There's a lot of differences between a PLB and an emergency satellite communicator. That monthly subscription allows you to text with family and friends when there's no cellular signal around. If you experience a mechanical breakdown, it's not an emergency situation to come get you. If you or someone else does have a medical emergency, you can communicate with emergency dispatch about the nature of the problem, and get updates on rescue progress. With a PLB, you push the button and hope that someone eventually comes to your location. Both kinds of devices are useful, and I plan to add a PLB to my kit as a backup to my Garmin InReach Mini.
I kind of have two thoughts on the "Mechanical Breakdown" not being an emergency... as a lone female driver.. breaking down in a very remote area with no mobile signal, I would be very worried about flagging down any possible car passing through, who may offer a lift ( I would refuse due to putting myself in a situation of possible harm), or god forbid , some nutter that may drag you off into the bush..... so I would activate the PLB.. I would also pre update the trip info on the website, explaining the emergency maybe a mechanical one, so that perhaps the local ses crew or local volunteer fire rescue may be first responder. A Garmin InReach is of course the better option for a breakdown, but the monthly plan costs are out of reach if you are on a low oncome , and the PLB would be my choice of the two.
That’s a good point. The best options to have both. The problem with having just a satellite communicator is several. 1. the ACR has 5 Watts of power. The satellite communicators are very under powered. So if you’re stuck deep in a canyon or you’re under a snow covered tree canopy, the signal may not get out. Number to the satellite networks used by ACR Cover the entire earth. There are blank spots on the Garmin in reach and the spot. Further, their private satellite networks in there have been documented cases where the signal was set off an emergency signal. SOS, and the response was not given because they thought it was a false alarm. Finally, the ACR is part of a worldwide search and rescue Netwerk, that most of the countries on earth subscribed to, and are a part of two of the three satellite systems are owned by the government and response is guaranteed. It’s not a hope someone’s coming. It’s much more reliable that they’ll come over a spot or a Garmin in reach. Finally the battery. With the ACR you have a battery the last five years and does not need to be recharged. With the Garmin in reach on the spot, you’ve got to remember to recharge it, and it will be absolutely useless if the battery is dead. So in my opinion have both, but if you have to choose one, choose the personal locator beacon over the side like communicator.
Fantastic review, Matt! Excellent presentation.
Cheers, Laine :)
Thanks Laine, it’s probably the most overlooked piece of equipment in my opinion, hopefully this can reach a few more.
Cheers 🍻
There's a lot of differences between a PLB and an emergency satellite communicator. That monthly subscription allows you to text with family and friends when there's no cellular signal around. If you experience a mechanical breakdown, it's not an emergency situation to come get you. If you or someone else does have a medical emergency, you can communicate with emergency dispatch about the nature of the problem, and get updates on rescue progress. With a PLB, you push the button and hope that someone eventually comes to your location. Both kinds of devices are useful, and I plan to add a PLB to my kit as a backup to my Garmin InReach Mini.
I kind of have two thoughts on the "Mechanical Breakdown" not being an emergency... as a lone female driver.. breaking down in a very remote area with no mobile signal, I would be very worried about flagging down any possible car passing through, who may offer a lift ( I would refuse due to putting myself in a situation of possible harm), or god forbid , some nutter that may drag you off into the bush..... so I would activate the PLB.. I would also pre update the trip info on the website, explaining the emergency maybe a mechanical one, so that perhaps the local ses crew or local volunteer fire rescue may be first responder. A Garmin InReach is of course the better option for a breakdown, but the monthly plan costs are out of reach if you are on a low oncome , and the PLB would be my choice of the two.
That’s a good point. The best options to have both. The problem with having just a satellite communicator is several. 1. the ACR has 5 Watts of power. The satellite communicators are very under powered. So if you’re stuck deep in a canyon or you’re under a snow covered tree canopy, the signal may not get out. Number to the satellite networks used by ACR Cover the entire earth. There are blank spots on the Garmin in reach and the spot. Further, their private satellite networks in there have been documented cases where the signal was set off an emergency signal. SOS, and the response was not given because they thought it was a false alarm. Finally, the ACR is part of a worldwide search and rescue Netwerk, that most of the countries on earth subscribed to, and are a part of two of the three satellite systems are owned by the government and response is guaranteed. It’s not a hope someone’s coming. It’s much more reliable that they’ll come over a spot or a Garmin in reach. Finally the battery. With the ACR you have a battery the last five years and does not need to be recharged. With the Garmin in reach on the spot, you’ve got to remember to recharge it, and it will be absolutely useless if the battery is dead. So in my opinion have both, but if you have to choose one, choose the personal locator beacon over the side like communicator.
Great review.. thanks
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 😊
4:19 "ACR strongly recommends performing the [basic] self-test once per month."
thx!