12
votes
Should I activate my beacon if the road to safety is blocked?
If you aren't equipped to handle a situation where you can't drive out as expected, then you don't belong there. Conversely, if you go to such places and situations, you should take enough stuff with ...
10
votes
Should I activate my beacon if the road to safety is blocked?
I assume here that you are traveling by car.
Make sure you carry a survival package so you can survive for at least a night.
As for the tree situation, carry a large towing strap and invest in a (...
8
votes
To activate PLB if you know search and rescure are looking for you but there is no emergency?
The PLB is very much for highlighting to the emergency services that you are in an emergency situation and need a rescue. It can incur significant costs as the services are called out but gives a ...
8
votes
Accepted
Are there any statistics on how many PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) activations are real as opposed to frivolous?
The International Maritime Organisation stated in 2003 that fewer than 1 in 20 alerts related to persons genuinely in distress:
1.4 False alerts in the IAMSAR Manual are defined as: Any alert ...
7
votes
Accepted
Who gets the bill if you activate a PLB to help someone else?
Almost always the victim gets the bill, but as mentioned in commentary, it depends on locality and sometimes fault. Local rules always apply.
As an example, in the US, some state authorities will ...
7
votes
Accepted
In what situations is it irresponsible not to carry a PLB or satellite messenger device?
TL/DR: There's really no argument - just carry a PLB for any non-trivial trip!
This is a question I've discussed with the leaders of SAR teams. They are unanimous that responsible use of a PLB makes ...
7
votes
In what situations is it irresponsible not to carry a PLB or satellite messenger device?
TLDR: You can be irresponsible with or without a PLB
The most basic principle of responsibility in the wilderness is that
YOU are ultimately responsible for your own safety.
With that being the ...
6
votes
To activate PLB if you know search and rescure are looking for you but there is no emergency?
If you are overdue, and the search party know you have a PLB, the fact that they have not received an alert from it suggests either
you are merely delayed, and will turn up soon, or
you are so ...
6
votes
Accepted
Will a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) work overseas?
The call would be routed to the international COSPAS-SARSAT network.
Here are the Beacon Regulations Handbooks for each country: http://www.cospas-sarsat.int/en/documents-pro/beacon-regulations-...
4
votes
Is the Battery Life of the Garmin InReach Mini enough for a 2 week trip?
I used a Garmin InReach Mini for a 19 day trip down the Grand Canyon this past January. I checked in once a day to say "I'm ok" like you had planned to. I recharged mine about 14 days in since the ...
4
votes
Is the Battery Life of the Garmin InReach Mini enough for a 2 week trip?
According to Garmin, with a 30-minute tracking interval and extended tracking mode, the battery should last for 20 days. Turn the screen brightness down and turn it off every single night when you are ...
4
votes
How bad do circumstances need to be before activating a PLB?
Being at fault has nothing to do with the decision. If you are in trouble and cannot extricate yourself without risk to life or making your injuries more serious, you push the button, cost be dammed.
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