Picture this: you’re tramping through the rugged wilderness, surrounded by towering trees and breathtaking views. The sense of adventure is exhilarating, but what happens if you take a wrong turn or find yourself in an emergency? This is where a distress beacon becomes an invaluable tool, a small device that can make a huge difference in ensuring your safety.
Lifesaving Technology
A Personal Locator Beacon is a compact, portable device that, when activated, sends out a distress signal via satellite. This signal includes your exact GPS location, alerting search and rescue teams to your precise position. The ability to call for help, even in the most remote locations, can be the difference between life and death.
Reliable and Robust
Unlike mobile phones, which can lose signal or run out of battery, PLBs are designed to work in the most challenging environments. They operate on dedicated frequencies and have robust batteries that can last for years without needing a charge. This reliability is crucial when every second counts. A PLB’s signal can penetrate dense forests, deep canyons, and even stormy weather, ensuring your call for help gets through.
Peace of Mind
The idea of carrying a PLB provides a significant boost in peace of mind. Knowing you have a direct line to rescue services allows you to explore more confidently.
Types of beacons
Types of beacons include:
- PLB – Personal Locator Beacon designed to be carried by an individual person.
- EPIRB – Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon for use in boats and commercial vessels.
- ELT – Emergency Locator Transmitter for use in aircraft
- SEND – Satellite Emergency Notification Device that allows users to send and receive messages, eg Garmin inReach, SPOT tracker.
See Rescue Coordination Centre NZ – beacons.org.nz (external site) for more information about beacons.
For most people doing outdoor activities, a PLB and/or a SEND are the right type of beacons to carry.
Difference between a PLB and SEND
Knowing the difference between a PLB and SEND (eg Garmin inReach, SPOT tracker) is important as it could impact on your safety and ability to get rescued.
PLB
PLBs are on a satellite network with good coverage across New Zealand. Batteries on some models last up to 10 years. The frequency they give out is powerful and able to get through foliage and clouds.
SPOT tracker and Garmin inReach
SPOT and inReach use different satellite networks to PLBs. SPOT operates on the Globalstar satellite network and the inReach on the Iridium satellite network. They can live track you, but they rely on batteries that need charging, like you would a phone.
They use a different network to PLBs and have less coverage and a weaker signal. They might not work if you are under thick canopy, in a particularly remote location, or the weather is bad.
The inReach and some SPOT models are able to send pre-set messages or two-way communication like a phone.
The messages and emergency alerts from SPOT and inReach go through a third-party desk overseas which are then forwarded to the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre.
Affordable Safety
Investing in a PLB doesn’t have to break the bank. Prices for these devices have become more accessible and considering the potential cost of an unplanned search and rescue mission, a PLB is a small price to pay for your safety.
If you can’t afford one, they are readily available for hire as well.
A Personal Locator Beacon is necessary for any serious tramper. Its ability to provide a reliable, lifesaving connection to rescue services, regardless of your location, cannot be overstated. Whether trekking through familiar trails or venturing into uncharted territory, a PLB ensures you’re never truly alone in an emergency. Equip yourself with this essential device and hike with the confidence that help is always within reach.
