The Best Personal Locator Beacons and Satellite Messengers of 2023 398
by Admin
Posted on 05-10-2023 12:43 PM
If you spend significant
time
in the outdoors, then a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger should be in your pack.
While these devices vary from single-use distress signals to full-blown phones that can be used in virtually any corner of the world, they all have the power to alert authorities when you are in trouble and—most importantly—share your gps coordinates. While many individuals will find that they never need to use the sos button, if you do need it, a plb or sat device can save your life. Here are our picks for the best personal locator beacons and satellite messengers available today.
Personal locator beacons (plbs) transmit distress signals on 406 mhz which is an internationally recognized distress frequency to the cospas-sarsat satellite system . The cospas-sarsat satellite system is an international program that includes 36 nations. In the united states the 406 mhz signal is monitored by the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) and the air force rescue coordination center (afrcc). Each plb is equipped with a unique identifying code which is a 15 digit alpha-numeric code. This code is transmitted in the electronic burst to the satellites and is linked to a computer database maintained by noaa to provide your name, address, phone number and any pertinent information such as medical problems, to search and rescue personnel.
In short, choose a plb if you want to avoid subscription fees and/or you’re solely interested in being able to send an sos in an emergency. Choose a satellite messenger if you also want to be able to send messages to loved ones and/or are interested in additional features like navigation. Personal locator beacons (plbs): this satellite-synced device sends an sos signal to rescue agencies, along with your location. Key attributes include: works in remote areas worldwide* multiyear battery life (replacement requires sending it in) no subscription fees no ability to send messages home or cancel an sos call stronger signal than a satellite messenger (unobstructed view of sky works best).
Also see our head to head comparison review of the current returnlink service enabled personal locator beacons available from acr and mcmurdo reasons to buy: a smooth easy to operate plb, return link service, comes with an array of methods of attachment to a lifejacket reasons to avoid: the casing feels like it might be less robust compared to other ruggesdised competitors specifications: 406hz satellite radio signal | return link service | 28hr battery life when activated | strobe light | weight 148g | 11. 48 cm (l) x 5. 16 cm (w) x 3. 78 cm (d) this personal locator beacon, unusually, incorporates a small lcd screen which fundamentally improves the user experience.
What to Consider Before Buying a Personal Locator Beacon or Satellite Messenger
To compile this review, we started by carefully selecting the top models of satellite messenger and personal locator beacons.
It's usually impossible for us to satisfactorily test every product on the market for a particular category. With plbs and satellite messengers, though, there aren't many options available, and we can test nearly every device. Especially in the two-way satellite messaging device sub-category, we've worked to get every single new option in our hands. The end result is a set of tested products that represent essentially all of the available satellite communication options currently on the market. From there, we purchased and activated these beacons and put them to the test for hundreds of hours, side-by-side, in several distinct situations and locations.
Communication is key. This is a fundamental human truth. For wilderness adventuring, beyond the reach of a modern cell signal, connection is trickier. Many of us go to the wild to escape the tether of modern communications, but we also seek to mitigate the consequences of ill-fortune or poor choices. Some, of course, need more routine contact with the outside world for one reason or another. Enter the array of satellite messengers, personal locator beacons, and other backcountry communication technologies. We are here to guide you through your choices and demystify the options. We will walk you through a step-by-step process of choosing a device suited to your needs and wishes.