Epirb for non-boating use

[Bad_Bubby]

Hey guys, can anyone suggest epirbs for use when hiking or hunting? My pains wessex required boat registration details...so not sure how that would go if it were activated! cheers

[Triple]

google "spot tracker" or the GME MT410G or McMurdo Fastfind 211 PLB or ACR Cobham ResQLink 406 MHz GPS

[Triple]

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=pl...w=1366&bih=639

[cormorant]

You can still use it. Justa bit bulky.

Just note on rego that used for walking and 4wd ( include car rego number?) and ensure a contact number of someone who knows you do that,

Marine just float upright, self deploy aerial, strobe and run for min 24 hour. They are the same signal sent.

[SatNav]

1. The better combination from a practical viewpoint would be a non GPS PLB and a SPOT2 personal tracker which would provide additional data and use the Epirb for dire circumstances, which hopefully you will never need to use.

[cormorant]

It really depends what you need. There are pros and cons . Be a bugger to forget to put the EPIRB back in the boat !!!

Spot2 is a subscription service with costs. It runs on replacable batteries that can run out as opposed toa long life epirb battery. You may not have battery power when you need it. It is not a true epirb. I can't see where it gets registered with AMSA. I don't know how rugged spot is?.

http://www.gpsoz.com.au/spot/spot_2.htm


Basically a non voice satellite phone . Very small transmit power that may be affected under heavy tree coverage. Reliant on private company.

May as well have a sat phone and 2 way communication as sat phones have GPS in them. Sat phones are 2 way communication. You can get medical advice. You can describe exact problem and solution. You know time frame for people coming to help you. A sat phone is not a EPIRB though just to be clear.

I agree the GPS epirbs provide a very accurate fix quicker than teh non gps versions and are worth the extra $.. The marine epirbs also emit the radio frequency 121.5 which allow aircraft and suitably equiped boats , vehicles to narrow search area quickly.


How rugged and waterproof are the SPOT? Why not just use a sat phone? Still work and get rescued if your subscription is not paid up?


Edit

Not sure if you are aware but National parks , walking groups, shooting clubs , 4wd clubs and other all either have club units or cheap rentals along with private companies that rent em You might already be a member of such a club or be going to a Nat parks , state forrest area and club membership may be value compared to outright purchase for a 1 off walk

[Moonlighter]

It is perfectly acceptable to use your marine EPIRB for hiking and outback trips in the 4 x 4 etc.

If you go to the AMSA website where you registered your EPIRB, and log on to your account, you can select the beacon and update it with extra vehicles, boats etc details and there is even a section for you to add notes about specific trips that you are doing, whether that be a trip by boat or car.

You could for example go into your account, add your car details, and put in a note saying the dates you are using the EPIRB in your car and hiking and where you are going etc.

Straightforward stuff.

Of course, the standard EPIRB we typically use on boats is a bit bigger and heavier than some of the personal ones designed for hiking.

But they all do the same job - bring help!

Cheers

ML

[QF3 MROCP]

If you are going to get another rescue beacon, get one with the built in GPS. The response time for the Canberra rescue coordination centre will be quicker in getting the message from the satellite. There are EPIRBs & PLBs approved for both land and water use (PLB must float). If you have a PLB for yourself in the water and an EPIRB floating for the group, both activated, the safer you'll be. When on land you could use the two of them when hiking. Again, the PLB with you and maybe the EPIRB in the vehicle for others to activate if need be, mind you I'm not suggesting in leaving the vehicle to go walking for help in remote areas.

You mentioned Pains Wessex? How old is it and has it got much life in it? If not much life, and you have to get one or the other then your first choice will be an EPIRB as it can be used on the boat and land, whereas a PLB is not a lone alternative as the boats only safety beacon.

This bloke sells a range of good priced EPIRBs & PLBs