I’m thinking of purchasing a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) as a safety measure in the field, particularly when bird-watching in remote locations. I wondered if anyone who has had any experience with PLBs could provide tips on advantages/disadvantages of various brands. The PLB would be used primarily in Australia. I’m looking for a lightweight PLB that one could carry on a trouser belt, in a trouser pocket or in a side pocket of a small back-pack. Thanks in advance to those who are willing to provide information.
Regards,
Stephen
Dr Stephen Ambrose
Ambrose Ecological Services Pty Ltd
Ryde NSW
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Hi Andrew,
A number of websites I looked at had the following warning about the McMurdo Fastfind 210, which is why I got the 211.
“We do not recommend the purchase of Fast find 210 or 200 as these models are not approved for registration in either Australia or New Zealand.”
Cheers, Stephen
Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW
I’ve thought about getting a PLB in the past so I looked at the unit Stephen’s chosen.
The weight of the 211 (150g) is certainly more attractive than the units available when I last looked, but prices haven’t improved. Best I could find is an ebay seller at $534.00.
The similar McMurdo Fastfind 210 can be bought overseas for ~$250. I gather it doesn’t meet an Australian standard for flotation which I could live with, but you can’t register overseas bought PLBs in Australia which would make it useless.
I’d love to be corrected if I’ve come to wrong conclusion from my lunch-time web browsing.
Andrew ===============================
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Thanks to everyone who provided advice about PLBs. Based on mostly private responses from members of Birding-aus, the Ecological Consultants Association of NSW, bush-walking friends and other professional colleagues, I intend to purchase the McMurdo Fastfind 211 PLB (with GPS).
Kind regards, Stephen
Dr Stephen Ambrose Director Ambrose Ecological Services Pty Ltd Ryde NSW
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Hi Stephen,
I can recommend Prestige Communications. They’re an internet company – used to be known as “mail order”. I think they’re WA based: http://www.prestigecom.net.au. I have bought a number of devices from them in the past. For PLBs, the main (best?) brand is GME. MAKE SURE you spend the extra $100 and get one that has GPS built in – if you are need of rescue, you want your location identified. Without GPS, they rely on triangulation, which can take much longer.
Paul Dodd Docklands, Victoria