Although Disconnection Is Considered By Many To Be An Essential Part Of Immersion In The Natural World, It Is Also True That There May Come A Time When You Really Need To Ask For Help. Apparently 24 Hours A Day, 7 Days A Week, Smartphone’s Are A Tempting Solution, But The 911 Networks Offer Limited Connectivity In The Ma Nature Domain.
If You Are On An Outdoor Adventure, Plbs And Emergency Satellite Phone Are Your Two Best Options For Sending Distress Signals.
PLB Versus Satellite Messages
In Short, Choose A PLB If You Want To Avoid Subscription Fees And / Or Only Want To Send An SOS In An Emergency. Choose A Satellite Messenger If You Also Want To Be Able To Send Messages To Your Loved Ones And / Or If You Are Interested In Additional Features Such As Navigation.
Personal Location PLB Beacons (PLB) – This Satellite Synchronized Device Sends An SOS Signal To The Emergency Services With Your Location. The Main Features Are:
- Works In Remote Regions Around The World *
- Several Years Battery Life (Replacement Shipping Required)
- No Subscription Fees
- No Possibility To Send Messages At Home Or Cancel An SOS Call
- Stronger Signal Than A Satellite Messenger (A Clear View Of The Sky Works Better)
Satellite Messenger: This Device Can Also Send An SOS Signal; It Also Offers Communication Options And Many Other Functions. The Main Features Are:
- Works Worldwide, Although Coverage Varies By Brand *
- Rechargeable Batteries
- Requires Subscription (Subscriptions / Fees Vary Widely)
- You Can Also Send / Receive Non-Emergency Messages At Home (Some Only Send Them)
- Some Models Allow Two-Way Text Messages To Be Coordinated With Lifeguards After Emergency Calls; It Also Allows You To Cancel An SOS Call
- A Clear View Of The Sky Is Necessary For A Good Sign.
- Provides A Variety Of GPS Navigation Features Depending On The Model.
* The PLB And Satellite Messaging Brands Do Not All Use The Same Satellite Networks For Sos Beacon Signals; All Networks Work Well In The United States, But The Global Reach Varies. If You Are Going To A Remote Area, Check The Coverage Map Of The Devices You Are Considering.
What About Your Cell Phone? You May Have Seen A Story About A National Park Setting Up A Cell Tower Or People Who Depend On Their Cell Phones. While It Is True That Cellular Coverage Extends And Creeps Further Into The Desert, This Coverage Is Pale In Comparison To Plbs And Satellite Messengers. So If Your Goal Is To Have A Reliable Way To Ask For Help In An Emergency, Your Cell Phone Cannot Compete.
If An Emergency Occurs In A Location Where You Have A Cell Phone Signal, This Can Be A Valuable Resource And You Should Not Hesitate To Use It (With Your PLB Or Satellite Messenger). Having A Live Chat Gives You A Quick Way To Exchange Important Information With Rescuers And With Family And Friends.
Use Of Personal Location Tags
Plbs Are Smaller Cousins In The Field Of Radio ACR Beacon With Emergency Position Indicator (EPIRB) Used By Boaters. When You Activate A PLB, It Emits A Strong Distress Signal Received By A Global Satellite System. In The United States, These Distress Signals Are Monitored By The NOAA (National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration).
After Receiving Your Transmission, The Satellite System Transmits Your Distress Call To A Network Of Response Agencies, Which Ultimately Results In Your Acr Resqlink 406 For Assistance In Contacting A Local Search And Rescue Organization. Plbs Also Use A Different Satellite Network To Obtain A Fixed Location. In Addition, Most Plbs Today Can Provide Rescuers With The Coordinates Provided By GPS To Help Determine Their Location. A PLB With A Flashlight Can Help Rescuers In Their Search.
Because The Satellite System And The Alliance Of Response Agencies Are Part Of A Global Network, Acr Plb-375 Operates Worldwide. Obviously, The Responses Will Not Be As Strong In Countries Where Search And Rescue Resources Are Limited And A Handful Of Countries Do Not Allow Their Use. Therefore, You Will Need To Do Some Homework To Contact The Foreign Authorities If You Plan To Use Your PLB Abroad.
Plbs Must Be Registered
If You Purchase A PLB, You Must Register It (For Free) In The NOAA SARSAT (Search And Rescue Satellite Assisted Tracking) Database. The Distress Signal From Your PLB Unit Is Associated With Essential Personal Information (Such As Name, Address, Emergency Telephone Numbers And Medical Conditions) Which Can Help Shorten The Response Time Of Your Rescuers. Please Note That You Will Also Need To Update Your Information Every Two Years And If You Sell Or Transfer Ownership Of Your Acr Plb-375, You Will Need To Report It In This Database And The Next User Will Need To Save Your Personal Information.
