GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
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GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby dalai47 » Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:03 pm
I'm very new to these devices, so keen to hear what others have used and opinions...
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby sogood » Fri Oct 03, 2014 6:22 am
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Warin » Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:13 am
- Requires activation - so you need to be conscious to activate the signal for help.
Has no no going fees, but you do need to have some contactable friends that have your travel plans to hand. And you need to supply the list of friends and their contact details to the EPIRB/PLB monitors.
- If you think that you may be 'knocked out' and unable to activate a help signal then you need something else - either tracking or a system that senses your 'problem' (by shock detection or failure to move or both?) and automatically activates.
Probably a subscription service - fees to be paid
Possibly gives a web based track that people can look at
Me? PLB. I figure if I'd dead I don't care, and delays won't matter. The response times will depend on where you are - up to 3 hours max .. but that response might be an airplane flight over you.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby dalai47 » Fri Oct 03, 2014 10:47 am
Like I said, this is all new to me...sogood wrote:BTW, it's PLB for us. EPIRB is for water application. The smallest PLB at present is OceanSignal's PLB1 RescueMe.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby sogood » Fri Oct 03, 2014 11:24 am
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Warin » Sun Oct 05, 2014 10:10 am
That will require a change of satellites ... = $$,$$$ (at least) + time (in 10s of years). I'd put that in the distant future. Oh and change the ground station equipment ....sogood wrote: In the not too distant future, one way texting will likely reach PLB class of products, at least there's already discussions on the new specification.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby sogood » Sun Oct 05, 2014 10:21 am
How do you think the present satellites receive and pass on the GPS coordinates and the IDs of activated PLB/EPIRB? Of course theses things are expensive but money is being spent. Change satellites? Or change the softwares? 10 years? Maybe or shorter. Don't be so pessimistic.Warin wrote:That will require a change of satellites ... = $$,$$$ (at least) + time (in 10s of years). I'd put that in the distant future. Oh and change the ground station equipment ....
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby FXST01 » Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:23 am
No need to turn it on in the mornings or off at night or ensure it is charged for the next days riding.
Need to register it with AMSA but that is really no hassle.
No activation fees or annual subscriptions to pay.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby petie » Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:57 am
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby RonK » Sun Oct 05, 2014 1:12 pm
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Warin » Mon Oct 06, 2014 8:11 am
Good point! I did not think of that. I'd expect a price drop on PLB/EPIRBs just before the release of the 'message equipped' versions. But I expect it will have to go through some sort of committee approval process ... international committee approval process. Might be some time.sogood wrote:How do you think the present satellites receive and pass on the GPS coordinates and the IDs of activated PLB/EPIRB?
So would be ok to purchase a current PLB/EPIRB and expect some years of use before the 'message equipped' versions become available? IIRC the battery life is 5 or 10 years.
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GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby sogood » Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:15 am
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby queequeg » Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:03 am
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Warin » Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:38 am
Errr both the old and new systems use the 121.5 MHz frequency, used for ground and over flying aircraft searches to locate the PLB/EPIRB. This mean there was no replacement of the ground/air base search equipment - saving costs and replacement time. They have a second frequency used to communicate with the satellites. 406 MHz for the new satellites, I forget what frequency the old system used.queequeg wrote:I've been out of the game far too long. When I was flying they hadn't gone to the 406mhz beacons yet and were still using the 121.5mhz ones.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby queequeg » Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:50 am
Why switch to a 406?Warin wrote:Errr both the old and new systems use the 121.5 MHz frequency, used for ground and over flying aircraft searches to locate the PLB/EPIRB. This mean there was no replacement of the ground/air base search equipment - saving costs and replacement time. They have a second frequency used to communicate with the satellites. 406 MHz for the new satellites, I forget what frequency the old system used.queequeg wrote:I've been out of the game far too long. When I was flying they hadn't gone to the 406mhz beacons yet and were still using the 121.5mhz ones.
As of 1 February 2009 Cospas-Sarsat satellites no longer detect 121.5 MHz distress beacons.
Major advantages of switching to a 406 MHz distress beacon are:
their improved accuracy - especially those that are GPS capable;
the capability for search and rescue authorities to determine whether the alert is legitimate - for those that are registered, a simple phone call can determine this;
and a faster response - valuable information about those in distress and the distress location can be gained by rescue authorities contacting friends and family nominated as emergency contacts.
Distress beacon owners must make the switch to 406 now as 121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer detected by satellite.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby WarrenH » Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:00 pm
I had to talk my rescuers into my location, along several fire trails with closed gates. I maintained the bite, until I was found. Make sure your phone is fully charged, so that 000 can monitor your condition, if you're injured and still conscious. 000 hung on until I was reached by ambulance officers.
Don't just rely on a beacon. Be even more equipped ... which you know anyway.
Recently, I read about the 1,200 over-reactions (the false alarms) by people who activated beacons in NSW. When people got weary they even fired off their beacons expecting others to come and get them, a somewhat common complaint ... the NSW Police were not impressed at the number of false alarms they responded to.
