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BEST PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACONS - ULTIMATE BUYING GUIDE

Brian Kent
  Jun 2, 2023 12:55 PM

Being far from fools is one of the pleasures of wilderness travel, but the farther you get from civilization, the more you'll need to be ready to save yourself, which is why personal locator beacons (PLBs) are so crucial. Personal location beacons, or PLBs, notify authorities that the user needs immediate assistance and enable ground control to accurately find the user.

How can you be sure you're buying the Best Personal Locator Beacons for your forthcoming flights when there is no shortage of them on the market? Find out which personal locator beacons are best by reading about them!


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Buying guide

Battery Life

The use and operation of your locator beacon will have a significant impact on its battery life. Battery life is significantly longer and can last for weeks when used in their original settings. All personal location beacons must transmit for at least 24 hours to comply with the legislation.

User Interface

Personal locator beacons' user interface has evolved slightly thanks to GPS technology over time, although all pilots still find them to be simple to operate. Many PLBs may be operated with just one hand, and simplicity continues to be important because safety is always the top priority. 

Packaging Dimensions

Personal locating beacons are designed to be small so that you never have to worry about hauling extra safety into your cockpit. It could be time to look for a new PLB that can easily fit in your flight bag if you've been needing to find a place for your old one.

Display Size

When searching to buy a new personal locator beacon, you may have the choice between sun-friendly and transflective color displays. PLBs continue to have excellent safety measures, but their smaller screens typically make them easy to use with one hand while flying.

Warranty

Most personal locating beacons have warranties of 5-7 years. As a result, the PLB frequently needs to be returned to the manufacturer at the end of its useful life so that a factory battery can be installed.

Price

Although the greatest personal locator beacons aren't inexpensive, the cost isn't the most important consideration when it comes to safety. You have the selections you require, ranging from roughly $200 to more than $400. A subscription is necessary for several of the satellite messenger personal locator beacons. The added cost is negligible in light of the safety of this offer.


FAQs

1. How do personal locator beacons function?

Your PLB transmits a potent distress signal to a global network of satellites when you hit the SOS button. Rescue coordination centers, both public and private, are keeping an eye on these distress signals. A suitable response agency receives the distress call along with information about your location. In turn, they arrange for local search and rescue agencies to send someone to come collect you. Because SAR resources vary by location, you'll likely receive a speedier, more effective rescue in the Tetons than in nations with fewer resources.

2. How long is a PLB effective?

Personal locator beacons have varying battery lives, however, they must all have batteries that can keep them transmitting for at least 24 hours. In many cases, especially depending on use, PLBs endure longer than that.

3. What occurs when a PLB is activated?

A personal locating beacon sends two types of distress signals to a satellite the moment it is activated. Both a digital signal at 406 MHz and a slower analog signal at 121.5 MHz are transmitted.


Final thoughts

Personal locator beacons have evolved from push-SOS-and-hope-someone-hears-your-signal gadgets to real two-way messaging-capable satellite communication systems, which has been intriguing to observe. Local authorities can be informed immediately to set up the search and rescue operation. I wish you luck in selecting the Best Personal Locator Beacons!

Our top picks

  1. ACR ResQLink View - Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon with GPS

  2. RESCUE ME

  3. Personal Locator Beacon MicroPLB High-Reliability Bright

  4. Garmin 010-01879-01 InReach Mini

  5. Garmin inReach Explorer+, Handheld Satellite Communicator​​​​​​​

 


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