Personal locator beacons, also known as PLBs, can be used by hikers, backpackers, and other backcountry travelers when there is an emergency that requires rescue. Just what are personal locator beacons, and what kinds are available on the market for purchase?
What Are Personal Locator Beacons?
Personal locator beacons are electronic devices that can send a message to emergency services or rescue personnel in the event a hiker or backcountry traveler is injured. When a device is activated, it sends a signal via satellite to local rescuers with data on the party’s location and who is in need. These units are compact enough to be carried in a pack, and are about the size of a satellite phone. Prices can range from under three hundred dollars to just under six hundred dollars.
Features of the McMurdo Fast Find 210 Beacon
The McMurdo Fast Find 210 is a personal locator beacon that comes with GPS capability, and sells for just under three hundred dollars. Some of the features of the unit include:
- 50-channel GPS
- Transmits personal data to search-and-rescue.
- Easy activation process
- Capable of use between -4 degrees and 131 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Capable of being under water up to five minutes at a depth of thirty-three feet.
- Battery can be stored for up to five years.
Features of the McMurdo FastFind MaxG Beacon
This personal locator beacon offers many features for backcountry travelers. Besides the personal identification signal, the device also offers:
- Three-minute turnaround time from activation to when rescuers can receive a signal.
- Homing signal for on-the-ground personnel to get a fix on a stranded party.
- Transmits every twenty minutes.
- Can be used between -4 degrees and 131 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Battery-pack has a forty-eight hour lifespan, and can be stored for up to five years.
The McMurdo Fastfind MaxG retails for just under six hundred dollars.
Features of the ACR SARLink 406 Beacon
The ACR 406 beacon features not only a satellite signal to send a distress signal, but also a homing signal to guide search-and-rescue personnel to the victim’s location. This beacon also has:
- Sixty-six GPS channels, capable of pinpointing one’s location within one hundred meters.
- LED strobe light.
- Broadcasts for up to thirty-five hours.
- Waterproof for up to one hour in sixteen feet of water.
The ACR 406 costs just under four hundred dollars.
More Information on Personal Locator Beacons
For more information about these personal locator beacons, visit REI online.
Personal locator beacons can be useful tools when used correctly to help rescue personnel to locate a hiker in trouble in the woods.
 |