Here in the ACT, National Parks have beacons for loan. In NSW the Police depending on where you are, will lend beacons. One of the problems is that the loan period can be relatively short ... for a weekend or a tad longer.
Warren.
"Paved roads ... another fine example of wasteful government spending." - a bumper sticker.
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Warin » Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:01 am
Hummm Journalists 'simplifying things for the public' ? But distorting things so much that they are false.queequeg wrote:Why switch to a 406?
As of 1 February 2009 Cospas-Sarsat satellites no longer detect 121.5 MHz distress beacons.
The 121.5 MHz signal was never detected by the satellites. The old '121.5' things were actually 121.5 MHz AND 243 MHz .. and it was the 243 MHz that was detected by the satellites. The new '406' actually are 121.5 MHz AND 406 MHz ... the 406 MHz is used by the new satellites. The 121.5 MHz is still used by ground and aerial base search people. Some older watch PLBs only use the 121.5MHz signal .. mostly used by pilots thinking that they will be over flown by aircraft with the 121.5 MHz detection system.
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Ambulance services in NSW at least have a free text entry mode .. the operator has a set of questions on the screen that they normally ask - street .. nearest cross street etc .. however they can over ride that and go into a free text mode ... this is what you want in a remote area to take GPS location for instance .. if the operator won't take your data .. ask for the supervisor! I'd hope other states have the same .. While most of the ambos may not have a GPS .. some officers do. Certainly the helicopters do!
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby queequeg » Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:04 am
That info came straight from the AMSA website....Warin wrote:Hummm Journalists 'simplifying things for the public' ? But distorting things so much that they are false.queequeg wrote:Why switch to a 406?
As of 1 February 2009 Cospas-Sarsat satellites no longer detect 121.5 MHz distress beacons.
The 121.5 MHz signal was never detected by the satellites. The old '121.5' things were actually 121.5 MHz AND 243 MHz .. and it was the 243 MHz that was detected by the satellites. The new '406' actually are 121.5 MHz AND 406 MHz ... the 406 MHz is used by the new satellites. The 121.5 MHz is still used by ground and aerial base search people. Some older watch PLBs only use the 121.5MHz signal .. mostly used by pilots thinking that they will be over flown by aircraft with the 121.5 MHz detection system.
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Ambulance services in NSW at least have a free text entry mode .. the operator has a set of questions on the screen that they normally ask - street .. nearest cross street etc .. however they can over ride that and go into a free text mode ... this is what you want in a remote area to take GPS location for instance .. if the operator won't take your data .. ask for the supervisor! I'd hope other states have the same .. While most of the ambos may not have a GPS .. some officers do. Certainly the helicopters do!
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http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/essential_info.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Warin » Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:18 am
Still wrong. Maybe the persons title is 'communicator' ... not a technical type person.queequeg wrote:That info came straight from the AMSA website....
The problem stems for the old 'common' name 121.5 ... just as people call all of them EPIRBs .. not PLBs ELT?s etc.. so the term 121.5 gets used. Maybe a better thing would be to say if it is not 406 (the new 'common' name) then it may not work. Gets away from any source of confusion?
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby rifraf » Fri Jan 09, 2015 10:50 pm
Jeez Wazza,WarrenH wrote: I was bitten by an Eastern Brown, in the Taliesen Hills in NSW, two years ago this month, Warren.
how many times do I have to tell you?
Don't feed the bloody wildlife (Mozzies excepted)
I got a mobile phone, hopefully decent basic Ortlieb first aid kit and I just splurged on a PLB (ACR ResQLink+), always a few days extra food +water.WarrenH wrote:Don't just rely on a beacon. Be even more equipped ... which you know anyway.Warren.
Other than letting someone know where I'm going, is there anything I've missed
Thats bound to put a frown on the rescue crew.WarrenH wrote: I read about the 1,200 over-reactions (the false alarms) by people who activated beacons in NSW. When people got weary they even fired off their beacons expecting others to come and get them, a somewhat common complaint ... the NSW Police were not impressed at the number of false alarms they responded to.
Warren.
Hope they nip that in the bud before it comes out of the rest of our wallets (When people got weary......)
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Aushiker » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:44 pm
Nice and small ... did you get it locally?rifraf wrote:I just splurged on a PLB (ACR ResQLink+), always a few days extra food +water.WarrenH wrote:Don't just rely on a beacon. Be even more equipped ... which you know anyway.Warren.
Andrew
Aushiker.com
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby rifraf » Sat Jan 10, 2015 12:14 am
YesAushiker wrote:[
Nice and small ... did you get it locally?
Andrew
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby rifraf » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:36 pm
http://www.bushwalkingblog.com.au/plb-hire/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby Rodgerbiltit » Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:48 am
http://kti.com.au/safety-alert-plb/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.skippersmate.com.au/KTI-Safe ... LB-Beacon/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I hope never to need it and maintain that if I'm unable to activate then I most probably wouldn't survive until rescued anyway!
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Re: GPS Tracker / EPIRB options?
Postby dalai47 » Thu Mar 19, 2015 3:45 pm
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