Personal epirbs

[KieranR]

Does anybody have one of these, are they worthwhile, I have a sat phone, but my wife wants me to get a personal epirb as well . I do a lot of off road trail bike riding, which is more what she wants me to have one for.

Any recommendations?

Cheers Kieran.

[LeighC]

Hi Keiran,

Sorry I'm not answering your question here however just adding we regularly take the EPIRB from the boat when we head out camping as we're often out of phone range.  It's just good piece of mind if things went really pear shaped.

There are apps for smart phones such as instamapper that may suit your needs.  Obviously it won't alert any agencies but your wife could find out your last known position.  Limitations being the phone/GPS unit needs to see the sky and you'd need phone coverage.

Cheers,
Leigh

[GeoffA]

Wouldn't the sat phone be more useful?

[KingBilly]

When I was desert riding, or just riding through the forest close by, I carried an EPIRB.  Important to carry it in your jacket, not you tank bag or fender bag or whatever.  Mate went down a gully and couldn't crawl back up to his EPIRB on his bike due to a broken pelvis.  Spent hours waiting for help and a chopper ride out.  Lucky he didn't die alone.

Money well worth spending IMHO.

KB

[MarDon]

Wouldn't hurt to carry one, like LeighC, we take one out of the boat when we travel, as well as a Sat. Phone.

I 'm someone's wife, and contrary to popular belief, some of us do tend to worry when you guys are out doing your stuff.  If it gives your obviously caring wife peace of mind, get one.

Dee.

[CRW]

We carry a spot tracker when ever we go bush, small and lightweight with options the EPIRB doesn't have


iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Bill]

I carry one in my backpack which I always have on when I go for a walk while camping.
When i go hunting I just put it into my hunting backpack.
Bill

[briann532]

I always keep one in the car and take it with me when I go walking, riding or whatever it is I'm doing.

Small piece of insurance in my mind.
I don't want my kids to go without a father.
I also want to be able to get help fast if something happens to any of my family.

Don't over think it , just buy one.
Happy wife, happy life, and I don't see any negatives to having one.

Brian

[Woodsie]

No-one has actually said which one they use, except for CRW, which was part of the original question.

[briann532]

I use this one, as its quite small.

http://www.gme.net.au/products/emergency-beacons/plbs/MT410G

Brian

[PB]

I use this one, as its quite small.

http://www.gme.net.au/products/emergency-beacons/plbs/MT410G

Brian

I have this one too and a Satphone. As someone who works in the aeromedical world I would reconmend having both. If you have a problem and cant talk you hit the button and at least AUSAR will direct help to you. If you can talk well the satphone helps.
I have both next to the gearstick so if I have rolled I can hope to still reach them. Also when bushwalking they go into my back pack.

[squish]

I have the GME MT410G as well.

I spend lots of time out of phone range with a back pack on and the unit is small and nice and light. I also know someone who has needed to activate this model and it worked (which is good to know)

Cheers
Darren

[rocket327s]

        
Supplied with:
Instruction manual
Carry case
Lanyard (attached)
Registration forms

MT410G 406 MHZ PLB with GPS  .............. price?

[squish]

Cheapest one I have seen is here http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/GME-MT410G-Accusat-PLB.html

[dirtpilot]

I have a GME. Good insurance, i use it trailbike riding, 4x4 and boating. I am in a trailbike club and we have several. i know of 3 times they have been triggered. Once was a life and death situation.

[rocket327s]

thanks squish ..... worth a life.

[Chris J]

I carry a GME PLB when away from the truck; we have a second full size EPIRB fitted to the truck plus a spotme tracker. Double or triple the redundancy you might say, we do travel by ourselves into very remote places at times and often may not see another person, vehicle or boat for days on end.

Regards, Chris. 

[LC]

I've got one of these



If like me your employer provides it for you and you take it camping, then shoot an email to MRCC in Canberra and let them know where / when your going (you will also need to send them a serial number etc), because it might be registered to a certain organisation and it may cause a level of confusion if an epirb registered to a company in Sydney goes off for example in the Kimberley.

Wouldn't the sat phone be more useful?

Yes and no - obviously it allows you to communicate directly with the rescue / medical / tow truck people. But if you are in the desert and you don't have another device that tells you your Latitude and longitude, then you are going to have come up with another way of telling your rescuers exactly where you are. An EPIRB takes care of that for you. The sat phone means you get the level of help that is appropriate. The EPIRB means you get the full blown rescue service.

[KieranR]

Thanks guys ill grab one, rather have it and never have to use it - like all my insurance policies, this is just another one I suppose.

[Bill]

I've got one of these



If like me your employer provides it for you and you take it camping, then shoot an email to MRCC in Canberra and let them know where / when your going (you will also need to send them a serial number etc), because it might be registered to a certain organisation and it may cause a level of confusion if an epirb registered to a company in Sydney goes off for example in the Kimberley.

Yes and no - obviously it allows you to communicate directly with the rescue / medical / tow truck people. But if you are in the desert and you don't have another device to that tells you Latitude and longitude, then you are going to have come up with another way of telling your rescuers exactly where you are. An EPIRB takes care of that for you. The sat phone means you get the level of help that is appropriate. The EPIRB means you get the full blown rescue service.

Same one I have...
Bill

[D4D]

Cheapest one I have seen is here http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/GME-MT410G-Accusat-PLB.html

Wow that is a surprise, C H Smith is the last place I'd look for cheap prices.

[Hogie]

I also have the GME MT410G, haven't had to use it but wouldn't travel without it...

There is also the MT410 model which can be had for $264 http://www.prestigecom.net.au/Gme-EPIRBS-PLBS

[Nig]

I have both an EPIRB and a Satellite phone - I would rely on the EPIRB more than the phone if stranded because of the nature of the satellite orbits.

Satellite used by the phone system is effectively stationary, so it is always in the same position in the sky relative to your current position. It is also a pretty low angle in the southern states. So if you are stranded somewhere that prevents your phone seeing the satellite, eg in a gully or at the base of a cliff, you will never get a signal out.

Satellites used by EPIRB are in an orbit that basically goes around the poles, so they are constantly changing position relative to your current position, so one will always pass overhead at some time - it might take an hour or 2 to pinpoint the signal, but the signal will always be picked up if you can see any sky at all

[timneva]

We've got the GME 410G too. We do a fair amount of remote travel and as some of the other guys have mentioned, sat phones can be a bit hit and miss, depending on where you are. I also take my boys hiking, so having the PLB provides a bit more safety there too. Thankfully, never had to use it, but for a couple of hundred bucks, is worth it IMO 

Cheers

[doc evil]

Spot.