PLB

[noelex 77]

My EPIRB needs replacing and I am considering buying two PLB instead. (The existing EPIRB will be kept as back up).

For most of my sailing there is just myself and wife on board a PLB attached to each of life jackets seems a much more more sensible system.
Thoughts?

What is the best PLB. It would be great to get a combined 406mhz/GPS/ AIS.
Does anyone have an idea if/when such a unit will be released?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

My EPIRB needs replacing and I am considering buying two PLB instead. (The existing EPIRB will be kept as back up).

For most of my sailing there is just myself and wife on board a PLB attached to each of life jackets seems a much more more sensible system.
Thoughts?

Great system but then I would say this as it is what I use (except I keep the EPRIB current as this is an Aussie requirement).

Originally Posted by noelex 77

What is the best PLB. It would be great to get a combined 406mhz/GPS/ AIS.
Does anyone have an idea if/when such a unit will be released?

Don't know what is available in the Med and AFAIK, no ones makes an GPLB with AIS (or any PLB with AIS).
I would only get a GPLB that has an integral strobe.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

My EPIRB needs replacing and I am considering buying two PLB instead. (The existing EPIRB will be kept as back up).

For most of my sailing there is just myself and wife on board a PLB attached to each of life jackets seems a much more more sensible system.
Thoughts?

What is the best PLB. It would be great to get a combined 406mhz/GPS/ AIS.
Does anyone have an idea if/when such a unit will be released?

We are in the same situation and have decided to replace the EPIRB with:

- 1x McMurdo Fastfind 220 PLB
- 1x DeLorme InReach SE

The PLB is the latest and smallest that I am aware of. The DeLorme is hard to find at the moment because it is new and very popular. It uses the Iridium constellation for worldwide 2-way text communications and tracking. If you buy it only for safety use only like we do, you still need a $100/yr subscription. You push the distress button and can follow up with texting with their RCC (same one as used by SPOT). The 2-way communications is the big pro.

The idea is to have both of these available. When we would be doing offshore night sailing, we get the one sleeps and one on watch thing. For this I would add a McMurdo persnal AIS beacon. So, the person on watch has both the PLB and AIS. The wait is for the combo.

[vtsailguy]

I had these same thoughts and did a bit of a review


http://sailingwithkids.net/2013/04/2...-acr-resqlink/

Interestingly enough, I have found I am not using the delorme much....

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by vtsailguy

I had these same thoughts and did a bit of a review

http://sailingwithkids.net/2013/04/2...-acr-resqlink/

Interestingly enough, I have found I am not using the delorme much....

Very good article! But dated, you need to update it with the InReach SE and the Fastfind

I would never buy a Spot or InReach that needs other devices (cellphone) to communicate. The Inreach SE is a game changer but it's a shame that everybody wants one

[vtsailguy]

I wasn't that keen on the SE. I couldn't imagine trying to type on it and would always be blue toothed to my ipad with the regular one.

[barnakiel]

I have not seen a combined unit yet. Look up Panbo they often post long before such things are available.

I have "used" ACR PLB unit (ResQLink+) and it was outstanding - light, compact. However, I would rather wear an AIS beacon - our boat does not have a 121 homing device what we do have is an AIS receiver.

ACR units work in the 'Spot-like' mode - you can use them to let others track your progress. They also self-test this way.

b.

[barnakiel]

The thing I have in mind is an

AIS SART

(I worded them as AIS PLB but it seems it is not the correct nameology)

like Kannad SafeLink series, or McMurdo SmartFind, etc.

Apologies for wording simple things in a twisted way.

b.

[rebel heart]

I guess I don't know what I'm missing. With an Iridium satellite phone I can text and call whomever and with an EPIRB it's a beacon for the SAR network.

What's the advantage to other stuff with subscription fees?

[SVNeko]

I think you need to distinguish between MOB and SART for the vessel. For MOBs, until they make a combo unit, I think the AIS sart is more helpful than the PLB so long as your ship also has an EPIRB. It just takes too long and is too uncertain to rely on the EPIRB system. Your own crew is in the best position to pick you up if you go in. I am looking at the McMurdo and Mobilarm. For the moment, we don't have one but watchstanders wear a GPS-enabled handheld. The hope is that if someone goes in they can guide the boat back.

[SVNeko]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

The DeLorme is hard to find at the moment because it is new and very popular.

Amazon is showing 17 of them available right now.

[barnakiel]

DeLorme is sweet and brings the promise of being less patchy than Spot. Many of my clients use Spot. NOT recommended. I am trying to move some of then onto DeLorme platform.

b.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by vtsailguy

I wasn't that keen on the SE. I couldn't imagine trying to type on it and would always be blue toothed to my ipad with the regular one.

You can link with bluetooth with the SE too. But when you're dying in a ditch it's rather nice not to need an iPad when communicating with rescue the one unit only makes this a usefull safety item instead of a gadget, without loosing the ability to do whatever the old model could.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I have not seen a combined unit yet. Look up Panbo they often post long before such things are available.

I have "used" ACR PLB unit (ResQLink+) and it was outstanding - light, compact. However, I would rather wear an AIS beacon - our boat does not have a 121 homing device what we do have is an AIS receiver.

ACR units work in the 'Spot-like' mode - you can use them to let others track your progress. They also self-test this way.

b.

There is no combo unit. The ultimate MOB rescue gadget is now the McMurdo SmartFind S20.
http://www.mcmurdomarine.com/en/prod...nal-ais-beacon

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I guess I don't know what I'm missing. With an Iridium satellite phone I can text and call whomever and with an EPIRB it's a beacon for the SAR network.

What's the advantage to other stuff with subscription fees?

Well, if you go overboard with just the phone, does it still work after immersion? If so, you're right. The thing is that I can't afford the plans or minutes, never call with a satphone otherwise and find the cost for buying one too high...

I find $300 for the InReach SE a better deal than $1,500 for just the extra voice mode of the phone and both are on the same satellite constellation. I will only pay $9.95 a month for the safety plan and will probably not use the 10 included messages each month. That brings me to $120 a year for a satellite safety device with 2-way communications, while the satphone costs so much more that I don't even remember it.