Personal locator beacon—406 Mhz comes to the rescue

For many years my personal locator beacon (PLB) has been a trusted tramping companion. On 1 February 2009, however, my PLB becomes obsolete as the analogue 121.5/243 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT service will be terminated. While this is old news, I kept holding off upgrading because of the prohibitive cost of the newer digital 406 MHz PLBs.

But with the cut-off date approaching fast, it was time to act. After a bit of research on the Web, I found out that not only have the prices of PLBs come down but also more brands and models have come on the market.

MT410G

I opted for the ACCUSAT™ Pocket Pro+ MT410G, manufactured by GME, Standard Communications Pty Ltd.

Application

I haven’t used it, as in “activated” (and hopefully will never have to), but looking at the instructions, it’s quick and straight forward:

Emergency activation:
1) Release antenna
2) Swing fully upwards.
Unit is now active—ON.

To de-activate:
1) Push key in to release
2) Swing antenna fully down and latch.
Unit de-activated—OFF.

The PLB has a self-test function which can be executed very easily: On the back is a recessed sliding switch that can be activated with a pointed object or the small plastic key that comes attached to the lanyard. Once triggered, the PLB flashes once and beeps twice (as if to say “I’m ready, Mr Tramper!”).

GPS

The MT410G comes with a built-in GPS receiver which makes it a bit dearer than the MT410 model. The big advantage of GPS is, of course, the transmission of the exact latitude and longitude as part of the distress signal, therefore dramatically reducing the search area. According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the MT410G’s typical accuracy is <45 m, whereas with the MT410 it’s <5 km. No doubt, a reduced search area makes the task for NZSAR and NZLSAR much easier.

Size and weight

At 135×71×38 mm and weighing 250 g, my new MT410G is slightly larger and 40 g heavier than my old PLB. The antenna, though, is much slimmer and neatly packaged, a huge improvement over my old PLB.

Battery

The battery (CR17345, LiMnO₂) must be replaced either after the PLB has been used (activated) or by the expiry date printed on the PLB (in my case February 2016). The battery life is typically seven years. The replacement may only be done by the manufacturer or through a manufacturer-approved service facility.

Registration

The MT410G has a unique code which is transmitted as part of the distress signal. Therefore it is highly recommended (in some countries mandatory) to register a PLB with the appropriate authorities—in New Zealand it’s the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ). This means that the authorities, like RCCNZ, know who the PLB’s owner is and what his/her emergency contacts are.

Travel

The MT410G is officially authorised for use in Australia and New Zealand and meets UN requirements for transport as non-hazardous cargo on board passenger aircraft (still, it’s advisable to declare it to the airline at check-in).

My verdict

I like the MT410G’s design, the way the antenna is stored away, the integrated GPS receiver, and the fact that it is waterproof—it doesn’t sink when dropped into water. Also the seven-year warranty, seven-year battery life as well as the self-test function give me peace of mind.

When it comes to the size, I would prefer it to be smaller. As far as the weight is concerned, the manufacturer promotes it being “featherweight” which—at 250 g (290 g including the pouch)—I cannot agree with. While I don’t consider myself obsessed with hyper-light tramping, a quarter of a kilogramme is a considerable extra weight to carry.

The price tag is still fairly high. But putting that same price tag on a person’s life immediately changes the perspective!

Overall, I give the MT410G the thumbs up—four-and-a-half stars out of five.

Rent or buy

There are several businesses or organisation that have PLBs for hire. For more info refer to beacons.org.nz.

As a regular tramper, I opted to buy my own PLB. Retail prices do vary greatly and I recommend searching the Web for the best deal. I purchased my MT410G online through Trig Instruments in Wellington who offered the most competitive price at the time. It arrived by courier two days after ordering.

Please note: When buying a PLB over the Web or from overseas, make sure the PLB is coded for the country you use it in, as each country has its own 406 beacon code (eg New Zealand’s 406 beacon country code is 512).

Why carry a PLB?

Whether tramping in a group or solo, I endorse the use of PLBs. While they’re not the be-all and end-all of tramping, they do save lives. It’s a bit like wearing a seatbelt in car—99.9% of the time you don’t need it, but what if…?

Do you use a PLB?

What are your experiences with PLBs? Do you think it should be mandatory for trampers to carry a PLB? Do you know any stories where people were saved because they carried a PLB? If yes, please leave a comment.

Possibly related articles:

• Beacon ensured a quick save