Personal Locator Beacon

[ckm554]

How about if when you rent one, that you sign an agreement that you are obligated to pay for your rescue if you hit the 911 button.

This wouldn't work because it would discourage people who actually need a rescue from requesting one because they would be afraid of the bill. This is exactly why SAR generally does not charge for rescues.

Chris

[cloudlesssky]

Thanks for the input, Cloudlesssky. Couple quick questions for you. How long did the batteries last? I'm assuming you kept it turned off most of the time. How heavy/bulky is the phone itself? Supposedly it can be carried comfortably in a cargo pocket but it looks too chunky for that. On the other hand it does seem ruggedly constructed. How was the signal strength/clarity when you did have reception? I'm not sure, but it certainly seems like a fixed satellite constellation (which Inmarsat uses) would improve the signal and reduce dropping out.

Batteries: The battery never ran out on me. I turned the phone off while not in use and my total talk time was probably <2 hrs during the trip. Basically a short call to my family each night. I carried a spare battery that wasn't needed.

The phone weighs 9-10oz. A little more, but comparable to the Iridium 9555. As for bulky, it certainly won't win an industrial design contest, but it fit into my top pocket with no concerns.

It does seem fairly rugged, certainly rugged enough to ride in my backpack and then get used in camp. I put it in a LokSak between uses just to make sure it didn't get wet.

I don't have anything to compare the signal strength to, but once it connected to the satellites (which takes a few minutes when you first turn it on) it worked well. There is a noticable slight delay between talkers due to the satellite relay, but I've read thats true of Iridium as well.

As for the satellite networks, I've read a lot of pro/con stuff. I don't think it matters in the Sierras.

Truthfully I wouldn't hesitate to use Isatphone again, OR an Iridium. I'll probably go with the one that is cheaper on my next long hike.

[SandStorm]

Many thanks.

[The hermit]

I would probably go with a plb. I already pay for my cell phone im not willing to pay an ongoing fee for a spot.(I was able to text my coordinates to my family). I know this is very rare but not unheard of.Many of us carry our phones anyway. Has anyone else used their phone to check in?

[AlmostThere]

There are three places that cell phones work in my local mountains. One of them is Yosemite Valley, and the corridor of trails going up the Merced River (they put a tower on Glacier Point). Another is Huntington Lake - there is a community up there and, yep, they put up a tower on one of the hilltops. You can also sometimes get a bar if you are in line of site of Three Rivers - there are places in Sequoia NP where even though you are higher elevation this is possible.

The rest, you don't get a signal til the drive home, sometime, and there are dead zones in between.

Nope, I don't call anyone. Not why I am there. I avoid areas where cell phones work unless I am on a search.

[The hermit]

I agree it really bugs me when people use their phones in the wilderness.That said I was able to reassure my family that I was ok(xc on the silver divide).I was solo with no definite return date. At least they would have known where to search.

[riverwalker]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to buy one of these things this weekend. I'm comparing the Spot II (about $100) and the ACR ResQ+ 406 ($287 on Amazon). I like the idea of no annual subscription for the ACR, but it appears you have to subscribe to an optional annual service to "self test" the unit. There seems to be a lot of negative reviews for the Spot II. Does anyone have any experience with the ACR ResQ+ ?

It looks like ACR is also running a promotion on this unit with some freebie gear, for what it's worth:

Edited: Oops, thanks mshields, I missed your post about the ACR unit. Does anyone else have experience with this unit?

I picked up the ACR REsQ this past spring. I had a $500 gift card from Amazon that was burning a hole in my pocket and I got a $50 rebate too. Anyway I dropped in for a couple reasons...I have started taking my young boys on multiday trips so it is added peace of mind in an emergency. In addition, I have started to do some solo stuff again after a 10 year break. My wife appreciates the backup. I have never had to use the device, but I usually give it a test when out and it has always locked and given a good test (quick too). The only disadvantage as has been mentioned is that you have to push the button, but I find that the advantage also. If my wife was relying on an okay or seeing tracks from a SPOT and then didn't, I feel that would be worse for her concerning her peace of mind and making a decision for help. I am happy with the purchase, it is fairly small and light. Hopefully it will be a piece of gear I carry needlessly.

[Scouter9]

I've been reluctant to purchase and carry a PLB, if only because it's one more thing to carry beyond my cell phone, and I'm gonna have the phone in my pack for sure.

Without the phone, I couldn't follow Sean Hannity's twitter feed, after all...

Well, to be honest, I have no idea whether Sean Hannitty has a twitter feed and I don't use Twitter at all, but I do carry an Android and spare battery(ies) in the eastern Sierra where we're backpacking most of the time, because we've got Verizon signal in all but the lake basins but including places like Clark Lakes. Frankly, at night, I turn on the phone, email out a photo of the Scouts taken earlier that day with the phone and give the parents and such an update regarding our adventure, the weather and more. Where we're headed into null-zones for a day or more, I just tell them in advance.

Now, if disaster struck in a null zone, we'd be in good, old traditional trouble -- especially if disaster related to large, old men that outweigh 2+ Scouts... (yeah, zip it!) So, there's certainly an argument for the PLB. However, I do ensure that every adult leader has a phone, conserves battery and puts the Ranger Station number into their phone book. Our Scouts know that, in the event it's necessary, their SOP will be to take two men, two phones and hike to a ridgeline for signal where they can call 911 and the Ranger Station. I know my boys can't carry me out if I've blown a knee, back or gasket... but feel like we can rely upon the cell coverage in emergencies --where we go, so far.

Plus, I can get in a round of Angry Birds.

Now, solo hiking? The issues might change for me, now that I'm no longer invincible.

[frediver]

Just some things that come to mind.
How using is a beacon if disaster strikes You?
Consider if you fall you could be incapacitated and not be able to activate a beacon: Spot has a tracking function at least, but I do not care for the subscription requirement.
However a Beacon (ACR etc) has a much more reliable operating system than spot, satellites used etc.
From the few reports I have read Spot has had some real holes in its implementation/system.

I also wonder how well the Spot signal would be if you fell into a crack, ie body hidden from sight, etc.?
I also wonder about the ACR Beacon system but have a little more overall faith in its system.

Truth I often wonder if a more passive system would be better for hikers considering that truly incapacitating type of disaster's are more likely to happen. By passive I mean a system that will be able to
turn on when the beacon receives a local search signal. Like the current offering of Spot, the unit
turns on every few hours and if a trigger signal is received it then turn's on the main beacon, no need for a
expensive or little used subscription plan. IMO this feature would be a handy upgrade to Spot or a traditional 406 Beacon. A three position switch, Off-Standby-ON.

[rlown]

I've been reluctant to purchase and carry a PLB, if only because it's one more thing to carry beyond my cell phone, and I'm gonna have the phone in my pack for sure.

Without the phone, I couldn't follow Sean Hannity's twitter feed, after all...

If your phone works in the back country, you're not out far enough. And you're missing the point of the experience. Bugs me as much as the ipod crap. Remember when we used to just sing songs? not be plugged in..

The mountains have their own sounds.. That's the part that's worth hearing. It can be scary silence or a tree falling or rock slide or animals telling you to go away.

I prefer those sounds..