PLB Battery Life
A PLB Is Equipped With A Durable Lithium Battery. This Battery Resq Remains Inactive Until The Switch Is Activated To Activate The PLB. Government Regulations Require That A PLB With A Class 2 Battery (The Type Of Compact PLB Sold For Field Use) Can Be Shipped For 24 Hours At -20 ° F (-28.9 ° C). However, These Cold Temperatures Represent The Worst Scenarios And Most Plbs Will Be Able To Transmit For More Than 30 Hours Under Milder Conditions.
Since Your Only Job Is To Facilitate An SOS Transfer And It Will Remain Inactive Until You Press The Switch To Activate The Distress Signal, A PLB Battery Can Last Five Years And You Never Have To Worry About Charging It. The Downside Is That To Replace The Battery, The Device Has To Be Sent To A Dealer And The Replacement Costs Are Significant.
The Battery Resq Must Also Be Replaced After Each Activation, Although The PLB Manufacturers Usually Replace The Entire Unit For Free If You Activate It For A Life-Saving Rescue.
Use Satellite Messenger
Satellite Messengers Are Similar To Plbs In That They Also Allow You To Send SOS Distress Signals From Remote Areas Where Cell Phone Coverage Is Poor Or Absent. However, They Have Surpassed The Popularity Of Plbs Due To Additional Features Such As The Ability To Exchange Texts At Home And Perform Marine GPS Navigation.
Satellite Messengers Are Devices That Rely On GPS Satellites For Location Information And Commercial Satellite Networks For Communication. The Distress Signals Are Sent To The GEOS International Emergency Coordination Center Based Near Houston. The Center Coordinates With Local Search And Rescue Services And Can Reach You By SMS As Your Emergency Assistance Progresses.
As With Plbs, Satellite Messengers Depend On Global Satellite Networks To Operate Worldwide, Although The Responses Are Not As Robust In Places Where Search And Rescue Resources Are Limited. It Is Also A Good Idea To Check If The Use Of A GPS Device Is Allowed In Any Country Where You Plan To Travel, As A Handful Of Security-Obsessed States Have Banned The Use Of GPS Over The Years. You Should Also Ask Your Device Manufacturer For An Updated Global Coverage Map To Make Sure You Get A Signal From Where You Want To Use It.
Satellite Messaging Features
Satellite Messaging Brands Are Adding New Features At A Breakneck Pace. Additional Features That You May Find That Vary By Model Include:
- Follow Benchmarks And Report Your Progress To People At Home
- Navigation By Topographic Map
- Altimeter And Barometer Functions.
- Weather Forecast
- Send And Receive Personalized Messages
- Bluetooth Pairing With A Phone For Additional Functionality
- Possibility Of Synchronization And To Be Controlled By Certain Fitness Watches.
- Publish On Social Networks
Prices Vary Widely Depending On The Type Of Features That Are Part Of The Unit You Choose. Discover The Satellite Message To Receive For An In-Depth Analysis Of Four Models Published In Recent Years.
Satellite Messenger Subscription Plans
A Subscription Is Required To Use A Satellite Messenger, Which Represents A Significant Expense. Major Manufacturers Garmin And SPOT Offer A Variety Of Options, And Choosing The Right One Can Seem As Complex As Choosing Your Mobile Plan. You Will Have To Pay Activation Fees And Monthly Fees Depending On The Level Of Use You Choose. Most Garmin And SPOT Plans Require A One-Year Commitment, But You Can Also Find Monthly Alternatives.
Battery Life Of The Satellite Messenger
Forecast Life Expectancy For Optimistic Brands Ranges From A Few Days To 10 To 20 Days. However, Having A Wide Variety Of Functions And Rechargeable Batteries Is A Double-Edged Sword. As With Your Phone, You Should Consider Using Features To Preserve Battery Life.
When Should You Make An SOS Emergency Call?
As With An Emergency Call, A Distress Call Should Only Be Sent If You Are In Imminent Risk Of Death Or Of A Member And No Form Of Self-Rescue Can Save You. As More And More People Flock To The Wild, The Problem Of Groups Making Unnecessary Rescue Calls Has Become A Major Burden For Search And Rescue Groups. This Tests Your Resources And Affects Your Ability To Respond To Real Emergencies.
Many States Have Passed Laws Against Frivolous Rescue Calls. So Always Prepare Well And Take Ten Essential Items With You. This Reduces The Temptation To Misuse The PLB Or A Satellite Messenger Of Your Choice For Added Security.
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