Personal Locator Beacon: A Must Have Item For Survivalists

It seems that every year I see one or more stories on the evening news and on the Web about someone who has ventured into the wilderness for recreational purposes but ends up becoming incapacitated due to an injury or lost because they have wondered off of the trail without sufficient training to find their way back. However, most of these cases could easily have been prevented if those people had chosen to purchase and carry a simple electronic device that is not much bigger than a smart phone known as a Personal Locator Beacon or P.L.B.

These simple devices enable the user to broadcast an electronic distress call almost anywhere on the planet by simply deploying the built-in antenna and then depressing two buttons simultaneously which then causes the device to send out a signal that alerts rescuers that they are in peril and are in need of assistance. Therefore, a Personal Locator Beacon can be thought of as a relatively inexpensive electronic insurance policy and, in the event that you ever need it, you will undoubtedly consider it a wise investment that was worth every penny!

Types of Personal Locator Beacons

My Personal Locator Beacon

Also, you should be aware that these devices are available in two different varieties and are available from several different manufactures such as Garmin, ACR, and McMurdo. Of course, the main difference between the two different types of P.L.B.’s is that one type transmits an S.O.S. signal only while the other type transmits your exact longitude and latitude along with your S.O.S. signal via a built-in G.P.S. transceiver. For you information, all personal locator beacons operate using a general locater 406 MHz radio frequency which is transmitted to the worldwide, non-geostationary, COSPASS-SARSAT International Satellite Rescue System as well as to any passing military or commercial aircraft which are all required to monitor emergency frequencies whenever they are airborne. In addition, they also transmit a 121.5 MHz homing signal that helps rescuers locate your exact position once they are on the scene. Plus, if you decide to spend a little extra to purchase one with a built-in G.P.S. transceiver, when you activate the unit, your G.P.S. coordinates are also transmitted along with both the general locator and homing signals. Therefore, usually within one hour, your S.O.S. signal, along with your G.P.S. coordinates, are forwarded through the system to the nearest rescue agency and a rescue team is dispatched to your location by local authorities.

Related: Finding Shelter in the Wild

Furthermore, in an effort to reduce the number of false S.O.S. signals transmitted by accidentally activated P.L.B.’s each year, all of these devices transmitting on the 406 MHz frequency include a 15, 22, or 30 character serial number called a “Hex Code” which you are required to register with the appropriate agency upon purchasing your Personal Locator Beacon and your registration must be updated each year. In addition, you are required to include certain information along with the registration of your “hex code” such as your name, a phone number that the rescuing agency can call to verify that there actually is an emergency, a description of the owner, and any other information that may useful to the rescuing agency so that they can identify you once they are on the scene. However, even if you do decide to purchase a Personal Locator Beacon with a built-in G.P.S. transceiver, rescue personnel may still have a difficult time locating your exact position if you are located in rough terrain and/or dense foliage. Therefore, it is also a wise idea to carry a coach’s whistle with you in addition to your Personal Locator Beacon in case you are incapacitated in an area of low visibility since, even with a G.P.S. transceiver installed, P.L.B.’s are only capable of transmitting your exact location to within 50 meters due to a margin of error purposely introduced into the system in order to prevent terrorists from using the system to guide smart bombs. Thus, a long, loud, toot on your whistle, repeated frequently, with a pause in between each toot will help rescuers to home in on your exact position once they arrive on the scene.

Where To Purchase a Personal Locator Beacon

Last, it should be noted that these devices range in price from $299.00 to $499.00 MSRP for the McMurdo Fast Find and from $401.00 to $543.00 MSRP for the ACR SAR Link and Aqua Link P.L.B.’s. Also, each of these units is completely waterproof and they feature a tough, shockproof, polycarbonate, outer shell and a built-in antenna. In addition, they also feature a test function which allows you to test both the battery and the unit’s functionality without transmitting an S.O.S signal along with several other new, innovative, features. Plus, they are extremely simple to operate since all you have to do is depress two buttons simultaneously and an S.O.S. signal along with your GPS coordinates will be transmitted to any passing COSPASS-SARSAT satellites after a short delay of about 60 seconds to allow you to turn of the unit off in the event that you accidently activate it. Last, each of these units features an integral battery with a shelf life of up to six years that can be stored at temperatures ranging from -22° F to 158° F.

Consequently, although you will hopefully never need it, purchasing and carrying a Personal Locator Beacon is like having an inexpensive life insurance policy in your pocket. Plus, because they are small and lightweight, they are easy to carry and take up very little room. But, most importantly, on the one occasion that you really need it, you will thank yourself a thousand times over that you had to foresight to purchase this small, electronic, insurance policy and, your family will thank you as well since, simply by having one of these units with you, your chances of surviving a wilderness emergency situation will be drastically increased!

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Bill Bernhardt is a professional outdoor/wildlife writer and is a professional fly fishing instructor and guide as well as a professional hunting guide. He is an avid outdoors-man with expertise in fly fishing, hunting, firearms, archery, cutlery, outdoor survival, camping, and kayak touring. If you liked this article and want to read more from Bill, check out his Amazon Author Page.