

[Dutchy]

Thanks....$100 more, fir limited benefit over the gme...about 90 grams and and bit of space....
Will have a think about it today....

[Lizzy]

I have the GME with GPS- still have 3 years to go on its 7 year life. Have not needed to use it (& hopefully won't) but I consider it great insurance especially when you divide the cost over 7 years. It may not be the smallest or lightest but it's still very packable. We talk it bushwalking and paddling. So if the cheaper price helps - great!whichever you get it's a good thing to have- don't forget to register with AMSA

[wayno]

this topic has been discussed at length before

[Ellobuddha]

I went with the Ocean signal rescue me.

I like the really compact size. It sits neatly on my pack shoulder strap and doesn't get in the way at all. I walk alone most of the time so its right there if I need to use it quickly.

[north-north-west]

I have the GME with GPS- still have 3 years to go on its 7 year life. Have not needed to use it (& hopefully won't) but I consider it great insurance especially when you divide the cost over 7 years. It may not be the smallest or lightest but it's still very packable. We talk it bushwalking and paddling. So if the cheaper price helps - great!whichever you get it's a good thing to have- don't forget to register with AMSA

Ditto & I'm very happy with mine (about a year younger). Neither weight nor size are an issue (although remembering to test it regularly is). It does add a little to one's peace of mind just knowing that the option is there - especially for someone like me who can't just phone for help.

[neilmny]

I have the GME and I hardly notice it in my pack. It tucks into the top out of the way
and east to get to. I also carry it on bicycle trips and really even when driving out in the sticks
where the mobile coverage is poor or non existant. For a bloke who has survived a major heart
attack it is about the best insurance I can carry. Just do eeet man!

[Dutchy]

this topic has been discussed at length before

I love useful post, they bring a smile to my face! Times, prices, sizes, weights, warranties and other things change.... and many posts here end up as babble (no offence)... thought I'd keep it simple, if this is the way you ad to a tread, go for a walk, you obviously have too much time on your hands....

[Strider]

this topic has been discussed at length before

I love useful post, they bring a smile to my face! Times, prices, sizes, weights, warranties and other things change.... and many posts here end up as babble (no offence)... thought I'd keep it simple, if this is the way you ad to a tread, go for a walk, you obviously have too much time on your hands....

And if you can disagree with Wayno's post (the most useful in this topic BTW), he is clearly not the only one with too much time on his hands..

[Dutchy]

another one that posts to get his posts up rather than contribute.... Thanks to those who added something useful! Will get the GME, extra cash can be spend on something else!

[Scottyk]

I am not sure why you would buy anything but the Resueme plb1.
The cheapest I can find the GME is $289 on ebay, it has a 7 year battery life and weighs 250 grams
The rescueme is $345 at arnolds boat shop, it has a 7 year battery life and weighs 115 grams
So for a $8 a year saving you get to cart an extra 135 grams around for seven years.
No I don't call myself a ultralighter by any means but this one seems to add up.

[Strider]

I didn't go for the PLB1 as I wanted something inherently buoyant and with decent attachment points.

[stepbystep]

Post intended to be helpful to boaties has been removed to keep petty minded members calm. Sheesh!

Last edited by stepbystep on Wed 12 Mar, 2014 7:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Scottyk]

I didn't go for the PLB1 as I wanted something inherently buoyant and with decent attachment points.

Yeah fair enough, the PLB1 does comes with a wetsuit type material pouch that makes it buoyant if you want to be

[Supertramp]

Check these guys out, got mine from them & easy transaction:

http://www.epirbhire.com.au/

I got the Kannad SafeLink SOLO PLB & it's small & pretty lightweight as well.

[Strider]

Something else to be aware of is how long the strobe light is able to be used. Some models only run the strobe for a certain number of flashes after activation (e.g. Fastfind 220), whereas others (e.g. ResQlink) will run the strobe until the battery runs dead. Keep in mind all PLB's are mandated to a 24h+ battery life. Not sure where the PLB1 stands in this regard.

[icefest]

Keep in mind all PLB's are mandated to a 24h+ battery life. Not sure where the PLB1 stands in this regard.

48hr AFAIR

This is wrong, see my new post.

Last edited by icefest on Tue 11 Mar, 2014 10:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Strider]

Keep in mind all PLB's are mandated to a 24h+ battery life. Not sure where the PLB1 stands in this regard.

48hr AFAIR

48hrs for EPIRBs. 24hr for PLBs.

http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/distress-bea ... #whattypes

[icefest]

I double checked, the PLB1 is indeed only certified for >24h@20 deg c.

[Strider]

I double checked, the PLB1 is indeed only certified for >24h@20 deg c.

Whereas the ResQlink is >24h @ -20C (-4F). Not an issue in this part of the world obviously

[wayno]

another one that posts to get his posts up rather than contribute.... Thanks to those who added something useful! Will get the GME, extra cash can be spend on something else!

the search function on the forum can be extremely useful rather than re aksing what people have already spent a lot of time answering in the past, i dont have the time to keep repeating the same information over and over

[wildwalks]

(moved thread to techno babble)